Manchester United Banter Archive January 20 2018

20 Jan 2018 22:25:03
Well must be genuinely close for the Sanchez deal, Stanley Chow just posted new artwork of him and for those that don't know Chow does an official custom range of Utd player designs for T-shirts

Welcome Alexis.

20 Jan 2018 21:21:23
Was thinking earlier today, do we take Valencia for granted? He reminds me so much of Irwin in that he's a constant 8/ 10 performer at least, but really doesn't get much praise, particularly from the media, fellow professionals, etc. I have a feeling that it's only once he's gone, we'll truly appreciate just how good of a RB/ WB he is.

20 Jan 2018 22:25:54
Couldn't agree more.

20 Jan 2018 21:55:08
unless we replace him with a RB that gets to the opposition byline and can pick out a cross, maybe we will realise how limited he was.

20 Jan 2018 22:53:18
Valencia is not very good defensively imo. He is good at the raw parts of the game like Jones and Rojo are, but his positional sense is shocking, his end product is often limited as well and his ability to think past the 2nd or 3rd ball is woeful (basically I don't think he has a footballing brain) . His pace does get him out of a lot of problems, but against quality we get found out and he is a major issue. Doesn't happen often, but if we release more midfielders forward he is an issue.

I like him, he is a very good squad player - but we are a very defensive team on the whole which helps cover up a lot of the weaknesses we have back there. Whenever a team attacks us properly we look all over the place, player like Blind, Rojo, Smalling and Jones to some degree are also flattering to deceive because of our defensive shape. He is no Dennis Irwin for me, more of a less injury prone and less rash Rafael, without the technique Rafael had.

21 Jan 2018 00:13:51
Probably the most consistent player we have had in recent years. Rarely if ever puts a foot wrong. Say what you want but a defender defends first and foremost and he has always given an option going forward to it. Spectacularly underrated by United fans. Anto V has been a great player for us.

21 Jan 2018 00:18:32
Maybe then that explains some of Jose's more pragmatic techniques. He knows most of his defenders are somewhat limited but has to make fo with what he has until he can bring in better.

21 Jan 2018 00:26:52
LVG ruined Toni. He seems obsessed with not losing possession, and stifles/ slows down even more attacks than Mata. That said, he is a very steady and safe right back and is far better defensively than young.

Would love to see Tuanzebe get some game time at right back.

20 Jan 2018 19:10:47
It was a scrappy 3 points, that was uneasy on the eye to watch but 3 points all the same. Jose needs to have words with the players about selfish glory hunting, This is not schoolboy football. It won't be long before we start to rue these missed chances or get annoyed at selfish glory hunting players.

I speak for all when I say that the golden boot is a big achievement come the end of the season but goals win games and points win the league, Glory hunting will only win envy and the player who did not receive a pass, Will make sure not to pass back when he sees a chance. This needs to be addressed immediately if we are to stand a chance, We must win every game from here on in and hope 3 teams can win city or 2 wins and 3 draws. Man Utd have lead by 12 at New Years only to loose at the final game. It can be done so keep faith.

What's your player pick for Spurs. And does Shaw or young get LB for the next game.

20 Jan 2018 21:21:01
Good post reddevilfan. I would start shaw against spurs as I think we look for balanced with a natural left footer overlapping martial on the left. We need to go three in midfield and I would look at bringing Herrera in although I think we will see Fellaini playing. Just a quick note regarding Fellaini, I would be miffed if I was Herrera and Fellaini was getting minutes instead of him. As far as I’m concerned, Fellaini is a contract Rebel and wants out of the club. he should not be getting minutes over people that are more committed and who want to be at the club. We should be looking to move him on either this window or phase him out slowly for the rest of the season.

I would play Sanchez on the right, Martial left and big rom up top against spurs. I think we have the team to do them but I really hope we attack them and take the game to them. They have started to hit some form so it won’t be easy but we have enough about us to win.

20 Jan 2018 22:38:03
Spurs is one of two away games left for us. City being the other. If we can get a result there, then confidence will be sky high for the rest of the season.

20 Jan 2018 17:41:09
Not the best performance but tricky place to go and Big 3 points with a tough trip to spurs next up.

We've not conceded a goal since Defour free kick in December, unbeaten in 9, Pogba unbeaten in 36 league games, Sanchez on his way, things could be a lot worse eh?

Great time to be a united fan, let's see if we can put some pressure on city.

20 Jan 2018 18:06:09
Agreed pal. Can't wait for the Spurs game next week. Hopefully we have Sanchez for it! Really can't see us losing it TBH.

20 Jan 2018 18:12:55
Well it should be an open game so hopefully lots of action.

20 Jan 2018 17:10:25
Really poor performance today thought we looked off the pace and sloppy in possession. We really struggled again in midfield and were overrun so a third midfielder in the summer should be at the top of our priority list. Should have played with 3 in midfield today with fellaini or herrera just to give us more stability and control.

However, Burnley is a really tough place to go play and Dyche has them so well drilled and organised so this is such an important 3 points. So well done to the lads for doing that. I thought Rom's hold up play was very good today and it has been for the past month or so. This part of his game was always the area where I was slightly worried about but he has proved me wrong. His willing running and hold up play has been a key reason for martial's huge improvement this year. martial has been a revelation and I fully expect him to keep his positiion on the left and for sanchez to play either centrally behind lukaku or on the right instead of mata.

I think Jose was giving Shaw a well deserved rest today so I would not look too much into the change with Young. It is clear that Shaw is our number 1 at the moment for left back so i expect him to start against spurs next weekend.

Cant wait to get the Sanchez deal finalised as he is such a class player and today showed we are desperately missing someone like him in our team. Poor performance but a massive three points. let's hope Newcastle can do us a favour (unlikely (, and we go again against Yeovil and Spurs next week.

20 Jan 2018 17:24:49
We either panicked or made the wrong choice a few times upfront today. They need to relax and show more composure in the final third. I think we are badly missing a player like Sanchez so I'mma very glad we are getting him (Hopefully) .

20 Jan 2018 17:29:43
Sloppy is a good description Park, the ball was given up a lot by most. However, we had at least 3 occasions in the second half when we had an extra man and took the wrong option. Pogba, Rashford, and Jesse were all guilty. I felt for Rom who ran his socks off but didn’t really get much to feed on. Still, 3 more points, another clean sheet and on to the big game next week.

20 Jan 2018 17:44:00
Agree with that AJH Rom seems to be putting the ball on a plate for the other attackers but they never seem to give him the right ball when he is in the right areas. I thought Pogba was incredibly selfish today and unlike his usual self. He seemed very fired up and emotional and was close to boiling over a few times. I love the guy and think he is a world class player but I don't back the view of some to have him as captain. Not calm or composed enough to be a captain. I would look at De Gea as captain going forward. I do think this is an area that we are lacking and there are not enough leaders on the field. Hence, we have struggled several times in game management in seeing games off. We cling on at the end when we are faced with an aerial bombardment - it is not good for the old nerves!

I would agree we should have had 3 goals from Rash, Pogba and Lingard. Very selfish play from all of them and it is not good enough. We need to be more clinical and on another day it would have cost us. I am pretty confident sanchez would have converted at least one of those chances or laid it onto Rom who was in the right place.

Having said all that, great result (not the performance), and we go again carrying on our good start to the year.

20 Jan 2018 18:28:54
The challenge for Pogba is to do it consistently. Last game we was brilliant, this game he wasn’t. I think Burnley we’re trying to unsettle him and we’re effectvely ganging up to get him booked or sent off. Yet he states reasonable cool although he was sloppy and also seemed to want to score so he made poor decisions when other players were better placed. I thought Rashford looked lively but again he could have given it to Rom on a plate but didn’t. Very frustrating.

20 Jan 2018 14:54:02
A Jose guide to building self confidence in young players, "this Luke Shaw is one of the best left backs in the world. "

Immediately drops him for a 32 year old winger.

20 Jan 2018 16:17:49
Never mind that. I just put Shaw in my dream team. Cheers, José.

20 Jan 2018 16:19:16
Or he could be giving him a rest after starting a few games in a row for the first time in ages.

20 Jan 2018 17:08:12
Yeah, got to rest him up for that big next game against Yeovil.

20 Jan 2018 18:03:34
SHaw has played 4/ 5 games in quick succession. Managing him well so he doesn’t injure himself.

20 Jan 2018 18:26:29
José could at least have given me a heads up. That's all I'm asking.

20 Jan 2018 19:00:48
The game to rest him would be Yeovil, so he's fit for the bigger game against Spurs. Young was available for the first time in 3 games, and went straight back into the starting line-up. That tells me that Shaw is second choice, will get a run out in the cup game, but Young will be back in the side for Spurs.

20 Jan 2018 20:27:17
he's 22, he should be able to play 4 games in one day never mind over a couple of weeks, Young was solid today though, maybe it was to show Shaw how a professional player can be consistent, though we'd all prefer shaw not to go around Elbowing defenders!

20 Jan 2018 20:27:17
he's 22, he should be able to play 4 games in one day never mind over a couple of weeks, Young was solid today though, maybe it was to show Shaw how a professional player can be consistent, though we'd all prefer shaw not to go around Elbowing defenders!

20 Jan 2018 22:00:43
We didn’t concede a goal today. Jose’s decision justified. Oh we won again by the way.

20 Jan 2018 14:15:54
Club didn't want to spend the cash on perisic few month later look to make Sanchez the highest paid player in the league .

Good call imo.

20 Jan 2018 14:46:14
Well said Jred. A really good move imo.

20 Jan 2018 05:46:28
{Ed's Note - we have posted a new article entitled, Review Of The Day 20th January 2018

20 Jan 2018 07:14:22
Great review Ed. 👍👏 thanks 🙏.

{Ed001's Note - cheers 666 :-)

20 Jan 2018 08:41:32
Cheers ed I look forward to these now 😁.

{Ed001's Note - thanks Deano, hopefully be able to keep them up most days.}

20 Jan 2018 09:33:00
Good read Ed!

{Ed001's Note - thank you very much DKK.}

20 Jan 2018 10:05:44
Clicked thinking its the preview. nice work.

{Ed001's Note - cheers mumbai.}

20 Jan 2018 11:19:19
Don’t worry Mumbai I’m sure the preview will still come? Right Ed? 😉.

{Ed001's Note - it should be up mate, I did the preview just before, if you click on the link there should be a link at the top and bottom that takes you to the match preview.}

20 Jan 2018 11:20:34
Love these ed. Great stuff.

{Ed001's Note - cheers ken.}

20 Jan 2018 00:05:06
Nice to see lassana diarra in negotiations, short term solution for carrick with extension offer possible;billy boy, if your reading this, i owe you a beer!