Manchester United Banter Archive April 14 2015

14 Apr 2015 20:48:37
In my opinion, there will be 5 maybe 6 new faces coming in for next season. This is who I think could arrive.
Clyne, otamendi, hummels, strootman( dependant on recovery) depay and possibly another striker. Who do you think will arrive? Eds you included too.

{Ed002's Note - Done to death.}

14 Apr 2015 21:24:32
The players mentioned are highly possible and not out of the question. I'm just not sure of striker position. Lots of fantasy names have been mentioned I.e. Cavani but he doesn't seem likely to me.

15 Apr 2015 02:06:21
Are you replying to yourself?

15 Apr 2015 04:42:03
Clyne , Hummels and Depay are looking very much likely but i doubt about Otamendi though. He is going to cost us fortune and loads of money for two defenders does not seem right . Strootman is not joining Utd which i am very sure as he will probably again get injured and is too much injury prone

15 Apr 2015 07:22:59
I don't think that we need a drastic revamp this summer so I think we'll see Alves/clyne come in at right back, hummels at centre back. A top young midfielder to eventually replace carrick but obviously it's not going to be someone who's going to sit around until carrick retires. Someone like Pogba, koke, veratti. Depay to be our young fast goal scoring winger. At a push get Dybala as Rooney back up

15 Apr 2015 10:29:57
Ha! Ha! MgM, no mate I've not totally lost it yet! I was adding a further comment to what ed002 had said.

15 Apr 2015 10:41:40
At the minute the team looks like it only needs a few tweaks. however there are some glaring improvements that can be made. In a number of positions the club may play clever to reduce the amount spent on fees, however the wages for those players may be a concern if the Ed's are correct.
Personally i think we could bring in:
RB - Clyne (or Alves to reduce fee)
CB - Otemandi
M - Vidal (or Kedira to reduce fee)
W - Deepay he can play all 3 attack positions
F - Ings, if no forward I would go for another winger as we look like going 433

15 Apr 2015 11:15:05
Think everyone pretty close with probables , if range of sources accurate. Hummels, Clyne (mentioned Hernandez be offered in part x), Depay, Ings - will add De Jong also, as could get him on a free in the summer and wages not massive. Read that city fans loved him.

14 Apr 2015 19:32:53
With Dybala and icardi out of bounds, how about Alexandre lacazette being looked at?

{Ed002's Note - Not going to happen.}

15 Apr 2015 08:10:19
Why are they out of bounds?

14 Apr 2015 17:57:55
I was thinking about this last night, 2 summers ago, had we signed Thiago Alcantara, and now with Herrera. could you imagine how good they would be in a midfield 3 with a holding player behind them.

14 Apr 2015 18:51:43
I think Lucas Moura is a fantastic player and wish we had signed him more than Thiago. Him o the right wing and Young or Di Maria(when he learns it is steam game and passing is allowed and giving it away is not a god thing) will make us lethal with the fullbacks we have.

Read somewhere up the page someone thinks Clyne is overrated, for me the toughest right back in the league and not many get much joy against him, would love to se him come in, pl proven and young and tons of potential.

Having said that we might see nani back lol.

14 Apr 2015 18:57:01
Thiago has had some significant injury problems for over a year so we may have dodged a bullet there

14 Apr 2015 19:46:49
im also not sure about clyne , i think he is a decent player but not sure he is top quality

14 Apr 2015 23:23:36
I think Clyne would be a very good signing. He has got progressively better every season, and looks like he would thrive in making the step up to the next level. A young proven RB who has consistently performed in the EPL and is rarely injured, exactly what we have been crying out for.

14 Apr 2015 16:54:07
There obviously been several links to Edison Cavani, and its been a link many of us have struggled to fully understand. He is a good striker but do we really need another big name striker, if we continue to play 433 then we only have one striker berth.

But then watching the City game the other day I had a sudden realisation as to why it actually makes a lot of sense.

In the last few games we have really found some form and it's come because we can now play two different ways. With Fellaini we have the option to go long or short, which have left teams with an issue. If you can only pass short then opposition defenders just push up and restrict space. But with the more direct option they can't afford to push up quite so much which opens up space for players such as Mata and Herrera to play in. But could Fellaini play in europe that way? I think he would pick up several bookings and be a real danger of getting sent off. But if Fellaini isn't playing we have no other strong options to play the ball up to. But if we had Cavani in the squad we would have the option of playing Cavani up front to provide a more direct option with Rooney maybe going into the position that Fellaini normally plays in. That would give us more options to play slightly differently without removing our direct option which is causing teams so many problems. Add that to maybe signing Depay we have a very quick option to stretch teams as well.

14 Apr 2015 17:50:31
Shappy that all sounds sensible to me and I am a fan of Cavani's workrate and linkup play but I feel he lacks in finishing which just doesn't make him worth the price that is being quoted.

14 Apr 2015 18:21:55
I've never rated Cavani as highly as the hype around him and never wanted him at United. But I have to say that there does seem to be some logic in what you're saying. It would solve a few issues and along with Depay would give us excellent attacking options, should Rvp and Falcao move on.

Much will depend on what CM we get in terms of quality and playing style, as well as LvG's vision of how we set up next season.

14 Apr 2015 18:45:11
Top post as always shaps.

14 Apr 2015 18:28:02
Cavani and Falcao are both poor man's Batistuta's.

14 Apr 2015 19:48:12
i like cavani , not sure about playing him as a target man but i think he would be great in the EPL

14 Apr 2015 19:59:31
No ure talking supa, my fav non United player. What a player

15 Apr 2015 04:53:53
Sorry but i don't agree at all . If Cavani is to be bought than it is sure that he won't get to play in 433 unless Rooney gets injured and he certainly wouldn't like that . He just recently criticized PSG for playing him at the wings so no way he will be happy to play at wing role beside Rooney . To accommodate him and Rooney together , LVG must play them in different formation with two strikers which would be not our choice considering how good we are playing with 1 striker at top . If we are to buy him just for a target man than it will be significant amount of money spent on a player who won't be regular and he is not strong enough to bully players like fellaini does . I would rather spent that money in extra top class CB and get rid of Evans anod maybe Jones(not sure though) and buy Ings or Austin to play as a backup to Rooney and wilson ( considering RVP sale )

14 Apr 2015 14:04:37
Hi EDs /All any further news on Samir Handanovic and/or developing interest in Darmian the full back ?
cheers in advance

{Ed002's Note - Not involving MU.}

14 Apr 2015 13:29:10
Interesting talking point with me and couple mates down my local yesterday.

Phil Jones. Would you keep him in the team at the expense of Rojo? He had a good game vs City although personally i see Rojo being the better CB, plus he's more composed on the ball. I had two moments of discomfort besides the goals vs City and both of them involved Jones running forward with the ball. So for me Rojo.

Also an added topic, if we can get Ings on a free, is Rooney - Ings - Wilson a good enough 3 or do we need one more?

14 Apr 2015 13:58:17
We will definately need a proven striker. Cannot rely on them to win us trophies. Especially if rooney gets injured

14 Apr 2015 14:21:00
personally i don't think rojo or jones will be first choice if we buy hummels, neither should take smalling out the starting 11, he's been solid since the derby at the emptyhad.

so i expect rojo and jones to be the other 2 cbs along with smalling and hummels(if we buy him)

and on your second point without getting into a debate about ings(as i wouldn't waste anytime with him even on a free) but for the post sake, if we were to get him and falcao and rvp went then no.

14 Apr 2015 14:28:09
I thought Jones was poor on the first goal, he let Aguero peel off him and then failed to intercept the ball. You either track the player or attack the ball. He did neither. So I would go for Rojo against Chelsea.

As for would Rooney, Ings and Wilson be enough if we were to sign Ings. Well that depends on the formation we will play and how LvG sees Rooney. If he sees him as a striker and wants to play 433 then yes those three would be enough. But if he sees Rooney as a midfielder/No.10 and/or wants to play with two strikers then no they wouldn't be enough.

14 Apr 2015 14:48:32
I still get nervous with Jones at the back so I'd plump for Rojo. Smalling has come on leaps and bounds which is great to see.

I think Rooney, Wilson and Ings might actually be enough if we go 3 up top. It would be a risk but if w had 4 strikers it would block Ings and Wilson from playing, when they need opportunities.

14 Apr 2015 14:58:08
It's a tough call regarding Jones. I can actually see Jones and Smalling being a good partnership. Maybe not top quality but one that could really flourish: one classy defender,comfortable on the ball,the other a bit gung ho who's happy sticking his face in front of a cannonball. It's a proven kind of combination. I do think a top quality centre back is needed though.
As for Ings, I just don't see him coming to United.Squad player at the best. Van Gaal seems to like playing with a lone striker and Rooney needs top class competition. Depay can play across the line which makes him an option.Obviously, I really rate Lewandowski but would Giroud be possible, as I think he is a top striker?

14 Apr 2015 15:52:25
I think Jones did us no favours in the opening 15 minutes of the game he looked unsure and added to the mayhem to be honest. He was all over the place, lost his man for the first goal, handed them another chance about 2 mins later then almost butchered a back pass to De'Gea in the space of 10 mins. It lead to a goal but could have easily gone t*ts up.

Rojo definitely deserves a start for the Chelsea game I felt over the games he has played with Smalling they look a lot more self assured and have good understanding, he's also very quick!

Huge credit to smalling though his improvement has been fantastic.

The striker situation will depend on formation, we need at least another top class striker if RVP and Falcao leave. If the Cavani rumours are through will Rooney be dropped back and Cavani up front? Or will Rooney take up the role Mata is doing at the moment?

Personally I'm not sure Ings is the answer in any formation

14 Apr 2015 16:05:30
I'm far from convinced Jones will be ever any better than he is. Yes still rash and his decision making is awful.

Simce smalling came back in we have looked far more sound defensively.

14 Apr 2015 16:35:20
I am torn between those 2; Rojo and Jones. can't decide.
I must Shappy that you are right about jones not tracking Aguero but does that really warrant dropping him? Was it Mata that failed to track Silva's run in the build up to that goal? Will you drop him as well?

With the Ings bit, it depends if we are going to lose RvP, Falcao and chicharito even.

14 Apr 2015 16:39:52
mbd
your right, Mata was as much to blame as Jones for the first goal.

14 Apr 2015 17:01:19
mdb, it would never have been Mata's job the track Silva. If Silva was playing wide then it would have been the job of the full back to track him in this case Valencia, if Silva was playing off the striker then it would have been the deepest midfielders job to track the midfield runner and in this case it would have been Carrick.

I wouldn't sign Ings at all, I'd sign Cavani. Options of Rooney, Cavani and Wilson with Depay also able to play as a striker would be more than enough.

14 Apr 2015 18:01:14
I get more nervous when jones or smalling have the ball at the back than when the opposition do. As long as we get a ball playing CB I think smalling will be adequate to play alongside him. Jones for me is terrible his positioning is poor and he loses the ball so often. Ideally we would get 2 CBs Hummels and Varane would be my dream pairing but that will not happen. We definitely need to sign a big name striker to lead the line, it won't be long before teams start to adapt to our style if we use the Fellani tactic every game and like other posters have stated his style will concede a lot of free kicks and bookings in europe. I think we need a bit more in depth as we have been lucky to keep pretty much the same starting 11 for this unbeaten run, we saw what it was like before with Herrera and mata out of the side and I just think we would struggle if any of our current starting MF were injured, the other squad playes don't seem as fluid in this system as carrick and co

14 Apr 2015 18:38:06
I think Ings will kick on to be a great striker. He has a great touch, great movement through low gravity and would thrive at a team like United. Defo worth a punt in my eyes.
Varane, Otamendi better options than Hummels for me, but admittedly I was pro Hummels before Dortmunds decline.
I'd go Jones(if fit), Rojo then Smalling. Jones is a leader and needs to get a few games to change opinions on him.

14 Apr 2015 18:45:56
Jones positioning and read of the game is poor. He has the physical attributes but lacks what John terry has in terms of reading the game and always being in the right place. I prefer Otamendi, Laporte, Varrane(although he will need some adjusting to the Pl as he is not a physical type cb).

14 Apr 2015 21:10:55
Not sure whether jones or Smalling are up to it. I would like hummels and otamendi in an ideal world with Rojo back up.

14 Apr 2015 12:40:47
Afternoon, well who would of predicted 9 out 9 points from Tottenham, Liverpool and City, certainly not to many ''experts'' and truth be told, I'd have been happy with 5 or 7 from the 3 games.

But the reason I am posting is because of the analysis on MNF last night from Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher. First of all , watching Jamie Carragher praise United's defence through gritted teeth was almost as enjoyable as watching the 4-2 win but most of all, the way they both highlighted how we attacked as a unit and defended as a unit was excellent. Interestingly, Neville's opinion on Rooney who had the fewest touches in a game ever but actually played as a striker and not as a busy bee all over the pitch and had such an influence on the game, it was excellent to see.

It was interesting when they compared this to the Barcelona team and I have also seen a report about how they have adopted Guardiola's Barca/Bayern structure and there can be no coinicidence, LVG had a part in Guardiola's view on football.

Now we are not at that Barcelona teams level or Bayern's team level yet but if we progress as the season has suggested, we could have another exciting period ahead of us. Yes it has been frustrating at times this season but I think we are going to see the benefits of his appointment from now on.

I can see LVG doing another 3 or 4 years with us and then hopefully Giggsy stepping in but if not, I think the club is set up for Guardiola to come in.

In the summer I can see Clyne, Hummels, Depay and perhaps De Jong although I'd prefer Pogba, Carvalho or Schweinsteiger but realistically I'd imagine De Jong is most likely and then a striker. This is just my thoughts and wishes though.

Anyway, looking forward to Chelsea this weekend, 2/3 months ago I wouldn't of been confident but I think we can really offer them a game on Saturday and wouldn't be surprised at 3 points.

14 Apr 2015 13:23:13
The analysis was superb I honestly enjoy watching that part of the show more than the match itself!

14 Apr 2015 14:57:43
I usually find that there is over-analysis of football matches but I did really enjoy that last night, also. Thought it was a good point regarding Rooney and how structured our approach is, especially when breaking into an attack.

Its nice to see that LvG's work is now bearing fruit and that people are seeing the benefits he has brought rather than speculative negatives e.g. his apparent fall out with Giggs or his death defying training methods, lol.

14 Apr 2015 16:22:49
I thought it was an excellent analysis as well.

I too can also see LVG staying around 5 seasons. I believe he has fallen in love with the club, and he will want to leave a lasting legacy that will involve reshaping the academy and fully implementing his philosophy.

I believe that we are going to see great times ahead again.

14 Apr 2015 18:41:30
Genuinely can't see Giggs as our out and out Manager. I just don't think it fits if I'm honest

14 Apr 2015 12:20:37
Eds or any posters I was just wandering about Lewis Cook,is their interest in him from united,don't know much about him,is he heading for the premiership,has he got what it takes or will he be another nearly player like Powell and zaha

14 Apr 2015 09:29:56
Any news on Carrick's calf injury? Hope he will be fully fit for Saturday.

{Ed002's Note - The club said he should be available.}

14 Apr 2015 11:05:37
Thanks, the prompt reply is much appreciated!