The College Dropout

He would've been so perfect for us. Kudus too - who can play CM, AM, ST, RW - played all of these pretty much in equal measure. For the total cost of 1 banned Italian. I wonder how much that signing was a vanity one - getting the AC Milan captain. Signing a 26 year-old LW as well... when we already have one that is younger, similar profile, and arguably has a higher ceiling.... I just don't get it. Edit: Even Joao Pedro - younger, cheaper than Barnes. Can play LW, upfront or 10 if we wanted the flexibility.

IMO still has a role at the club but it needs to be off the bench or rotation. Not getting Kudus or Palmer was a massive missed opportunity.

Excellent delivery that

In his Chelsea YT comps - he played in midfield mostly at youth level.

He looks a technical CM to me. Lovely weight of passing.

Was he meant to come in ahead of Burn and Targett? I thought we might sell Targett or loan him out. Keeping all 3 I didn’t expect him to get much time. Ive not seen a lot of pace tbf.

Not world class but I thought Daniel Sturridge would have a better career than the likes of Crouch or Defoe.

We seem to have gone for Howe players to come straight into the team. And other profiles for squad players. Through varying reasons only 1 of them has had a proper impact and it took an injury crisis for him to get a chance.

I think Wilson throws his weight around a lot more and scraps with defenders. He battles them. He has more of "that dog in him". He also seems to gas after about 70 minutes but he's also a more limited footballer, 30+, suffered 2 ACLs, a dozen hamstring injuries and a few calf injuries. So expectations are down overall. Yep. Almiron earned himself an important role in the squad but not our first-choice RW ahead of Murphy. We needed more in that position.

We knew that going into this season. We attempted to replace 1 of these players this season in the summer transfer window. That looked like a massive risk going into this season and so it has turned out a mistake.

Man U have spent much more money, with more significant wages, with a better existing squad. Also - people assume the management structure at Ma U is awful (recruitment, scouts, negotiations etc.), whereas people assume we have the best in class. Transfers are a shared responsibility. Aye, we seem to have double-downed on Howe-ball in areas... but we've also signed players he doesn't seem keen to use and we've left him short in key positions for multiple windows. I agree - there is no Plan. B. I think he deserves the full season no matter what, and unless it's catastrophic - he deserves most of next season too.* *On the assumption we can't get a Xabi Alonso level replacement.

The long-term ambition for the club is to win trophies or at least compete - at the very highest level. Every season, they want us to achieve things that help us build and sustain that objective. Qualifying for Europe boosts the clubs reputation, playing in Europe boosts the co-efficient to allow favourable draws at every level, increases revenues directly (match day revenue, TV revenue, prize money) and most importantly IMO - it helps justify larger sponsorship deals further boosting revenues. A good run in the Cups doesn't do any of those things to the same degree.

Would Howe play him?

But that is the point I am making. We haven't prioritised technical ability in the last 2 windows.

I think they want us to challenge for everything. But at the end of the season, the league finish will define the season. if we finish 6th-7th the owners will look around and say - it's been a decent season all things considered. No matter what happens in the FA Cup. If we finish 10th - unless we win the FA Cup the season will be considered a bit of a failure. I do think an FA Cup final appearance or semi-final might save Howe's job in that instance though or at least have people's support both fans and in the boardroom. For aspiring top sides - you get credit for winning trophies and high league finishes. Cup runs are for midtable teams. Edit: the champions league is the obvious exception.

"Good run in the cups" does little to satisfy the clubs long-term ambitions. Winning a cup would be a huge achievement but anything short - IMO doesn't add much value beyond "feel good factor". IMO the leadership would rather finish 7th and qualify for the Europa League (if poss), than finish 9th and get to the FA Cup semi-final or even the final and losing.

Agreed. Europa League is actually ideal for next season. For the reasons you've mentioned. And it's another route to the CL and a decent chance of silverware.

True. But 2 seasons out of Europe would be a disaster. Which is why your net spend this season without CL football is the same as your net spend last season with CL football and higher than the previous 2 seasons. We don't have that luxury and need European football to entice new signings.

If you only want to make long-term moves. You have to accept short-term pain.

Willock has been such a huge miss. Howe's system requires a few players with elite athleticism.

In Howe's defence - when Klopp gets injuries and bad form. He doesn't seem to do much to rectify it either tactically. He's started inverting TAA at the end of last season but he didn't do much prior to that from Aug - Feb/March. He's relied on getting his players back / signing new players to play his style of football. I don't follow Liverpool and their tactics closely mind so I could be completely wrong. I do remember seeing a 442 at some point.

Joao Pedro? Seems to play mostly upfront or at 10 - which I don't think we can justify paying £30m for with a backup. But I think we should be singing the next JP for £5-20m

For back-up positions - we need to do the Brighton thing of signing cheap young players. Or even cheap older players.

Wouldn't sell Amiron or Wilson.

We'll be unable to consistently challenge until we start selling players for huge profits. Whether that's Kuol type players or academy players. We'll always be heavily curtailed by FFP until then.