Apart from so called lower league players who came up with us proving they were more than good enough at this level?
Look, if you or anyone else are expecting United to fund a ready made and PROVEN player as good as Coutts then I’m afraid you are a little delusional.
While Coutts was injured in League 1, he was considered a risk and unproven. Many wanted him to simply fuck off. Over the last 12 months he has gone from strength to strength and PROVEN his ability. He has signed a new contract, and if he were fit now I would be concerned that someone might pop along with a bid over £5m pounds and United would take it. Me personally I feel he has proven he is the best midfield player of his type in this division, and I watch Henderson for Liverpool and see him shinning shots, misplacing passes, slowing it down with his poor touch and can say confidently that Coutts in that Liverpool side would do a better job. My value of the player is well over £5m! (As is Fleck BTW)
So are we really going to spend over £5m? No chance.
Might we take a gamble that another player costing much less...in this case Leonard, might possess the ability to BECOME the player Coutts has done over the last 12 months? ABSOLUTLEY.
So there it is, United will build a squad with a plan and purpose to improve at a pace we can AFFORD, with the intention to improve year on year.
Sadly, as I suspected the injury to Coutts seems to have been the end of our chances at the Auto places. A good January window, with the added luck of the additions making an immediate impact and we could secure a play off spot and have a chance. But realistically, we are going to probably fall short in the end but we will be ready and better equipped to have another go next season.
