Manchester United Banter Archive April 23 2015

23 Apr 2015 23:38:27
It's that time of year again when were linked with every name under the sun, and a few of our fans and posters get carried away with the journo reports linking us with every tom, dick or Harry. Fresh inperticular gets very excited around about now. I've seen post today saying were signing x, y and z. Some people on here seem to think it's a nailed on cert were signing Hummels, Clyne, Depay, then there's Cavani, Gundogan, Pogba, and even Bale thrown in. Why do some people seem so assured we will be signing these players??

I personally think some might be let down, as I don't see after a big spend last year that we will go and throw another £150m on transfers. Infact it really wouldn't surprise me to see us sign someone like Vlaar instead of Hummels, De Jong in CM, Ings on a free. I can't see huge spend. I'm sorry but Bale isn't going to happen. Kane isn't going to happen ( and shouldn't IMO ), Pogba isn't going to happen.

24 Apr 2015 00:04:28
Not sure people are saying nailed on cert, it's tricky to work out which stories are genuine and which are totally made up at this time of year. I have 'Manchester United rumours' as a Google alert at work and I check it each morning the metro has linked us with a different player, I tried keeping a record last year of all the different players we were linked with but it got too much after about June 1st when I had 30 players on the list.

My favourite is when they say 'Blow for united as major target signs new deal' and it is somebody that they linked us with 2 days earlier, they make their own stories up as they go along but 'blow for united' gets clicks and readers these days unfortunately. United sells so no matter whether the story is true they write it anyway.

I think people think hummels, clyne and depay are the most likely because there has been noises coming from different parties suggesting that there is a good chance of a deal, none of them are done deals but they seem to be the most likely at the moment. I would imagine given vlaars injury record any interest may have gone, and I would imagine with the form of smalling we will only be signing one centre half the summer where at one point I would imagine we were looking for 2.

24 Apr 2015 01:00:47
Don't get me wrong if love us to sign these players, just don't see us signing as many high profile players as some suggest. I think depay looks the most likely. Hummels as you say seems to have legs, although as good a player as he is I'm not totally convinced he's right for us. I think If I had a choice is have verane anyday, after that probably laporte and Godin over hummels. Again not totally convinced clyne is worth a big fee. I think I'd rather Carvahal or even Janmaat. Pogba and Bale just aren't going to happen, and I hope we don't waste big money on Cavani.

24 Apr 2015 01:31:36
Vlaar? No way, he's mediocre at best. I am still a huge advocate of signing Coleman and if Bale became available then we should go all out for him as he is an absolute superstar. Agree with GDS, some rumours are exactly what they are rumours but there are few such as Hummels and Depay who if you were a betting man you would say we will try our damnest to get them through the door.

Also De Jong is a city reject. Even the great LVG knows we need better.

24 Apr 2015 09:13:09
I really hope we get Depay, he is exactly the type of player we need. I hope we get a similar type of player for the Right too, Felipe Anderson would be great. You would then have depay, rooney and Anderson making forward runs pulling players around the pitch creating space for the midfield. We have really lacked pace upfront over the last few years. I like Dyabla too for the Striker role as he's quick, technically fantastic and has an excellent eye for a pass but it doesn't look like we are interested. In conclusion I'd like to see a LW, RW, RB maybe a CB as I think Jones/Smalling could be great. Maybe a young ST (I'd let Falcao and RVP go). I'd also snatch PSG's hand off if they offered our money back on ADM.

24 Apr 2015 09:31:37
no idea whether the above is true or not, however, i did recently view a youtube clip of Depay in action and whereas it is stretching things to say that he is the new ronaldo he certainly has pace, power skill and is able to score goals. IMO £25m would be money well spent and i would certainly rather spend this money as opposed to 3/4 times that on Bale. Yes bale may be a great player but depay may end up just as good and furthermore if te rumours of us having £150m to spend are true i don't want half of that being spent on 1 player esp when that player plays in a position where we are reasonably strong anyway. £75m on Pogba( unlikely i know) yes, since he would play in a position that we need to strengthen but not £75m on bale or for that matter CR7.

Allan

24 Apr 2015 09:48:33
JMB,
Vlaar did have a great world cup so I doubt he is mediocre. But for his injuries i thought he would have been a perfect january quick fix. Maybe a bullet dodged.
I have always said I am a Hummels fan and would love to see him at Utd! 6ft 3 . 26 years old, 2 bundesliga medals, one world cup gold where he scored twice i think. He is way ahead of Mertesacker and Boateng. I rate Godin highly but i think at 29, he will be temporal solution. Shappy made a small write up where he mentioned Winston Reid, I think he will flourish as a defender in a bigger team!

24 Apr 2015 10:15:43
I disagree Allan. Depay looks good and has potential to be awesome and I would like him at the club for certain but not at the expense of Bale.

Ideally if we could get both then fantastic, if we get either then fantastic, but if we could only get one then it's Bale on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday for me. What a player. Absolute gun!

24 Apr 2015 11:22:31
MBD I actually think Boateng is a better all round defender than Hummels.

24 Apr 2015 13:19:01
Let's agree to disagree on that. City however does come to mind

24 Apr 2015 13:54:03
Bayern does come to mind.

24 Apr 2015 13:55:22
Depay will be better than Bale he's more of a complete player. Bale isn't a clever footballer his pace is his strongest asset, I think he's greedy and makes a lot of bad decisions ie shoots when he should pass etc

23 Apr 2015 15:11:34
What are everyone's opinions on Benteke? We all want Rooney to stay up top next season, and I imagine Rooney wants that too. So someone like Cavani or Lewandowski may be an unnecessary and very large spend. Benteke could be a good option and is way different to anything that we have upfront? Also expecting to see a resurgent RVP after a summer off - I think part of his problem has been the WC and the lack of rest that he had. With a body as fragile as his, rest is crucial for performance.

23 Apr 2015 15:34:41
i would if sold rvp last summer , think he might go this summer

23 Apr 2015 15:42:29
I don't rate Benteke enough. He has his assets but I don't think we create enough nor is he technically good enough. I also don't think RVP will be back, he doesn't move enough now, everything is laboured and he was being called offside a hell of a lot, plus finishing wasn't anywhere near as good as it used to be.

I think Rooney, Wilson and somebody like Kane would be perfect, but if not Kane then Ings (ideally we should have kept Welbeck for his ability to play as a wide striker as well but that's my own personal gripe).

The major thing for me is having a replacement for the Carrick role a RB (although I think Rafael is ideal) and a CB.

23 Apr 2015 16:56:28
Beast Benteke showed great technique in his curled goal against us. That being said, I ain't a fan of Benteke but who knows.

23 Apr 2015 17:05:08
i think kane and benteke are a similar standard

23 Apr 2015 17:35:30
I too would love Kane as he is English. What with £20 million hopefully being spent on Clyne, another £35 or so on Hummels, £20 odd million for Depay our spending is already at £75 million without a central midfielder. If Gundogan is the one then he will be around the £20 million mark due to his contract situation - having Carrick, Gundogan and Blind for that deep role would be excellent.

Do we have enough to target a world class striker as well as a possible push for Bale? I don't think so. Benteke with better service would be deadly - he is excellent in the air, fairly quick and very strong with a good shot on him. Ideal as a back up striker along with Wilson (maybe RVP too if he stays and shows up).

Now, will Fellaini be starting again next season or not? Do we sign a midfield replacement for him that is better on the ball but doesn't offer the aerial presence?

{Ed007's Note - Ed004 if that's you posting using Fresh's account I'll boot your wee chuckies! }

23 Apr 2015 17:38:36
MBD - I meant his general ball control, passing etc, very similar to Hernandez, the ball bounces off him and LVG likes his striker to be good footballers so they can link up play, Benteke is a raw striker that doesn't quite have what it takes for me. Horses for courses though.

Jred - Kane is a cleverer footballer, works very hard, is English and is also pretty versatile. I think he has better attributes than Benteke for an LVG Utd, but again personal opinions.

23 Apr 2015 20:03:59
I really don't see the point in having both Wilson and Kane (young strikers that need game time to improve) all the while Rooney is going to be starting most games up front. Especially if we get another midfielder which is likely. Will Kane want to come to us and be behind Rooney in the pecking order and fight Wilson for game time? Makes no sense, especially for the price spurs will want for him, c'mon guys.

If RvP and Falcao aren't here next season we'll need another striker alongside Rooney and Wilson but it won't be Kane. Someone like Jackson Martinez would be idea, someone who is older and wants to try their hand at a big club in a different country. Although Porto aren't exactly known for their bargain bucket deals.

23 Apr 2015 22:56:06
Kane is head and shoulders above Wilson at the moment Ozwald

24 Apr 2015 00:46:21
Because he has no world class strikers to compete with he's managed to get a lot of game time. Why waste so much money on a young player with potential when we have a young player with lots of potential in the same position? Besides do you think he'd want to come and sit on the bench because Rooney will start most games upfront by himself.

24 Apr 2015 01:33:38
I am not saying Wilson doesn't have potential but there is a major gap between potential and firing in 30 plus goals a season regardless of who your competition for places is against. If Wilson was at Kanes level at the minute he would be leading the line almost every game. If your good enough you get a game.

23 Apr 2015 12:07:59
Just want to say what a great site this is, the debates tho we may not ways agree is good to see the passion from us United fans. Big shout to the eds for there banter and insightful knowledge.
Just want to say aswell, I went to watch FC United vs Stourbridge the other night. 3, 500 attendance, fantastic support, it is fantastic what they've acheived, 4 promotions in 10 years. I'm not sure what people's opinions are but they certainly are United lovers also, no animosity, 2 teams, 1 soul and the support and business model there I amazing.

24 Apr 2015 11:50:55
Thanks, mate.