As a Manchester United supporter in real life the last few years have been pretty frustrating obviously. And with things looking pretty exciting at the moment, I really got the urge to build over what is started after Sir Alex's retirement and reconquer the domestic and European scene.
I started with the latest transfer update from a few days ago. And with the latest changes the squad is looking really well balanced and solid - probably the best that's been in years.
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Goalkeepers - Defenitely one of the strongest areas in our team. De Gea is among the best keepers in the world and Romero has tons of experience and quality to cover him. Unless David tries to force a transfer there probably won't be any changes for long years here.
Defenders - Enough quality and more than enough cover here with Shaw and Blind in left, Valencia (although criminally underrated in the game) and Darmian in right and Smalling, Jones, Rojo, Bailly and Lindelof in the middle. Also, Tuanzebe and Fosu-Mensah are just waiting for their chance to shine.
Midfielders - The only position where I thought that a new face would be needed. Among Pogba, Herrera, Fellaini and Carrick the first two are the obvious first choices but at least in the game I don't think they're a good option for midfield partnership as Ander doesn't have the defensive qualities he showed in real life that season to compliment Paul. Some muscle is defenitely needed as Fellaini wouldn't be my first choice either.
Attackers - So we've got Martial and Rashford on the left, Mkhitaryan and Lingard on the right, Young as a cover for both wings, Mata behind the striker with Herrera as a possible alternative and Lukaku up front with Martial and Rashford as alternatives. Solid attack but I feel that what is missing is a real match winner. Martial and Rashford both have the potential to become such but they're still not quite there and Lukaku and Miki are top players that will be able to do wonders in the right formation with the right team mates but they are not really the type of player that will single-handedly win you points. We don't really have our version of Hazard/Sanchez/Aguero.
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As I said when reviewing the squad, the only thing that I was looking to add to the team was a proper partner for Pogba. And I managed to find my man in Adrien Silva who joined from Sporting Lisboa for 34 million pounds. He was the only summer addition as I felt the squad I had at my disposal was more than enough to achieve what the board wanted.
The first leaving was Young for no money as his wage was huge and was on the wrong side of 30s with ability of a league 1 player. Surprisingly, Monaco were in for him and even more surprisingly he was a key player for them during the season making 47 appearances with average rating of 7.0.
Darmian followed as I had way too many options in defense and with other players capable to play as right back (Valencia, Lindelof, Fosu-Mensah) that I prefered over him and him wanting a lot of first team football, the choice was easy. He joined Leicester for 14,5 million, possibly rising to 15,75.
The only other kinda big sale was Januzaj going on loan to Real Sociedad. My update hadn't covered his move to... Sociedad XD from real life and although he had some nice potential I didn't feel it was fair to use him when he had just left the club. But nobody wanted to pay anything for him so I decided to just loan him out.
A few days before the opening of the winter transfer window Valencia decided that he needed a new challange. I decided not to stand in his way and sent him to China for only 3 million.
Guilermo Varela and Sam Johnstone also left the club as they were at that age where need to get first team football for the sake of their careers and I decided to let them have that as they weren't going to make it here even if I had kept them and sent them on loan somewhere. We got a total of 5,5 million for these two.
Obviously, Valencia's sale meant that I had to look for a new right back. And I went for an old servant of ours - Rafael. I overpaid for him (15,5 million) as there were better and cheaper choices but heart said go for it. :wub: So we welcomed back Rafa to the club.
Gremio's Lincoln also joined for 5 million. That was one for the future, really.
Finally, a little bit before the season finished New York came knocking for Carrick and I approved the deal. Let him play a little bit more first team football and make tons of money.
View attachment 88665
I guess it is kinda obvious because of the transfers but I've completed the first season already.
Next post will be results, performance of key players and youngsters and plans for the future.
I started with the latest transfer update from a few days ago. And with the latest changes the squad is looking really well balanced and solid - probably the best that's been in years.
View attachment 88685
Goalkeepers - Defenitely one of the strongest areas in our team. De Gea is among the best keepers in the world and Romero has tons of experience and quality to cover him. Unless David tries to force a transfer there probably won't be any changes for long years here.
Defenders - Enough quality and more than enough cover here with Shaw and Blind in left, Valencia (although criminally underrated in the game) and Darmian in right and Smalling, Jones, Rojo, Bailly and Lindelof in the middle. Also, Tuanzebe and Fosu-Mensah are just waiting for their chance to shine.
Midfielders - The only position where I thought that a new face would be needed. Among Pogba, Herrera, Fellaini and Carrick the first two are the obvious first choices but at least in the game I don't think they're a good option for midfield partnership as Ander doesn't have the defensive qualities he showed in real life that season to compliment Paul. Some muscle is defenitely needed as Fellaini wouldn't be my first choice either.
Attackers - So we've got Martial and Rashford on the left, Mkhitaryan and Lingard on the right, Young as a cover for both wings, Mata behind the striker with Herrera as a possible alternative and Lukaku up front with Martial and Rashford as alternatives. Solid attack but I feel that what is missing is a real match winner. Martial and Rashford both have the potential to become such but they're still not quite there and Lukaku and Miki are top players that will be able to do wonders in the right formation with the right team mates but they are not really the type of player that will single-handedly win you points. We don't really have our version of Hazard/Sanchez/Aguero.
View attachment 88684
As I said when reviewing the squad, the only thing that I was looking to add to the team was a proper partner for Pogba. And I managed to find my man in Adrien Silva who joined from Sporting Lisboa for 34 million pounds. He was the only summer addition as I felt the squad I had at my disposal was more than enough to achieve what the board wanted.
The first leaving was Young for no money as his wage was huge and was on the wrong side of 30s with ability of a league 1 player. Surprisingly, Monaco were in for him and even more surprisingly he was a key player for them during the season making 47 appearances with average rating of 7.0.
Darmian followed as I had way too many options in defense and with other players capable to play as right back (Valencia, Lindelof, Fosu-Mensah) that I prefered over him and him wanting a lot of first team football, the choice was easy. He joined Leicester for 14,5 million, possibly rising to 15,75.
The only other kinda big sale was Januzaj going on loan to Real Sociedad. My update hadn't covered his move to... Sociedad XD from real life and although he had some nice potential I didn't feel it was fair to use him when he had just left the club. But nobody wanted to pay anything for him so I decided to just loan him out.
A few days before the opening of the winter transfer window Valencia decided that he needed a new challange. I decided not to stand in his way and sent him to China for only 3 million.
Guilermo Varela and Sam Johnstone also left the club as they were at that age where need to get first team football for the sake of their careers and I decided to let them have that as they weren't going to make it here even if I had kept them and sent them on loan somewhere. We got a total of 5,5 million for these two.
Obviously, Valencia's sale meant that I had to look for a new right back. And I went for an old servant of ours - Rafael. I overpaid for him (15,5 million) as there were better and cheaper choices but heart said go for it. :wub: So we welcomed back Rafa to the club.
Gremio's Lincoln also joined for 5 million. That was one for the future, really.
Finally, a little bit before the season finished New York came knocking for Carrick and I approved the deal. Let him play a little bit more first team football and make tons of money.
View attachment 88665
I guess it is kinda obvious because of the transfers but I've completed the first season already.
Next post will be results, performance of key players and youngsters and plans for the future.
