Manchester United Banter Archive May 27 2014

 

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27 May 2014 22:37:16
At long last we hqave gotten rid of Macheda on a free to Cardiff such a great start

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He's gone on a free so was always going to happen

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Always remember him for that goal against villa though, absolutely crucial. But that's about it.

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27 May 2014 19:51:53
Hay guys,,, please eds or anyone give some feedback on this,
Why are man united penny pinching over luke shaw?? If we have massive funds, why would we try negotiate it to Lower fee when this would see Chelsea bid and set of a bidding war. Why does it seam like such a lack of ambition in this transfer window, (I no the window isn't open) but it sounds like yet again where going to be left disappointed

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According to Ogden who many think is the most reliable reporter the deal is done but waiting for WC to finish

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I'm sorry, if offering 30 million for an 18 year old defender who plays for a midtable team with uncertainty surrounding the future of their manager, not to mention he has only played about 50 league games and has no European experience penny pinching, than how should we go about spending the club's money? FFS the lad is on international duty.

The window has yet to open and people are going crazy. What the he11 is going on?

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Marmite, what makes you think MU are penny pinching on Shaw? I've certainly not seen any evidence of that in relation to Shaw.
Hopefully now that their manager is off it might speed thing along but, as Mick says, the window isn't even open yet and the kid has other things to worry about too!

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Pardoe, Ogden has said the negotiations are on hold. Not that a deal is done. I think it's about to go pear-shaped personally.

Mick, it will be embarrassing for the club if they fail to get Shaw now. It will be a massive blow and worse of all we will have to deal with Evra for another season.

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In the positive, Woodward will be sacked if it doesn't come off. Really want Shaw here though.

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Woodward has a lot to answer for, but this for me isn't one of those things.

He went in on the day the season ended with a staggering £27mill bid for an18yr old left-back, with rumours of wages close to 100k a week.

There is nothing more he could've done. IMO, if the deal has stalled its simply because Shaw suspected Chelsea would enter the race and would prefer them.

I don't hold Woodward accountable for this, if it fails. However, if he and LVG don't have a 2nd choice to move onto, and we play another season with Evra &Buttner, I'll want his head on a stake. Enough is enough.

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Ogden was asked about shaw on mutv and he said the deal is as good as done. i'm not saying I believe it just what he said.

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I really hope we do get Shaw. However if we don't I wouldn't think Woodward would get the boot as he is the bloke that masterminded the Glazers takeover of Utd, and has had great success generating massive revenues for them.
I kno there's been a lot of talk about £200m etc. but I believe we shouldn't get our hopes up over several massive signings in this transfer window. I think it more likely 1 at a push 2 big signings and then possibly a few solid players coming in.
LVG is proven at getting more out of the players he inherits and promoting youth as they tend to be able to adapt quicker to his way of wanting the team to play. If this is the way it goes don't worry because things will still be better than last season.

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RS, if we offer an acceptable amount we get the player, well that was the case before Chelsea entered the race on Friday. We have been negotiating for over a month. If it falls through it can only be Ed Woodward's fault. It's his job to get the deals done. He has taken too long on this deal.

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{Ed002's Note - Chelsea has asked to be kept informed.}

28 May 2014 08:10:02
Not that it helps this debate much, but it isn't true to say that 'the window' hasn't yet opened. Premier League transfers can be agreed from midnight on the last day of the season - anyone in doubt go here:

http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/
fans/faqs/when-does-transfer-window-open-close.html

. for confirmation. In practice, deals are done with effect from July because that is when players' contracts normally expire so it's just neater that way.

Because of this, it made sense to me that United apparently opened up talks with Southampton after the last game of the season but now it's all gone quiet I am guessing (hoping) that they are just waiting to get LVG into position so that senior players joining the team are given a proper welcome. Looks better, doesn't it, when they are greeted by the manager for the photo op and get to do the press conference together? Imagine Shaw and Woodward doing the same with no LVG!

Plus any sensible player will want to hear LVG's assurances about their place in the team etc and I suspect that he means it when he says that the dutch team will get 100% of his attention until the WC is over - so that's another reason to do plenty of work in lining things up but not to confirm anything.

Finally there is the obvious 'distraction' of the World Cup, both for players and the new manager so for all these reasons I am not expecting confirmation about any new signings until the tournament is more or less over.

Of course, it could also mean that we have failed to agree terms because Woodward offered fourpence and a bag of crisps so I think Marmite has a point!

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{Ed002's Note - Transfers cannot be processed until the Transfer Window open on July 1. The situation with Shaw is very, very si.}

Maybe we've decided the asking price is to much and already moved on to another target and well under way with negotiations, who knows. It must be a silly amount if Chelsea are baulking at the price. But I agree we should pay whatever it takes on this one, the lad is special.

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27 May 2014 19:23:12
Pochettino to Spurs, confirmed.

Good appointment, big fan of MP. I wonder if he was given no assurances about his bigger-name players staying?

Or maybe he just feels he's reached his ceiling at Southampton.

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You're avin a laff mate. Ow can e compare to Arry or Arry (Sherwood) Junior? You'll never win nufink with foreign managers, they don't even play wiv two up top. Bring back Arry, eel set you right.

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The Spurs contract will be pretty nice too. New favourites over Liverpool now in the race for Lallana? I would say so.

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27 May 2014 17:54:20
All that money we supposedly have to invest in new players', and no-one to spend it on.

You have to wonder what is going on behind the scenes. Yes, there is a world cup; but I cannot for the life of me understand why we haven't at least sorted a few deals out. I would have thought the club would have not allowed things to stretch over to the end of July before we do our business, which seems to be the way of things.

I am not as patient as some of you. After last summers embarrassments and the crap season we have had, I would have thought the club would have done something to get the fans' excited.
Yes, we have a new manager; but a manager who is effectively the employee of someone else.
So come of Woody. redeem yourself and make us bloody happy!

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I am with you on this one.

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Who's to say that there aren't deals already done.

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Truth is Sam, not many top players, if any at all, want to go to United without UCL, I tried telling you this ages ago, it's good a lot of guy's on here are starting to lower their expectations however.

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Mark, I sincerely hope we have got some deals done. It would just be nice if the club announced them.

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I think that after the WC, we will officially announce LVG and that there may be two or three players on the field with him. One I believe is going to be Gundogan, along with Indi and Shaw. After that the summer will be spent on getting Reus and either Garay, Hummels and Subotic and think we will end up paying the £35 million for Carvalho!

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Am pretty sure a CL-less United is still a very attractive option to many players. We won't be out for long, and guess which team will 'slip' out of last yrs top 4

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The window hasn't opened yet.

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I wish people would quit the moaning, the transfer window is not open yet, why is this so hard to understand, we could may well have deals done and agreed and are just waiting til the 1st of july to sign on the dotted line, quit the crying and stay positive, times under david moyes should make u realise that things now can only get better. be patient.

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Loko - providing Liverpool hold onto Suarez (which is probably a 50-50) - my guess would be Arsenal.

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Plymouth,

I am just moaning. I was expecting the club to announce one or two accusations.

As for not signing "big" players', the manager will sign the players' he feels will best fit his system.
There are plenty of little gems out there - think Coutinho - who we could sign that will make a huge difference to our side. Not to mention the fact that some of our players', who have not performed anywhere near their potential, could really shine under Van Gaal.

At the end of the day, we have a top manager and coach in charge, who will uncountably improve the team, by virtue of the type of football philosophy he will try to install in the players'.

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Redseven fair point Suarez makes them tick but if there's one thing Wenger does exceptionally well it's getting into the CL. If the rebuilding at Utd actually does happen then I guess Arsenal will have the weaker team of the top 5. My feeling though is that it's going to be one of Utd and Liverpool missing out because of massive changes and tighter schedule respectively

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LOL. Woops. Acquisitions I meant to say. :0/

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I wished I had your patience and faith stretford.

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Plymouth red.it doesn't matter if we are in the cl or not we are UNITED, we are a massive club! I for one would rather players here that wanted to pull the famous red shirt and play at the theatre of dreams and try to make history with us, and give up 1 season of cl football, than wants to go and pick up a big wage somewhere else like liverpool for instance and not win anything just because they are in the cl.

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Where has this idea come from that every other team apart from us is completing transfers left right and center and we are sat doing nothing? Apart from the Luiz to PSG transfer I'm struggling to think of any? So what's the panic about all these other teams apparently completing there transfers?

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Sam - we have players who underperformed under Moyes; but even if LVG manages to get the best out of them - I don't think their best is good enough.

We have 5 or 6 players who are good enough and three of those play in the same position.

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I agree red. We definitely need to bring in quality players'. But I still think we have some players' who have yet to reach their full potential at the club; and under the guidance of LVG, we might yet see the best of them. Nani springs to mind: the guy has bags of talent, but has failed to produce it over a prolonged period.

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Plymouthred what are you talking about saying nobody wants to sign for us, manchester united are the biggest and most successful club in britain, one year out of the champions league isn't going to put people off to much, we will be back in it for the start of the 2015 season and you lot will be back out of it and put back in you're usual place, looking up at the 20 times league champions.

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27 May 2014 16:39:50
Over the past two decades, some of our best transfers were bought from other Premier League teams. Cole, Yorke, Saha, Rio, Rooney, Carrick, Berbatov (debatable), Tevez and more recently Robin van Persie, Mata could well become another. A few of course were not as successful such as Ashley Young and of course Fellaini is still up for debate, but in the main we have had great success over the years poaching the Prem's best players. I understand we are linked with many a household name again, most of them foreigners. The likes of Kroos, Fabregas, Reus, Hummells are all great players. but where is our interest in the Premier League's brightest? Are there any players in the Prem apart from Luke Shaw who we are seriously interested in? It seems incredible that we are linked with so many players from abroad, and so little from the Premier League, especially given our track record of actual signings from those around us. Our last three major signings of RVP, Mata and Fellaini, have all came from top teams in our league. Benteke, Bony, Ramsey, Lallana, Barkley, Coleman, Stones. all may not sound as attractive as Kroos or Fabregas, but these players have all proven they can do a job in the Premier League where it actually matters to us. Any more players from teams in the Prem who you would like to see us make a serious move for?

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The thing is we don't need Benteke or Bony. Ramsey isn't for sale, and he has no interest in joining us. And Barkley, Coleman and Stones would only be sold to us for vastly inflated fees.

That leaves Lallana who is also going for an inflated, and wouldn't really bring us to the next level.

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RVP wouldn't sign a new deal, Mata was no longer needed and Fellaini we over paid massively and Everton are skint. It has been absolutely ages since we have acquired a player from a rival under "normal" circumstances - there is too much competition now and we aren't up to it. It just doesn't happen anymore, clubs have so many options from overseas buyers for their "Stars" that they choose not to accept rival bids from home teams. Arsenal have been the one exception but they have been held over a barrel by their players. I can't see Ramsey, Wilshere being sold for less than £35mil and frankly we would get beat by overseas teams.

Fabregas is the best for prem experience, as well as Song or Modric. We need to gamble because we will get out gunned by PSG, Barcelona, Madrid, Bayern, City, Chelsea for any world superstar. Just look at players we have tried and failed to sign over recent years, I won't bother listing them.

We could bid for the Everton or Southampton players, but prices are hiked (Fellaini) and they are 7/10's when we need 9/10's or 10/10's. I don't think Benteke, Bony are Utd players, not when our rivals at home and abroad are buying Costa, Falcao, Benzema, etc. I couldn't see us getting one of those 3 ahead of the teams I have mentioned.

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I think the reason that we signed EPL proven players was because SAF was afraid of getting burned again after the Veron fiasco.

If you look at the best payers in the league last year (Suarez, Yaya and Hazard) they were all signed from abroad rather than the EPL. We can get good players paying over the odds from domestic rivals; but generally speaking the very best players will always be signed from abroad.

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27 May 2014 16:35:02
Something that I have not seen mentioned is the loan system, we don't tend to bring players in on this as we have such a big squad but seeing how Everton played the game last year and we are no European threat to anyone is it possisle we could bring 1/2 young quality players in without using our budget.
Any thoughts and also who we maybe able to get.

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With all due respect to Everton, this is Manchester United lol. We don't loan in players, instead we aim to loan out our youngsters. The only reason Everton loaned those players are because they are on financial constraints, meaning they don't have the funds that we do. Now if it was a loan to buy option, then fair enough, but idk if i'm sitting on a high horse here but I don't agree with United loaning in players.

This is just my opinion, and yes I know we aren't the team we once were, but we're still that same huge club. Going forward and claiming our spot back, I wouldn't like to see us loaning in players to 'help us'. Do you see other big clubs doing this? (Arsenal with Kallstrom is the only one I can think of, again pushed but for other reasons).

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I agree that we shouldn't have to use the loan market the way Everton did but I wouldn't rule a loan out as a bad move by default. Henrik Larsson?

Everton used it well e.g. Gareth Barry completed the 3rd most passes in the PL last season, behind Yaya and Stevie G. I suggested him as a stop gap signing and got slated - didn't see any of our players retaining possession nearly as well last season though.

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We couldn't get away with loaning top players - and it wouldn't suit us anyway.

The chances of loaning out a world class player are more or less slim to none. We could loan out a few young prospects; but that's not what we need right now - plus why would we want to help develop a player we had no stake in when we have youth players of our own who need development?

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Cortois worked out quite well for Athletico

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No club would loan us their best players. We wouldn't want to loan any players unless it was an emergency (Larsen) and he wasn't exactly from a rival team or World Class at that time.

Loans are for teams without money or short of numbers, we are neither. Athletico & Everton are both.

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27 May 2014 16:07:39
Chelsea rumoured to be linked with Koke. have we dropped our interest in Koke with LvG?

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We dropped our interest when he signed a new contract

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27 May 2014 14:08:22
When looking into this 433 lvg is bringing I'm really hoping it will be set up in a similar style to that of real Madrid's with alonso Mordic and di Maria. The di Maria role will be filled by mata and kagawa so it is the others we need to look to, the Mordic role I think would be perfect for rakitic although he maybe a struggle to attract with real also been interested. Now the alonso role, I may get shot down for this but the player I would love for this even though he would never move is de Rossi whom in my opinion is the Italian alonso, he would add steel and experience to our midfield and age doesn't matter as we all know lvg wants to eventually place strootman here

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Sorry Jack, but I have to disagree. Neither Mata or Kagawa are blessed with the pace of Di Maria or his dribbling skills and as such I don't think they could play his role in the suggested formation.

Utd need a proper winger that can fly down the wings and beat a man, cutting inside and shooting if needs be. Our football was painfully slow and predictable last season and I fear would remain so in the suggested formation with the suggested players .

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Di Maria hasn't been playing on the wings for real

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27 May 2014 18:25:01
If your intelligent enough, with a good football brain and tactical/ positional awareness you don't necessarily need blistering pace to play that role. Kagawa and Mata are both intelligent players.

Kagawa played superb in Germany and if we have the right system and players he can do that here.

Mata was Chelsea best players 2 seasons on the bounce. Plenty of goals and assists.

And towards the end of the season both showed signs of linking. Add a fully fit in form van persie in front, an ever improving januzaj and a new pacy wide player and sort the midfield out with a sold box to boxer and carricks replacement and the basis is there.

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We lack the pace to play like RM. I'd like us to play like Manchester United. You know? How we used to.

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27 May 2014 12:17:31
I see that Yaya Toure has PTSD over city not giving him a birthday cake and is now trying to maneuver a move to PSG .Just for the crack United should put a bid in for him

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Twilight Zone again!

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27 May 2014 11:53:41
Let us not forget, we have signed someone prior to the world cup!

Vanja Milinković

The Serbian giant, I can shed some light on him. He is 6ft 7in, the man is built like a brick she*p house and he's only 17. Obviously we have mighty Dave so the need for Milinković is questionable but Lindegaard will be off this summer I reckon, he's too good to be a reserve keeper. Amos, for me, has lost his appeal, yes he's a decent keeper but he's 24, and people still class him as a 'young prospect'. He will thrive at a championship club but not sitting in our u21's. so if those two get shipped off then Milinković will be the new Amos. This begs the question who to replace Lindegaard then. TBH we could grab an average keeper and keep him on the bench. Michael Vorm for example. So if you think about it, Milinković is actually quite a sound signing.

Thought i'd bring spirits up as a lot of post have been about a potential 'dizastrous summer'. I hope for a good one!

Also on a lasting note, would any of the Ed's be able to help out with the Jordy Clasie rumours, all I know is twitter rumours, but apparently we have confirmed it (to be announced after the world cup). Also LvG also apparently said 'you're coming with me to Manchester' to him?

Thanks in advance and as always, I want feedback

HarryUTD

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{Ed002's Note - I have no idea what the Clasie rumours are nor what Manchester United have confirmed. You might do better to avoid Twitter.}

Sam Johnston will eventually become the number 2 imo. He had a great season in the championship

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This lad is staying at his current club next season so won't arrive at utd until next summer.if lindegard leaves then utd will need an experienced number 2 not a young kid.agree amos will probably leave as he's not getting near the 1st team enough.we also have sam johnstone who could make it but in the short term if lindegard goes we will buy an experienced back up.

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I agree with John and Mick. I think if Lindegaard was to leave this summer then we would need to bring an experienced GK in, but if Lindegaard stuck around for 1-2 years more, then I think Johnstone will be the number two. With perhaps the new guy and Gollini fighting it out for spot number three.

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Somebody like Vorm would cost too much to sit on the bench. Somebody like Given would be fine.

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Syd, Gollini has been released and rightly so.

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Mick, MU offered him a deal, he must have rejected it so they released him. I know Sam Byrne, Jack Rudge and Jack Barmby have been released.

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27 May 2014 11:53:08
We are all hoping that the supposed £200m will be spent this summer.isn't more realistic that £100m net be spent this summer and if we are in the top 4 in Jan another 30m spenthe then on a player toake thedifference. then if we make CL the money not spent this year can be added to next year's money to buy 2 top class additions for the CL assault.
Thiswould be in keeping withVan Gaals theory it will take 2 Years and as such at least 3 windows to get back.
Just my feelings.

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I would expect at least top 4 for United next season due to no european footy plenty of time between games to make the squad gell

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Fingers crossed Pardoe.just a worry that other teams will also spend big and matbevthe worst season to mit's CL wilhall the club's buying so many top class players here and abroad.
Will at least be entertaining football under LvG

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27 May 2014 11:52:30
morn edds,

with PSG stepping up interest in greizmann, could that signal the end of moura? meaning us going in for him?

cheers, scott.

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{Ed002's Note - PSG will let Moura move on - I don't see have Manchester United feature in it.}

I'd love us to sign Lucas - but recall hearing that he was very homesick and can't help but feel living in Manchester wouldn't help too much. We've had poor luck with South Americans in the past as well.

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27 May 2014 09:41:14
Theres a couple of points I want to make and they centre around players and systems.

First off there seems to be genuine disapointment every time a top player rules himself out of a move to our club. 18 months ago Sir Alex was in charge of a team that was on its way yo winning the title. No one knew he was planning on retiring and if at that point someone mentioned a player from Barca or Bayern as a realistic target they would have been shot down. Yet 18 months later after we have had our worst season in a generation under Moyes we have no UCL football and suddenly people expect top players from clubs with a genuine chance of winning the UCL to move to a club in transition that aren't even in the competition. that's foolish, someone like Robben is 30 and maybe only has 2/3 years at a top club with geniune chances of winning the major competitions left in his career, why would he want to waste 1/2 years of his career trying to help us rebuild?

The next thing is systems, people say our squad can't play a certain way as we haven't got the players. that's crap. Everton played in a defensive way under Moyes yet with mostly the same group of players Martinez has them playing attractive attacking football. Players can adapt and play in many different ways. Yes we need more quality in our squad but to say that we need a whole new 25 man sqaud to change our style of play is personic.

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Shappy - The club have said we will be after those players and they have expressed a desire to join Utd. If we can't believe our own club when they make statements then what is the point in believing anything?

I'm sick of being lied to.

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27 May 2014 11:08:42
The club have never mentioned any players by name. They have said they are after the best players available.

So who we sign will depend on two things, one is it the right player for van Gaal, and two is that player actually available.

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I agree about most of your points except the Everton playing a different style with largely the same players.

They have a whole new midfield ( Mcarthy, Barry and Barkley, not to mention Lukaku, Stones and Delofeu ). 5 players significantly more technically able than in previous seasons.

The point stands though, you can make certain players adapt to a different systems, but you need a certain new backbone to do that.

OUt of all our players, only Cleverley ( and arguably Kagawa and Anderson ) are genuinely capable of playing in a midfield 3 ( a stereotypical Van Gaal midfield ), and while Mata and Rooney might adapt, we still need to bring a new backbone to the team capable of playing in that system ( a new ball playing defender, a quick left back, a quick left winger and 2 hard working midfielders ). We cannot get Carrick, Fletcher and Fellaini to play quick passing football, nor can we get Rooney to improve his touch and overall tactical intelligence to adapt to a midfield 3.

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I can see Rooney being in midfield under Van Gaal that wouldn't surprise me one bit.

On Everton Martinez said they had brought in 10 players before the start of the season, agreed not all have played but the team is different to the Moyes one (And much better)

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27 May 2014 12:54:35
Pardoe I think midfield is the only role Rooney has a chance of playing in under van Gaal. He plays with one striker which will be van Persie, Wayne hasn't got the pace or close control to play wide anymore, and I don't think he is clever or consistant enough to play the No.10 role. I think Rooney could be moved into the No.8 role due to his mobility and his want to be involved. But I do wonder whether he has the ability and discipline to adapt and play that role but its the one I think he has the best chance of working in.

It will be very interesting to see what happens.

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I think we need to be realistic about who we will get over the summer - Utd owners not stupid (hence clever move to keep Evra for another year: experienced voice but also signalling to Southampton that they won't be held to ransom over Shaw because we're not desperate now) and would've realised that getting top names to OT would be very difficult without CL football.

LvG been brought in to firstly get us back into Europe THEN attract big names after that. He's also got a proven record working with what he's got/improving and changing players (if they buy into his philosophy) and also developing youth players.

So team next year will be young - but vastly improved from the shameful indifference shown this year. There won't be any new star players, maybe promising youngsters only (Shaw, Claisie, Martins, Carvalho) with him improving what we've got and instiling a new belief and confidence: Rafael, Jones, Evans, Valencia, Januzaj - even Cleverley. Youth to be promoted will be Keane, Pearson, Lawrence, Wilson, Varela (back up Rafael) Powell.

Some players might find they will have to play in a different position: Valencia RB, Jones MF, Rooney, MF

Leadership will come from Evra, RVP, Mata and probably Strootman, who he loves.

But it will all be worth it once we, re playing great football again with youngsters who want to play for the club - THEN bring in the superstars (if needed!) to make the next step. The success will take several seasons, but so be it, foundations will be in place for seasons to come (and Klopp to then come in - not Giggs until he has proven experience elsewhere)

Can't wait for the new season - will just take all the rumours with a pinch of salt. LvG will sort the club out - it will just take a bit of time.

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I agree with Shappy. RM had the likes of Phil J asking for the ball to feet and building play. When I saw that, that was when the warning signs about DM started ringing out for me (later than for some, earlier than others).

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27 May 2014 08:08:20
Hi Ed.
Can you confirm if the rumours about us being interested in Schweinsteiger are true? the rumoured £10m seems like a good deal. Do you know if this is a possibility?

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{Ed002's Note - I don't know if there is interest of not. The cost is of no consequence. Many things are a "possibility".}

26 May 2014 23:16:34
Rumours are certainly accelerating that Kroos did want to join United. So frustrating given he's a world class player & I can't see us signing Cesc.

I'm confident in LVG but it is a concern that we suddenly pulled out the deal.

What I've seen (albeit online) is the Pep really likes Kroos and instead offered us Shweinsteiger (tried my best with spelling).

Could any of the Eds shed some light on the Shweinsteiger rumour? Sorry if it's already been done couldn't find it!

Al92

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{Ed002's Note - There was no "deal".}

Potential deal sorry!

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26 May 2014 18:14:26
ED is this Schweini rumour just paper talk?

I for one would prefer him if he's available for 10 million pounds.

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{Ed002's Note - I have no idea what a "Schweini" is?.}

Ed, I think its a German pig :)

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27 May 2014 07:47:58
Just wondering what the chances are of seeing Bebe in the squad for next season. He had a decent season with Pacos de Ferreira, scoring 13 goals in all competitions which is significantly better than most of our squad.

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He did not have a " decent " season for Pacos, he almost kept them up single handedly. He scored plenty of stunners, and has been their best player by a significant margin.

He is good enough to be a starter at any top Portuguese team bar Benfica, and I surely hope we extend his contract and get him a premier league loan.

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We need to sell Bebe while he has some value. It's not just his talent in question, when he's happy he's a decent player, but he has issues out of football. After a good season it shouldn't be hard to find him a new club for a half decent fee. Giving him a new contract is crazy talk Mick.

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Don't know about Bebe, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Anderson and Nani given another chance at OT. Before all the abuse starts, yes I am serious! I still think both are good players if played in the right way. Given that LvG will (hopefully) play a more technical and attacking style of football, these 2 may still have something to offer, especially if we fail to land our main targets.
I know Anderson has had his chances and struggles with fitness, but considering the dire condition of our midfield I think it was a mistake to loan him out last season. Despite his seemingly constant struggle with fitness, he is still the most energetic and direct midfielder we have. And if he were to play regularly, maybe his fitness would improve with it.
Not saying these two are the answer, just that I wouldn't be surprised.
Let the abuse commence. lol

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Betty I would agree i'm starting to think lvg will give most players a chance and only add in key areas.
Cb, lb and cm. I think we may buy just 3 players possibly a couple of young un as well

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We will be better next season regardless of who we buy, but we still need to strengthen the key areas. LB, CD, CM & LW all need work. I don't think LvG cares about "big names" per se, he wants players who can do their individual jobs sufficiently. It's hardly surprising he is looking at Dutch players giving the fact he has been working with them for years and he knows how they play. I don't think Anderson will stay, but it will be difficult finding him a club. Nani may well be worth keeping if no one will offer for than £4m for him. Especially if he has a good WC. Of course we would all like to sell Nani and buy Reus, but if Reus isn't an option then what? Robben doesn't want to leave BM. Sanchez is a good player, but £30m+ could be risky for him. Griezmann will be difficult to sign as there will be many wanting him. Pedro? Is he quick enough? I genuinely don't know, it's hard comparing him to other Barcelona players as they are all speedy players. There's not many others who fit the bill. He may go for Depay, I haven't actually seen him play.

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Jred, I think that is very likely. All this talk of a £200m "war chest" mans nothing. We can't make players sign, especially with no ECL football. A lot of people think that because we have money to spend, the club will / should pay whatever it takes to get any given target. That simply will not happen. The club is still a business, and the deal has to be right for it to happen. I still expect a couple of "big" signings, but they will probably be complimented with a couple of younger players with potential.
I may be wrong (and hope I am ), but I just can't see us making 5 world class signing that most people are expecting. I see "shopping lists" on here with people expecting (for example) Hummels, Shaw, Vidal, Kroos and Rues, or something similar. That just isn't going to happen.

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Syd, have you watched any of his games? Not being condescending, but how many of his games have you sat down and watched? It's not too much of a stretch to say not many.

Bebe has improved exponentially this season. His passing and crossing are at a decent level ( significantly better than they were ) and he has certain attributes that made us shell out 7 million to get him. He's ridiculously quick and strong ( Valencia type quick and strong ), has a bullet of a right foot ( no player at the club comes close, not even Rooney ) and he goes past player like Lukaku does.

His talent is unquestionable, but he lacks the football education that Lingard and co do. That means he is a late bloomer, same as Drogba once was.

I'm not saying he is good enough to be a starter on the left for us, but he can be for a midtable premier league club. If he makes it with us, than it's a true romantic story and if he doesn't than fair enough, he can be sold without loss. He is certainly better than Diouf, who is a decent Bundesliga player atm.

Bebe has been our best loaned out player by quite a distance. We have nothing to lose by extending his contract since he will, in all likelihood, keep improving and we can sell him at a better price than we would have this season.

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Mick, like I said it's his issues out of football that's the problem. If he returns to Manchester then he will continue to do what he was doing before. Some things you just cannot change.

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Missed that Syd. He obviously had problems off the field, and he admitted himself that he failed to act professional during his time here.

But for a kid with his background, it's understandable. He was put in the limelight, made some serious money, and took advantage of his new found fame and financial stability.

But I see no reason why he can't turn a new page, and concentrate on his football. He managed to do it in portugal, and said he looks forward to being more professional in the future.

Whether that is true is debatable, but I honestly believe he is talented enough to have a future in the game ( even at the top level ) if he concentrates on his football, which is why a contract extension and a season long premier league loan to a midtable- bottom premier league club will do him a world of good. Maybe Sunderland would be interested since they are probably going to lose Borini.

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MU have tried very hard with him Mick. At Besiktas he was going clubbing all of the time until early hours, turning up to training tipsy from the night before. When in Manchester it's the same thing. Anderson and Co didn't help the situation. I have seen his goals from videos, but unless he behaves himself out of football he will not get into the MU side no matter how much he's improved. I have a feeling Anderson, Nani, Bebe etc will all have a good preseason. All being impressive, but by October they will all be left out of the MU team like most seasons. They just cannot behave themselves or follow instructions.

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27 May 2014 06:23:52
Read lots of post here wanting LVG's nederland team to get knocked out quickly so that he can properly concentrate on MUFC. But for me I would prefer LVG to win the world cup.Imagine how many new players would like to play for world cup winning manager.I think there is genuine chance of finding top players who are willing to quit CL football season for a single year in order to play for world cup winning manager and the most, the biggest club in the world i.e MUFC

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I agree with you. I'd like to see LVG and the Dutch team do as well as possible. Which I think is a tough task given their squad and the group they're in.

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27 May 2014 00:34:58
There's a lot of talk about players being sold and moving on, for me wellbeck and carrick are the most overrated players at united, none of the 2 of them are not near good enough for united, weelbeck showed us when he was one and one against bayern keeper he was a bottler, van nistelroy would have buried it, that's just one instance I could go on and on about him, carrick omg not near aggressive enough to do his job and doesn't give a killer pass to open up the opposition, he can't do a scholes job nor can he do a keane job, I'm not comparing them they are just not good enough

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Carricks always been underrated not overrated in my opinion, he was awful last year but il forgive him that after his great season the year before when we won the league, you must have missed that year? he sniffs out danger and sees things happening before everybody else does, he has a brilliant football brain, I agree with you that he's far to timid and i'd like to see him put himself about a bit more but that's life, its either in u or its not. weilbeck gets a hard time but he's a top plaer regardless of his poor finishing a lot of the time, if he goes to spurs this summer he will bang 20+ goals in if used as a centre foreward and there fans will truly appreciate him for what a good player he is!

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Have to disagree here. Welbeck is relatively young, English, and a local lad. He works incredibly hard, he's versatile, and offers something that the United squad is painfully lacking in (speed) Sure his finishing isn't always astounding, but he just enjoyed his best season for United when the team wasn't playing very well and his record for the national team is fairly solid.

As for Carrick, I would say that he's always been underrated instead. His positional sense is fantastic and he does a lot of behind-the-scenes work if you will. Excellent passer, english, and a great professional. Definitely think he's past his peak but would undoubtedly be a good influence for younger players to learn from in the coming seasons and still a valuable player imo.

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Carrick is the most over-rated, under-rated player in the game.

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Carrick was good
Last 1.5 years
Ngiak thinks people are seeing ghosts
He is unbelievable overrated
Would barely make it in a second tier team now
gan

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