Manchester United Banter Archive January 01 2014

01 Jan 2014 22:20:35
So all those people who want Moyes gone, please tell me who would replace him? let's say he goes tomorrow, what top class proven manager will leave their post and join us?

Lets bare in mind the teams lacks centre midfielders, top class wingers and full backs and has many average players in the squad. Add to that owners, we all dislike, that don't seems to want to release funds for new players.

How will we be in a better position if we get rid of Moyes? Do we go backwards and get Sir Alex back only to be in the same situation next year. Do we get Ole, oh no wait, he's in the same situation as Moyes, not proven. you guys don't want a guy that's not proven. What about Klopp, are united in a better situation as Dortmund?

Moyes is the manager and I don't see how we will improve if we sit here slagging him off and hoping he is sacked. Atleast allow him a season to asess his new surrounding guy.

I fully agree, there is no benefit from sacking Moyes now. Fergie made the bed, the board back it and now we have to lie in it.

However, after dropping more points in 20 games than we have in the last two seasons combined, the board should be drawing up a list of candidates for the summer. We made a complete mess of it last time, allowing Fergie carte blanche to pick a successor with no winning pedigree and zero top level experience. We need to do things professionally this time round and draw up a list of suitable candidates, conduct interviews, and offer the right candidate the funds needed to turn things around.

"Lets bare in mind the teams lacks centre midfielders, top class wingers and full backs and has many average players in the squad. Add to that owners, we all dislike, that don't seems to want to release funds for new players."

That in itself is one of the main reasons Moyes was appointed mate. It certainly wasn't a footballing decision. It was based on him being a reliable, steady Eddie (good thing) with a reputation for working on a tight budget.

In other words, he won't demand £100m+ to improve the team like any other PROVEN manager would have demanded confirmation of before signing the contract.

I don't want Moyes out now. But ask me in 12months.

Finally a bit of sense on here. Sacking Moyes will just cause more problems, we are a classy club and we will atleast give him until the end of the season until we review what options we have.

Just back the man and see where he can take us.

02 Jan 2014 08:01:11
Its hard To Review a champions when you are out of Top 4. We need signings, But We need motivation, we need some good tactical formation.
Apart from a below par performace from Arsenal, We haven't beat any top teams yet this seaosn.

Aaaaj

Get an interim manager in there now until the end of the season, the Ed gave examples of experienced managers available and review the permanent role at the end of the season. As for Klopp, he has won leagues and cups, proved he can do it, like Mourinho knows what it takes. I have yet to see anyone tell us what Moyes has done to prove he can turn this around? It is alright hoping with a local football team but this is Manchester United and it's too big for Moyes in my opinion.

The fish rots from the head. A dour, serially unsuccessful manager will produce a dour, unsuccessful team and dour, unsuccessful results. This is what we have shacked ourselves to and the situation will continue until we unshackle ourselves from it. It is clear that things are getting worse: training regimes that guarantee injuries; tactics that produce poor and unimaginative toothless displays; management ineptitude that produces player indifference and also outright lack of interest. This is where we are. If the company does not change the management, the management will change the company. The incumbent manager has already ensured that the company has lost some $500 million in market capitalization. This will continue while we fail to play well, while we lose, while his unattractive approach to the beautiful game also ensures that we cannot attract good new players. This is the perfect storm of a financial, sporting and managerial implosion. Yet there are still the naive suggesting that we allow this destruction to continue until the end of the season, or for another season on top. When the fish rots you throw it out. So, throw it out.

Aesop

02 Jan 2014 10:56:50
It's crystal clear Moyes isn't taking the club anywhere except out of the top four. Our form is very poor. Tactically, he seems very one dimensional. I've said before, how can a manager who has won nothing take over at a club who have won it all. It makes no sense to me what so ever. Sad really, as he is obviously a decent bloke who loves the game but he looks woefully out of his depth. Teams no longer fear coming to Old Trafford. We have lost 60% of our home games. Last four home league games we have managed to beat West Ham, a club in freefall. Very worrying. Yes, we have been hit by injuries but players should be hungry to get in there and claim a place. And the manager should pick them accordingly.
Where should the club go from here? Well, if Moyes can address the obvious frailties in our midfield and secure a left back who is capable of adhering to his duties, then maybe a top four place may be achievable. The title is lost.
For me, Jones has to partner Evans at the centre of defence every time. Midfield, I don't even know where to start. It is a total shambles. I'd like Rakitic to come in. Vidal too. Can't see it happening though.
I'd really like to see Lewandowski at the club partnering Rooney with Kagawa in an advanced midfield role. When Kagawa and Lewandowski where at Dortmund, they were almost telepathic and I believe that was Fergusons long term plan. I know Kagawa is not delivering at the moment and he is getting some stick on here but he is class. He looks very short on confidence which is no surprise really. He will probably go to another club and look world class again, which will be a shame.
Anyway, Moyes isn't the man for me, never was, but I do think he should stay until the end of the season and then take it from there. But a long term plan needs to be made. Without Ferguson's in put this time.
All the best for 2014 to everyone who contributes, the editors and families.

01 Jan 2014 21:59:20
Not such a happy new year from a footballing point of view. The problem areas that we are all pretty much unanimously agreed on continue to be borne out by performances. Would it make much difference if RVP was fit? Probably not, because the key issue is creativity. If you can't get the ball to the forwards they won't score.

Other than the summer transfer debacle, it's hard to blame Moyes. The squad does not have the right mix of players or enough quality, and that's largely down to SAF and the lack of serious transfer funds since the Glazers took over. Cleverly - 0 assists this season, Valencia - 2 years of poor crossing, Evra - worth a goal a game in the wrong direction, Hernandez - no touch and needs service anyway, Kagawa - well he's no David Silva and it's difficult to see why he was purchased. Young -improving perhaps, but good enough? Together with Nani and Anderson, this group might raise enough funds for two class players.

Surrounded by great players, weaker ones step up their game and actually look better than their talent would indicate on a weaker team, but there comes a point when the team talent deficit becomes too great for that dynamic to take effect. After 8 years of starving the beast, we are now beyond that point. The team set about trying to claw back the game after going 2-0 down in exactly the same manner as they would have done under Sir Alex, it was a rousing and commendable effort, but let's face it this is not the United of Cantona, Ronaldo, Van Nistelroy, Ole etc etc.

01 Jan 2014 22:23:30
Red an fair reply I understand your notion about olle but What if he takes Cardiff up the table and gets them playing good football like Laudrop does at Swansea?
In my opinion we should have gone for Laudrop with saf helping him. The days of a manager like saf are long gone you need manager and 1st team coach like in Europe? What do you think of this idea?

01 Jan 2014 20:56:34
Cleverley Carrick Evra and Young should not
be getting in the team they need replacing
and quick . i'm sorry to say it but we got
rid of the best young box to box midfielder
in Pogba and what's going on with Kagawa
he wouldn't get in Rochdales startin 11 (bag of
sh**e)

02 Jan 2014 08:06:05
If we Finish outside Top4, Then Its going to be very difficult to tempt players to come in.

01 Jan 2014 20:51:53
Whilst everyone is looking at the result perhaps we should consider where we are now.
Firstly whether you want to be considered pessimistic or optimistic the real life situation is that our league position is not encouraging in respect of making the Champions League next season. It is 1st January and we already look out of it, we look like Everton in all the last few seasons. Whether we can go on a great run or not, prospective players won't be able to see it nor will they see us as attractive as we were last season with SAF in charge. Do they trust in Moyes to turn it around, and what would that be based upon? Therefore how on earth are we going to attract any top players in January let alone summer if all they can see is no top level football next season? Perhaps we have to pay over the top, not for Baines, but can anyone see that of our owners?
Secondly, whilst we have started to struggle losing games at home and looking distinctly ordinary suddenly I don't recall many new fancy sponsorship deals being announced. The Nike deal is up to where? Are we as attractive a proposition as we were only six months ago? If honest almost certainly not, our football isn't great and whilst it wasn't last season we won. We had a manager everyone feared now we have a manager who only knows Everton, his profile would not have been high across the globe. They are struggling to put high profile players forward as the face of United, bar maybe Rooney and RVP but with no Champions League football how long will they be around?
Third, the owners must now be concerned at the direction we are going in. They haven't provided the level of funding, then appoint a high risk manager and now are reaping the reward which puts their asset value in a high risk situation. Their response this month will be interesting, because we have already had the whispers we can't, won't buy. Maybe Moyes will talk up the existing players, we don't need to buy because they are so good, ah that has already happened. Or will he talk up the youth and bring loanees back because those top players can't be bought in January (or summer), ah already talked about. It looked like we were being softened up for a dry January but today's result gives them a problem.
Lastly, Europe's top clubs are up there for a reason, sit back and seriously ask yourself whether in similar circumstances they would stick with a manager who has taken the champions to also rans in six months?
Implications, the implications of the path we are on are potentially disastrous and the Glazers need to make some big decisions and soon

"whether you want to be considered pessimistic or optimistic. "

*proceeds to post the most pessimistic post I've seen on this site to date*

You are obviously pessimistic. You say the owners appoint a high risk manager, but that was Fergies pick. You also say there is no level of funding but we have spent big on RVP and Fellaini. I believe they will spend the money, its up to Moyes to get the players we need, the midfielders that Fergie wouldn't buy.

Careful redman you will have all the armchair experts on telling you to go and support city or chelsea

Bloody good post if you ask me.

A fair and balanced well thought out assessment tbh

Inhope I would just like to make the point, rightly or wrongly, that we may well have spent money on RVP and Felliani, however, both of those players were bought for under the 30million mark. The reason this is significant is the fact that for instance barca paid 50 odd million for Neymar this summer could you see the owners allowing that at united? We haven't paid anything more than 30 million for a player and in today's climate that's not enough to compete with Europes elite!

REDMAN

Long reply


Not fair or balanced at all and not sure what kind of business you are in but that is not how businesses operate or work. Unfortunately it is just a typical post to argue your case that DM is the wrong guy.

You seem to continuously warn about a manager being high risk and not able to attract players or not win at this level or this or that.

I tend to disagree with you completely as when it comes to hiring senior people including CEO's, (I sit on 2 boards as non executive) people look at track record and many other qualities in leaders.

What you believe is the prerequisite for the job and classify as track record because he has not won might be totally different to what people at the club believe are more relevant to being a long term success at this club. in short track record is a lot more than just having won and there are many other qualities you look for when you hire senior people.

I will not even get into attracting players stuff nonsense because that is quite naive and you clearly underestimate Manchester United as club and organization. On this subject I do want to point out one thing that almost all our legends at this club were not superstars before they got here. We have never had the Galactico business model and more about spotting young talent internally and externally and making them into superstars during their united careers, through the accomplishments of the clubs.

Finally, whilst you try to represent your argument as a paradox it is really what I have seen over the years as Don Quixote Syndrome.

What you represent as a crisis is sometimes not seen that way and in most parts expected and planned for.

Finally, just to have a little bit of fun using similar paradox here is a go at Klop.

How does he take a team that won the CH in 2012 to lose it by 17 points in 2013 and they are already 15 points out and in 4th place in 2014. There must surely be problem with Klop or his management style or has he lost the dressing room or is it his training methods. Why are players like Goetze, Lewandowski, Kagawa and maybe soon Gundogan all leaving the club. After all they have CL football, 80,000 people watching them every week, they were league and cup champions and all seemed good and the world was his oyster. Do we sack him as he is clearly going backwards?

In real life I see it as him having injuries this year that is affecting his teams performance and market forces and nature of the transfer market is making it difficult for him to hang onto his players but he is still a good coach.


"It is only a crisis for those who did not expect, plan for it and were blind to it."

Am I convinced he is right guy, I don't know but I definitely have not seen enough by any measure given the circumstances to have a view that he is wrong for us and until then he is the manager of my Beloved Club and will have my support.

01 Jan 2014 20:29:43
Mourinho has stated mata is free to leave, would we be interested

02 Jan 2014 08:08:20
Mata would cost anyclub 30 mill. why would he come to UTD? Is that the position Rooney currently occupied?
We loos the battle in the middle with Cleverly and Carrick

01 Jan 2014 20:26:13
Treble 99 spot on

I agree with you completely moyes out of his depth clueless dinars or tactics, dinars or training programs. RVP jones vidic Ferdinand even Giggs looking knackered every time they play and picking up knocks in traing all the time.
We need a clear out and it shoul start with the manager. Anderson, young carrick, fletcher Ferdinand Valencia butner. Why not just give youth a chance as there is no way we will sign anyone in jan. Maybe one signing in the summer but we will be outbid by then by all other top teams for anyone decent. Mind you with moyes in charge we can forget about gundogen, koke more likely to sign Osman and jagielga .
We are wasting quality players like januzi kagawa Hernandez Rooney RVP de gea .
I stick with my original post at beginning of season saying that we won't make to 5 . This is not being negative it's being realistic so to all the moyes pro supporters need to wake up and realise he just can't manage at this level. He can't motivate players he is tactically naive, job is just to big for him. Yes fergie left him with a poor squad but he had a chance to change that be ignoring of the season but chose to overspend on a so called midfield maestro, more like donkey.
The fee we paid for fellaini shows just how bad his transfer dealings are he was never ever going to be the quality we needed. Sorry but he has to go.

Sure, why don't you call a board meeting and get it done :) You guys are unbelievable, you want the manager sacked after a bad result, very sad I have to say.

GCU

Except it's not one bad result, is it? You know that, you're just trying to jab him with a sharp stick.

For the record, I don't want Moyes sacked but unless he shows improvement next season, whaddayado.

This seasons a write-off.

Its not one bad result is it it 6 months of poor performances, how many teams fear playing at OT.

RED_Sky

I am just having fun and amused by it all. A couple of games ago when we won some of this lot were not even posting and gone into hiding and I believe Shappy made the observation how quite the board was. It seems some come out of the woodwork when we lose and that is just pathetic imo, almost getting gratification from us losing to argue their point.

It feels like we have a bunch of 16 year old virgins on this board and the moaning and groaning is unbeleivable.

I might agree with some of the pessimistic views only and only after we see where we are come May and access our first season under the new manager, until then I prefer to stay positive even though it is hard on days like this.

This is a team that has been neglected for 4 years in terms of quality signings and just f…ng old and has no pace down the middle of the pitch and some of struggles is not a surprise to me at all, whilst the rest moan and groan as if we have been great and suddenly went to sh. t.

I have said this before and still maintain our best 11 will get us top 4 but was never going to win the league.

Did you see Chelsea's results yesterday? They lost 50 million and still probably going to buy with a wage bill that is skyrocketing, unfortunately we are not run that way and the owners are from a different breed.

I am more than happy to listen to a point of view that can convince me it is the mangers fault, because what I see is many players who are not superior in footballing ability to the opposition.

We are struggling with breaking teams down when they set up to defend because of just very poor delivery of a final ball and are like swiss cheese on the counter.

I think it is getting to the stage that we might have to consider getting rid of Moyes. It may seem like a bit of a knee jerk reaction, but if we continue to perform like we are we will miss out on the champions league and conceivably on the Europa cup. Top players will not want to join and our existing top players will want to leave. We need someone who can either improve things now or who will be able to attract players to a club not in European top competitions. If we don't stop the rot now it could become a vicious downward cycle a la Liverpool over the last 20 odd years. In my opinion and it's only my opinion he should have signed the players fergie had lined up (strootman, benatia etc). Kept some of the staff and assessed the squad in the first 12 months of his contract and then made changes. In my view if he gets sacked he only has himself to blame.

01 Jan 2014 20:13:42
Supposedly Mourinho has told essien and mata they can go maybe a tickle for mata is needed

01 Jan 2014 19:52:24
This is my first post,
I have to say things are worse than I thought, until tonight I though we had a chance of winning prem, now I think we will be lucky to finish top 4.
Gutted

Sorry but I have to say! Anyone who thought that we could win the BPL because we won West Ham and Norwich is dumb! Top 4 we'll be a very positive season for us.

Manager is overrated and most of the players are not good enough. We need rebuilding. Maybe 4-6 great players and get rid of Ferdy, Ando, Nani, Evra, Young, Cleverly and even Valencia are not good enough! At least to be first 11.

To win the prem you have to be capable of beating the 6 teams above you which you're clearly not.

01 Jan 2014 19:44:48
Spurs got what they deserved. They were solid at the back and took advantage of our weak points (LB and Midfield).

Now before all of you start complaining and crying over the "Moyes out campaign" that I have recently seen on here, just think. This is the perfect situation in my opinion, the transfer window is open, we just got out weak positions violated and now it's time for Woodie to go get Moyes the players he wants and needs.

The main three points we can take from todays game is that:

1. Evra must be replaced. (for the 1000th time)
2. Vidic is limited and should be used partially now, we need much faster defenders IMO.
3. Welbeck is a striker, not a winger, let him be our back up striker once RVP is back.

This is not the end of our title race, remember when Manchester City regained that 8 point gap two seasons back? It's football, lads and anything can happen. We need to continue putting our faith in Moyes and the players and dig deep. Then let the next 30 days pan out and see what we have at the start of February.

Have a good New years guys.

Not the end of our title race? we've not been in the race for a long time.ive just got back from the game and i'm peed off with that performance.plenty of poissesion 1st half no penetration in the last third rooney had a poor game by his standards but couldn't believe how deep he was dropping, we need him in the final third.evra was poor, hernandez when he came on was through twice but his 1st touch both times was shocking.we need 2 decent centre halfs that are comfy with the ball at there feet evans and vidics distribution is terrible.rant over

Mate you've played 20 w10 l6 d4, of course you're out of the title race haha.

Even Everton's manager has won something.

Wots him not being from Manchester got to do with anything?

This is my first post after following the site for a couple of years. I have to agree this is not Moyes fault, we have become slower and less mobile for a few years now to the point we have ended up static. To many players stand still then receive the ball and take too long before passing to somebody else stood still. It makes it easy for the opposition to press the ball. We need 2 mobile quick passing midfielders, a left back and to establish Smalling and Jones as our centre back pairing. Get it sorted quickly or kiss goodbye to top 4.

Ctr if you have to ask its not worth explaining.

Treble1999 I don't know where you have been but around this time last year KLOOT did bring up this whole "Not from Manchester" Bull and it didn't go down well.

Do not judge any fan from their location in the world, it's a pathetic way to insult football supporters.

01 Jan 2014 19:41:14
Got to give Spurs their due, they had a plan and they executed it perfectly well tonight. Park the bus with two rows of four and then break emphatically and score. They knew where our main weaknesses were and they took full advantage of the left back area. For me MU didn't have any answers when trying to break them down. Build ups were far too slow and Spurs defended well. The only quick piece of play on our part lead to a Welbeck goal. How many times have we seen the ball pinball around the six yard box at home? Happened a lot against Everton too and again our poacher wasn't there to tap it in. Quite frustrating as I am so used to seeing a ball pinball around the six yard box and then see the net shake. It's not been happening this season and we are struggling to score goals. We can see our weak areas so over to you Ed Woodward to strengthen them. We also need more luck with our injuries. We need the Rafael and Valencia partnership and we badly need our striker back. let's hope this inspires our hierarchy to act in the transfer market. We are still very fragile IMO, I wasn't convinced we were out of our rut and I still think there is work to do. Just one top notch signing would give the fans and team so much impetus, come on board, make it happen.

Sydney agree with what you buy doesn't matter how many players we sign if we continue to adopt the same tactics and formations. Our squad is far better than some on here would have you think. We all knew needed 4 new players in summer and we wasted 28 million on one of them.
I will always get behind our team and players finding it harder to say the same of DM who is being found out nearly every week

Well, we lost against Spurs, will loose against Chelsea and many other games too by playing like this.

Top 4 won't come just because we are Manchester United, we need to work harder to reach that goal.

But until now we got exactly what we deserve. We don't play well and the table does not lie, anyone above us, is playing better than us.

Syderman

I think quite frankly, today's performance reflects our entire season. let's wake up and smell the coffee, with out current personnel, we are not good enough. There is no shame in admitting it, like there is no divine right that we win everything in sight. With a team which has "no midfield", its actually our boys' resolve that has us sitting in 7th. Time to get our act together in the transfer window, if we have to "try" and get a top 4 finish mate.

While you correctly pinpoint Evra and his frailties, I think in an attacking sense, Valencia is equally bad. I think he is the one that affects our performance more than others because of our persistence to play it to the wideman. Its hard to swallow that a United winger cannot cross the ball! It is painful viewing sometimes.Very important transfer window mate.

We missed Van Persie, no doubt about it. You can't win games against quality opposition with only 1 world class player in your ranks. I think De Gea should have stopped the second goal.

Deeps.

Come on Ed002, is there anything that we can smile about? Anything going on behind the scenes ;)

{Ed002's Note - The club will certainly look to signing a midfield player and it is true that there is interest in Vidal - but even if Juventus could be persuaded to sell he would be very pricey.}

01 Jan 2014 19:21:18
Why did we only start playing when we went two down. Pathetic. Moyes has no chance with some of these players. Simply rubbish.

We are missing 3 of our best players: Jones, Rafael & RVP. We also have a useless left back in Evra and a weak central midfield. Add to that Valencia who just hits the ball as hard as he can and never finds a man.

Awful. Players may be overpriced in January but we REALLY need signings badly. Or at this rate we will finish outside the top 4. And I hate Robbie savage, don't want him to be right!

Fresh

I agree as the replacements for those 3 is big drop in quality and we suffer for it. I know it sounds like a broken record but we have no midfield and even worse we have very little creativity in midfield and carrick and cleverly are not a good partnership.

Rooney can't play there as midfield 2 either and good when we have a 3 in the middle.

01 Jan 2014 19:17:37
Today is the perfect example as to why we need investment in the team. We need two centre mids preferably one top class and one younger prospect. We need a top class left back immediately and a left winger too. So this window we surely have to be looking to strengthen.

01 Jan 2014 18:16:40
I don't understand how a winger who constantly plays for Manchester United can't actually cross the ball. I'd love to see the stats for attempted crosses by valencia, what's he trying to do? kill the left back, We should hire beckham as a crossing coach for our wingers, young nani zaha and valencia would learn something!

01 Jan 2014 20:02:39
How did this team win the league last season? Apart from januzi we look so week compared to other teams. Even Everton seem to have a better team than us at the moment. Just looking at the bench we have no real game changers. When u have to rely on Ferdinand and fletcher and young, I bet other teams must be quacking in their boots seeing that bench.
We don't need just a better squad with at least 5 new first teamers we also need a complete new game plan as we are far to predictable. 442 just isn't good enough anymore. We don't have the players to play this formation why not just play 3 5 1 1 as we don't have a decent left back but could play 3 centre backs with evra for now with Rafael as wing backs kagawa. Januzi and carrick or cleverly for now in Middle Rooney RVP or Hernandez up front.

01 Jan 2014 16:39:15
Rooney starts.

DDG, Smalling, Evans, Vidic, Evra, Cleverley, Carrick, Valencia, Rooney, Adnan & Welbeck.

Banter please Ed.

Would of preferred to see Jones in there next to Vidic or at right back.

Who is on bench Syd?

Best line up available and really no debate there.

Shame we don't have jones as I would prefer him at CB to vidic, which means we will play much deeper today rather than pushing up. Rafael is a big miss, other results today mean we have to win.

Our team feels like ambulance service at the moment as there seems to be a constant disruption to players coming back with another injury.

thoughts on other games today:

Southampton were rubbish and for those saints fans who come on to this page and mouth off, you need to show up for the bigger games. Gaston ramires was dreadful and not sure how he made it through 90 minutes.

Swansea gave city a good game and shame about cardif finally cracking but did not se the game. I though a win gets us to within 7 but not to be.

JK, Jones is injured.

Bench: Lindegaard, Ferdinand, Buttner, Fletcher, Kagawa, Young, Hernandez.

Shaz, if we can win today I will start to believe we are on track, but it's not going to be easy. We really need our best players back. RvP, Rafael & Jones. I also hope Rooney is fit and isn't playing whilst injured.

30 minutes in and we have been very good but lacking composure with the last ball. Welbeck has been quite poor and his movement not great, might be the pitch more balls of his chin than his foot.

They are there for the taking and I can see us scoring a few once the first one goes in if we can just have some composure with the final ball.

Janusaj poor too and way too many poor tactical decisions. Prefer young on believe it or not.

Rooney does not look right and I think we will see kagawa, young and on for rooney, janusaj. Nothing from the left side as usual.

01 Jan 2014 15:36:20
So Ole has taken the Cardiff hot seat. I certainly wish him all the best and it will be nice to keep a close eye on how he goes on. He was a player close to every fans heart, and I think it is safe to say that if he can continue to grow as a manager there would not be too many disappointed with him one day becoming our manager.
It is an interesting appointment really. The belief is that Tan will invest but he wants to run the show with the manager being a yes man. Last season when Southampton sacked there manager who had done exceptionally well, everyone thought the Chairman was crackers. Cortese now looks like one of the best Chairmen in the country for being brave enough to change and improve.
Only time will tell if the same will happen at Cardiff (although I do think it very unlikely).
I also wonder if Zaha may go on loan to Cardiff now?

01 Jan 2014 14:56:51
Just read both RVP and Rooney might be out. THis is not good news and our defense needs to be very pod today as scoring opportunities might be far and few.

01 Jan 2014 11:02:10
A very happy new year to everyone

So with the hangover comes the first day of a new transfer window and our hopes and expectations raised again. My hopes are for two players this window, a left back and a top midfield player plus Moyes to jettison a couple of those whose wages are not warranted. We are all playing the who guessing game at the moment but a couple of thoughts on this.
Baines is undoubtedly a good player yet is now 29 and Everton flush with the ridiculous overpayment for Fellaini may not be desperate for cash so will want far more than is warranted for a 29 year old left back even if he is English. Often we want the player to agitate for the move yet Baines did not do that in summer, so I believe it would be madness to pay over the odds. I would rather pay more for Shaw or even the £12.5m Madrid are rumoured to want for Coentrau. Coentrau nearly arrived on loan so we know he was interested in playing for us.
Top quality midfield addition is difficult particularly in January yet money talks. Well money talks if we had owners prepared to go out on a limb. We would like a Gundogen or Koke or both ideally but are we more likely to go down the road of a £15m deal for a Ribeiro type because otherwise the January outlay would make reading the year end accounts in June slightly unpleasant?
So Ribiero and Coentrau makes more financial sense if you are the owners but for now we can dream of a true top player arriving in our midfield. I would be happy with Coentrau but happier with Shaw; Baines only if the fee is around the £12m to £14m mark especially given he only has 18 months on his contract.

Finally we should keep an eye on the RVP situation, I see the Juventus chairman say he "knows" RVP is unhappy and that maybe so. However we cannot let him go without buying a top replacement. The thing with RVP is that he isn't blessed with pace and at 30 may may want a last go abroad where pace isn't as essential in some leagues. I doubt he would go in January yet there is a nagging worry after seeing his demeanour when he last played. Just because Welbeck has a couple of decent games does not make him more than a squad player, welcome though his form has been. Yet ask yourselves if RVP forced a move, we got a good fee then bought a Costa level player as well as the two we obviously need would that put the fear back into opponents?
Ah the joys of the transfer window, the last one started with Woodwards famous no retooling comment and ever since it closed Moyes has indicated a major rebuilding project. We showed a dramatic lack of ambition in the last window and now the Moyes Woodward show starts again.

Red Man, I have no doubt RvP is unhappy. There is simply too much evidence to suggest otherwise. Hopefully it can be sorted out so all parties are happy. I think Moyes needs to let certain players train the way they need to train. By all means do the horseshoe with the youngsters, but Vidic, Carrick & RvP should manage their own bodies to avoid injury.

I think there is every chance of Coentrao considering he nearly joined on loan and his RM contract talks have stalled (I think). I still think Moyes will waste a few weeks on trying to sign Baines again, I hope that doesn't lead to us missing out on Coentrao. I hope we sign Koke, but I think it will be difficult to say the least.

Well happy new year to you and everyone else. Roast beef for me today, what's everyone else having?

Thinks it's Italian footballer and now TV presenter Massimo Brambati and not the Juve president who "knows" RVP is unhappy.

Happy New Year Red Man, good post.

The are too many rumours circulating about RVP being unhappy for them not to have legs so as you say, it will be interesting to see what happens.

I agree about Baines, the cost will be too high for a 29 year old. I'd pay what is necessary for Shaw.

Given the debacle in the summer and the need for some rebuilding it is essential that we don't make any more mistakes; let's be honest, right now Fellaini looks like an overpriced squad player. There's great noises coming out about big names and major signings but we need action now, not words,

AJH

I agree we need signings but the reality is not many will be available or would want to switch clubs with the world cup coming up. The guys who will want a change are those who are not getting much game time and have aspirations of making a good showing to get into their respective countries squad. The only problem is unless they play for a massive team loaded with talent, you have to wonder why they are not playing and sitting on the bench.

I think the safest bet is buying domestically but not many teams are sellers of top players as everyone has some form of ambition or not in need of funds and no desire to sell i.e. Southampton

I think the summer is a lot more realistic in terms of major signings even at the domestic level as many will realize they are not good enough to achieve what they are aspiring to do and need to retool and sell.

@Red Man

Agree with a lot of it. Although I think you too understand that getting players like Koke who are having an excellent season domestically will be nearly impossible, considering its a world cup year too. He won't want to risk his chances. Same with Gundogan. The summer is more likely although i'm hoping we can get someone of that quality right now.

I don't rate Ribero highly and he talks a bit too much for my liking.

Agree on Coentrao, again if we want to get Shaw, again like Koke, the summer is when it will be possible. Not now.

Also, about RVP, what I have heard is that he was initially unhappy, yet him and Moyes have cleared the air now and he is being allowed to train his own way. He just got caught up with the huge change, just like a lot of others.

I hope RVP stays, although if he is about to leave, rather than Costa, maybe Lewandowski could be an option if Bayern's interest has moved on elsewhere.

01 Jan 2014 10:08:12
So it would appear that I have ruffled a few feathers on this site and that comments which have not been personal or abusive have been deleted by the eds. What is it with MUFC? Truth hurts or is it that you can't accept the page for what it is BANTER. Fair dos but I can tell you this Everton would never try to silence anyone regardless of which team they support for expressing an opinion.

Funny that mate because I had a few posts not appear on ure site :-S

Have u checked 'other posts'poor attempts at banter go in there

Everyone is entitled to their opinion Daveyboy, but if you think MU are going to go on a Liverpool style decline I think you will be bitterly disappointed. Like I said to one of your Everton buddies the other day. MU will be turning over £500m+ in a couple of year's time and the debt will be reducing further. For a club to go on a Liverpool style decline they would need to have a poor academy and very little cash. Well MU have a great academy and MU have plenty of cash. The club will have bucket loads of cash over the next decade. In terms of the FFP regulations there isn't a better placed club than us. We could spend £100m net for the next five years and still break even. The Glazers know how important it is for the club to be competing and will not let their asset devalue when the club have so much cash to improve the squad. I get the banter and I enjoy it, but if you are expecting us to implode, then you are delusional.

Well I've seen your "banter" on the Liverpool page and I can honestly say we're not missing out on much if your posts don't get put up, lol.

anyhow, just came on to wish a Happy new year to one and all! Let 2014 be good to to you.

Sydney, if your academy is so great then you would expect one or two to be breaking into the first team, as it stands they just get farmed out

Baz, generally it's harder for players to break into a top side like MU/City/Chelsea. Everton do not have as high standards as Manchester United. We have some very good youngsters, as do Everton, but they need to be very very good to break into the MU senior squad.

Yes Baz like Barkley was also farmed out for what's its worth. Our players are loaned out for experience or for sale value. We are one of the biggest producers of young players in Europe and the world of which your club has also benefited from and will continue too. You don't know what your talking about.

Bazz

You answered your own question good enough for you but not good enough for us. Our academy will produce one player a year that is good enough for us, take that and our financial might and existing players and the future looks pretty good.

If you sad bunch are getting so much pleasure out of the fact that for a change United are not top of the table, it is a clear indication of how everyone fears and loathes us. I couldn't give a s;;;t what other fans thought of us. Come end of the season you will be all back in your box and it will look like business as usual. As I said what we spend on water at our facility is half your wage bill:)

You are not very bright mate LOL.

Baz29,

Januzaj has already broken through. Morrison, Pogba were MU academy players. Pearson, Wilson etc. will be close in a couple of years. Moyes is the right manager to bring players through right now.

So "Everton do not have as high standards as Man Utd" and "come the end of the season you will be back in your box", I'm not sure these comments are worthy of a intelligible response Baz 29.
Just remember it was you Mancs who poached Moyes thanks to SAF and yet Everton showed the dignity of not reporting the incident to the FA. Why not? Because Uncle Bill knew that Gollum had taken EFC as far as he could and there was better managerial potential out there which has proved to be the case. The ginger one then disrespected his former employers with unsettling and derisory offers for Baines and Fellaini. We then beat you comprehensively at OT and Moyes started bleating about Everton fans disrespecting him forgetting what he had done for the club.
The truth is that you have made your bed so lie in it. We have and you only have to look at the table to see who is sleeping easier at night.

Guys, come on Baz does try and he does add to the mix on here so let's not berate him too much; even if he talks utter nonsense like on this thread. In fact as its New Years day I promise not to come back and say I told you so at the end of the season after Everton finish 8th in the league (lower than last year), when Barkley has been sold to Chelsea, Lukaku returns to Chelsea, Del boy goes back to Barca and Everton sign the mighty Barry and Jordi Gomez. If you are lucky we may loan you some of our young players next season to help you out.

Daveyboyboy

I see another Harvard scholar has joined in LOL. I am starting to understand why you are all thinking and dreaming of stuff now, it is not really your fault:)

Davey, no they don't. MU fans demand a league title challenge, to challenge in the UCL every season. Everton fans expect very little from the Everton team and that's exactly what they usually get. So when teams like MU, Chelsea & City are going for the title, the fans demand the best players and theirs usually little room for academy graduates. Everton can afford to bring one or two through the academy as there isn't as much pressure on them to win trophies. Plus you need your academy as you haven't a penny to scratch your arse with.

01 Jan 2014 00:33:28
here to the 2014 and the start of our push towards a historic quadruple!

I thought I'd drank a lot :-) nice one racket

Judging by how this season's going, I wouldn't count out a quadruple. Here's to hoping.

Is quadruple the new fancy word invented by Arsenal for finishing fourth?
;)