Holy trinity

[David Hodgson]

Whilst reluctantly watching the Mancs V Wigan last Sunday, had to endure Gray and Tyler talking about United's 'holy trinity' of Rooney, Ronaldo, and Tevez.

 

Gotta thinking just how we could 'push on' simply by adding to our own 'holy duality'. The biggest progression last season, when we strip all the complicated analyses away, is that we've gone from being a one man team to a two man team. Imagine, then, the 'possibilities' if we became a three man team.

 

Is there a case for Rafa going 'f*ck it', we'll buy just one (maybe two) new players', and blow all of our budget on trying to get just one more game changer ? At the end of the day, our squad is decent. It got us to 76 points and the CL semis. Do we really need to try and tinker with four or five positions that technically need improving ? Mightn't it be better just to make a quantum leap in one ?

 

I think it might be.

[Boca]

See latest news in transfer thread for answer.

[Kahnee]

Fewer better players would take less time to integrate, certainly, but why have one if you can have two? Two world-class wide players and we're giggling like schoolgirls I reckon

[muleskinner]

Who and where though? I agree we need another really top class somebody in an attacking position but I'm fecked who it should be. I think wide left is as good a place as any.

[Eskimo]

Cherno Samba?

[fred milne]

Is there a case for Rafa going 'f*ck it', we'll buy just one (maybe two) new players', and blow all of our budget on trying to get just one more game changer ? At the end of the day, our squad is decent. It got us to 76 points and the CL semis. Do we really need to try and tinker with four or five positions that technically need improving ? Mightn't it be better just to make a quantum leap in one ?

 

I think it might be.

So do I.

[fred milne]

Who and where though?

Where is easy enough: Kuyt's position. Who is a bit harder.....

[BG]

Maybe yes. I think Rafa said something about the basic difference between us and United was that they have more gamebrakers.

 

If it were up to me - and assuming no big players leave - I'de promote Plessis to 4th choice central midfiesler, promote Insua to second choice left back and only a right winger and a rightback. I really can;t see the point in Rafa buying all these youngsters if the only time any of them ever get to play is end of season and league cup.

 

It worries me that Barry is coming in if no-one is leaving because much as I think he's a good player it will still mean that week after week (with everyone fit) we will have two very good central midfielders on the bench whilst there's dross elsewhere in the starting 11 every week.

[muleskinner]

Where is easy enough: Kuyt's position. Who is a bit harder.....

 

Put Babel there, and get the mystery man for the left side.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Another supporting factor for David & Kahnee's argument is that by investing in just a few really strong players means we have to retain the likes of Pennant etc.

 

Whats the point in spending cheap money on another Pennant and then finding out the lad will take a season to settle and still end up with the same quality as Pennant. Keep the lad, he is settled and knows his place.

 

Imagine we didnt invest in Benayoun and Pennant and used their money to supplement the cash used to buy Kuyt and ended up with a world class striker but retained the likes of Nunez & Pongolle ?

 

David Villa, Nunez, FSP VS Kuyt, Pennant, Benayoun ?

[CaptainXabi]

Whilst reluctantly watching the Mancs V Wigan last Sunday, had to endure Gray and Tyler talking about United's 'holy trinity' of Rooney, Ronaldo, and Tevez.

 

Gotta thinking just how we could 'push on' simply by adding to our own 'holy duality'. The biggest progression last season, when we strip all the complicated analyses away, is that we've gone from being a one man team to a two man team. Imagine, then, the 'possibilities' if we became a three man team.

 

Is there a case for Rafa going 'f*ck it', we'll buy just one (maybe two) new players', and blow all of our budget on trying to get just one more game changer ? At the end of the day, our squad is decent. It got us to 76 points and the CL semis. Do we really need to try and tinker with four or five positions that technically need improving ? Mightn't it be better just to make a quantum leap in one ?

 

I think it might be.

Absolutely. I agree 100%.

[Guest PaulMcC]

Just buy David Silva.

[Cobs]

Whilst reluctantly watching the Mancs V Wigan last Sunday, had to endure Gray and Tyler talking about United's 'holy trinity' of Rooney, Ronaldo, and Tevez.

 

Gotta thinking just how we could 'push on' simply by adding to our own 'holy duality'. The biggest progression last season, when we strip all the complicated analyses away, is that we've gone from being a one man team to a two man team. Imagine, then, the 'possibilities' if we became a three man team.

 

Is there a case for Rafa going 'f*ck it', we'll buy just one (maybe two) new players', and blow all of our budget on trying to get just one more game changer ? At the end of the day, our squad is decent. It got us to 76 points and the CL semis. Do we really need to try and tinker with four or five positions that technically need improving ? Mightn't it be better just to make a quantum leap in one ?

 

I think it might be.

 

been saying this for the last 2 summers

[honourablegeorge]

Whilst reluctantly watching the Mancs V Wigan last Sunday, had to endure Gray and Tyler talking about United's 'holy trinity' of Rooney, Ronaldo, and Tevez.

 

Gotta thinking just how we could 'push on' simply by adding to our own 'holy duality'. The biggest progression last season, when we strip all the complicated analyses away, is that we've gone from being a one man team to a two man team. Imagine, then, the 'possibilities' if we became a three man team.

 

Is there a case for Rafa going 'f*ck it', we'll buy just one (maybe two) new players', and blow all of our budget on trying to get just one more game changer ? At the end of the day, our squad is decent. It got us to 76 points and the CL semis. Do we really need to try and tinker with four or five positions that technically need improving ? Mightn't it be better just to make a quantum leap in one ?

 

I think it might be.

 

 

Don't think there's anybody in their right minds that would disagree.

 

Well, apart from a certain portly Spanish gentleman.

[Roscoe]

I think the problem now as opposed to a couple of seasons back or even last season is that the full back positions really need addressing. one torres class player would certainly be preferable to 3 or 4 benny noon class players but I think we need a torres class and 2 full backs as good as say finnan was 2 seasons ago.

[yellow jumper]

think united's recent success is based more on the addition of vidic, evra and carrick/hargreaves to what was already a very good set of attacking players.

[usualsuspect]

think united's recent success is based more on the addition of vidic, evra and carrick/hargreaves to what was already a very good set of attacking players.

Agreed. And we have needed to beef up our attacking. We now seem to be in a funk of having to strengthen a bit of both although we have a very sound core. Quality and not quantity will take us to the next level in my opinion. Hard to forget Rafa's ongoing pleas for quality wingers and we ended up with none . Who would have thought we'd be stuck with Kuyt on the right (decent 5 or 6 games in the last third of season but eons from adequate).

 

I personally wouldn't mind if we gambled a little and rid 5-6 players for 2 quality stars. Might even help us play a more settled side

Edited May 15, 2008 by usualsuspect

[yellow jumper]

depends on who we sell. who's available to buy. who wants to come. and how much we have to offer.

[Guest JV]

been saying this for the last 2 summers

aye. Sadly we will have the usual influx of 2000 players. The majority of those adding very little to the team.

[David Hodgson]

depends on who we sell. who's available to buy. who wants to come. and how much we have to offer.

 

Well, no sh*t Georgie boy.

 

But, hey, let's take a stab. I think we'll have 25-40m depending on sales. Either way, enough to spend big on one or two top notch individuals.

 

As to who we buy ? Well, that's up to Rafa and what he's paid for. I'm talking simply about the principal of how a budget is allocated. I hear the arguments about addressing multiple positions, but they miss the point. If we get one player, say for right wing, who's anywhere near as good as Gerrard or Torres then we don't really have to worry too much about tolerating average full backs.

[Cobs]

I think we'll have 25-40m depending on sales. Either way, enough to spend big on one or two top notch individuals.

so then we buy David Villa and Ronaldinho

 

 

sorted, we can keep Riise for one more year and sort out our fullbacks next summer

[yellow jumper]

Well, no sh*t Georgie boy.

 

But, hey, let's take a stab. I think we'll have 25-40m depending on sales. Either way, enough to spend big on one or two top notch individuals.

 

As to who we buy ? Well, that's up to Rafa and what he's paid for. I'm talking simply about the principal of how a budget is allocated. I hear the arguments about addressing multiple positions, but they miss the point. If we get one player, say for right wing, who's anywhere near as good as Gerrard or Torres then we don't really have to worry too much about tolerating average full backs.

 

that might be true. if he needs to sell to raise money, it may be less easy to spend it all at once.

 

i'd like us to get a really top class right sided player, but i don't see that many sure things out there, and even fewer that look accessible.

 

it's possible that a relatively inexpensive player could make a big difference, as sagna has at arsenal or evra did at united. and i think fullback is one position where we could certainly improve in terms of what's offered at both ends of the pitch.

[Kahnee]

we can keep Riise for one more year and sort out our fullbacks next summer

 

Or flog Riise, utilise Insua, Carra and Arbeloa and then sort out the fullbacks next year

[David Hodgson]

been saying this for the last 2 summers

 

Still true mind.

 

Also, I think the finding of Torres has been a marker point. It has demonstrated how progress can be effected by one really superb signing.

 

Whether Rafa will see things this way remains to be seen.

[Cobs]

Or flog Riise, utilise Insua, Carra and Arbeloa and then sort out the fullbacks next year

even better

 

Ronaldinho & Villa it is then.