Fergie wants just one player

[kyan]

In essence he's still a winger, because his starting position and his position when United don't have the ball is out wide (except for the few occasions when he really does play as CF). His mobility, pace, stamina, and eagerness to join attacks, along with his license to roam, are what allow him to get so many shots away, a lot of them come from cutting in from the wing.

[kyan]

Gill promises funds for Ferguson

Manchester United chief executive David Gill has promised Sir Alex Ferguson further funds to strengthen his title-winning squad this summer.

Gill said: "We will be in a position where, if we can improve it, we will.

"It is the best league in the world so if we want to continue to be at the top we have to make sure we look at the squad and improve it."

United were happy to spend last summer, with Owen Hargreaves, Anderson, Carlos Tevez and Nani all added to the squad.

However, Ferguson has been given licence to add more new signings as he looks to equal Liverpool's record haul of 18 league titles.

England internationals Michael Owen and Micah Richards are rumoured to be on the Scotsman's shopping list.

"When you make big money signings like we did last year, it is fantastic when you see them come in and do so well," said Gill.

"That shows what this club is about. All these big stars are integrated very quickly, made to feel very welcome and therefore they produce the goods on the pitch."

In a later interview for BBC Radio 5 Live, Gill added that United's success was attributable to a number of individuals.

Gill said: "It's down to Fergsuon, his assistant Carlos Queiroz, the coaching staff, the scouting staff and the players.

"It's down to what happens on the pitch but what happens off the pitch gives Alex the funds to invest in the club."

He said the Glazer family had brought stability to Old Trafford three years after taking over.

"They recognised the importance of what happens on the pitch and to have a business plan off it.

"But there will always be certain factions that will be anti the Glazers even if we win the European Cup in Moscow."

Gill also insisted there was no question of the 66-year-old Ferguson considering retirement, adding: "He's on a 12-month rolling contract and we never discuss it [retirement].

"He's got the enthusiasm and the appetite for more."

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Man Utd | Gill promises funds for Ferguson

Good stuff, too much doesn't have to be spent, just a RB and a striker will do, although Fraizer Campbell deserves a shot at some point.

[unitedfan]

Brown's signed a contract, and Neville is back next season, reassured of a starting position. To go back on what I said all of 24 hours ago, we may not sign another RB at all.

A striker is the only one we can be sure we're after. A winger and/or RB may possibly also be signed, but isn't totally nessecary.

[dukeofdavinci]

huntelar is one of the ones but i want him at roma too, but lets see where our targets land.

we might opt for a striker for sure, lets see who else gets the nod.

[hanuma]

Originally Posted by kyan

In essence he's still a winger, because his starting position and his position when United don't have the ball is out wide

Like Henry then.

a lot of them come from cutting in from the wing.

Like most modern strikers, Drogba included.

[Dellas]

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson expects to sign only one player when the summer transfer market reopens on 1 July.
"Managers are back at their clubs and you can get some dialogue now if they are interested," he said.
"But I wouldn't think we would buy any more than one player. We are looking at one or two things."
Ferguson must also determine the situation of Cristiano Ronaldo, who is linked with a move to Real Madrid.
While admitting that the end of Euro 2008 will herald a busy spell in the transfer market, Ferguson insists that the Champions League winners and Premier League champions will not be rushing to spend.
"People think it's easy to buy players nowadays, but it's not because money plays a big part first of all," he said.
"Clubs with ambitions don't want to sell their best players, so it's not as easy as you'd think and we tend to look for younger ones."
United recently had a £5m offer accepted for Cardiff City's 17-year-old Aaron Ramsey, but the teenage star decided to move to Arsenal.


They have been linked with Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov and Blackburn forward Roque Santa Cruz as possible replacements for injury-prone Frenchman Louis Saha, who is reported to be in talks with Roma.
United spent over £50m last summer, adding Owen Hargreaves, Anderson, Carlos Tevez and Nani to their squad.
Portuguese winger Ronaldo, meanwhile, has recently expressed his desire to join Spanish giants Real Madrid this summer - but it is believed he and Ferguson have not spoken since late May when the 23-year-old left to join a Euro 2008 training camp. United's pre-season training starts on Wednesday but players involved in Euro 2008 have been granted extended leave.

source: BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Man Utd | Man Utd limit transfer activity

So what position will this one player be for?

Surely tho if Ronaldo goes and then Saha goes etc. you will buy more than one player. Unless Manucho is recalled.

[usamu]

If we only sign one player, it will be a tall, mobile 9.

[kyan]

Clearly Ferguson doesn't expect Ronaldo to leave.

Manucho has been recalled, he's doing preseason with United.

But yeah usamu you're right, it's just the #9 that's required, the defence can wait until next summer to be strengthened (when Neville's another year older & Silvestre has probably left).

[dukeofdavinci]

and then Saha goes etc

regardless of saha we will still sign another #9, no one is hoping or even cares right if he even stays fit wch he cant.

[jlae11]

if ronaldo leaves and we dont sign a winger, im starting to really think that berbatov would be ideal to sign for that situation... united would then be perfectly suited to play the 4321 christmas tree/ac milan style:

back 4
hargreaves carrick scholes
tevez rooney
berbatov

i actually like that option... anyone else? i think berbatov could be prolific with that 11...

[kyan]

Originally Posted by jlae11

if ronaldo leaves and we dont sign a winger, im starting to really think that berbatov would be ideal to sign for that situation... united would then be perfectly suited to play the 4321 christmas tree/ac milan style:

back 4
hargreaves carrick scholes
tevez rooney
berbatov

i actually like that option... anyone else? i think berbatov could be prolific with that 11...

I'm not so sure. It'd definitely be a viable option but where's the width? It'd probably end up with Rooney playing as a LW which isn't his best position. Otherwise Evra would have to do even more running if possible lol.

[jlae11]

ac milan did it... with LESS talent overall. that makes me think that united could do it for sure!

[kyan]

Maybe... but then again you have to question whether or not they have been successful enough domestically in the last 5-6 years, and also keep in mind that Serie A is a different kettle of fish to the Premiership...

[Tattooed Crusader]

I don't know if you can play Berbatov, Tevez and Rooney in the same side. As Kyan pointed out, United do rely on using width to prise open defenses. Unless United plan on playing Carrick (or Scholes) in the middle with either one or two of Giggs / Hargreaves / Nani providing the width, my fear is that United next season could look like Chelski this season where so much of the attack seemed to go straight up the middle. I wonder if United might use Tevez and not Rooney behind the front two and then sit Carrick behind him with Nani on one side and Giggs on the other. However, I wonder if would not be more likely that United would be able to rotate strikers in a bit more and keep all three players a bit fresher ...

[jlae11]

my point was that if ronaldo leaves, then there isnt a winger in united's best 11... giggs is getting past it, nani isnt ready, but i guess park is close. so, i meant (if we wanted to play our best 11) that united would be forced to change tactics a bit and play a system without wingers, which is why i offered up that xmas tree formation... which i dont mind actually...

i realize that the typical united style involves wingers and alot of dependency on width... BUT, without a top-11 type winger in the squad, i dont think united can keep with that style and saf may have to adjust things.

the formation that i drew up above was just a way that i saw to get united's best 11 players on the field in a formation that would work. no, that formation doesnt have alot of width.... BUT, width can still be provided by the wingbacks--evra and neville/brown/hargreaves all have the ability to get up the field (aside from brown to an extent) and provide a wide outlet without the necessity of a true winger. although, in the formation, tevez and rooney would be free to roam... and they would provide alot of width too (esp rooney because tevez has a stronger tendency to play thru the middle).

crusader, i dont like that you compared that formation to chelsea... i dont think it would turn out like that at all because the united players that would fill the roles are much more versatile than the chelsea players... all of the players in that team can play thru the center OR out wide.