In fairness to Gollum he was left with a poisoned chalice by GPC. They need to replace so many players it isn't true. GPC has basically got the last final hurrah from most of their aged players and I don't see where the replacements are coming from without a huge kitty.
Top 4 Standard (being generous) - maybe 6, 3 of which are over 30
De Gea, Rafael (going forward anyway), Carrick (33 now?), Shrek, RVP & Vidic (if they can stay fit).
Pretty sure Vidic & Carrick are in the last years of their contracts soon also.
Squad Players - maybe 9 Top 4 squad players
Januzaj (until he gets more than 8 starts), Evans, Jones, Smalling, Nani, Hernandez, Kagawa, Cleverley & Fellaini
Too old or not good enough (was tempted to put Vidic in here after injuries) - around 9 not good enough for a Top 4 club (playing for Gollum anyway)
Anderson, Valencia, Evra, Giggs, Young, Welbeck (he's had his goals for the season), Ferdinand, Fabio, Fletcher (illness)
They have no RB or LB after Rafael/Evra apart from a relocated CB (or Fabio). Their CBs after Vidic are pretty much top 4 squad players in other teams They don't have a central midfielder apart from Carrick worth a bean. Their wingers are performing crap and the only thing keeping them in with a shout was RVP last year and Rooney this year so far.
Noises coming out that RVP is pissed off and Shrek is holding them to ransom on a new contract. Either they pay Shrek an absolute fortune which will get others clamouring for more wages or he'll walk on a free in 18 month's time - he can talk to other clubs in January 2015 which is only 4-5 months after the World Cup ends so you can guarantee he will be going balls out to impress to either get a new, huge contract or drum up interest for a free transfer on huge wages :)
They need a top class CB, LB, midfielder (1 or 2) & a winger. That lot will cost them maybe £120 - £150m to get to a 1st team squad of 20 which is pretty small although they could use some from my 'crap list' in easy games, maybe........
They'll still beat the crap teams and there is a chance of Top 4 because of that but they won't be able to get away with dicking all the low teams and holding an average record against the top 6 - too many losing games against the lower rated side which is normally their strength.
Will the gnomes sanction that sort of spending, I doubt it - this year is going to be fun to watch :)
