Manchester United Banter Archive February 24 2014

24 Feb 2014 21:22:56
Hi Guys

Having watched the Arsenal - Bayern Munich game last week I can't help thinking that Toni Kroos is a must buy.It wasn't just his excellent passing and his ability to score a great goal but his ability to control the tempo with vision and technique.I can't help thinking he could be our modern day Paul Scholes.
Toni Kroos and 3 other similarly talented players added to the quality we already have and we will be a force again next season

It is worth noting, that the German tv commentators
and the tv pundits on German Sky TV Ribbery, Beckenbauer et al. All of them said Kroos played his best match in ages, much better than his recent form. All my colleagues were of the same opinion that Kroos played an absolute blinder against Arsenal, and they've watched him for a number of years. So it could be that Kroos runs a bit hot and cold, hence his irregular starts for Bayern

I just see him signing a new deal just before or just after the WC. Players like him are hard to get to leave the club, look at Schweinsteiger - been linked with us, Chelsea and Madrid plenty but he is still there.

25 Feb 2014 10:25:52
You guys are unbelievable with who you'll drool over next, pitiful to be honest.

Where was this Tony Kroos guy when Arsenal were giving them a roasting to start with or did he wait until it turned into a practice match before he showed up with all this ability.

Jesus we could do that you to and Arsenal if you only had ten men. What would he have done if it had stayed 11 v 11.

But don't let reality get in the way of any thing on here as usual.

Wallace,

A Chelsea fan on a united site talking about a bayern Munich player. Haven't you got a premier league title race that your manager thinks you aren't good enough to win to be worrying about?

Are you actually saying that kroos isn't a good player? I agree that basing an opinion of a player on one game is ridiculous and happens way too often on this site, but kroos has been on the radar of a lot of fans on here a long time before the arsenal match. He probably isn't going to sign for us, but he's of the quality that we are looking to sign to rebuild our squad.

So your saying kroos would have been walked over for the whole 90mins if it was 11v11? the reality of that comment is that its a complete guess because no-one will ever know so your comment isn't really very useful, thanks for trying though.

So who do you prefer Kroos or Carrick I know who i'd choose

24 Feb 2014 19:06:49
Hi guys, have been reading all the posts and I think a few of you have been very unfair towards Fellaini, yes I admit he has started slowly at United but he did come with no preseason and got injured and played through injury when required, in my own opinion he has'ent done as badly as others make out and gives orthers the licence to get forward, and by not surpporting him and calling him WIG give me the impression that some on here are not true United supporters . I for one have seen the bad times at United far worse then they are today, I think Moyes was given an impossible job and Fergie knew it and passed on the batton, leaving behind him an injury ravished aging squad behind him for Moyse to rebuild. John the big fisherman

Depends what you think is a " true supporter" . Everyone is entitled to their opinion on a player who cost 27 mil and had been playing in the prem for the past couple of years. Mata has not had much of problem and he has only been here a month. So who do you consider true supporters? People who were also there when things were bad - when we got relegated- and have spent thousands going home and away and Europe over the years or people who never go and watch it on tv then go on forums telling people how it is. In my book if your a united then your a united fan if you go or not and entitled to an opinion but if your going to talking about who you think are true supporters because they a different opinion to you then I will split hairs too.

24 Feb 2014 20:27:50
Good post and I agree. Give the bloke a chance

Pancho, Filliani did'ent set the transfer fee and Woodward/Moyes tried getting him on the cheap and it back fired. What does it matter if you go to home and away games or just watch on TV that dos'ent make you any more of a true supporter. True supporters backs there team in good times and bad that's what's wrong with some on here they no nothing but good .

Pancho, much as I think Mata will prove to be a great signing, if we're being honest, he's hardly set the world alight just yet. And he was injury free.

Some people have just taken the view of him, that he's not a ' United player', and it won't matter what the fella does.

Both Fellaini and Mata will offer us a great deal in the future. My concerns with Fellaini was I thought we needed a busier midfielder, but if Fellaini is going to replace Carrick and someone like Gundogan is going to replace Cleverley, then it will work pretty well. Mata will be better when we have better players behind him in defence and midfield. The same applies to Adnan, Rooney & Van Persie. We must build from the back.

As I said if you read it - all united fans are ok in my book - but if you start saying people are not true supportes because they have a different opinion than you then that is wrong. I could turn round and say I was there when we got relegated and ever since. Spent loads following them and local as well . So I could argue as some do that I am more of a true supporter but I am not . I am not saying I am any better "true supporter " than anyone but you are . If people don't think he is any good that's their opinion. He had one ok game. He cost a lot of money and was an established prem player so should not be taking this length of time to settle in injuries or not. He may turn out to be great he may not. People attack wellbeck and cleverly who have not done any worse and came through the youth team and cost jack. Is that right? This is a banter page it's about opinions . It's united banter page so if we can't have a go here to get rid of frustration where can we? If I was talking to a scouser or a city fan I would be defending him but I thought I wasn't!

Pancho, I don't agree with some of the abuse against Cleverley or Wellbeck either.

My own opinion, is that if they wear a Utd shirt, then I'll support them. If they're out of form, which happens to everyone at some point, they'll get dropped. They don't need the fans calling them all the names under the sun too. A bit of humourous or tongue-in-cheek mickey-taking is fine - they're big boys getting well paid. But some of the abuse is over the top.

The only time I think it's ok to have a serious go at one of our own players, is if it's blatantly obvious that the guy is not making the effort. That's inexcusable. I can always forgive poor form or silly mistakes, as long as I know the player is trying his best for the team. But I wouldn't stand for one of them insulting me as a fan, by just going through the motions.

Stevie's
That's fair enough I don't agree with getting at players or booing them at fed etc. But if I don't rate someone or don't think they are good enough . Or if any other united fan feels that about a player . I think it's ok to speak amongst your mates about it or on a forum like this . If people don't agree - so what - that's opinion amongst reds! It doesn't mean your not a " true supporter " as it was put because you don't rate someone. As I said I could start throwing that about for other reasons as stated but I don't because a united fan is a united to me even if they don't go. People need to careful who they accuse of not being true fans because they don't agree with them. The banter is about debate if we all agreed it would be boring

I'm in agreement with you pancho. We're all united fans and we ALL have our own opinions. So just because we are critical it doesn't mean we're bad supporters!
Roy Keane used to be critical so was Schmeichel, didn't harm the teams they played in.
Thank god we're not all of the same opinion, otherwise life will be boring.

24 Feb 2014 14:03:19
As I posted last week its easy for clubs and players to back themselves into corners on contract negotiations. Beckenbauer on Kroos ( I know its a regurgitated old quote )"You have to make a decision as a club when someone's demands are going through the roof. There is not a single player who's worth changing your entire wage structure for, " as I understand it Kroos is not pushing, for a changing wage structure rise, just parity with Goetze/Thiago.

I wonder how many definite ( paper talk done deals) we will be linked with before June. Today alone we have Gundogan, Kroos, Song and Garay
done deals. with us going head to head with City for Mangala and interest in the younger Alcantara.

24 Feb 2014 12:16:37
There' really not too much to say when we actually win against a team in the lower half of the table, is there? It's an improvement on a loss or a draw, and against CP United did exhibit a more controlled and confident solidity in their approach to the match, but until we start to beat the teams above us again, one cannot feel too confident that a corner has been turned.

I had suggested a couple of weeks ago that the club needs to accept this season is a goner as far as CL qualification, and concentrate on losing the anxiety that's been permeating our performances, in particular at home, and starting to work on establishing the tactical strategies Moyes believes can get us back into contention in future seasons. Saturday's performance looked like that's exactly what they were working on.

The EPL landscape has changed with SAF's retirement. Under Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool may well continue to be a substantial force, and the changing financial picture at Arsenal should ensure that they too will continue to be perennial contenders, and be in the market for big signings. Getting into the top four is no longer going to be a given. With the extent of the rebuilding job we all know needs to take place, I would consider champions league qualification in 2014/15 an achievement.

On a slightly different topic, Everton look like they're going to finish up pretty much where they have every season for the last few years - 6th or 7th, but maybe with a couple of extra points. Given their financial position, can anyone really see Martinez accomplishing much more than Moyes did? Let's face it, there's a direct correlation between money spent on players and success. It's always been this way, but the extent of it now may be unprecedented.

Finally, I'm sure Pep Guardiola is a good manager, but I bet David Moyes could have won the Bundesliga inheriting that team. I'd like to see Pep go to a mediocre club and turn it around - that would show him to be a great manager.

Peashooter

Good post and agree with most of what you have said.

It is vey difficult to overcome financial restrictions over a 38 game league and eventually things catch up to you.

Managers like martinez can only be judged in 3 years time when he has build his own team at Everton and has had to manage the transition of personnel and then see where they are.

My gut says worse than today and he might be fighting for his managerial life.

24 Feb 2014 11:15:41
Liverpool are not slipping up, even yesterday they got over the line which is so important. We are 11 points off of them and I don't see that gap closing to less than 5 by the seasons end. I think Spurs are the ones we shall over take and get 5th. Europa League football next season is inevitable, but I can't wait for summer. The game against Palace might of shown us a new system with two number 10's and a winger than swaps sides. It worked beautifully and we kept the ball much better, yes I know it was Palace but we managed to break them down. Fellaini and Gundogan will give us a good platform to allow Rooney, RVP, Mata and Januzaj or new signing to strut their stuff.

Liverpool will leak points and have a horrendous April schedule. It is important we shave the gap and apply some pressure on them. If we can get it down to 6 points by end of march then we might be in for an interesting run in.

A win at home against them is a good place to start with.

The Stoke and Fulham slip ups were catastrophic for us. They had to be MU wins. With a gap of six points and Liverpool coming to OT they would have gotten nervous. 11 points is a large enough gap to coast home. Like I said after the Fulham game, we need to look at next season now.

CGU, I think that you don't rate Liverpool's chances very highly and you have said they will slip up a lot of times now, and they're not.
Rodgers has put together a very very good team, and more importantly, they are playing a high tempo, high pressing games, and they have the best strike force in the league and their midfield is playing very well. So let's give credit where credit is due, they are an excellent team and they're not going to slip.
There is more chance of Arsenal and Spurs slipping than Liverpool. I don't think our chances of beating Liverpool in the forthcoming fixture are very high to be honest. I think they will exploit our defensive frailties and unless we come up with the right tactics and flood the midfield, then I think we will lose that game.

NM, Liverpool have slipped up a few times, sadly we have slipped up more and haven't taken advantage of their slip ups.

NegativeMidfield you are the most optimistic person I've ever read on this site.

Nomid

You are confused as I have said the same thing constantly. With our strikers back and looking like getting fit we are a different team. Liverpool have dropped points the problem is we have dropped more.

Liverpool will drop 15 points from here, the question is how many will we drop. You my friend are a classic for the grass is always greener on the other side.

Finally, we are actually a difficult team for Liverpool since we sit deeper and defend deeper. They kill teams, who are stupid enough to play high up the pitch and give suarez and sturridge all that real estate to run behind defenders.

I expect us to beat them my concern is how we perform against city as we might be on a good run and have closed the gap by the time we play them.

Sydney

The draw against Fulham was the killer. 9 points back with potential to shave that to 6 at OT would have been just fine.

They have to play, chelsea, arsenal, city and spurs at home and given the league table they might lose three of those fixtures.

The road games will all be very tricky and anyone can beat any of the top teams. We can hope that at least we will be in with a shout come end of april and see how it goes.

We played Arsenal already. We beat Arsenal 5-1

GCU, I don't know if you've been in a coma lately but we've played Arsenal at home and beat them 5-1.

As difficult as 11 points is there are lots of games to go and its getting towards crunch time for the teams trying to avoid relegation as much as those being in the title race. As stated by posters above we need to go on a run and apply pressure and see where we end up

Plymouth Red

Yes you have and that was my mistake and your task should be even easier. I would not worry about is since you guys will just waltz into top 4 according to some here :)

See how quickly the Scousers lit on you there, Shahram!

Anyone would think they spent more time looking at this site, than their own.

Surely not :)

Plymouth Red

What a nice comment to make about Shahram. I applaud you sir! Such intellectual honesty to make an observation as intelligent as that.

Deeps.

Cgu, not confused at all, you said Liverpool will leak points and have a horrendous April schedule. You also say that Liverpool will drop 15 points from here on. I don't think either of that will happen.
Its not s matter of being half full or half empty, it is a matter of seeing what's in front of you and not being blinkered. You can believe what you want, but the truth is Liverpool are really working for their points and grinding out results. If you think they will suddenly collapse and start dropping points, then you are sadly mistaken.

Nomid

Remember 33 points to play for an they will take 18 and drop 15. It actually is a nice score card to keep. I still say 73/74 points gets champion league spot.

Our Issue is very simple we win 9 and draw 2 we get in. We win 10 we get in.

We do that it does not matter what the scouters do. It is a big ask as we need to go to Everton and Newcastle and win away and they are not easy places to go to.

Barring any injuries we should give the scousers a good hiding in a few weeks.

Deeps

Nice to see you too:)

24 Feb 2014 08:52:27
Who would you guys rather us sign, Marco Reus who is as I believe the 'finished article' for around £35-40m or the developing german talent who many predict will reach the heights of Reus, Patrick Herrmann for around £15-20m? I myself would love either but Reus is what we need in my opinion

Splash the cash and bring in Reus. May be difficult since we want Gundogan as well who is the priority. I'd take Reus over everyone other than Ronaldo. Griezmann, Lucas or Pedro are the others I would look to go for.

Herrmann? I don't rate him. Draxler vs Reus would be interesting, I'd choose Draxler