What to do with him?
A few months ago I’d have said give him the extra year it’s a no brainer but I’m unsure now.
His injury problems have re-surfaced lately and his performances haven’t been good probably because he hasn’t gained momentum. His last good performance was the 3-3 with Everton which is going back a few months.
It was also concerning that Ole said he only wants to play if he’s 100% ready.
He’s been decent without pulling up any trees and will likely surpass 30 games this season which isn’t terrible for a squad player and has given 100% each time he has played but he’s 34 and is unlikely to get any better and is on 200k per week.
I’m in 2 minds as I don’t think we should spend big on a CF unless it’s a real game changer like Haaland or even Kane (I still have reservations about his ankles) while we have Greenwood who will likely only get better.
If a player like that is somehow attainable then by all means go for them but that’s highly unlikely. Greenwood is showing signs that he can become our number 9 and would keeping Cavani benefit more than say letting Cavani go and getting a better version of Ighalo in on lower wages?
What do you think we should do?
Edinson Cavani
posted on 6/4/21
i dont think you can call Ronaldo, one of the most coveted youngsters in world football, a panic buy.
Id have loved to see Ronaldinho in a United shirt though.
posted on 6/4/21
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 1 minute ago
I think had we got Sancho who we were desperately trying to get all summer then it is highly likely that we wouldn't have also bought either Diallo or Pellistri which would suggest they were panic buys even if the club had been monioring both beforehand.
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Quite probably. However, if the club does put Diallo out on loan next season and/or generally develops him to either break into the team in 2-3 years or be sold for a profit, the transfer can be defended as a perfectly rational Moneyball-type exercise.
The issue then is that we didn't exhibit the right balance between immediate first team recruitment needs at the same time as conducting sensible investment in the medium-term. I wonder if that flurry of youth recruitment was the product of Murtough's data-driven work, and the failures in first team recruitment testament to a lack of cohesion between the two pillars. We'll see whether the reorganisation leads to more joined-up thinking this summer and beyond.
posted on 6/4/21
Hes been a good singer for us. Yes hes been injured but hes done OK when hes played but the knowledge that Greenwood and Rashford will have gained will be vital!
posted on 6/4/21
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 1 minute ago
I think had we got Sancho who we were desperately trying to get all summer then it is highly likely that we wouldn't have also bought either Diallo or Pellistri which would suggest they were panic buys even if the club had been monioring both beforehand.
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Quite probably. However, if the club does put Diallo out on loan next season and/or generally develops him to either break into the team in 2-3 years or be sold for a profit, the transfer can be defended as a perfectly rational Moneyball-type exercise.
The issue then is that we didn't exhibit the right balance between immediate first team recruitment needs at the same time as conducting sensible investment in the medium-term. I wonder if that flurry of youth recruitment was the product of Murtough's data-driven work, and the failures in first team recruitment testament to a lack of cohesion between the two pillars. We'll see whether the reorganisation leads to more joined-up thinking this summer and beyond.
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I think you’ve hit the nail with the Moneyball comment.
We’ve hoovered up *far* more talent in the last 24 months than we could ever hope to progress to the first team squad.
All of the following were either serious financial investments or the targeted acquisition of seriously sought after talent:
Diallo
Kambwala
Jurado
Fernandez
McNeill
Hugill
Pye
Hansen
Garnacho
Mejbri
Pellistri
Hoogewerf
We’ve gone big and we’ve gone hard on youth talent. It’s a shift in strategy and there’s a strong Moneyball feel to it.
posted on 6/4/21
Rosso, in isolation the Moneyball approach does seem sensible. We've seen Chelsea prosper both through the introduction of home-grown talent and selling on those youngsters who are brought into their academy, loaned out and never represent the XI.
What seems comically plausible though is the idea that Woodward / Judge failed to secure key first team targets and spluffed the summer window budget by working their way deeper down that Moneyball list than anyone intended.
posted on 6/4/21
Clearly the club have looked into youth and spent big (which is promising) but I still think had we got Sancho who we clearly were desperate to get all summer then we wouldn’t have got either Diallo or Pellistri which does show some level of panic buying.
posted on 6/4/21
I'm not disagreeing with you 1982, in case that's not clear!
posted on 6/4/21
You better not be
posted on 6/4/21
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 3 minutes ago
Rosso, in isolation the Moneyball approach does seem sensible. We've seen Chelsea prosper both through the introduction of home-grown talent and selling on those youngsters who are brought into their academy, loaned out and never represent the XI.
What seems comically plausible though is the idea that Woodward / Judge failed to secure key first team targets and spluffed the summer window budget by working their way deeper down that Moneyball list than anyone intended.
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I don’t even want to think about that; but before some *very* significant add-ons, the club has spent somewhere around £50m on transfer and signing fees on the players listed above.
posted on 6/4/21
RR, yeah I understand what you mean. It’s obviously one we’d had an eye on. But the whole transfer window last season stinks of panic - even if there is some thought behind the signings. It was on the level of the Fellaini and Fred summers in terms of poorly thought out, and executed, transfer windows.
It’s lucky it’s not really cost us too much in the league this season. We saw how those other summer windows contributed to shiiiiit seasons after.