Manchester United Banter Archive January 17 2018

17 Jan 2018 23:01:15
I have to say that if Arsenal do get Aubameyang and Mikki along with Malcom then they will have really refreshed their attack. Aubameyang and Mikki if they can reproduce their time at Dortmund will be a real force. Next year Lacazette should improve too as he will have had this season to bed in. I do think that they need better defensive players though.

18 Jan 2018 08:22:48
As you say Hendon, their keeper and defence are no longer at the standard required, nor is the midfield. Arsenal have fallen away quite badly and although I have a huge amount of respect for Wenger, they should have replaced him 2-3 years ago.

18 Jan 2018 12:19:19
They need so much work doing to get back to where they were. A new keeper, pretty much the whole of their defence, a holding midfielder, a striker and some natural width.

We had allowed our squad to stagnate but Wenger has truly let things slide.

17 Jan 2018 22:17:57
Sanchez deal looking all but there now, I hope we go back for Ozil the summer. Matic, Pogba, Ozil, Sanchez, Martial and Lakaku looks a great side add Rash and Jesse and mata. Bring in a RB, and a covering holding midfielder and I think we would have a team that would push for titles.

{Ed0333's Note - aren’t you worried I’f Ozil came you would have two 29 year olds on long contracts and paying them astronomical wages jaimie? To be fair Man Utd are probably one of the very few teams in world football that can absorb that cost.

17 Jan 2018 22:23:22
Financially it’s not a problem, we would have two top class players tied down for at least 2-3 of their best years.

Not my money!

17 Jan 2018 23:21:38
I’m torn on the Sanchez deal. We lack all that he is for the right, we have been so bias to the left side of the pitch this season it almost predictable. It’s the longer term problems that worry me with a bloke of massive wages on a long term contract who starts to decline, it’s got the Rooney situation written all over it. There doesn’t seem to be a younger player of Sanchez’s quality out there for the right.

I agree with ED Sanchez and Ozil is to much long term risk.

18 Jan 2018 01:10:46
3 years is long term in football. We have Rashford and Martial for the very long term, plus whatever new kid on the block comes along over the next few years. We have struggled for consistent quality, Sanchez brings that. He is also a workhorse, rarely injured, winning mindset and a difference maker regularly.

Great signing - no doubt the club got it's pants pulled down again judging by some things I am ready. If any of the Glazer's are reading, give me a spin at your negotiations, even a 2 year old can mumble the word "no" now and again! Easiest job in the world rocking up with a blank cheque, even City baulked and I bet it was much cheaper for them at the time of baulking! That said great signing for the team, no doubt overpaid again, but I've given up caring about that.

18 Jan 2018 02:49:35
Beast,

Sounds to me that at the beginning we were paying £30m and Miki, now it’s just Miki, so hard to believe anything in the press at the minute.

For some reason when we sign players the story about the costs includes every single cost throughout the contract including bonuses and sign on fees. Even if you add all of them together the deal doesn’t even get above what Barcelona played for in my opinion a worse player in Coutinho, so I think for once we have got a good deal.

Also, didn’t we all have Green and gold flags because the glazers were lining their pockets and not spending our money on improving the playing squad? Not sure we can have it both ways here.

18 Jan 2018 04:46:30
I'm all for it mate. Ultimately we have wasted so much money over recent years, at least this may be money well spent.

As mentioned above I've given up caring about the money side, it isn't my business. I do think we will suffer during the next crash, but so will most clubs. I'm just going to enjoy it whilst it lasts.

18 Jan 2018 05:41:54
For the life of me i don't get why we are spending 25 million british pounds sterling to get his dogs neutered.

17 Jan 2018 20:04:55
Good tribute from. the bbc to Cyrille then. Can see what he meant to people. Dion Dublin's had me in bits.

17 Jan 2018 20:39:48
Damn dust everywhere in my house.

17 Jan 2018 23:40:48
remember him smacking two against us for wba great player don a lot for black players.

17 Jan 2018 13:26:56
If the Sanchez detail goes through on January what do we think will be the priority in the summer window chaps?

I don't see herrera signing a new contract considering the lack of minutes so he'll be off as a free agent, same for fellani and carrick is likely to leave if not retire. Could see a midfield overall in the summer and possibly some defensive additions - replacement for darmian and blind.

I think if ozil doesn't sign a contract at arsenal we could be in for him!

17 Jan 2018 13:40:13
Definitely going to need a few midfielders, full back and like you say maybe Ozil will join. Getting Sanchez now will ease the burden in the summer, which will be a bit tricky due to the world cup and the earlier deadline day. Would be good if we could tie up another deal for the summer now though of course.

17 Jan 2018 13:45:07
I'm not sure if they're be a priority. Full back is obviously an area where we lack depth, midfield will need to be looked at, another striker will be required to replace Zlatan, and I wouldn't be surprised if looked at rm and CB too. We will also be looking to sell players, so I that will all factor.

17 Jan 2018 14:06:23
CM to replace Carrick and Fellaini and replace Zlatan, think if shaw carries on as he is a left back isn’t needed, have young to cover both full back roles.

17 Jan 2018 14:32:35
Full back and Central midfield should be the priorities in my opinion. Valencia as good as he has been is 32 now, we haven't had a 1st choice left back really seen Evra left. If Shaw continues his current form and Fosu Mensah is given a chance I think that helps a lot but the likes of Blind, Darmian and Young are far from long term solutions.

If Sanchez signs I don't think we need a Zlatan replacement with Rashford and Martial also there.

Central midfield, I think we should give Pereira some game time next season as he clearly has a lot of talent but we need someone who can play in a midfield 3 and dictate a game. Matic provides protection, Pogba some magic but we need someone like Carrick who can control the tempo of a game. If Fellaini, Carrick and Herrera go I'd like to see Jorginho and Milinkovic come in with Pereira getting some game time. Mkhitaryan looks to be gone and Mata may also go so Pereira can play as a 10, wide or even in a 3 in midfield.

If we are going with the thought that Mourinho has signed 4 in the last 2 summer windows then I'd go with 2 Cm's, a left back and a centre back to replace either Smalling or Rojo.

17 Jan 2018 14:39:00
A right back, a left back if shaw goes. at least 1 central midfielder possibly a cb depending on departures i exoect to see darmian blind rojo fellaini leave.
I think even with ibra leaving we don't need another striker. Rash sanchez and martial can all play as a striker if mata stays I think we are good for attackers with what we have.

17 Jan 2018 16:16:51
I know its different to the school football team but I really do wonder if Herrera and Mata go will DDG want to leave? They do seem to be very close mates.

18 Jan 2018 00:13:35
Danny, good to see you back, mate. But what's with the serious post?

17 Jan 2018 08:57:50
Jose signing a new deal is a huge statement. I couldn't see him signing a new deal if we didn't have a plan going forward to upgrade the team to one that can challenge on all fronts. After the game on Monday Jose said something very interesting, this is roughly what he said "we take each game as it comes, but it's important to finish the season strong so that you can start next season in a good place. "

This is Jose thinking ahead. He generally lives in the now and is known for his short term planning. But this is what a long term manager does. Think of Sir Alex when Jose first rode into town. Chelsea blitz the league two years on the bounce. We couldn't cope with them originally. Fergie had to sit back and watch a team that had everything absolutely steamroller the league. He didn't quit, he just quietly went about our business and he assembled a team that went one further than that great Chelsea team by winning 3 titles in a row and a European cup.

Long story short. Jose is finally starting to look a bit happier, say the right things and more importantly if he does sign an extension, then you can be guaranteed that the board will be backing him with some serious signings.

Hopefully both his and Sanchez' deals are announced today!

17 Jan 2018 09:55:22
I think Jose doesn’t get the credit he deserves, he’s stabilised this club.
He parks the bus - 3rd highest top scorers in league
He doesn’t give kids a chance - we’ve given more minutes to academy players than any other club
He’s not committed - he explained he lives in a serviced apartment and wants to sign on longer

The man has brought us from 6th with a team of shattered confidence to 2nd, prob would be top in most other seasons. I think we forget just how young this team is, he’s building when we was told he can’t build. The hatred towards Jose and United thru the media in general is embarrassing especially over the Sanchez deal where basically lies are being spouted.

Good luck Jose, I for one am glad he wants to stay when we was told 3 years and he will leave a mess, looks more like a legacy to me.

To our squad, best GK in the world offered a new contract, Toni V best RB in the league, Jones the best English CB (never thought I’d say that) Bailly one of the best CB’s in the league, Shaw looks on his way back with massive potential, Matic is one of if not the best in his position, Pogba showing his world class ability, Martial is just so close to showing us world class consistently, players like Lingard and Rash who show that desire and grit you wanna see from united players, Rom, his overall hold up
Play is underrated and he is only a few goals behind Kane for overall prem goals and then Sanchez if it comes off is world class and his desire, skill, effort will rub off on all, particularly Martial and RedRom.

United are not that far away from being on top and have time on their side to improve much further. We didn’t say that under LVG or Moyes yet we are seeing it under Jose, so he deserves credit and to my mind a new contract but of course he’s not Pep so he won’t get the credit of all the above.

17 Jan 2018 10:24:40
Ay WRD spot on and agree. Great post and analysis.
I agree a large part with The the Jose stuff. Hated him at Chelsea but he is showing why he is a world class manager. He is potentially a legend in the making. And he still has many more years in him. Glad he is managing Man Utd.

17 Jan 2018 11:01:13
Yes WRD! 😁.

17 Jan 2018 11:22:32
Great post he does deserve more credit.
Something I've noticed he does seem a lot more upbeat since the squad got back from Dubai.
Maybe like all of us needed a break. He even smiled at a journalist which I haven't seen for months.

17 Jan 2018 12:16:28
Good post WRD.

17 Jan 2018 12:44:24
José has had a good month. Talks on new contract progressing. In talks with de Gea. Board backing him re Sanchez. And he's destroyed Conten.

17 Jan 2018 12:45:14
Agree WRD good post.

17 Jan 2018 12:53:28
Long may he continue to look upbeat, it definately seems to lift the mood.

Im hearing a new trouser press, no limit on the amount of those little shoe polish cloths and free adult channels on his tv in the Lowry might have helped.

17 Jan 2018 13:00:04
Well said. In LVG's final year we scored 49 goals all season, this season we're on a pace for 80.

Some of us have refused to take the bait and constantly criticize him. I for one think he's doing a good job unraveling the mess he inherited. Not only that, I like his surly ernest manner. It's entirely appropriate. When you hire a person who's used to winning, why would you expect him he be happy losing? The fans aren't, so why should he be? All too frequently the press, with its tireless and inane questions, deserves to be treated contempt. I've never been convinced by all this talk about him being unhappy at United, or at least no more unhappy than he would be elsewhere if he wasn't on top.

We are the most hated team. The press reflects that. I guarantee you, if we were doing a City we would get only begrudging praise of it.

17 Jan 2018 13:30:29
Totally agree Shaw! This Sanchez saga is killing me though! Please hurry up and get it done! Just imagine!

17 Jan 2018 14:27:31
Good post WRD and agree with its content.

Think there is a clear difference for Jose being manager at United as against to Chelsea and Madrid in that the owners and fans have more patience.
Thus he can build a team over a few years and as long as there is progression and people can see that we are going in the right direction then people stay on board.

Jose may see this as a chance to build his own legacy at Utd and in doing so change people’s perception of him.

So glad he is at Utd as there are only a very few other managers about that could match him.

17 Jan 2018 23:50:03
Completely agree, he's been ace and I really think given time he will figure out a way to catch and pass Pep as he did in Spain. The press love to take pops at him so he has learned to thrive on the 'us against the world' attitude because frankly he doesn't have much choice.

16 Jan 2018 23:25:55
Just like to wish one of my fav players of all time ronaldinho a happy retirement.
Played with a smile on his face and had outragous skill and wad a born entertainer
Ed001 a suitable time for a review from you for a real star.

{Ed001's Note - not so sure you would enjoy it as much as you might think, I would be a lot more critical of him than you are. Players like him are not my cup of tea. He had more ability in his wrong foot than 90% of the Prem do in their strongest foot but he didn't make anything like as much of his ability as he should have. We should be talking about him as a contender for the greatest player of all time, instead he was nowhere near that kind of level. It leaves me disappointed.}

17 Jan 2018 07:36:45
I agree to an extent 001 he could have been so much better with dedication but i can't help liking him. He is a lovable rogue. I think I would have been frustrated by him a but More if he played for my club but he played the game in the right spirit for me.

{Ed001's Note - oh I like him as a character etc. I mean I like Balotelli as a character, he is brilliant, but that doesn't mean I can overlook their flaws as a player.}

17 Jan 2018 08:51:26
He had more talent than Messi, but I agree with Ed he couldn't be bothered.
But if that was his way of living/ playing then who am I to judge.

17 Jan 2018 09:45:46
Fantastic player, great entertainer that you would happily pay to see every day of the week. Unfortunately surrounded by an entourage (a lot of them family members apparently) he had an eye for the ladies and the nightlife. shame he only acheived a fraction of what he could have he was as dedicated as Ronaldo-could have been contender for the greatest ever.

17 Jan 2018 10:09:33
I think at his best Ronaldinho had perhaps more natural talent and flair than any other player, certainly in my lifetime - think him at Bernabeu where the Madrid fans gave him a standing ovation.

A lot of Brazilians seem to get to the top then lack the hunger or desire to stay there - is it because most of them come from poorer backgrounds and so once they've made it they want to enjoy the money?

17 Jan 2018 12:29:47
Outside of a United player, he would be one of my favourite players ever. Loved watching him, he could always do something that not many other players would even attempt. the smile.
I'm good and I know it.

17 Jan 2018 15:36:24
Just a shame he never made it to United when we were in for him.

17 Jan 2018 01:24:24
Great news on his new contract, just hope his missus decides to vacate a certain house in a residential square in sw1,you know the expression 'happy wife-happy life! '.