If you read all of my posts in here, you'll notice that I AGREE that we still need better defenders and TIME. I agree with that. I disagree regarding the midfield though, we've addressed that with 3 very good additions in Di Maria, Herrera and Blind. Could we have done with another holding midfielder or box-to-box CM? Definitely. But beggars can't be choosers.
But the way some have reacted to our signings is laughable. Any supporter of any club in world football would be absolutely made up with the signings of Di Maria and Falcao. I am still on cloud 9 with it all.
As for Everton, I am discussing my feelings on you in the relevant threads. I think you are also desperate for new defenders and I don't rate Martinez as someone who can address the defensive frailties of a team well. This is why I think he'll be the perfect fit as Barcelona manager in a year or two - his teams are well known for keeping the ball and playing easy-on-the-eye tiki taka but have also always been suspect at the back.
This wouldn't matter at Barcelona because they've always been suspect at the back throughout history and usually have 80% possession stats anyway. But this isn't a luxury Everton can afford because you won't be able to bring in players of Iniesta and Messi's ilk and the Premier League is punishing if you can't defend properly, as L'pool found out last season. I am shocked Martinez didn't bring in 2 central defenders in the window and shipped out one of Jagielka or Distin. Exactly the same problem as us really except we did address it with one purchase of Rojo at CB, plus we now have far better striking options.
I think you've signed a lot of quality this season and I am impressed with some of the names you've got, Di Maria is truly world class, Falcao is a global name and Luke Shaw is better than his old club and English name suggests, there still feels like there is a hole in the midfield and a squidgy underbelly but I think United are a force again this season.
As for us... Our defence was rock solid last year, one pre season won't destroy us, we'll get back to where we were, a little confidence and throw in some Stones appearances and we'll be fine. We've got better up front and I think, just like your boys, we will be a match for anyone this season.
At our worst we got a draw against Arsenal, draw against Leicester and scored 3 past Chelsea, we are only going to get better this season.
Could be an interesting one but I defo think United and Everton will finish pretty close this year.
Oh and Besic is both a DM and CB, so along with Stones does give us the cover we need at that position, mainly I'm disappointed we didn't get a RB. Lose Coleman, lose games.
