Manchester United Banter Archive December 27 2014

27 Dec 2014 20:59:32
It's going to be very interesting how LvG approaches the Spurs game. Evidently we have really struggle with the 3 at the back against high pressing teams I.e. Southampton and even Liverpool, and players such as Mata and RvP tend to go missing too often in our away games. Yes RvP gets isolated, but that tends to be down to the negative set up.

I would love to see us attack spurs, because for me, they are weak defensively and have the same issue as us at times, they have too many luxury players who aren't defensively great. Carrick performances have been outstanding, he really does make us tick in possession, and I would love to see Herrera (if fit) and Rooney play CM with Mata (10) and RvP and Falcao start up top again. Show some intent and really take the game to spurs.

Really hope we attack Spurs aswell they look bad an Leicester played them off the park yesterday

28 Dec 2014 08:00:25
If fit where do we fit ADM?

Your attacking players will destroy Tottenham, trust me. Not a lot of teams can withstand both RVP and Falcao with Mata and Rooney in support.

28 Dec 2014 10:10:23
I hope so Jackson, just out of interest, as a Chelsea fan do you think that we have any chance of catching you in the league?

From the start of the season I've maintained my belief that you guys will be challenging for the title and I'm not going to change my view. Most of the time you've played like crap but still you've won a lot of games recently. Your attack is scary as hell. The 4 players I've listed are all top top players (although maybe not all in top form) and all of those crosses your team whips in are finally useful since Falcao's movement is fantastic.
I think we (Chelsea) are still the better team, but the lack of rotation/depth could haunt us later on. We've played some scintillating football but if Hazard or Matic get injured for an extended amount of time we're screwed. Luckily our medical department is godlike though and Hazard seems a tough player to injure.
So yeah, I believe it'll be a tight race for the title in the end as City are winning their games as well.

27 Dec 2014 14:24:02
Hi all,
Hope everyone has had a excellent Christmas.
Bale rumours won't go away and LVG remains fairly tight lipped over the whole topic. Perhaps the rumours are fairly accurate in terms of us actually wanting to buy Bale? However I am struggling to see this happening in January, and £120 million seems a bit steep. I have mentioned recently how I cannot see his price depreciating at all from the £85 million he was brought for but I struggle to see how an additional £35 million can be stuck on top of that.

Eds, when you get the chance could you answer a couple of questions for me please:
1) Will MU be putting in a bid for Bale in January
2) Apologies Ed002 for asking a money orientated question but do you think £120 million is a realistic figure?

Thanks as always.

{Ed002's Note - (1) I wouldn't think so. (2) I have no interest in discussing money.}

Couldn't agree more on the price 120 million is ridiculous is he 40 million pounds better than Ronaldo was when we sold him ?? Cracking player but people should get a grip and surely FFP must kick in at some point. Not to mention he has turned us down twice if you believe the papers. Finally When we want rid of players we get half of what there worth real seem to get double how does that work ??

That kind of money not worth that, he has been injured a lot so far this season, for that money we could get ronaldo hummels, and maybe another player, spend half that money on defence and we will be going well, we are looking good in attack and falco is class if we can keep him fit.

It's not my money, spend spend spend

Id rather sign reus and hummels for around half the price

27 Dec 2014 11:41:20
Good game yesterday. But my continuous worry is Evans and Jones. Neither of these two are up to the job. Evans had some terrible moments even before we scored, he gave the ball away, got skinned a couple of times. Useless.
As for Jones, he is a lump, and is totally immobile, his movement for Newcastle's penalty was terrible. We need two decent centre halves urgently.

I have to disagree about Jones. I thought he had a very good game. He was strong and added to the attacking phases of play on a number of occasions. As for Evans, he isn't the most physical CB - that is true. But he is a good footballer who, IMO, showed a lot of composure yesterday, and looked to get forward when ever possible.

I think the team lacks a commanding, 'experienced' CB. If we can acquire one of those, I think the rest of the defence would show considerable improvement.

Thought jones had a decent game yesterday the penalty aside but the newcastle player was looking for it.evans though worried me he just looks short of confidence and very slow on the ball.

I remain hopeful on Jones, but Evans is an error waiting to happen. I have no confidence in him whatsoever.

27 Dec 2014 18:34:03
Also think Jones had his best game and if he don't get injured i think we still havnt seen the best of him. Think he will improve even more when we get him a better partner.

27 Dec 2014 19:30:28
I have to agree with nomidfield that Jones lacks mobility and is an accident waiting to happen.

He did play well, but there is no point playing well for 80 mins and then giving away a penalty. Also how long before he lunges into a challenge and injures himself.

We need two new CB. I would give Jones time given his age. Evans needs to be sold.

27 Dec 2014 10:58:51
Well that was more like the Utd I know and love yesterday. OK second half we took the foot off the gas, but the game was won and we have a tricky game tomorrow, sensible.

I hate the 3-5-2, but yesterday it worked for the first time for me. Young and Rooney were great especially considering Janmaat, Colback & Sissoko have been very good this season. I doubt Rooney would have had such an easy game (especially for his goals) had Tiote been playing mind, so we shouldn't discount that fact. There was great chemistry between Rooney & the typically anonymous Stata, who had one of his best games for us, let's hope he doesn't disappear for another 12 months, because he was creative yesterday for the first time this season imo.

The 6 game run was riddled with terrible performances as has our whole season been, but yesterday was the first time we looked to actually play football properly - considering the players we have out injured it was very impressive. It helps having players who can play one touch football and are decisive with the ball. Although Valencia & Fellaini have been good this season in a way, they do slow the game down a lot when they play and when Rafael takes over from Valencia it will be even better. Herrera & ADM will add pace and movement which is vital in some games, but I think Herrera is going to struggle for games now unfortunately.

Many of us thought we would concede a lot this season but had the fire power to cover for it. In fact LVG has taken a cautious approach which has meant our attacking players haven't had the support to destroy teams like we thought they would - this meant hardly any chances being created and a lot of isolation for our attackers - uber negative and boring football which has been my main gripe all year.

I hope yesterday showed LVG that by allowing players to go forward en-masse we can both entertain and out-score most opponents, despite having a weak defence - defenders carrying the ball instead of hoofing it was nice to see (Rojo was not missed at all and frankly he is the main culprit of constantly hoofing it).

So I'm chuffed with yesterday, but it has taken half a season to get that type of performance, let's hope the bar doesn't come down again because we have been mind numbingly boring up to this point - I was entertained by my club yesterday and it was a wonderful experience I have missed terribly.

27 Dec 2014 13:00:47
Beast is it really you?

There's a hint of positivity about you today. Hold on to it mate.

27 Dec 2014 14:55:57
I agree with you regarding Rojo.

I raised the same point about him constantly hoofing the ball but surprisingly people on here think he is a good passer.

Don't like Rojo not as good as people think strong and aggresive but bad positionaly and turns off

27 Dec 2014 09:15:09
Yesterday I wonder if we saw a position for Rooney that could extend his career. I don't want to read too much into one game but he knows how to arrive in the box and time his runs almost like Lampard. If he plays the role on Sunday can he also tackle without becoming frustrated and losing his head, then we will know more. However it did show the benefit of more athleticism and drive from midfield. LvG has had time to assess the players and we should recall Schweinsteiger was a winger before LvG persuaded him to become one of the very best central midfield players, Alaba was persuaded to play left back and how well has he done. I watched McNair play the centre of the three defenders and am not convinced he will make it there, push him into central midfield might be an experiment worth trying yet I know he was further forward earlier in his career. Mata did well, helps when he plays facing the opposition rather than with his back to them. Can't help but say that Young did well again.
Good result and we may have scored more if we hadn't eased off with a game, a tough away game only 48 hours later. The substitutions took us down a notch, Fletcher in particular looks to be in the final few months at OT, good servant but now looks leggy.
The pattern worked and my only observation was that perhaps the midfield need to learn to take the ball more from the defenders even if it is a tight situation, they need to have the confidence and ability to keep the ball in tight areas, yesterday I saw balls arrive and bounce up to head high before control came, that needs to be better.
DiMaria injured in training, I think it is getting to the point where we have to question the training now. There are too many injuries occurring like that, the pattern of play is improving but the training needs looking at.
I believe tomorrow's game at Tottenham will tell us a lot, they will press us just as Southampton did and our defence doesn't cope well with it, we need better out balls from defence and midfield will need to hold it, then we will see whether Rooney has what it takes.

Exactly like Lampard. I thought to myself that both those goals are Lampard-like.
To be fair Vurnon Anita and Newcastle were awful yesterday and I don't feel he'd played well if Tiote had played in midfield.

27 Dec 2014 13:05:29
Does anyone think yesterday was the perfect time to give periera 20 odd mins to play instead of Fletcher/Rafael???

I too was hoping Perriera would have come on. It was the perfect game for him. But maybe LVG thought that Carrick being the most important player needed a rest and played Fletcher, considering Perreira wasn't a holding player.
Rafael certainly needed minutes. It's good to see him back, but for the last 10 minutes he wasn't great defensively.
Wilson for me apart from the chance he missed at Stoke(? the game he started can't remember) hasn't had a chance to score. Would love to get him on the scoresheet.

Read that fellaini has broken ribs suffered in training. Not sure who to believe as the manager says they have the belgian flu but the website that is reporting it is generally quite accurate.

27 Dec 2014 00:05:56
Surprised no one has gone on about Rooney!!! He was proper world class !!!! Crazy

27 Dec 2014 00:26:30
He's divided opinion in recent years but for me he's consistently been a top player for us, first name on the team sheet for me.

27 Dec 2014 00:42:19
Thought he was absolutely fantastic today, probably his best game for us in a couple of years, can't remember a mistake, 2 goals, 1 assist, perfect passes, world class.

Love how the Rooney haters have shut up in recent weeks. He's a fantastic player for you guys. You've been on quite a run. Shame ;)

What a dude. Has completely earned his captains armband and thoroughly deserves all that he has achieved. Was a bit of a spoilt brat in his former years but he was young and naive. IMO he has fully matured as a human being and as a professional of the beautiful game. He always gives his all and is quickly becoming part of the all time greats for Manchester United. He has my utmost respect.

He is a great player and probably our most important player in the entire squad.

Seems to have achieved an excellent transformation into a very good midfield player, perhaps his days as a striker are behind him. Will pose an interesting selection dilemma when all our injured return.
Strong performance, also from Ashley Young, a real challenge to Shaw for that position.

Seems to have achieved an excellent transformation into a very good midfield player, perhaps his days as a striker are behind him. Will pose an interesting selection dilemma when all our injured return.
Strong performance, also from Ashley Young, a real challenge to Shaw for that position.

As soon as he has a bad game, miss controls a ball or united get beat the debate will no doubt start again

What is there to divide? Rooney is world class has been and will always be till he retires. He gives 100%. He can pass, score, tackle. What does he have to do to prove to people his worth?

I think when he mentally focuses he is great and most of his poor games is not because he is not trying but his head is somewhere else. The expectation level is also at the different scale with him compared to other players because of what he can produce.

BTW on another note, Falcao looks to be fitter and fitter and we should be in for a treat if he can stay injury free with those 2 combining.