SEASON 2017/18 PREVIEW:
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS & MEDIA PREDICTIONS:
View attachment 96040
Finances have greatly improved, with profits of £73 million for the last year and finances have gone from -£5.5 million to £65 million. Obviously the improved TV deal has been a significant factor in this but also, Champions League qualification has been important in this improvement.
We have been given a transfer budget of £42 million so hopefully we can make some significant additions, to really strengthen the side as we embark on our European campaign this season.
View attachment 96039
View attachment 96038
With the financial improvement we have benefited from, we have moved from 58th to 21st in the list of richest clubs in the world. The club is now valued at £328 million, which is a massive improvement on the £164 million which the club was valued at last season. Within the space of one season, the club's value has doubled which is unbelievable and encouraging to see that the improvement on field is being matched off the field too.
View attachment 96037
Look at the Season Expectations, we are looking for a Top Half finish, which considering how we finished 4th last season, is a big drop but realistic in regards to it only being our 2nd season in the Premier League. I will obviously be looking to finish as high up as possible and hopefully challenge for a European place again this season. I would be delighted to match the expectation of reaching the group stages of the Champions League but I am expecting a really tough draw in the Play Off round. Another good run in one of the domestic cups would be excellent, or at the very least an improvement on our FA Cup run is to be expected this season.
View attachment 96036
Manchested United have been placed as favourites to win the Premier League this season ahead of Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea. In terms of media prediction for ourselves, we are tipped to finish 12th and are priced at 200-1 to win the league (we are only 8-1 to be relegated from the Premier League. I would be very happy to prove the media wrong again this season and defy the odds with a strong showing in the League.
CONTRACT RENEWALS
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Nicolas Tagliafico has signed a new 2 year contract with the club which has almost doubled his wages. He had an excellent first season with the club and fully deserves the new deal. I wanted to offer him a longer term contract but he was only willing to sign a 2 year deal.
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Delighted to have tied down Michael Keane to a new 4 year deal with the club. Michael was heading into the final year of his contract with the club and was unwilling to resign unless we made it into the Champions League. He signed straight up after we finished 4th and this is a very important deal for both Michael and the club as he was excellent at the heart of our defence last season.
TRANSFERS - SUMMER 17/18
View attachment 96030
We allowed a number of fringe players to leave during the summer transfer window. Joey Barton and Michael Kightly were released after their contracts expired. After a 20 year career which started at Leeds United, Paul Robinson retired from football and we sold a number of other fringe players for small fees including Rouwen Hennings, Chris Long, Nick Pope, Jamie Thomas, Tom Anderson and Daniel Agyei. From our first team squad, joining Joey Barton and Paul Robinson in departing the club, Ashley Barnes signed for newly promoted Wolves for £2.7 million, Stephen Ward signed for Cardiff City for £325,000 and Kevin Long signed for Nott'm Forest for £325,000. Overall we received £8.25 million from sales.
With Jon Flanagan returning to his parent club Liverpool, my first signing of the window was Kieran Trippier who made his return to the club, signing from Tottenham Hotspur for £3.1 million. Kieran has found opportunities limited at Tottenham with Kyle Walker ahead of him as first choice right back and I'm delighted to have him resign with the club at a bargain price.
With Joey Barton leaving the club and Marco Asensio returning to Real Madrid following his loan spell, we were really short in Centre Midfield so I decided to return to South America to bring in Lucas Romero from Brazilian Premier League side Cruzeiro for £3.4 million. Having made 3 successful signings last season from South America, I'm hoping that Lucas Romero will make a similar impact to Valdivia, Nicolas Tagliafico and Joaquin Arzura.
Next up, I needed to find a back-up for Nicolas Tagliafico at left back following the sale of Stephen Ward. I decided to bring in Charlie Taylor after his contract with Leeds United expired. We had to pay £900,000 in compensation to complete the transfer but again it's another real bargain as Charlie has the potential to be a fantastic left back for the club.
Again I went back to the Brazilian Premier League with the signing of centre back Yerry Mina from Palmeiras. At a fairly expensive price of £6.75 million, I expect Yerry to really push both Michael Keane and Ben Mee for a starting spot at centre back. At 22 years of age, Yerry is already a Coulmbian international and he has the potential to be a fantastic addition to the club.
My 5th signing of the window was the most expensive by a long way with Belgian wonderkid, Youri Tielemans, signing from Anderlecht for £17 million. It's a huge transfer for the club but I feel that Youri has all the potential to be one of the best midfielders in world football and this price could prove to be a real bargain in the years to come.
With Paul Robinson retiring and Nick Pope signing for Fulham, Tom Heaton was our only senior goalkeeper at the club. I definitely needed to sign a backup for Tom, who had a number of injuries last season. I decided to bring in a young goalkeeper to learn from Tom Heaton and went with Angus Gunn, who signed from Manchester City for £350,000.
Our last signing of the transfer window, was one of real experience with Fernando Torres signing on a free transfer on a one year deal. Fernando has been there and won it all and I see him as another solid addition, providing experience to our front line of Andre Gray and Kasper Dolberg.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PLAYOFF DRAW
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As expected, we have received a really tough draw in the Champions League Playoff Qualification round with us being paired with Olympique Lyonnais. Although I'm happy to have avoided Atletico Madrid, this is possibly the 2nd toughest draw that we could have received. Still, I'm positive of our chances regardless and I'm sure we will battle to make the group stages of the Champions League.
PRE SEASON ROUNDUP
View attachment 96027
Following on from a training camp in Western Australia, we played 8 friendly fixtures and managed to record a 100% win record with 8 wins from 8. Having thrashed Northern Premier League, Ramsbottom, 9-0 in our first friendly and recording an 8-0 win away to French regional side, CA Lisieux, the highlight of our preseason, was definitely the 5-1 demolition of AC Milan at Turf Moor. Similar to last season, I'm delighted with the preparations for the new season and hope that we can bring this form into the new season with big European encounters to come along with the pressure of building on last seasons heroics in the Premier League.
SQUAD 2017/18
GK - Tom Heaton, Angus Gunn
RB - Kieran Tripper, Matt Lowton
LB - Nicolas Tagliafico, Charlie Taylor
CB - Michael Keane, Ben Mee, Yerry Mina, James Tarkowski
DM - Steven Defour, Joaquin Arzura
CM - Youri Tielemans, Jeff Hendrick, Lucas Romero, Aiden O'Neill
RW - Alessio Cerci, Johann Berg Gudmundsson
LW - Robbie Brady, Valdivia
FW - Andre Gray, Kasper Dolberg, Fernando Torres
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS & MEDIA PREDICTIONS:
View attachment 96040
Finances have greatly improved, with profits of £73 million for the last year and finances have gone from -£5.5 million to £65 million. Obviously the improved TV deal has been a significant factor in this but also, Champions League qualification has been important in this improvement.
We have been given a transfer budget of £42 million so hopefully we can make some significant additions, to really strengthen the side as we embark on our European campaign this season.
View attachment 96039
View attachment 96038
With the financial improvement we have benefited from, we have moved from 58th to 21st in the list of richest clubs in the world. The club is now valued at £328 million, which is a massive improvement on the £164 million which the club was valued at last season. Within the space of one season, the club's value has doubled which is unbelievable and encouraging to see that the improvement on field is being matched off the field too.
View attachment 96037
Look at the Season Expectations, we are looking for a Top Half finish, which considering how we finished 4th last season, is a big drop but realistic in regards to it only being our 2nd season in the Premier League. I will obviously be looking to finish as high up as possible and hopefully challenge for a European place again this season. I would be delighted to match the expectation of reaching the group stages of the Champions League but I am expecting a really tough draw in the Play Off round. Another good run in one of the domestic cups would be excellent, or at the very least an improvement on our FA Cup run is to be expected this season.
View attachment 96036
Manchested United have been placed as favourites to win the Premier League this season ahead of Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea. In terms of media prediction for ourselves, we are tipped to finish 12th and are priced at 200-1 to win the league (we are only 8-1 to be relegated from the Premier League. I would be very happy to prove the media wrong again this season and defy the odds with a strong showing in the League.
CONTRACT RENEWALS
View attachment 96032
Nicolas Tagliafico has signed a new 2 year contract with the club which has almost doubled his wages. He had an excellent first season with the club and fully deserves the new deal. I wanted to offer him a longer term contract but he was only willing to sign a 2 year deal.
View attachment 96031
Delighted to have tied down Michael Keane to a new 4 year deal with the club. Michael was heading into the final year of his contract with the club and was unwilling to resign unless we made it into the Champions League. He signed straight up after we finished 4th and this is a very important deal for both Michael and the club as he was excellent at the heart of our defence last season.
TRANSFERS - SUMMER 17/18
View attachment 96030
We allowed a number of fringe players to leave during the summer transfer window. Joey Barton and Michael Kightly were released after their contracts expired. After a 20 year career which started at Leeds United, Paul Robinson retired from football and we sold a number of other fringe players for small fees including Rouwen Hennings, Chris Long, Nick Pope, Jamie Thomas, Tom Anderson and Daniel Agyei. From our first team squad, joining Joey Barton and Paul Robinson in departing the club, Ashley Barnes signed for newly promoted Wolves for £2.7 million, Stephen Ward signed for Cardiff City for £325,000 and Kevin Long signed for Nott'm Forest for £325,000. Overall we received £8.25 million from sales.
With Jon Flanagan returning to his parent club Liverpool, my first signing of the window was Kieran Trippier who made his return to the club, signing from Tottenham Hotspur for £3.1 million. Kieran has found opportunities limited at Tottenham with Kyle Walker ahead of him as first choice right back and I'm delighted to have him resign with the club at a bargain price.
With Joey Barton leaving the club and Marco Asensio returning to Real Madrid following his loan spell, we were really short in Centre Midfield so I decided to return to South America to bring in Lucas Romero from Brazilian Premier League side Cruzeiro for £3.4 million. Having made 3 successful signings last season from South America, I'm hoping that Lucas Romero will make a similar impact to Valdivia, Nicolas Tagliafico and Joaquin Arzura.
Next up, I needed to find a back-up for Nicolas Tagliafico at left back following the sale of Stephen Ward. I decided to bring in Charlie Taylor after his contract with Leeds United expired. We had to pay £900,000 in compensation to complete the transfer but again it's another real bargain as Charlie has the potential to be a fantastic left back for the club.
Again I went back to the Brazilian Premier League with the signing of centre back Yerry Mina from Palmeiras. At a fairly expensive price of £6.75 million, I expect Yerry to really push both Michael Keane and Ben Mee for a starting spot at centre back. At 22 years of age, Yerry is already a Coulmbian international and he has the potential to be a fantastic addition to the club.
My 5th signing of the window was the most expensive by a long way with Belgian wonderkid, Youri Tielemans, signing from Anderlecht for £17 million. It's a huge transfer for the club but I feel that Youri has all the potential to be one of the best midfielders in world football and this price could prove to be a real bargain in the years to come.
With Paul Robinson retiring and Nick Pope signing for Fulham, Tom Heaton was our only senior goalkeeper at the club. I definitely needed to sign a backup for Tom, who had a number of injuries last season. I decided to bring in a young goalkeeper to learn from Tom Heaton and went with Angus Gunn, who signed from Manchester City for £350,000.
Our last signing of the transfer window, was one of real experience with Fernando Torres signing on a free transfer on a one year deal. Fernando has been there and won it all and I see him as another solid addition, providing experience to our front line of Andre Gray and Kasper Dolberg.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PLAYOFF DRAW
View attachment 96028
As expected, we have received a really tough draw in the Champions League Playoff Qualification round with us being paired with Olympique Lyonnais. Although I'm happy to have avoided Atletico Madrid, this is possibly the 2nd toughest draw that we could have received. Still, I'm positive of our chances regardless and I'm sure we will battle to make the group stages of the Champions League.
PRE SEASON ROUNDUP
View attachment 96027
Following on from a training camp in Western Australia, we played 8 friendly fixtures and managed to record a 100% win record with 8 wins from 8. Having thrashed Northern Premier League, Ramsbottom, 9-0 in our first friendly and recording an 8-0 win away to French regional side, CA Lisieux, the highlight of our preseason, was definitely the 5-1 demolition of AC Milan at Turf Moor. Similar to last season, I'm delighted with the preparations for the new season and hope that we can bring this form into the new season with big European encounters to come along with the pressure of building on last seasons heroics in the Premier League.
SQUAD 2017/18
GK - Tom Heaton, Angus Gunn
RB - Kieran Tripper, Matt Lowton
LB - Nicolas Tagliafico, Charlie Taylor
CB - Michael Keane, Ben Mee, Yerry Mina, James Tarkowski
DM - Steven Defour, Joaquin Arzura
CM - Youri Tielemans, Jeff Hendrick, Lucas Romero, Aiden O'Neill
RW - Alessio Cerci, Johann Berg Gudmundsson
LW - Robbie Brady, Valdivia
FW - Andre Gray, Kasper Dolberg, Fernando Torres
