Manchester United Banter Archive March 26 2013

 

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26 Mar 2013 23:18:45
Since we providing updates on our players on international duty, I would like to add my observation of Kagawa playing against Jordan last night. For country, he typically plays wide left on a fluid formation with Keisuke Honda playing the primary AM role. Honda was out injured, so Kagawa was given the role last night but have to say he was quite disappointing. Honda carries the team when he is on the pitch and was expecting this from Kagawa but he was without vision, lacked leadership and had very little influence on his teammates. I think the transfer has been more a mental battle than a physical one for him and has certainly impacted his quality for his national team.

AIJ

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LOl love the disagreements. Did you all watch the game or is it a defensive reaction to a united player that we all have high hopes for that actually played poorly.

Shahram

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Not really Shahram bit Kagawa scored Japan's only goal and was solid yet unspectavular. Could jave done better.

Mick

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26 Mar 2013 22:09:01
Tonights game was like a lesson in Manchester United. Smalling defended well terrible distribution. Carrick good game tried to play football whilst those around him were hoofing it. Cleverley great when all is going well playing his little backward passes but when the opposition ups the tempo he just gets caught in possession. Wellbeck gives his all runs his heart out and couldn't score in a brothel with £50 behind his ear. The referee must watch United as we are used to him tripping himself up when through on goal. Rooney started like a world beater and then just drifted out of the game and completely lost his touch. Ashley young dived, dived then dived some more oh yes he then cut in a bent it toward the far post. Like United England hit far too many long balls over the top. The ironic thing is that the United players were the best on the pitch as the rest were terrible. Anyway let's put it all behind us and hope all our players return home un injured and ready to fire this weekend

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What's the point in supporting Manchester United when all you do is moan about 'our' players?

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How Gerrard has helped keep Carrick out of the England side all this time, I'll never know. Awful distribution.

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I agree with you Kloot.
I think Tom Cleverley is the luckiest footballer alive. I just don't understand what managers see in him with his 5 yard sideway passes.
I actually thought he did ok in the first 30 mins but was dreadful after that. He wasn't alone, there were a lot of bad displays in the second half.
If Fergie see's Tom Cleverley as the direct replacemment for Paul Scholes then Ralf Milne is a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo.

Simmo

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Kloot as good reason to moan about this current united squad, all top european teams have quality throughout there sqauds united i'm afraid do not, I would think SAF is an even better manager than we all think as no other manager could have got this squad on the brink off number 20

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27 Mar 2013 19:22:28
boarshawred - not like you to be negative ;)

United don't have quality throughout their squad? Bit harsh mate, can't think of many teams with a deeper 25 man squad even if our starting 11 leaves a little to be desired at times.

e. g.

CB - Vidic, Rio, Evans, Smalling & Jones with M Keane coming through - can't think of better CB options at any club!

Up front - RVP, Rooney, Hernandez - not bad choice of 3 to fill 2 positions? Then there's Kagawa and Welbeck who can occupy the deeper role of the 2 also.

Wide men - they may have been mostly off form but there's plenty of quality in our options of Valencia, Nani, Young, Giggs, Kagawa and Welbeck. You don't just turn rubbish because you're in poor form.

I don't think anyone gets close to our 5 CB's and we have loads of options in the attacking 3rd.

Can you name me ANY squads with far superior options in these positions? If so I bet you can only name 1 or 2 and they will be very much the elite.

HBadger

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Maybe I was not clear with my assesment of the squad I was actually making the comments reguarding the midfield which I have said (posted in the past) that the midfield is not what united fans would expect or deserve it leaves a lot to be desired, and reading other post everyone seems to agree we need maybe minimum 2 in the summer window

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And if the starting 11 leaves a little to be desired at times where does that leave the other 14

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26 Mar 2013 21:54:52
Well Gerrard said they didn't want to be anywhere near Rio.

The second half showed how poor we are. We need not have worried about an injury to Rooney because we starved him of the ball. Does Hodgson really believe that most of that team will do anything if they got to Rio. We need to follow the Germans and look at what young quality is in the Under 21's {Ed004's Note - I completely agree, I don't support England but they need to start playing their youngters}

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England don't develop from the U21's to the senior team, there seems no connection. It seems the main team is selected based on the press's opinion and the manager seems incapable of seeing the bigger picture and that picture involves us struggling to get out of a group in Rio. In honesty we haven't moved forward for years and it needs a longer term view, like the Germans did. We lacked pace, trickery or tactical awareness. At one nil we didn't know how to get a second goal, we dropped off.

On to the weekend and the most important game

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26 Mar 2013 21:48:19
Ashley young is WOEFUL

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Milner is woeful.

Shahram

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No.

He's a quality squad player who can play left, right or in the hole. He's always pretty solid.

I just wish he didn't blow over when a light breeze gentle brushes past - and for that reason I'm not happy he's at utd, he's a solid bench player for his play though.

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26 Mar 2013 21:32:57
this feels like watching a united game, good start then slowly getting over ran in midfield.

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26 Mar 2013 21:14:09
Gav, respect to you for getting a decent response on the scousers page - I managed it last week. You've proved that decent banter is not dead although to be fair, you did get compared to Piers Morgan and Jedward

AJH

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Ha I try my best. Jedward are my idols anyway so I took that as a compliment :)

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26 Mar 2013 20:36:39
Watching the France vs Spain match. Evra has been having a bad match so far.

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Same here, france is defending with 10 or 11 men behind the ball and spain being wasteful.

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Thanks for the update?

AJH

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26 Mar 2013 21:25:44
Abit harsh, name me a defender who doesn't have a tough time against the Spainish national team atm.

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You should see cleverley against Montenegro. He's been rubbish too.

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Pains me to say it, but Johnny Evans was poor for NI tonight as well - gifted the Israeli's their second.

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LOL Evra was terrible and Navas made him look second rate, although ribbery was not helping much.

I watched the last 5 minutes of England game, how did guys do and how was Jovetic.

Shahram {Ed004's Note - England were awful second half and Jovetic imo wasn't very impressive at all}

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Pogba got sent off and he is one cocky kid and really up himself and quite disrespectful.

He did play well until he was sent off for 2 rash challenges within 2 minutes and was probably their best midfielder.

Shahram

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Where Doomed!

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Steviek the difference between evans and evra is evans is playing for the northern half of my country where evra is playing for a france side full of quality
paddy the irish man

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I know mate, but the second goal was basic schoolboy defending. If he conceded a goal like that in Utd red, it would be a long time before he got another game. Regardless of the teams, it was a basic one on one situation - and he messed up.

StevieK

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26 Mar 2013 20:16:40
After 27 yrs, is the penny finally dropping with rooney?
Chris the REDman

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Which penny Chris?

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Any of them he's got enough!
Chris the REDman

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26 Mar 2013 19:54:45
Swap Milner for Young and it would be six United players in the starting line-up. {Ed004's Note - I do not rate Milner at all tbh and glad Carrick finely gets his chance on international stage so underrated and Barry has nothing on him imo}

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Young offers so much more than milner!
Chris the REDman

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Milner is so sh1t IMO, gerrard has been poor this half.

JK92

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26 Mar 2013 21:22:12
Not sure how milner gets in the team.

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He works hard, typical Hodgson player

AJH

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26 Mar 2013 19:30:00
5 Players starting for England tonight, Evans, Evra, Van Persie all starting for their respective countries, just what we need leading in to a big weekend, let's pray for no injuries!

On a side note, I like the England shape they are setting up with, hope we adopt this next season.

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26 Mar 2013 18:17:48
Porto defender Mangala has said that he is flattered by United interest: "I am definitely flattered by the interest of such a big club like Manchester United, any player would be. I have a contract here until 2016 so even if I want to go, Porto will have their say in the transfer"

Believable2 Unbelievable1

If Porto has Mangala on a contract till 2016 we have very little chance of signing him any time soon. Porto are a pain in the *** to negotiate with, and very rarely let a player for less then what they think he is worth. And what they think the player is worth is usually a lot higher then the rest of the worlds.

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26 Mar 2013 17:26:42
Just discussing the keeper situatio at work. We can't see united selling de gea as can't see anyone paying what we paid. The most likely to go is lindegaard. We also couldn't see united paying what stoke want for begovic on top of what we paid for de gea only to have one of them sit on the bench. Not sure the owners would go for that.

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I think begovic will cost 15 mill so if we sign him it would be strange to have spent that much on 2 keepers

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How is young Johnstone doing? He went out on loan to Walsall? and is said to be highly thought of at OT. Maybe a little young yet but we have to consider his future before spending a large value on a second keeper and add Amos to the second keeper equation. let's remember Lindegaard doesn't want to be number two so why would a better one than him want that?

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26 Mar 2013 21:36:22
To be honest if Lindergaard wants to go I would think twice about signing another keeper. Amos is a decent back up keeper for DDG. And Sam Johnstone is an excellent young keeper who we need to consider also.

Something i've also noticed is DDG best form for us has come at the back end of last season and since christmas this year.

The common factor in both occasions have been when he has been undisputed first choice keeper. Last season it was once Lindegaard got injuried that DDG played his best football. This season it was after Lindegaard was dropped for his mistake that DDG has played his best. When asked to share the goalkeeping responsiblities seems to undermine his confidence or maybe he just needs a run of games to keeo his at his best. Either way signing someone else to block and undermine DDG seems like a poor idea.

I say let Amos and Johnstone be the understudies and let Lindegaard go to find first team football else where if he wants.

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I think it would be a mistake to have 2 very inexperienced keepers as back up to an already fairly inexperienced keeper.

TK-Red

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I agree TK it would be a gamble, but DDG should play every game if fit just like every other No. 1 at every other club. No one chops and changes GK's and I think its been to our detirment when we've done it.

Back up keepers are just that, back up.

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I agree Shappy I would have him in goal every game but, as I said in a post much earlier, I would rather see an old hand brought in as back up to give DDG some experience. I used Brad Friedel as an example then but I'm sure everyone has their own favourites. It's not that I don't rate Amos or Johnstone but I just think that with that old experienced head to train alongside him, he would benefit so much.

TK-Red

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Shappy
I think that's a very good point, pick a number one and stick with it

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Tk
what about Cesar

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27 Mar 2013 00:12:28
TK, I can see the advantage of having such a player to train along side DDG. But I would be concerned we would end uo with the same issue as we have had with Lindegaard getting games ahead of DDG everytime the press get on his back.

The ideal situation would have been to have Edwin as a coach helping DDG, he is David's idol afterall. But that ship has passed unfortunately.

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'Jred'

Cesar would be a fantastic keeper for DDG to learn from although the only concern would be whether Cesar would want to play the majority of the games. If he would be happy to rotate then he would be perfect.

The reason I picked Friedel, Shappy, is that he is already playing second fiddle more or less to Lloris at Spurs and at his age he wouldn't expect to play every game. The press will jump on DDG's back regardless of who his back up is making it even more important, IMO, that he has an old hand to train with. Let's face it Friedel got his fair share of stick when he was younger and turned himself into the one of the leagues best keepers.

TK-Red

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26 Mar 2013 16:15:29
Theres a good chance saf will sign KURT ZOUMA from st ettienne
this
boy is a beast he's even awesome on fifa 13


bfro

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I'm awesome at FIFA 13 reckon SAF is looking at me?

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The original poster must be about 3, this is real football, you can't judge someone because they are good on a video game? I bet even Torres can score on there!
-Tommy!

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Fifa isn't like real football though

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I assure you Torres doesn't score there! Lol

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I don't know about that No Name. I'm pretty sure I've seen David Luiz run in completely the wrong direction at a vital moment. just like he does on FIFA 13.

TK-Red

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26 Mar 2013 14:02:35
I honestly believe that we will be having a very exciting summer this year guys with the ins and outs although I do believe that the majority of the outs will be self imposed ie, scholes, ferdinand. So just skimming over the majority of the names mentioned were looking at a very real possibility of:-

ins: Begovic, Zaha, Garay, Strootman, Wanyama,
Lewandowski.

Outs: Scholes (ret), Ferdinand, Nani, Anderson, Hernandez, Macheda, Bebe, Lindegaard.

If things did go this way I would be absoultely over the moon and number 21 would be well and truly on the way

jessop1982

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Ins: Begovic, Garay, Strootman, Lewandowski.

Out: Scholes, Ferdinand, Nani, Anderson, Hernandez, Macheda, Lindegaard and Amos.

Ideally I would prefer Begovic, Garay, Strootman & Ronaldo though haha.

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I think your going to be very dissapointed.

Simmo

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Does Hernandez actually want to leave? If not then there is no way I would let him go in a million years. He is a goal machine for club and 30 goals in 45 games for Mexico aswell says it all for me. If he is happy then we should be very very happy.

Brendan81

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Unusually, I'm with Simmo (sorry mate). There is no way we will sign that many 1st team players

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26 Mar 2013 18:02:11
I agree with Simmo some people are going to be disappointed.

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Definitely disappointed. "There will be no value in the market"!
Nomidfield

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3 to 4 at the most + young players. Signing youngsters like Williams wouldn't count as first team signings and would not have to be registered. I can see a new GK, CM & Forward. The forward could be Lewandowski or it could be an inverted forward/wide player like Rodriguez. The CM is highly likely to be Strootman & the GK to be Begovic. I have a feeling that Zaha will be given more chances than we think he will next season, so maybe he is the new forward to push us on in SAFs eyes. {Ed004's Note - I'd be happy with Zouma and Shaw as the youngsters, with Strootman, Gotze, Rodriguez and Lewandowski signed}

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Hope the first few posters are wrong the outs are better than the ins!
Invisible STuey

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26 Mar 2013 14:00:52
talk at the table last night moyes to chelsea, ole gunner to everton, jose to city, and gary neville to succeed fergie mmm very tasty odds worth a small punt?

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What I’m about to tell you sounds like complete tosh so I honestly understand if you don’t believe it, but here goes anyway…

The plan at the moment in 2 years time is that OGS will succeed SAF. That’s what SAF wants anyway if all goes to plan and OGS keeps progressing. This isn’t me spreading idle gossip, or adding 2 and 2 together and getting 5. This is what SAF is pushing towards and this information is straight from someone directly concerned with the deal.

In 2 years time, barring any major disasters concerning OGS and Molde, OGS will be the new United manager.

OsgoodIsKing

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OsgoodIsKing

Such a move would depend on OGS making a very successful 'stepping stone' move in the mean time. For him to take over at United he will need at the very least, 2 full years experience of managing a good European team. Even then it seems far fetched TBH, though I love Ole and would like him as manager one day.

HBadger

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Chelsea don't need a manager, abrahamovic is the manager for 9 years

nikz

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I wouldn't be surprised to see OGS take over with SAF as director.

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Jose to take Portugal job I'd be guessing right now. Maybe United boss in a few years, who knows.

Brendan81

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I think OGS could be a long term successor to SAF. I would have thought he'd need a certain amount of time elsewhere first. What I'd like to see happen is Mourinho replace SAF with OGS as number 2. Mourinho then can deflect all attention from OGS and let's face it he would love the attention and still have us in a competitive winning position. He can then take on the Portugal job as his final one seeing as he doesn't want to manage into his old age, leaving OGS to build a dynasty of his own with some of the youngsters he helped develop as a coach.

Adz

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Somebody appears to have been on the wacky baccy

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Jose will end up at City or stay at RM.

Shahram

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26 Mar 2013 13:56:11
"Onto RvP, I think people should watch RvP. He doesn't sit on the penalty spot for 90 minutes, he is here, there and everywhere. There is no reason why he cannot continue to be here, there and everywhere whilst Lew sits on the penalty spot.

Sydney!"

We do see that SYd but what you don't mention is - RVP does that in our existing lineup as the lone/main striker. Rooney drops in behind him. Do you not see that to have RVP playing that same role AND Big Lew chilling in the penalty spot that leaves us lacking numbers elsewhere?

Do you have faith in our midfield options to play a CM pair with nobody sitting in front of them? Even with Strootman coming in I still wouldn't want that. In fact if one of Strootman/Carrick was busy setting up an attack that would leave us very open defensively.

What you are talking about sounds like a good old fashioned 442 but surely we should be moving away from that not back to it? What's the point in having Kagawa and Rooney at all if we're going to play 442 with Lew/RVP up front? May as well sell both and spend the cash on Bale, which would leave us with a better squad for 442.

Personally I'd stick to 4231 with Rooney behind RVP and ideally Kagawa and Rodriquez in the 'inverted winger' positions. IMO that lineup is far more balanced than trying to fit Lew/RVP/Rooney into 1 lineup.

HBadger

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I meant a 4-2-3-1 with RvP behind Lew. I didn't even mention Rooney.

____Midfielder___Midfielder
Winger___Van Persie___Winger
________Lewandowski

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Syd

It does baffle me sometimes. You would want to play Lewandowski in a position that we all know RVP is better at. You also say that he won't be moving to sit on the bench. When goal scoring has far from been our pain area? With RvP and Rooney doing pretty good, I frankly don't see the reason for Lew coming in, unless he came in to slowly replace Rvp with Chica moving on. In the end we may very well end up tih big Lew. but currently there are more pressing issues.

Gav

Agree with you. If 4 4 2 is the way forward, I would buy a top class old school winger and strengthen our midfield 2. Rooney was brilliant when Tony used to whip in those crosses. But where does that put Kagawa?

Deeps.

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Badger
I would agree also kags and Rooney can interchange and both are happy dropping into cm with means we can continue to do what we have done all season and not stick with 1 formation but change between 4-2-3-1/4-5-1/4-3-3. 1 main striker with everyone else happy to change position and put a shift in, I think that's the fluid style we and other top teams have been moving to I also think it was why we bought kags and Rvp.

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What about a 4231 with RvP behind Lew as the 2nd striker and Rodriguez & Kagawa/Rooney as inverted wingers? Strootman & Carrick as midfielders. That is what I think mate.

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Tbh I never really watched much of his all round game before he signed but he has massively impressed me with his all round game

ms85

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Syd
Is that your final answer
You seem to of had a few changes of mind

Lew and Rvp could play in the same team but I think there has been several good reasons posted as why this may be unlikely/ not a very good idea.
Don't think many of these have been answered

Still haven't seen a positive reason to change rvp position either

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We'll be playing either 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1.

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Jred, when the game is in motion the players do not stick to there positions. Lew and RvP would swap positions and they would be all over the place in attack. I think they will partner each other in attack. Whether it's alongside one another or RvP just behind. That is my opinion. If you do not agree then fair enough, move on.

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Syd

That would be better than a 442 but I'd still argue Rooney is wasted in a wider position - he's not got the change of pace to beat a man and would be a bit wasted chasing up and down which he'd have to do to help cover Rafael. I suppose it would give us the chance to rest one of RVP/Rooney/Lew most weeks as I think 2 of those 3 should play centrally but then is that the best use of our resources? I'm not sure.

We've also bought Zaha and think Valencia & Young will still be here so they'll need games in the wider positions too along with possibly Kagawa and Welbeck.

I think if Lew comes in then either Rooney or Hernandez would need to make way, neither of which I'd be delighted about TBH. Having said that it would be cool to have Kagawa (no. 10) behind Lew (no. 9) for the long term and Rooney behind RVP for the time being, with all 4 being rotated in the mean time. If we could somehow keep Lew happy in rotation for 2 years that would be great but I'm not sure he'd be up for that. {Ed004's Note - I reckon we could start to see the end of Rooneys career at united tbh. I reckon if we sold Rooney and Nani we could fund moves for Gotze, Lewandowski and most of Rodriguez/Ozil}

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People keep talking about changing RVP's position but what you fail to realise is that it wouldn't mean changing his position. He would be doing exactly what he does now but he would have Lewandowski in front of him. Yes, it would mean we need to shore up the midfield but I think with Strootman, Carrick and Jones we have plenty of cover in that area, especially if we sign a defender and Jones can focus on CM and RB next season. You can't tell me that.

____Jones__Strootman

Rodriguez___RVP___Kagawa

_______Lewandowski

. leaves us too open.

TK-Red

TK-Red

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It's been a good discussion this today but I still haven't seen many good points for buying and fitting lewandowski in to the starting 11.

I still haven't seen a good reason to move rvp.
Or a good explanation as to how this would get the best out of kagawa who for me needs more games as acm not less.

For me lewandowski would have to come and play his way into the team in exactly the same way kagawa is trying to.

But I have one question really whether it be 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 or a variation of that we play it with one out and out striker who would people have for that role
Lew or RVP {Ed004's Note - RVP but he can play in the hole as well, though part of me thinks Lewandowski could suit our away performances in Europe more?}

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Sydney

I love your passion but the team will not sit rooney and kagawa on the bench for the sake of a formation that suits lewandowski. That is 60 million in value no matter how you cut it.

Playing Rooney out left/right is also absolutely useless as he is not effective out there. Where does kagawa fit in all of this and assuming we have 2 cm and 2 wingers, how does welbeck get on the pitch as he is not a winger a poor crosser and generally poor in terms of decision making around the box and he likes to come inside and does not get down the wings. assuming we are buying another winger that also leaves zaha, young, valencia on the wings and they will be struggling to get enough games.

So that leaves two options:

1. Lewandowski will not be first choice striker and will have to wait his time also earn it as there are no guarantees he is going to be big hit in the pl.

2. Buy lewandowski and sell Rooney and RVP has stated he likes playing just behind the main striker as it gives you some freedom and physically probably prolongs his career when compared to getting kicked by big centre backs for 90 minutes as the advanced striker.

The problem with option 2 is I can't see SAF making such a big decision as LEW is unproven in the pl and Rooney even with his current form will get you 15-20 goals a season and 10 assists.

I have always maintained selling rooney would have to result in bringing in a big time player, because if does not work out every fan including people here will be screaming murder.

Shahram {Ed004's Note - I reckon selling Rooney and maybe two top players are needed as Rooney is a big part of the squad}

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Tk
How much defending do you see Rvp kags and rod doing.

Good team going forward.
I just find it difficult to think that after watching rvp over the last few years fergy will be thinking I think I will drop him deeper. {Ed004's Note - Rodriguez and Kagawa are very hard working and RVP has defended well for united in the past}

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TK, no worries about point 2) I see you answered it further down!

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Eds004 I'm not saying lews not a good player or that we shouldn't buy him but for me he will have a job on his hands moving rvp from that position.

I'm also not saying that rvp and lew can't play together the question is it it the best option.
I don't think he will walk into the first 11 as it stands now he would be up against welbeck Hernandez rvp kags Rooney.

For me even if we buy lewandowski Rvp will be still be our best player and will play not all but the majority and all the big games as the main striker.

If I'm honest I think kags is better player than lewandowski although he has struggled this season {Ed004's Note - I actually think Kagawa is the better player as well and thats why I am not so concerned about Rooney leaving as long as we replace him with two quality players who can contribute more to goals than our current wingers, by selling Rooney it lets us adapt a much more quicker tempo and therefore enjoyable game, however, on your Lewandowski points, there is no contest between RVP and Lewandowski atm, as RVP is a clear winner, though I can't see all players being kept happy if Lewandowski is signed and I didn't think he had a good personal relationship wth Kagawa}

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Jred on one hand you say 442 and 4411 are outdated and yet you are expecting the 2 wingers in a 4231 to help the fullbacks as much a a conventional winger would, which IMO defeats the object of the 4231. With Jones and a left footed Strootman we have 2 players more than capable of drifting across with the play to help out the RB and LB respectively and, anyhow, as Ed004 says Kagawa and Rodriguez are 2 very hard working players who are more than capable of helping out if needs be. As for RVP dropping deeper, as I've said on a few occasions today, it's not about the manager dropping him deeper, the player himself has been dropping deeper and out wide a lot this season so I don't think the signing of Lewandowski would affect RVP's game that much.

TK-Red

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TK

That front 4 looks good and the midfield does look defensively sound but I have 2 points:
1) I don't think Jones is technically good enough to play in a 2 man midfield (personally I see him as Vidic long term replacement)
2) where does that leave Rooney - sold or benched?

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ED004 100% agree.

We can't sell Rooney and have Lew as the replacement.

However you can do it if we brought in someone like an Ozil/Goetze and then lew as the the whole formation discussions make more sense with players in their natural positions as you can rotate Kagawa/Lewandowski and Welbeck/RVP or mix it up depending on the competition squad and let the winger play on the wings.

This does not change the fact that we would still need a box to box cm.

We can play a 4231 with Lew upfront and RVP just playing behind. I saw an interview with RVP, which I am sure many of you have seen where he talks about how some of his early years injuries was because he was playing upfront and over the last few years he is playing more in the hole and that has saved him from injuries.

Finally, I am sure everyone is watching the England game. Have a look at Jovetic, top striker.

Shaharm {Ed004's Note - I don't see us moving for Jovetic tbh I reckon he is City bound, just my opinion btw no sources or anything to back it up, but I reckon by selling Nani, Anderson and Rooney there is enough there to sign Lewandowski, Gotze and Ozil/Rodriguez maybe a bit more spent but that leaves a whole budget on CM, LB and possibly CB. All of Wanyama/Strootman, Baines and Garay have been reported to cost under 20 million and would leave a lot of options for the squad with Zaha being brought through to replace either Young or Valencia. However, cant see that many changes being made to an already successful team}

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Ed004

Talking about the Kags/Lew relationship, there was an interview given to Nikkei by Kags. Not sure how much it was taken out of context or lost in translation. But it looked like he was referring to Lew being really selfish and often ignoring the more obvious pass and going for glory. He has had issues while playing for Poland. When he hasn't had the service of the Goetze's and the Gundogan's of the world, he has cut an isolated and frustrated figure. It is very clearly my opinion, but I think the stardom has gotten to his head a lilttle and "i am the main man" is what he thinks.

Deeps.

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'HBadger'

No I would tend to agree that Jones isn't quite good enough going forward, I was just using him as an example really. My original point being that, with the right personnel in midfield, having Lewandowski and RVP play together would not prove much of a problem.

TK-Red {Ed004's Note - Also RVP scores again second time tonight}

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Hopefully this will help him get back into the scoring habit just in time for the run in Ed. I don't expect him to play on Saturday but it would be nice to have him back on form at Chelsea.

TK-Red

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Agreed TK with a top CM in there it would work nicely.

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Tk
I don't think we play 4-2-3-1 for the entire game it is constantly changing to 4-3-3/4-5-1 but two things stay the same we have one out and out striker and 2 cm who sit in front of the back 4
For me this is what our move to a fluid formation is all about
all fergys wide men irrespective of the formation are expected to put a shift in and the wide men are always expected to help the fullback out.
Watch any top team and this is how they play 4_4_2 is dead playing 1 formation all game is dead.

On Rvp has his best games been player deeper or as the spearhead of the attack for both United and arsenal

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Tk
I've said a few times lew and Rvp can play together but would it be our best combination.

Eds004
Like you have said Rvp and kags are better than lewandowski, I think Rvp as an out and out striker is one of the best in the world so for me it would be rvp up top with kags behind I really can't get my head around playing Rvp deeper

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26 Mar 2013 13:18:42
If Mourinho goes to Chelsea, that will make them pretty difficult to beat next year. Waht are the views on this? Do we want saf to carry on the incredible work but miss out on Mourinho, or do we prefer Mourinho to come here.
I'm undecided, we never want saf to retire, there again, Mourinho is special and he will be superb at our club.
Nomidfield {Ed002's Note - There is no option for Mourinho to move to Old Trafford.}

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Interesting Ed002! Is that because :

1) he's going elsewhere, or
2) someone is against him joing United, or
3) there will be no vacancy at United this summer?

Thanks

HBadger {Ed002's Note - It is the same reason that Gerardo Pelusso won't be joining Manchester United this summer.}

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Thanks for clearing that up Ed002, very clear indeed ;)

HBadger

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Well there goes my 'Gerardo Pelusso to be next United manager' rumour that was about to go up

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Ed002, can you give us an update on the this subject please? Pep and Blanc were shortlisted, is there anyone else with a chance or are we looking at a possible Blanc coming in as a number two, then SAF moving upstairs with Blanc taking over completely? Is there anything new that you have heard? Do you think Blanc is still the most likely? Thanks. {Ed002's Note - Manchester United has a manager right now and there will certainly be an option or two when they do need one.}

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So is the speculation he has agreed a deal in principle with Chelsea true then ED002?

RED91 {Ed002's Note - This is nothing to do with Chelsea - it is to do with what I have told you repeatedly, he will not be moving to Manchester United this summer.}

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What has Paraguays manager got to do with any of this ed? You have totally baffled me with that one.

Brendan81 {Ed002's Note - He shares the same reason as Mourinho for not moving to Manchester United this summer.}

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Is he going to be made Portugal coach?

Brendan81 {Ed002's Note - You need to give up and move on.}

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Chelsea will get Mourinho I'm sure of it, and they will be incredibly strong. City I actually think will get weaker. they are going to lose a lot of first team players and I actually think they have gone through most of the mercenaries. other clubs are far more appealing. {Ed002's Note - You don't think Manchester City's new manager will push them to the fore again?}

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Fresh

City is going nowhere. if you think Chelsea is rich you have no idea how much resources the city boys have.

There will be some serious deployment of resources this summer. Call them mercenaries or not but they will be some of the players we all wish we had.

Shahram

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Let's hope that if saf does decide to retire then mourinho is available. Did any of us predict rvp will be playing at united this year? Anything can happen!
Nomidfield

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Is there any way Mourinho will stay at Real another year if the win the Champions League this year or is he leaving anyway? I don't see Fregie leaving this year but maybe will have one more crack at the Champions Leage next season and then step down leaving Muurinho to take over?

Damian M {Ed002's Note - Manchester United is not in the equation at all. I have told you this for years - are you a Liverpool supporter?}

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Depends who that manager (City's) will be Ed002, any ideas? ;) {Ed002's Note - Sure.}

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Guys I presume Ed002 is alluding to the fact that we won't be looking for a manager this summer and that's why they won't be joining.

TK-Red {Ed002's Note - No.}

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Fair enough, I'll stick to not caring in that case.

TK-Red

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You don't half play hard to get Ed002 :) Is the Uruaguy coach taking over at City or Chelsea?

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26 Mar 2013 11:07:15
Ed (s) have you seen a similar post from me today? I sent it in around 9, and it hasn't posted? {Ed002's Note - It was posted. Look on the Teams page.}

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Sorry, never even looked there.

RedDub

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26 Mar 2013 09:05:53
there's a possibility that alex sandro of porto maybe a successor to evra.

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We can only hope. This kid will be huge!

Mick

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Hopefully not as huge as Anderson lol :)

Does look a talent though

Adz

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