Manchester United Banter Archive January 24 2019

24 Jan 2019 21:23:34
Rumours that contract talks with juan mata have stalled.

Does anyone feel we shouldn't renew his contract and move on? he's had some good moments but never really clicked for him here.

Barceloan, psg and juventus rumoured still to be interested so obviously still highly regarded around europe.

24 Jan 2019 22:01:40
Juan Mata may be small in stature but he is a giant of a man. As a squad player and leader I would keep him every day of the week. He never complains, he never let's us down when called upon, and he has integrity, humility, and honour, qualities sadly lacking in so many players nowadays.

24 Jan 2019 22:30:16
Mata is a really good footballer and all round good guy.
For me he is past his best is on high wages and not contributing enough. He will have a couple if years left in him at a top european club as a squad player that play a style more suited to his strengths now.
I wish him well if he moves on. I just don't see him as being part of our present or future.
Fellaini the same. Seems a good guy but just not suited to our play.
Darmian valencia periera rojo all in the same bracket for me.

25 Jan 2019 05:14:53
Well said AJH.
Juan Mata is a quality squad player. His contribution is very important, when some of the first teamers are out of form or injured.
He has fantastic set piece ability as well. We need quality squad players especially while competing on all fronts.

25 Jan 2019 05:53:09
Absolutely agree AJH. Some players are just worth keeping.

25 Jan 2019 06:28:07
I really like Mata he always pops up with goal but I think it's time he moved on whenever he plays he always takes too many touches and slows our play down which took some doing when mourinho was in charge.

25 Jan 2019 08:18:50
Great guy, has played in the premier league for a long time and a valuable squad player.

I say keep him, I think a lot of our younger players could learn a lot from him.

25 Jan 2019 10:35:31
Spot on tony. He is one of my favourite players in the squad. A little magician who I feel we never truly got the best out of. When he joined us he was one of the best players in the league. Would have been amazing under an attacking manager instead of 3 defensive ones. Top professional and more importantly a great human. Would be happy to see him as a squad player if he’s happy to do so. If not, I wish him all the best because he deserves to be playing regularly.

25 Jan 2019 12:01:08
Totally agree tony- never complains and as sweet a left foot as you will find in the epl. He has been a good player when asked and EW must wish he had 10 of him as he is a media dream but a finale of letting him loose for 1 last big contract would be the fairest option. Would prefer if he went to spain or Italy so he didn't come back to punish us though. lol.

25 Jan 2019 13:15:10
I agree with Ken.
We can still live with Smalling and Jones but most or all of who Ken mentioned should be processed out. We should take this opportunity to have a “renewal” and strengthen the key areas we need. Yes we won’t be challenging the title this year but hopefully make into top 4. We should then try to settle our next year’s objective and get the right players in. Phase out those who does not suit how we want to play for next year’s team.

I’m happy we are playing with more pace and scoring. But we still need a few players for key positions and with those shipped out freeing the wage structure we can hopefully get the players we need.

25 Jan 2019 13:21:34
It's easy to argue either way as Mata is a fantastic player and a great guy. He's one of the few footballers around who no one has a bad word about. However, he does not suit the type of football we have played over the past month or so. If that is the vision for the team over the coming years, then I'd say it's best for him to move on.

He'd do very well in Serie A, as the pace of play is not quite as demanding and technically he is as good as they come.

25 Jan 2019 13:27:45
Great guy, good player but does he offer enough now? Is his wages value for money if he's a bit part player? Would keeping him block someone else's development?

25 Jan 2019 18:32:03
Agree with tony 100% - i would keep him.

26 Jan 2019 07:18:35
He would be a great player to keep around and both influence and work with the youngsters coming through. Especially some of our young attackers Chong, Gomes, Greenwood etc so good at working space, finding that incisive pass and nicking an important goal here or there.
So experienced and successful yet never let it affect him at all.
A great example. And a dream employee as far as Man Utd are concerned. A consummate professional. Something required to address the behaviour of certain players over the last couple of years.

24 Jan 2019 12:12:26
I feel the most important areas we need to focus on improving in the summer is the defence. Now I know you don't need to be a genius to realise that, just having a pair of eyes is probably enough. However, as well as a new commanding centre back I feel we really need two new full backs.

Personally I feel the full back positions are the most physically demanding position on the pitch in modern football. If you are expecting to have a 50-60 game season then you could expect a full back to run between 700-800km a season if they played every game, and that doesn't account for distance covered in training or playing for their national side. So more likely triple that figure when considering all factors. Plus they tend to do more high intensity sprints than any other position as their job requires them to sprint back on the cover, track opposition forwards and play a key role in attack often on the counter.

Now we have two young talented full backs in Shaw and Dalot, however beyond them are a couple a old wingers. Valencia looks done at this level, and Young is defensively suspect and at his age will soon start to not be able to keep up physically with the demands.

Shaw looks a new player this season, over his injury and he seems focused. However, doubts over his fitness and attitude will linger a while yet, 6 months of good football does not make you world class. He still has elements of his game he needs to improve. Dalot reminds me a little of Rafael in the way he bombs forward but often finds himself in the wrong position defensively. He isn't as rash as Rafael and is physically more imposing. Yet he has a lot to learn, even if the early signs are promising.

We can't expect these two lads to play every game next season, and unless we sign reinforcements they will have to.
One name that was bounded about a lot a couple of years ago but seems to have dropped off the radar is Danny Rose. There are rumours he wants a move back up north to be nearer his family. On form there isn't a better offensive left back in the league. However, injury has knocked him and Davies has taken his place. I think he could be the ideal player to bring in to rotate with Shaw, at 28 he is experienced, yet his injury record means he can't play every game and rotating with a younger player will help him and Shaw stay fresh and decrease both of their chances of injury.

At right back I would love Ricardo Pereira, who has been phenomenal for Leicester this season, awesome going forward, competent in defence which if he was playing for a side that will be attacking more often than defending will get the best out of him. He can also play on the left in a pinch. Cedric Soares is another good option, and if Southampton get relegated this season he could be picked up for a reasonable price, so could be the better economic choice over Ricardo Pereira, although Pereira looks the far better player.

I have purposely focused on players already playing in the EPL, defence is all about working well as a unit, having as many players as possible already comfortable in the league and settled in the country will make it easier for them to focus on working as a unit. Making the time it takes them to settle as a defence much quicker.

Look at Liverpool for example, there are better defenders than VvD, however, he knows the league and that meant he could make an immediate impact, which helped build confidence which improved Liverpool's defence as a whole.

We need to sort out our defence if we are to challenge, Koulibaly is the obvious choice for CB and the club should go all out for him, commanding in the air, awesome with the ball at his feet and most comfortable in the LCB role which is what we are crying out for.

But its the full backs that will make the biggest difference as they will improve us both defensively and offensively.

24 Jan 2019 14:30:11
Agree. The impact of fullbacks are significant in this modern day football.
Shaw, young, Dalot and a top new signing should compete for the 2 spots.
A commanding centre back like Koulibaly who can start attacks from the back would settle our defense. This would lay the foundation of our team.

24 Jan 2019 14:31:43
Interesting perspective Shappy. I also agree on the defense being a priority. I think we had a similar discussion some days ago.
I understand why we should choose EPL proven prospects of unproven ones, but at times we can find some exceptions like Ricardo Pereira. On that note; if I had a say, I'd throw Alessandro Florenzi's name in the mix. He isn't bad at Roma. Koulibaly though would be a great addition and a 1st choice CB.

24 Jan 2019 18:46:42
I caught an old game on TV last night and Valencia was taking on players, surging past them, delivering some great crosses. He’s not the same player any more which is a real shame.

24 Jan 2019 22:32:05
Time waits for no man AJH. He was never the same after his ankle break against rangers i think.

24 Jan 2019 07:29:01
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Review Of The Day 24th January 2019

24 Jan 2019 14:13:41
£30m to sign for striker Krzysztof Piatek seems a steal in today's market, wouldn't you guys agree?

24 Jan 2019 15:04:17
I agree mbd. He looks a really good prospect. Reminds me of lewandowski. I think Milan have got a really good deal but their problem has always been service to their striker. Higuain wasn’t great but in his defence he was feeding off scraps. I think Chelsea should have took a punt on piatek instead.

24 Jan 2019 23:38:43
We’re we not all up in arms when we didn’t sign belotti from torino a couple of seasons back? Now look at him.

25 Jan 2019 06:20:00
Yeah. So many 1 season wonders.