Manchester United Banter Archive April 11 2015

11 Apr 2015 23:12:40
Is Fabian Delph worth our consideration?

11 Apr 2015 23:38:12
You need your glasses checking!

11 Apr 2015 23:59:22
Did u not see his performance for england against Italy. One of the worst displays I've seen for a while, he would be a massive step backwards in the class of players we are trying to attract.

12 Apr 2015 01:16:35
Good player for a mid table team. Maybe a decent squad player but wouldn't get near our first team.

12 Apr 2015 11:32:36
Yeah, but he gave us a lesson in December, and was fairly good yesterday too, he's been consistently fit and can pass well. Young was awful for the past two season, and now all of a sudden he's keeping Di Maria out of his preferred position. Seeing oppurtunity in a player is what our scouts should be doing, instead we're going for expensive headliners to inflate our image. Carrick was awful for along time too, but now he's a pivotal part of our midfield. There has to be some reason Delph is in the England team, men more astute and intelligent, (in a football sense), than any supporter see his potential. I reckon it's only a matter of time before he'll be playing at a top club, hang me if I'm wrong.

12 Apr 2015 12:50:47
Deplh runs about a lot so gets an easy ride imo. he's not either technically gifted or consistent enough for us.

If we signed him I wouldn't be happy about it.

11 Apr 2015 18:46:06
Now I have not seen Gundogan this year but he was brilliant for Dortmund 2 seasons ago.
I remember he missed last season due to injury and came back as a fat unfit person.

This season he has 25 odd appearances for Dortmund including the champions league.

Any regular watchers care to comment on his form and whether has has completely recovered from his injury?

11 Apr 2015 22:08:45
Unfortunately he has yet to reach the level he was at pre injury. He is still a very good player, but no where near the one who tore Real Madrid apart two years ago. he might get to that level again or he might not, signing him would be a gamble at this moment in time. This season hasn't be a great one for Dortmund. A lot of this can be put down to the injuries decline and general loss of form of Kehl and Sven Bender. The poor form shown by these two have exposed a lack of defensive accumen in there fellow players. Neither Gundogan or Sahin are great defensively. This has left the defence over exposed and has lead to Dortmund giving away space and possession infront of their defence.

Thats why Gundogan would be a bad signing for me. We need either a deep lying playmaker who can help sheild the defence without the ball and control the tempo of play with it. Or a physical box to box player who can replicate Fellaini's physicallity but with better technical ability and vision.

12 Apr 2015 01:00:12
I disagree Shappy. I think if we get someone in to protect the defence (maybe Felliani could step up) and Carrick stayed fit, having Gundogan and Herrera buzzing around the midfield would be incredible. Granted he has been out for a while but he seems to be slowly getting back to his best. On the plus side he had an injured back but has looked mobile on the field in comparison to having did his knees or ankles which can reoccur at any point in time.

12 Apr 2015 05:58:35
JMB
Although Fellaini is playing great now , I doubt he will be same if positioned as deep lying play maker .
If we are ought to buy a midfielder than they should be able to play deep , shielding the defence giving rest of our midfielders to attack with freedom . For attacking we have too many players like fellaini , herrera , mata and di maria as well
So for midfielder, we must be looking at players with quality such as of Kroos, Busquets , Mascherano ,Schneiderlin , Matic

11 Apr 2015 09:33:10
Daily Mail reports today that both Gundagon and Hummels want to come to United on a 50m deal. Elsewhere, reports that we want to sit down with Pogba.

No doubt excitable journalist desperate for a populist story but, with Herrera, Mata and Di Maria filling 3 midfield berths for the long term - not to mention Fellaini, Blind and Carrick - how many midfielders do we need? Just the one holding MF (hopefully not Strootman, who seems injury prone since his serious surgery), or more? Could we have both Pogba and Gundagon in the same team?

Defence next year looking increasingly like Clyne, Hummels, Rojo and Blind/Shaw, what do people think about midfield? Know that LVG prefers a strong holding MF?

Personally, I'd have di Maria (will come good once settled), Herrera, Mata and Pogba (with Carvalho/Vidal as options if P not available).

Anyway, can't wait until tomorrow. 3.1 United!

11 Apr 2015 10:12:58
Di maria is a winger

11 Apr 2015 11:08:59
Di maria can play centrally aswell some might say that's his best position. Wasn't he central in champs league final?

11 Apr 2015 12:10:34
He's not a forward or a defender do most people would put him in the midfield 4 somewhere

11 Apr 2015 13:07:47
He's not a cm in a van Gaal team. It's clear that van Gaal needs his cm to stay in position, and Di Maria likes to go wandering. He can do a job as one of the wide players for us, but it remains to be seen if the lad wants to stay in Manchester. Personally I would look to sell him and the break the bank for Bale, who is a much better fit for us.

11 Apr 2015 13:39:42
The only time he's played central was in a midfield diamond or as a cam in a 4231 formation he doesn't suit playing central in a 433 anchor formation

11 Apr 2015 14:08:38
Personally I'm with Danny I don't think he's committed enough and I fc we could get the money back i'd take it.

Van gaal likes a 6 who can dictate the tempo. Currently that's Carrick. I'm not sure that's pogbas game. For me there's 5 contenders.

Strootman (not my choice and injuries may scupper it)

Gundogan (again injuries not useful, also maybe not available)

Koke (but I expect a lot of competition)


Veratti (but probably unavailable and if he does move I expect him to go to Turin as part of the pogba deal)

Clasie (not the flashest name but worth a look)

Someone also mentioned ward-prowse who is worth monitoring.

11 Apr 2015 17:28:29
Camacho seems quite a nice replacement for carrick? Plays for Malaga? Just watching him now vs A. Madrid? Only 24?

{Ed004's Note - Haven't seen much of Gundogan this season but I'm pretty sure Kehl, Sahin or Bender play beside him and cover him defensively. If he is signed I think he would replace Fellaini in the side. He scored a great goal today btw. However, I'm pretty sure he will sign a new contract with Dortmund.}