Manchester United Banter Archive February 23 2014

 

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23 Feb 2014 21:25:53
No mention of the atmosphere yesterday. Great show by the visitors, 30 minute version of "Busby Babes" and good to see a mixture of young and old faces. Top day, but soured by a top dressing down from the misses when I (eventually) got home!

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23 Feb 2014 16:12:20
What does everbody think our defence will be like midweek i'd like Rafael Jones Evans Evra with big wig and Carrick in midfield same front 4 as yesterday

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Kagawa for mata I'd like to see same style
Footballkeano

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Small-Ferd-Vidic-Evra
----Carrick-Fellaini

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Same 11 for me, if all fit.

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Mata can not play in the champions league for us. Valencia or Ashley young may come in instead of him.

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Paddy,

Mata is cup tied unfortunately and I would expect rafa, Evans and jones may not all be fit, so impossible to pick at the moment.

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With the exception of Mata (hopefully Kags replaces) no changes!

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Valencia in for Mata and we might see him rest janusaj. Doe anyone know where Nani is? What a waste of a wage.

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Thats my team for the rest of the season with Kagawa replacing Mata midweek say and maybe they won't all be fit as you say

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Same 11 except Kagawa in for Mata and put on the left with Januzaj on the right.

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I think we will see Valencia and Young start on Tuesday.

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Paddy,

It doesn't really work like that, we have to play other players as well so that if anyone gets injured they are fresh. I'm sure it will be the team in most of the big games, maybe Valencia or young in some of them to cover evra though unfortunately.

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I think Kagawa and Valencia will start, Kagawa has been favoured in Europe and I think he will want a solid winger and then an inside forward.

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Im not saying evergame from now on but most of them

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23 Feb 2014 14:16:01
I don't think yesterday's formation was a 4-2-3-1, at least not a narrow one. Mata and Rooney were both playing as a number 10 either side of the middle, but Adnan stayed wide on the left.

What I'd like to see more often is Adnan playing on both wings during a game. targeting both fullbacks, and concentrating on the weaker one. He offers a dribbling threat that no other member of the team does. When he does one move to the right, one of Rooney/ Mata would cover him on the left defensively when needed but it would cause more defensive problem to the other team.

I think we just found our strongest front 6 for the rest of the season. With Jones, Evans and Smalling capable of playing a higher line, and Rafael offering more threat down the right, we have what it takes to capitalize on any Liverpool mistake. Hoping Swansea can take a couple of points off them today.

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I would worry abut spurs more than I would worry about the scousers.

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23 Feb 2014 13:00:49
Has anyone noticed how quickly Adnan is filling out? And as he doesn't rely on speed he will only get better and better.

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I really noticed this yesterday, he seemed so much wider yesterday. I think the fitness team are doing a marvellous job - it reminds me so much of Ronaldo's development.

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MU need to be careful with him. He's great to watch, but should be used properly over the next 2-3 years.

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23 Feb 2014 12:33:36
does anyone not think that its a coincidence that we move to a 4-2-3-1 once we have fellaini back available? I just think that moyes did not think we have 2 capable central midfielders to cover our front 4.not to mention our back 4 looking vulnerable all season.

I believe that he is slowly getting on the right track, he just needs the players to play the way he wants. i'm not pro moyes but i'm also not against him, i'm still sitting on the fence. you can't play a certain formation if you don't have the right players. if my memory serves me correct, he won manager of the year twice, you don't lose that over night! going from everton to manchester united is a massive change.

i know a lot of fans are upset at him for changing the backroom staff but I feel he couldn't win either way, if he had kept phelan and co. he would have have stayed in fergies shadow and been called his puppet, or whatever. he brings in his own staff, as all new managers do and he gets crucified for being his own man, he can't win!

i feel losing david gill and fergie at the same time really hurt us, we needed to keep gill for another 12 months to help moyes and train woodward

i think we will miss out on champions league but I don't think it will hurt us too much recruitment wise. look at the players city got without champions league. monaco got falcao and moutinho! there is no bigger project in world football then rebuilding manchester united!

i think with de gea, mata, rooney, van persie, we have the start of a great first 11, if moyes can add in the right areas, I have no doubt we will be challenging again next year.

just my thoughts

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Don't forget Jones and Adnan Darv.

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Very good post Darv, I really think you have made a good point about Fellaini - I thought he was excellent considering it was his first game back. Partner him with Gundogan next year and we will have a formidable midfield pairing to stabilise.

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Gundogan Shaw are the more nesccisary signings we need Garay maybe as well with a few players out

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I wouldn't moan if we signed Subotic, Coleman, Shaw, Gundogan & Griezmann. I can't see it though.

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Sydney, I have not forgot bout adnan and jones, I just completely forgot to list them, I don't know how I did that!

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Darv, we have six top quality players. 3-4 more in the summer would be great.

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I know sydney, I actually wrote the post after quite a few beers and forgot to add adnan and jones

if we can get the 3-4 players we need then I think we could be in for a very good year again next year. if we do qualify for the europa league, I would expect us to go close to winning it if we make the additions moyes is talking about

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We will never win the Europa league because we won't field a team to win it. plus the players hearts wouldn't be in it. Itd be a case of can't wait for the champions league next year

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23 Feb 2014 11:44:36
I was quite shocked to find out that so far this season we have only 2 goals from defence (in the league anyhow). That's quite abismal granted last season we had two on 4/5 alone.

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I don't think goals from defence are too much of a concern. Most of the goals last season came from Evra who surprised teams by getting in on corners, the others were the odd lash from Rafael. It's not a great worry.

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Goals from attacking players are down compared to last season too (not checked but pretty sure). That is a worry but hopefully will improve now Rooney and RVP are fit.

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More of a worry is lack of goals from midfield still. We haven't had a goalscoring midfielder since Ronaldo. Before that Scholes, Giggs, Keane, kanchelskis, Robson all got 10 + a season.
Now our midfielders get 5 if were lucky. Adnan, mata and whoever we sign will hopefully start to change that.

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23 Feb 2014 11:41:23
As some of you have said, yesterday wasn't perfect, but definitely a step in the right direction! For the first time in a while we didn't look so vulnerable when Palace came forward and seemed a lot more confident on the ball. Thought Fellaini probably had his best game for us and I think the stating line up was all one we wanted to see, especially the front four. Hopefully Moyes puts a bit of consistency in his tram selections till the end of the season so they can gel.

Also, does anyone know where Welbeck is? Pretty sure he isn't injured and I haven't head him been mentioned in the pressers or anything

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Bambi has been sent away for basic training which includes first touch, passing and shooting :)

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Perhaps that where Fellaini has been! Or still is finishing off - basic training same as.

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Panch

There is still hope for Fellaini whilst unfortunately for Bambi in few years time he will be in one of those shows"where are they now" as he is applying his trade in the Khazakstan Super League :)

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23 Feb 2014 11:11:11
How do you all rate The wigs performance yesterday? I missed the match so just want to see if he looked liked he belonged in the tean?

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He was very good IMO and will make a big difference to our set up.

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For me Carrick and Fellaini is a no no for the future, it needs to be one or the other partnered with a busier player like Gundogan or Vidal. I cannot see Moyes spending £27.5m on Fellaini and not using him so we have to believe it will be a Fellaini plus one midfield partnership next season with Carrick, Cleverley and Fletcher being squad players. My question is who do folk want to see partner Fellaini next season in midfield? Vidal? Gundogan? Herrera? Koke? Someone new?

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He was very dynamic and strong imo

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Agree with Sydney. Can't have fellaini and carrick in my opinion. Fellaini was OK nothing more. He broke up one or two attacks which was good and he also tried to move the ball quicker. But we need to see a lot more from him. He's been out for a long time so let's see what he has to offer. Jury still out for me. He also looks very clumsy and cumbersome. When the opposition were playing quick passes, he was lost.
If we insist on playing him instead of carrick, then we're going to need kroos and kundogan behind mata Rooney and rvp.

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Gundogan seems the most likely according to a few papers this morning!

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Fellaini and Carrick doesn't work and it won't be the pairing. Moyes has paid a lot of money for Fellaini and he will be played (and he should be). Carrick is slowing down and should be rotated a lot more. The ideal partnership is with Vidal but I don't think that will happen so Gundogan is the next best bet with Herrera close behind. Koke is the last for me on the list - don't know why.

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While I do believe Fellaini is a consistent passer and rarely loses the ball, he needs a more technical player next to him. A busy playmaker, like Cleverley, but actually making play.

And I honestly think had cleverley played yesterday, he would have had a decent game next to Fellaini. With Rooney staying in the number 10 position more consistently, and Mata always offering an option in midfield, we'd have seen Cleverley passing it forward since he would have had a bit more options and fewer people playing on the wing. With Fellaini also pushing forward, it would have allowed Cleverley to have some players in more advanced positions than him.

All in all, I'd say one of Kroos and Gundogan would be the perfect fellaini partner. If we got Vidal, I see him taking Fellaini's spot in midfield since a midfield 2 of Vidal/ Fellaini lacks passing range.

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I don't believe cleverly is at all a good combination with Fellaini.

What Fellaini does offer is a midfielder who can move forward and almost play a number 10 sometimes and the strikers can play off of him. He can give a lot of CB problems dues to his size. In order to add that extra dimension to our play you need a holding midfielder who can shield the back 4 and also pass the ball. Cleverly is neither. Kroos or Herrera would be great as a pairing with Fellaini.

Carrick and Fellaini are our best partnership as long as we move the ball quicker even if we drop some of our passing accuracy figures.

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I've rebranded from Rooney Must Go, as it just looks stupid now. Although he should have gone! I will back him now (I still wanted him to perform, just didn't like his tactics).

Fellaini was quality yesterday. One major reason was because of the size of the pitch. He is a big guy and Selhurst Park is cramped at the best of times, he isn't too mobile so it is a problem at home I think, but ideal for these tight pitches. Also we dominated the ball so it was quite easy for our midfield to break up their counter attacks. That said give them guy some credit, he was our best player yesterday.

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Gundogan Kroos would be great a great fast good passing midfield and Shaw at left back

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GCU, Herrera is more attacking minded than Cleverley and so is Kroos. Gungogan is he only one of the 3 proven in a midfield 2.

I believe we need a more technical player next to Fellaini and they can take turns driving forward, much like Toure and Fernandinho.

Cleverley and Fellaini are our best combination on paper, since their attributes complement each other nicely. Cleverley is a better passer and better on the ball, but he needs to play a more adventurous role. He offers the off the ball dynamism and pace that Fellaini does not.

Although saying that, Carrick is a much better player than Cleverley atm, but him and Fellaini in midfield, especially with a slowish defense, does not work against better teams. A better version of Cleverley and fellaini would.

And that's exactly what Kroos and co are, much more talented Cleverleys.

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I agree Mick Fellaini would be better with a more mobile partner like Cleverly. Or part of a 3 with Cleverly and Jones I think could work well.

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Near everyone says Fellaini was good, stats say fellaini was excellent. Some people still say he was below good? Why so negative. Personally I thought he gave us a tenacity we've been missing. i'd like to see him beside Fletch as I think Fletch has become a much better player since his break nd I for one are dying to see him bck to near 100% fitness.

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23 Feb 2014 10:11:43
Looking at Serge Aurier's performances this season it looks as though he could be the next big thing to come out of France to follow in the foot steps of Zouma and Varane. Personally I think that we need more of an established player not another youngster. His progress will be interesting though never the less.

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23 Feb 2014 07:39:20
Okay good win yesterday but we still have to remember it was Palace (No disrespect) we cannot get carried away,

We can take a few positives tho. Clean sheet away from home, our two strikers scoring, Mata, RVP, WR and Adnan all on the pitch and although it was not exceptional I think we seen some bright sparks and clever interchange of play at times.

Now we have to kick on, no doubt our confidence will grow each time we win and IMO that's the key to finish the season on a "high" if we can call it that!

DDG solid again when called upon and I believe the old guard put a good shift in, in the shape of Rio, Evra and Vida.

Hoping for a good result midweek - Would love DM to be able to unleash Mata in Europe!

Cheers

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Young player new system but Janu was not his usual self yesterday. Mata was too deep and slow to pass first half. the 2 CB's both made mistakes yesterday giving Palace chances. First time we played a proper 4231 plenty of positives. I hope we stick with it, Janu on top form with less unforced defensive errors and the midfield pushing a mere 5 or 10 yards further up the pitch ( can't blame Fellaini for that) the more we play that system the better we will get.

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Totally agree grund, the whole team needs too push up 5-10 yards further up the pitch. We played neat football, but didn't create as much as we should. If we had an enforcer in midfield, then this formation, which I have been calling for two years now, will be great.
Also, we need to get Rafael in there as smalling is not an attacking right back and you need your full backs to give the width playing this formation.

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2 attacking full backs who can whip the ball into dangerous areas with precision and accuracy will make a big difference when playing yesterday's formation, it wi be interesting to see if DM will stick by Rafael (He should IMO).

Someone like Ashley Cole in his day would be perfect on the left.

What you folks think?

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JohnRambo

I mentioned the exact same thing yesterday. If DM gets 2 fullbacks this summer then yesterdays front 6 would be great once they get more game time together.

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Hopefully we don't even need 2 GCU, fingers crossed Rafa gets the head down and fulfils his potential.

With a bit of experience brought in at centre half a new explosive left back coupled with our current attacking options, we should see a major improvement - Then we can focus on a top quality CM, don't think we needs this drastic overhaul that's been touted, I think a lot more will go that will come in.

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JohnRambo

I think rafa need to improve his delivery in the box . He is forgiven for occasional lapses in defending if he can improve that.

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23 Feb 2014 02:37:10
You people are pretty fastidious it seems, I thought fellaini was brilliant yesterday, not just okay, except that miss, he put in a better performance than any of our midfielders have this season

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{Ed007's Note - Fastidious....At this time in the morning!! Word of the day bog-roll by any chance?}

I have to say I felt he was good, a bit too offensive meaning Rooney had to drop back a little more than than he'd have liked. But on the whole, we were very good. Lovely movement, Janujaz really has that glow that also shone through Ronaldo. The way he has bulked out already is only going to make him harder to stop and more confident. If RVP sparks into life, we will make a serious attack on 4th spot (Never say never).
Mata was excellent in creating little gaps and we will learn to capitalise on these spontaneous openings. Vidic, what can I say. Hard to replace.

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Have to disagree on Vidic thought he was poor again as he has been all season. The vidic of 4 years ago would be hard to replace but I'm sorry to say he has most definitely been the weak link in centre of defence this season. The majority of games we have lost vidic has been in the team he makes several mistakes each game thesedays IMO

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Not the word of the day stuff bond, I've been working on my English skills for GRE (sadly) :)

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{Ed007's Note - Good luck.}

GRE? Is that any relation to 'O' Levels and CSE's?

Good luck, lad.

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{Ed007's Note - It's something to do with going into university. You'll not need to worry about stuff like that Stevie - believe me!}

:) Bond, my degree was obtained so long ago, it wouldn't even get me into Burger King.

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23 Feb 2014 02:14:03
Simple point, not having a go just making a constructive conversation. You finally got to see the front 4 of rvp, januzay, Rooney and Mata yesterday, albeit against Crystal palace. The question is, does Moyes have the bottle to play this against the big teams such as Liverpool in the coming weeks? I think not, he will play young as he will be to scared of evras defensive frailties. I'd be interested to see what you think.

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23 Feb 2014 02:11:30
I know this site is a different read if we've won but I tend to agree with most posts after today's game I felt more confident after 20 mins in this game than I have all season and I believe the wig gives our attack more cover and a good start for the build up play? It wasn't an amazing performance but a good stepping stone! The personnel tday allowed us to play good football when going forward? Yes only palace but after the season we've had that was no given that we'd win and win comfortabley so a good start hopefully to a good run ready for the lpool game?

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23 Feb 2014 00:44:59
Generally today I thought we played quite well, not a fantastic convincing team performance but at least this game and the olympiakos game in midweek could give us something of a bit of momentum to build on in the coming weeks
I thought Palace were plucky and quite difficult to break down, like any Tony Pulis side would be. Rooney had a good game when given free lisence to roam around van Persie, Mata and Januzaj and I think like many others that that is the best front 4 available to us although they were often left isolated in their respective positions (van Persie up front and Mata and Januzaj on each wing respectively)
There wasn't much we couldve taken away from that game but I suppose the only direction we can look is across the horizon onwards for the midweek game against olympiakos

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Jf I agree the performance today was good and more than anything the formation and possession that united had was pleasing. Fellaini looked ok considering his time out. Midweek game will be a step up in quality but at least some confidence has been restored.

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23 Feb 2014 00:22:48
I hope the press and the doubters keep going on about Rooney & his new contract & how overpaid he is. He was wonderful today, shoving it right back down their throats by proving (not that he has anything to prove) again that he is a world class footballer.

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Spot on StevenC.
My thoughts exactly.
In my opinion he will get better and better now all this crap about wether he wants to leave or not has been put to bed.
To many obsessed Rooney doubters on here.
The boy is world class!

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