Has Manchester United actually conducted some good business during this transfer window? I suppose that the answer to this question has to be, “yes”.
They have brought in Matteo Darmian, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin, Memphis Depay and Sergio Romero. With the exception of Romero any one of the other four would improve the squad.
So, they have covered a full back position, which was needed as Rafael couldn’t be trusted. They have more than covered midfield as Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin will add competition for Carrick, Fellaini, Mata, Herrera and even, to an extent, Januzaj, Young and Valencia with Depay added to the mix.
Where they haven’t added sufficient cover is where they have needed to since long before the transfer window’s curtains were even drawn back.
A world class centre half is still a much needed acquisition. Phil Jones is OK, but turns into a bull the moment he sees the green of the pitch, it must look like a china shop to him. Frequently injured because of his recklessness, he cannot be considered reliable enough for the first team.
Marcos Rojo looked a good addition initially but took a while to get a work permit, then got stranded in Argentina with passport issues, so due to his irresponsibility the jury is still out on him.
Chris Smalling has improved recently but I am still not convinced he would get into the Manchester City or Chelsea first teams and, if he is not good enough for them, he should not be good enough for United.
Jonny Evans appears to be on his way to anybody prepared to stump up the moolah.
So it wouldn’t have been too surprising had United managed to prise Hummels away from Dortmund or Otamendi from Valencia as, in the eyes of the fans if not van Gaal, they were needed. Ramos was never a viable proposition as everybody in the world except Woodward and van Gaal were aware.
The striking department also looks a little thin. Robin van Persie has been sold a year earlier than he should have been, (particularly when you read that United may be interested in Ibrahimovic, a player two years his senior), and Falcao has been sent packing, all of which leaves Rooney, who is no longer a prolific goalscorer, Hernandez who is a decent impact player from the bench but does not have a good record when starting games and Wilson a relatively untried youngster.
At the time of writing this there are eight days left until the transfer window closes. For a club like Manchester United to continue into the season without a world class striker and a world class centre half being added to the ranks would be almost criminal in the eyes of the supporters.
Louis van Gaal has said Manchester United can get any player. A very bold statement, especially when you consider all the ones they haven’t been able to get.
Ed Woodward appears to still have a lot to learn about transfer dealings. After a disastrous first window he appeared to make amends with the early signings this time, but that will all go out of the window, no pun intended, if he doesn’t bring in the players needed before the end of this one.
At present, if Ferguson and Gill were the Holmes and Watson of the transfer market, then van Gaal and Woodward are the Laurel and Hardy. They need to change the perception people have of them.
There are still plenty of players available. If United want to make a marquee signing then so be it. The fans just want to see some movement on a striker and a centre half. If they are big names and world class then they should be excellent additions. If they are not big names and only potentially world class they will still be welcomed and certainly won’t be the waste of money that Di Maria was.
WHY SAY ANYTHING? 