Rayman wrote:

If United get Gundogan, I think they would become title contenders.

I remember hearing that about DiMaria and Falcao.

Chances are they'll be title contenders next season regardless, unless they spend really poorly.

Think United will do very well to come even close. Their options up front are both over 30 and have motivation issues, their midfield relies on Carrick who's old and a bit shit, Smalling is their best defender and de Gea won't save them next season as he'll either be gone or have his head turned in his last year, think he already confirmed he won't extend. Wouldn't trust van Gaal with five quid so chances are Fellaini will be their MVP again next season.

Yeah I'd say solidifying themselves as a solid top 4 side would be a good season for United. They have a lot of glaring flaws in the squad and they proved last summer that throwing a load of cash at the problem isn't a magic fix all.

They wasted money, but throwing money at the right players will win you the league.

They will have played 44 games in all competitions this year. We'll have played 56. That's over a quarter of a season more. As a club they obviously know the score with European football and they've got a big squad but they'll feel it next year. They pretty much had to buy a new team. They'll spend big again, some will do well, some will flop. 

And some will only start to do well after 6-12 months of settling in.

Spent 150m last season, 70m the year before and probably well over 100m again this summer. If 320m+ of expenditure over 3 seasons plus the biggest wage budget doesn't make you title contenders then it's pretty embarrassing.

They'll just keep going until they get it right, that is the scary thing. They needed an entire new team by the time Ferguson left, and they've almost bought it since.

I agree with Patters though, United had an easy time this season because they screwed up so badly the year before. I expected them to look more dangerous all things considered. van Gaal has had his Rodgers year now.

They'll be back next year, the changes they need are quite doable imo. They need a CB, a Carrick replacement (Gundogan), and a winger (Bale, Reus, Depay).

Klaus wrote:

I expected them to look more dangerous all things considered. van Gaal has had his Rodgers year now.

And yet he hasn't perform as well as Rodgers without European football. He has had an terribly underwhelming year if the effect of European football is as bad as we make it out to be.

and they can afford it. and bring in gundogan as well. particularly because they have a bunch of misfits they can offload for real money. 50-60m for Di Maria to PSG is not out of the question.

Clrnc wrote:

Klaus wrote:

I expected them to look more dangerous all things considered. van Gaal has had his Rodgers year now.

And yet he hasn't perform as well as Rodgers without European football. He has had an terribly underwhelming year if the effect of European football is as bad as we make it out to be.

No doubt. He'll keep throwing insane money at the problem though. Falcao and Di Maria last year, Cavani and Bale this summer probably. If that doesn't work out he'll find someone else. Eventually it will click. It's a blunt method but it works in the end if you're just rich enough.

Rayman wrote:

They wasted money, but throwing money at the right players will win you the league.

And picking the right lottery numbers will get you rich quick.

Both easier said than done though.

According to Bild we have contacted Dortmund to start negotiations for Gundogan. Atl. Madrid have also made contact while United are hesitant because of his injury record.

I'd be well pleased with this.

With Diaby's contract running out we should free up a space for an injury plagued midfielder.