Manchester United Banter Archive November 23 2013

23 Nov 2013 19:48:49
Interest again in Ronaldo according to the papers, I wonder if this will end when he retires? Looking forward to tomorrow! We can close the gap I think, it's a huge game and one that I expect we will win.

23 Nov 2013 10:40:58
I think there might be a few people on here who will be disappointed with United's upcoming January transfer window. It seems that there's a considerable expectancy amongst a lot of users for Moyes to sign at least one quality player to make up for last summer's fiasco. While I don't deny that United need reinforcements, especially in the middle of the park, I'm not holding my breath for anyone to be bought in January.

When has United last purchased a first team player in January? Prices are especially inflated in the middle of a season, and there is a lack of quality available. Moyes said it today that he's thinking of the club's long-term future. He's not assembling a squad that will get United through a single season, but one that will compete on all fronts for years to come.

People on this site are making it seem like United need to quickly sign someone this January at all costs, and that any hope of winning any silverware this season will be gone otherwise. I don't think that this is true at all.

United have a very deep squad. Carrick is out for a little while. This is a huge blow. Cleverley has a huge couple of months ahead of him. Anderson will get his annual chance to prove he wasn't a waste of money. Fellaini is going to have to find his feet quickly. Jones will do a job in midfield. Even Giggs, although best used sparingly, will play a part in the center of the park. And also, even though it was criticized by many when Sir Alex made the decision in the past, Rooney is capable at playing in midfield and he's not too bad at it.

The only thing that might make this January transfer window different from ones past is that it's a World Cup year. Potentially there are some quality players not receiving adequate playing time who are looking to revive their hopes of flying to Brazil. I'd love to hear people's opinions on who they think United should sign in January. I'm really not sure who would be available realistically. I actually didn't hate the Dembele shout. I rate him as a player and think he would be a good addition to the team. But is he available? And for a reasonable price? (Levy) I think an extremely creative presence in the middle is what United have been crying out for, and surely Moyes realizes this.

United's lack of quality is not as drastic as people make it out to seem. Yes changes need to be made. We might not win anything this season. We might not even get a champion's league spot this year. Some United fans will argue that this isn't the right mindset. That we as United fans should expect the upmost best and be dissatisfied with nothing else. I think that this sense of entitlement is ridiculous. Of course I'm would be disappointed if United won nothing this year, or if they failed to qualify for a champion's league spot. But I am confident that Moyes, who has United's long-term future on the forefront of his mind, will keep the club as competitive as ever.

I personally don't think anyone will be signed in January. At least nobody high profile. If I'm proved wrong, so be it. I'd love to see a quality signing brought in to lift the squad. Finding someone to fit in and have an immediate impact seems like a tall order. Do you think United will splash the cash this January? I'd love to hear your opinions.

My opinion? An excellent post! Fair, balanced and most of all, realistic.
Can't believe you bought the whole Dembele thing up again though. Shame on you! lol

Good post and I agree with your sentiments. I would say expectation is high and some fans have only seen success (due to age so no fault of their own). Its understandable that some should fear for the club after Fergie as they don't know anything else but if we stand united I am confident the club will go from strength to strength

You're right about most things mate, except for one: "United have a very deep squad"

Defensively, yes. Forward line, yes.

Midfield? Shabby.

If we lost Carrick & Fellaini, our CM options are Anderson, Cleverly, Giggs and Jones playing out of position. That's not deep, it's threadbare.

But I agree, nobody will be signed in the window - at best, I expect a LB to come in, maybe Coentrao on loan or something.

Normally I would agree with what you have said, but there is the World Cup premium to consider. Ironically the January transfer window premium when buying players may be cheaper than the premium added to any player who has a half decent showing at the World Cup. We shall have to wait and see.

Huggy76 -

That's true, the transfer market will surely be even more inflated for any players who had a reasonable World Cup. Hopefully United can get most of their work done early in the summer next time around. I think the deal for Hernandez was done before the World Cup. I wonder what he would have cost if United had tried to negotiate afterwards?

22 Nov 2013 23:42:17
I know we all want a Gundogan or a Fabregas. But even if we manage to get one of them ( or a player of their caliber ), we still need more reinforcements in midfield.

We need a player who is solid, promising, and ready to fight for his place. We also need said player not to be too expensive and more importantly capable of striking a partnership with at least one of our midfielders.

Now I have been watching Borussia Monchengladbach for quite some time, Xhaka and herman being players I think might be on our radar.

But in tonight's game, while Kruse and Herrmann running riot on the field, another player stood out, and not for the first time.

Christoph Kramer is 22, over 6 ft2, strong and great in the air. He is decent when it comes to defending, his tackling and interception abilities underrated and most of all he is fantastic in the air.

He can be prone to the occasional horrendous game ( talking Nani type nuclear ) but they are few and far between.

He's no AV but he's not too slow, his mobility needs work and tends to go in for the ball prematurely, but he is quite young and those are things that can be improved.

Most importantly, the guy is a great passer. Herarely attempts long balls, which can be hit and miss at times, but he has this Carrick like ability to choose the right pass time after time, launching attacks and dictating the tempo of a game.

He is also quite good with the ball at his feet and can drive forward when needed, and repositions himself quickly.

I'd love to know what you guys think of him ( Shappy, Moon and any Bundesliga fan )

''We need a player who is solid, promising, and ready to fight for his place. We also need said player not to be too expensive''. Just want to bring you up on that point Mick, now before I do I'll say I don't know anything about the 4 players you've mentioned aside from who they play for and what positions they play!

What I'd like to say is that I feel we need a player who can come in and almost from the get go make a huge difference to our team. That is why we targeted who we did in the summer. We have promising players who are used to playing in England in our reserves, I feel we need to be going after the bigger names, and they will come at a price.

Unfortunately the transfer market is just that, a market. And right now that market is driving prices higher and higher. The younger developing players who at one time would have cost (for example) 10/12 million now costing upwards of 20/25 and they won't give an instant fix. The extra money that a team can spend on an established, word class player can make all the difference on the pitch. In our case it just seems to be a case of getting the Glazers to spend it!

Andy, I feel as though you misunderstood my point.

I said we need more reinforcements, as in other than the world class midfielder we should be after.

if we get gundogan, we're still a midfielder short. So the young promising player we should be buying comes with, not instead, of another big name

23 Nov 2013 07:10:56
Andy, I think you'll find Mick means we need a young player who can play in the first team but may need abit of polishing AS WELL as an already establish world class talent.

So maybe a Gundogan or Herrera and someone else as well. Which for me is obvious. We need at least two midfielders and the chances that we can get two world class midfielders are very low. So we need to sign at least one world class midfielder and imo one player with the potential to be world class.

Mick, i've seen Kramer several times and he has looked a very good all round midfielder. It is my understanding that he is at Gladbach on a two year loan from Leverkusen. So it may be tricky getting that issue sorted if we were to go for him, I expect there is probably some kind of compensation agreement in the deal between Gladbach and Leverkusen for if the loan is terminated early so we would have to pay that ob top of any fee agreed with Leverkusen.

He does seem a decent player but if i'm honest i've always been more impressed with Granit Xhaka at Gladbach than I have with Kramer, so personally i'd rather sign him.

If we signed gundagon that would give us him fellaini, Carrick and cleverly possible Jones as well.
I'm not sure how many games the young player would get

Haven't seen a lot of Xhaka since we played Basel but my god did he play well against us

I have read recently that Leverkusen would accept around £17m for Kramer in January. Having watched him play several times I think it would be money well spent. I agree with the posts above, several midfielders are required. I would match koke's reported £16m release clause and possible try for one of the bender brothers. They both have good energy, good pace can create and destroy.

Let me know what you think.

Ahh apologies Mick. that's what I get for replying to posts at 1am! For me, Herrera and Koke would be the perfect additions. Koke has bags of potential. However as they have both been sort of ear marked for Barcelona, that could be tricky! Definitely going to pay a bit more attention to the names mentioned by you guys.