23 Jul 2014 21:45:51
Just a note Strootman is back in full training and told an Italian journo today "Louie rang me to ask how I am feeling, such a nice man"
Whats the odds we are waiting on Stroots before going in for Vidal or maybe both, now that would be awesome.
I'll bet a pound to a pinch of rubbish its Stroots we go for

1.) 23 Jul 2014
23 Jul 2014 22:28:02
I hope so. Strootman and Herrera could be an excellent pairing in central midfield. Both good passers, energetic, defensively aggressive, strootman to play the holding role, with Herrera given freedom to push forward and link up with Mata, Januzaj, Kagawa etc.

With Herrera signed, I've been very dubious about the Vidal rumours so far, because it seeks silly to spend 70m+ on two box-to-box midfielders, but not get anyone in to play alongside them in a lire defensive role, especially now Carrick is injured.

Plus I think the clever technical play of Herrera may well mesh better with the likes of Mata etc, than the more powerful style of Vidal would.

2.) 23 Jul 2014
If we dropped our interest in Vidal to buy Strootman, I will be p1ssed.

3.) 23 Jul 2014
I am with you Syd, after months of negotiating and then ending up with strootman will be a massive waste of time negoatiating for Vidal.

4.) 23 Jul 2014
Yes agree Syd although now it appears that may be a nonsense made up by someone

5.) 24 Jul 2014
Don't get me wrong, I think Vidal is the best player of his type in the world right now, and he would be a great signing.

However, having already signed Herrera, I don't see how Vidal fits, unless Herrera is going to be an expensive understudy. I guess they could play together, with whichever one is in the better position going forward while the othe covers, but that kind of understanding doesn't come overnight.

Otherwise, either one of them could play the holding role, but both of them are best when they have freedom to come forwards from central midfield, so it would be wasting their best qualities.

6.) 24 Jul 2014
Strootman is not half the player Vidal is and we already have better players in the squad. I would be pissed and he is not going to move the needle for us where vidal will.

7.) 24 Jul 2014
24 Jul 2014 08:02:31
I'd be happy if we got him. How much is he worth do you reckon or how much would Roma accept?

8.) 24 Jul 2014
We need Vidal.

Strootman is a nice to have, Vidal is a need to have if we want to be up there with the best again.

I wouldn't be surprised if we sign both, Stroots will be instead of a more expensive Carvalho imo, not Vidal.

9.) 24 Jul 2014
24 Jul 2014 10:50:39
Cannot see us dropping interest, we will likely go for both.

10.) 24 Jul 2014
Strootman always has and always will be one of LVG's main targets. if we do not get him in this window, he will most certainly get him in the winter transfer window.

11.) 24 Jul 2014
Is no one else concerned that with one quality box-to-box midfielder signed (and not for a small fee either), we seem to be more interested in signing a second, rather than a defensive midfielder as cover and long term replacement for Carrick?

Historically, two attack minded or box-to-box midfielders don't often work well together (although there are exceptions), so we would still be looking at Vidal/Herrera partnered by someone like Fellaini when Carrick isn't available. That's a major concern for me.

Vidal AND a defensive mid would be great, but if it's one or the other, the defensive mid has to be the priority.

The way Strootman has played for the Netherlands shows he has the passing ability to start attacks and keep possession, and the discipline and defensive awareness to disrupt attacks and protect the back four.

12.) 24 Jul 2014
GCU

And what players in our squad are better at playing the number 6 role better than strootman?

13.) 24 Jul 2014
I personally think strootman would be a sound signing (speaking simply about a fit player), however, a big risk after so long out with injury. Vidal has stated he "isn't going to Manchester" which is kick in the proverbial's. Hererra looked great but we need a bit more than fetch backing up. Tough.

14.) 24 Jul 2014
24 Jul 2014 23:11:27
So looks like were not getting Vidal then lads?

15.) 24 Jul 2014
We never were going to get him. I'd be surprised if we make another signing now.

16.) 25 Jul 2014
25 Jul 2014 01:39:27
Is Vidal saying he's not going to Manchester a smokescreen while the deal is being finalised?
He's also covering himself in case the transfer falls through.
Also, if you're contracted to a club, you're not going to openly admit that you want to join a specific club!
Ronaldo denied that he was leaving United then ended up at Real. Likewise Suarez and many other cases.

17.) 25 Jul 2014
LVG said the other night that the squad is imbalanced because we have 4 number 10s in other words he will probably look to get rid of one of our more attack minded players so to go for vidal wouldn't make sense anyway. yeah he is a quality player but if lVG feels the squad is already imbalanced then he will more likely go for strootman than vidal. we have a quality player in Herrera plus mata rooney kagawa and janazay (bad spelling) so expect no vidal and strootman coming in

18.) 25 Jul 2014
Agree with Simon_Ghost_Riley.

Can see us sticking with this squad into the new season now.

Not getting hopes up about any more players joining.

19.) 25 Jul 2014
25 Jul 2014 10:31:51
Strootman would be a great signing to replace carrick "IF" we get Vidal too, if he's instead of Vidal we've took the cheap option which could backfire if his knee doesn't hold out. Personally i'd be gutted!

20.) 25 Jul 2014
25 Jul 2014 14:13:21
There's no way we will be sticking with this squad and not signing anyone new.

I have been skeptical about Vidal all along, but we still need at least one decent centerhalf, and cover for Shaw, absolute minimum.

We currently have 3 first team central defenders. Now, I wouldn't be surprised to see some youngsters given a fair bit of game time, but if we use the 3412 system much, that's all 3 of them in use, so we need at least one more otherwise we will be overdependent on the youth.

Similarly, we need a backup and competition for Shaw at left back/wing back.

I will not be surprised if we stick with our current attacking players (hopefully the "four number tens" comment hints at Fellaini leaving) for this season, and start rebuilding the front next summer.

I do expect us to sign cover for Michael Carrick, although Daley Blind could do that and cover Shaw too. And unless Cleverly gets his confidence back and remembers what a forward pass is, we'll probably look for a backup for Herrera too (again, Strootman can cover both the defensive and box-to-box midfield roles, so he'd be a solid choice here), although I won't be surprised if we wait until January or next summer for this too.

Too many signings at once is disruptive, and we always new the rebuilding would be spread out over a few windows, but critical positions will be covered first as a priority (especially cb and lb).

21.) 25 Jul 2014
25 Jul 2014 14:14:01
Why do people think we NEED Vidal?

We already have an extremely good young player in his position (Herrera), who is probably the best central midfielder we've had in the last 5 years or more (probably since Scholes was still close to his peak).

However, in the other central midfield position, we have Carrick, who is injured, and past his peak, Fletcher, who is also past his peak, and who has never got back to the level he was at 5 years ago, or Fellaini, who, well, I'm not even going to go there.

We NEED an understudy/cover/long-termreplacement for Carrick FAR more than we need Vidal. We also NEED at least one central defender, possibly 2 if we are going to be using 3 at the back regularly, and we NEED cover for Luke Shaw.

Vidal would be a luxury.

Strootman on the other hand would be a perfect player for the defensive role, and he can also cover the more advanced role if Herrera is injured. It doesn't necessarily need to be him, but he covers both roles, and LVG knows what him, making him a near perfect fit.

It's no good buying big name players if you don't get the players you really NEED first.

22.) 25 Jul 2014
25 Jul 2014 17:41:16
Ish- backing up Herrera is one of the reasons Strootman makes so much sense. He can play Carricks role, protecting the back 4 and spraying the ball around from deep, but he can also cover the box to box role if Herrera is injured or just needs a break.

No, he isn't anywhere near as good at that role as Vidal, but he can cover both roles, with Carrick and Herrera each specialising in their own role.

23.) 25 Jul 2014
25 Jul 2014 20:26:32
I just want to give an alternative view.

LVG obviously likes players who fit his system.

I have a hunch he might go for Daley Blind as the midfield anchor (number 6 role) but he's also flexible enough to slot in at left back and cover for Shaw when he pushes forward to support the attack.

De Vrij can also slot in at right back when Valencia push forward on the right flank.

Vermaelen would be the leader at the heart of the defence.

To sum up, 4-3-3 (Valencia-De Vrij-Vermaelen-Shaw; Blind-Herrera-Mata; Rooney-Welbeck-RvP).

This can then revert to a three-man defence (De-Vrij-Vermaelen-Blind) when Valencia and Shaw attack. Herrera would then drop back and cover Blind as the midfield anchor (if required) and Mata, Rooney, Welbeck and RvP would cause the opposition endless problems with their movement.

Versatility, adaptability and flexibility to be able to play in different roles as well as the technique and right attitude would surely be prerequisites for LVG.

Players moving into various positions during the game is a throwback to the 'Total Football' philosophy but obviously with LVG's own stamp on it!