Manchester United Banter Archive November 27 2013

 

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27 Nov 2013 22:21:53
Well, I certainly wasn't expecting a performance like that to be quite honest!

With Carrick, Van Persie, and Vidic injured, I thought playing away at a Leverkusen side in decent form would be a tough obstacle.

However, Leverkusen were extremely poor most of the night, their defending especially. I thought the way United passed the ball around was excellent, maybe the best all season. It was the definitely the most balanced team I've seen Moyes put out all year. Kagawa was excellent, and is definitely pushing to make that number ten role his own. Giggs and Jones looked extremely comfortable in the center of the park. And most importantly, they were clinical with their finishing, which has been a problem for United all season.

The performance begs the question though: is possible to play Rooney, Kagawa, and RVP in the same team? I thought Kagawa and Rooney linked up so well tonight, and the thought of RVP being thrown into the mix is mouthwatering, but would it affect the balance of the team?

I'd like to see a variant of a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 from United in the future. Kagawa in the hole, RVP up top, Rooney on one side of Kagawa with Janujaz/Valencia/Nani on the other. I know this conundrum has been discussed before on here, but thoughts on what United's best 11 actually are?

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The 4-2-3-1 is a formation I think we would use more often if not for Rooney, He wants to play upfront and claims that has been the reason for his unhappiness last season.
So having him and RVP in the team playing ahead of Kagawa, the team would have to sacrifice width and the pitch.

With 3 sitting behind Kagawa in a compact the midfield or we could use 3 in wider positions which would allow width but leave us very vulnerable in midfield and defensively. Also players need to be very versatile for this have any chance of success.

I don't see all three fitting into the team unless we use 3-2-2-1-2
With 2 wingbacks providing the width and 2 midfielders sitting behind Kagawa and Rooney and RVP upfront. The 3 at the back would also allow the wingbacks more freedom to maintain advanced positions.

To implement any kind of formational change, it takes time, the right players and experimentation to get it right last night must have been an eyeopener for Moyes. He must find a way to accommodate Kagawa in the team while keeping RVP and Rooney happy.

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27 Nov 2013 22:15:49
Bit lucky tonight, I thought.

Rooney was aiming for Kagawa for the first, but luckily found Toni. OG for the second, ball bounced off Evans for the third, Rooney was going for goal for the fourth, but found Smalling - what was he doing that far forward anyway? - and Nani mis-controlled Gigg's hopeful punt, then sliced the finish.

And I know Leverkusen are second in their league, but the Bundesliga is notoriously weak. England won 5-1 in Germany after all, so they must be a bit easy.

And Gigg's free-kick at the end was embarassing. He's forty for goodness sake. He should know he's not strong enough now to lift the ball over a wall.

And I don't think much of this fancy-dan, fast counter-attacking style that Moyes played tonight, though he probably stumbled upon it by accident in training, in-between his fabled 26 mile forced route marches, and naked swims across the Irish Sea and back.

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Well said Stevie, let's be honest, it was very fortunate, Moyes doesn't have a clue really. Giggs needs to retire and Rooney is massively overrated.

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Fair fecks Stevie mate. The first few lines, and I almost fell for it. Wel written mate and certainly a kick up the backside for the pessimists ;) . I will happily take it.

Deeps.

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Deeps, fair play mate. Unfortunately I find it hard to get past some things. although it is easier to overlook them when he is playing this way!

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What a crock of poo, Unired played how we all wanted them too. It was positive it was aggressive it opened up the other team. Kagawa and Nani played well Rooney was as ever for united a Star. It showed we are a force and the fact Supporter are so negative is just pathetic. United has shown other 2 Matches the superiority IN Champ League other a team that Dominated last season In a forum we have struggled in for a few years is a credit to moyes that so many are so quick to dismiss. Well done lads. you did us proud

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SteveK well said. Thot so pretty much the entire match.
Deeps
Jrrbom he had you!

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Jrobbm

Read it again and this time, see if you can get the sarcasm that Stevie and I were so clearly demonstrating

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AJH, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, and suggest he might not be from these shores.

If he is, I give up.

StevieK

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Ok second time round and having slept off the alcohol . I was unaware I had even written a response until I saw someone wrote my name there. Sorry guys

I definitely bit. though I was very very drunk XD

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Excellent result and real cameos from Kagawa, Valencia and Giggs. I also thought Anderson looked pretty good when he came on. How much we can read into it I'm not sure. Was this really the second best team in Germany? They were very poor I thought. Nani took his goal well but apart from that looked completely out of it.

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Lmfao, funniest thing I've read on this site for ages!

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27 Nov 2013 22:09:32
Liverpool fan here, impressive win, do ye think your better with rooney up front and kagawa behind him or with van persie in the team?

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If we could somehow work Kagawa and Rooney behind RVP without sending them out too wide, that's what I'd go for a narrowish 4-2-3-1

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Yes, does pose a conundrum for Moyes. Why not leave Rooney up top with Kagawa in the hole and try RvP on the left? Much in the same role that Henry used to play for Arsenal with such devastating effect.

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27 Nov 2013 22:04:12
With the extortionate prices that Porto sell for what would people expect Alex Sandro to cost

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27 Nov 2013 21:44:02
Nozzia mate

Give it a rest. A superb performance, the best so far this season, and yet you still find time to have a whinge.

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Only moaned about nani and rio really. Was an excellent performance otherwise.

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I know. Rio needs to retire and Nani remains frustrating. But sometimes, you just need to enjoy the moment

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27 Nov 2013 21:43:53
Dilemma time guys: Drop are best player of the season so far or drop our leading goalscorer so far to play Kags at No10 or drop neither and play kagawa on the left wheres he's not as effective. What do you guys think?

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27 Nov 2013 22:06:15
Sorry couldn't help. Please forgive my "i told you so" tone on the post.

4 assists in the game, best player on the pitch AGAIN. 8 goals and 15 assists in 20 games. Yes, he is our best player. And surprise surprise, we can still play beautiful football with him pulling the strings. I hope Wayne's shut a fair few on here.

Deeps.

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Deeps, he may be playing well, or even very well, but he's still a thoroughly unpleasant human being though.

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Not just on here Deeps. So many people wrote him off this past summer, he's changed his playing style, creating more rather than finishing but he's doing a bloody good job of it. {Ed004's Note - My only concerns about Rooney are that his first touch and short passing are poor for someone who plays in the hole he loses the ball a lot, he is a walking red card at times and how do we know he is not playing for a new contract? That and with him in the team it's impossible to move to a 3 in midfield while playing wide players as he lacks the speed required and is very impatient and will go looking for the ball}

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AJH

For all you know, I may be a terrible human being :) . I have never quite contested that part of his character. Frankly, with the limited knowledge that we as fans have, its unfair to pass judgement.

All I care for is the passion he displays when he plays for the club that I love. That IMO is exemplary.

Deeps

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Pink I could not agree more

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Ed004 - Don't think he is a typical number 10 and remains confined to that zone of the pitch. He has a free role more often than not. The only reason he has to come deep is because our current MFs are incapable of working with the ball or spotting a forward pass the way they should. His touch is not the best, but he more than makes up for it. You can't be that bad yet present your team-mates chances on a platter. I disagree with your "walking" red card comment, his temperament has improved manifold. Infact he only has 2 red cards for United in close to 10 years. Not too shabby a record? Presently RVP is the feisty of two. His speed, atleast this season is right up there with the best. Look at him sprinting on a counter. He is no slouch. Lastly, even if he is playing for an improved contract, all I can say is his performance deserves one. It is clear that his strained relationship with SAF had a huge bearing last season on his performance.

Deeps. {Ed004's Note - Rooney will always drop deep with a good midfield or not IMO and I thought last night with Kagawa centrally we were much more fluid and balanced. If we sold Rooney (35-40 mill at this minute in time with the sales of Nani, young and Anderson) that will go a long way to signing a lb, cb and basically a midfield as we need two wingers and 2 central midfielders over next few windows.}

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Ed 004 - I think we will have to agree to disagree with that. To start with a club like United should not need to sell player to buy news ones. Second, I don't know how selling your best player can ever be a feasible move.

Deeps.

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27 Nov 2013 21:09:23
Only poor player tonight is nani. Awful. Giggs, rooney and kagawa and Valencia excellent

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Rooney was excellent tonight involved in everything

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Lovely goal aside, Nani did nothing. We should have swallowed the pride and accepted £8-10million for him this summer.

Nobody is going to pay double that and with his new 5yr deal, we won't be bringing in a replacement anytime soon.

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Well. if he scores more goals like that they might.

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Didn't his transfer to russia fall through because he wanted 130k p/w?

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27 Nov 2013 20:34:01
What a difference when you have a cm who can use the ball, even if he is a nearly 40 year old winger

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Makes you wonder, how much we would improve if we actually had a "real" midfield. Giggsy has been exceptional, what forward passes! I think making people eat their words is Ryan's favorite pass-time.

Deeps.

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Couldn't agree more deeps sort out cm and United will be a different team

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It's so frustrating Deeps, Giggs is our most fluid, creative and productive CMer and he's a 40yr old winger! Says it all.

I respect Giggs and all he has done for us but a great football team shows signs of progress and relying on extending the contract of a 40yr old legend instead of bringing in a new potential legend, is not progress.

Back to the game - wow!

5-0 in Germany? Ill take that any -day of the week! Clean sheet, some lovely goals and buildup, now the final game we can play fringe team and rest all our key players. Phew!

Kagawa as a number 10 is way more effective BUT if we need to drop Rooney or RVP to play him there, its still not worth it.

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He put on a world class performance tonight. At his age he's much more suited to the CL where it's more about skill and clever football rather than strength and energy.

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RS

I agree with that mate. The only thing that I don't agree with is the abuse that a legend like him has to put up with. Its for the Glazers to act, but honestly let's not build or hopes.

Deeps.

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27 Nov 2013 20:27:48
Three players who are just not up to it tonight. Nani, smalling and rio. Rio is so slow and his speed was what he needed. Nani just same old crap. And smalling isn't a right back. January will be interesting but these are positions I expect to be sorted in the summer

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We have Rafael for rb. Smalling is just a stand in rb and will play cb.

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27 Nov 2013 20:22:15
I always get so frustrated seeing a team sheet with kagawa on the left. It's so obvious he's brilliant in the hole. Someone suggested he could be a false 9 or in a 4 3 1 2 behind van Persie and Rooney. I feel it would bring a real edge to our play. Obviously if we were to play a 3 man midfield we need 2 class centre midfielders but we know that anyway. Lb and maybe a centre back and we'll look a really good team again. Because we have squad players in abundance and good ones at that. Thoughts guys. Cheers

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Thing I'd have to agree. But the two mid field players we'd need would have to be excellent in that position.

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27 Nov 2013 20:09:17
Three players who are just not up to it tonight. Nani, smalling and rio. Rio is so slow and his speed was what he needed. Nani just same old carp. And smalling isn't a right back. January will be interesting but these are positions I expect to be sorted in the summer

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Haha you're right about Smalling, he isn't a right back but he had a good game! Did well defensively, looking a lot more confident and less clumsy when defending and he can pass well just not cross. I can agree with you on Rio, tonight he was our worst player. {Ed004's Note - Hopefully Rafael plays this Sunday and Smalling partnering Vidic. Jones and Giggs in midfield again}

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27 Nov 2013 14:11:04
So Ed, as this is a rumour site, here are the latest I've read around. January is becoming as big a silly season as August is.
Ed can you comment on these at all?
Cabella from Montpellier
Cerci from Torino
Everton Ribeiro from Cruzeiro
Ander Herrera from Athletic Bilbao
Turan from Athletico Madrid
Koke from Athletico Madrid
Lars Bender from Bayer Leverkusen
Matic from Benfica
Di Maria from Real Madrid
Carvalho from Sporting Lisbon
Lescott from City {Ed002's Note - Why not use the search engine or read the posts.}

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27 Nov 2013 14:01:10
I would like to see kags behind rooney tonight, does anyone know if Jones is fit

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Are you talking fantasies or formation here jred?

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Lol formations honest

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OOOhhh he is well fit :)

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Your fantasies coming true it seems.

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Team sheet has Kagawa on the left Nani behind Rooney how sad is that

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Pardoe don't honestly know how they had it like that, was so obvious Nani would play out wide with Shinji central.

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27 Nov 2013 12:37:21
Red sky, the excuses have already started for the January window. Moyes begins the backtracking,

"To make January sound as if that would be the place where everything would be cured and any problems would be resolved would be wrong. It is not me saying we are not going to sign any players in January. We are going to try to if the opportunity is there. But it has to fit the right criteria. If it doesn't we will have to wait until the summer and see if we can get the players then."

So roll on the summer window and the 'it's difficult to get the right players during a World Cup year'. The greatest trick that the Glazers ever pulled was making people believe that the money really exists.

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Agreed Danny. Good truthful post

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27 Nov 2013 13:35:12
To be fair Danny many posters myself included have already said it will be very hard to get the right players in January. Especially as its world cup year.

So Moyes isn't saying anything we didn't already know. And considering how differcult it is to get players in during January what did you expect him to say?

He was hardly going to try and big up our chances of signing a world class talent in January only for those hopes to be dashed when no world class player will move and risk their world cup chances to come to us.

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Danny, as the eds on this site have told us many times, it's difficult to sign any players in January and that it's even more difficult in a World Cup year as they don't want to risk there chances of being selected. As for the summer I think you need to chill out mate, we aren't even into the new year yet and the negativity your spouting is completely unfounded, it's seems to me your whinging just for the sake of it now.

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Moyes is absolutely right that we should not buy in January unless any purchases are right for our long term development and his vision. Otherwise we end up with a bunch of mercenaries who are brilliant one day then can't be bothered the next. Arguably, just like a couple of our close rivals operate!

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I've been saying for years that the club is all about managing expectations. During the summer they were talking about targeting world class players but ended up with one squad player. Since then the club have been once again claiming that we target top quality players, less than a month ago Woodward said that we can compete for the world's best and that Moyes would receive financial backing for any major target, he even said that we could compete for players like Ronaldo.

The club builds up hype around transfers for a few months and then as the window draws near they start reducing expectations, and soon enough the window has passed without bringing in quality signings because the right player wasn't available, or the fee was too much, are the agent's fees were too high, or we have a young payer coming through, and on and on and on.

This has happened year after year and people still lap up the excuses. The excuses Moyes has started bringing out will be replaced by new excuses in the summer, and people who call the Glazer's out for spouting nonsense will still be branded negative. As I said the greatest trick has been convincing supporters that the money is there but we choose not to spend it.

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Danny,

Yes mate, of course he is, what a surprise.

To be honest, January doesn't bother me, what DOES bother me is the club treating its fans like effing persons.

I'd have far more respect for Woodward if he'd simply said - "Look, this window hasn't gone as planned but January isn't the time to sort it out. We're going to have to go into the full season as we are and reassess the situation in the summer"

I still wouldn't believe for one minute that we'd make necessary signings next summer. But I'd at least appreciate that my football club are talking straight and not treating me like an person.

Nobody is coming in January, and don't cross your fingers for the summer: The money is not there. I would bet my house on that.

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Danny,

Here's another funny point. For years, Arsenal's owners shouted loud and proud about having all these brimming chests of transfer money and that Wenger simply didn't want to spend it. Despite them being trophyless for years and years, and having a weak team.

How were these comments received on this board?

As they should have been - they were ridiculed. As we all pointed out, the owners are happy that Arsenal finish in the top 4 and that is all. After all, if all that was available, surely Wenger would be encouraged to address the glaring holes in their first 11?

That situation is starting to rear its head at OT now. A team with several glaring weaknesses and aging players, supposed chests of money, but always an excuse for not spending it.

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The Money isn't there? Answer me why we'd go out and pay £27.5m for a bloody central midfield who's main attributes are his strength and his hair due? He's not a top quality player that's obvious so do you really think we'd go pay what is actually quite a lot of money for a player that's not really worth it if we had money issues? And don't give me cr@p like it's to make the fans think we have money to spend.

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I think everyone knows why we spent that amount on Fellaini. We refused to pay his buyout and tried to get him, and Baines, for cheap. When this failed and the club was unable to secure a single other player they panicked and bid vastly over the odds because it would have been a PR disaster to fail to bring in a single first team player. To put it in perspective we spent £30m in the summer. That is hardly what you'd expect a big club with an ageing squad to spend

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27 Nov 2013 12:00:35
Predictions for our midfield two tonight lads? I'm going for Jones and Cleverley. Although wouldn't be too surprised to see Giggs start!

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I don't think we will go with Cleverley/Jones away in Europe against a good side, Moyes would want more experience I think. I wouldn't even consider Anderson the big lump. Personally I would go with a 433 with Jones slightly behind Giggs and Cleverley and a front 3 of Kagawa Rooney Valencia (Januzaj would be better but it won't happen).

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Thats where we're going wrong. Any match away, we should have a midfiled 5 behind rooney or rvp.
Playing 2 in midfield is useless and especially with the calibre of midfielders we've got.
I watched Dortmund play sensational football last night, defending as a team, attacking with speed and skill. Something we used to do many years back. They achieved all that on very small budget. They seem to be able to locate the talent, but we go out and buy Fellaini!

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Brendan. we don't play a 3 man midfield even when all our CM options are available. what makes you think we'd play a 4-3-3 when we only have two out and out CMs in the squad tonight? Don't get me wrong, i'd love to see a 4-3-3 but we don't have the players for it. Kagawa couldn't operate on the left of a front 3 either, when played on the wing he is largely ineffective, and would be more so as a left sided forward. Fingers crossed he slots in behind Rooney, but I actually expect Welbeck to start up top. I can see Moyes going ultra defensive tonight.

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Andy I said 'I would go with' not 'I think Moyes will go', it's just what I would do. I actually think it will be a 442 with Kagawa, Giggs, Jones, Valencia, Rooney, Hernandez unfortunately. Also Kagawa would be fine in a front 3 as the 3 in midfield releases the full backs to give the main attacking width so he wouldn't be an out and out wide player. I have stated on here many many times that I'd like Kagawa in the number 10 role but tonight a 433 would be my choice.

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Don't get me wrong Brendan, I along with countless others have wanted a 3 man midfield for yonks. but I don't think an away game against a team who is second in the Bundesliga is the time to try it out. especially considering we have two of our CMs unavailable! Now I hope i'll be made eat my words and we put in a top performance tonight, but I'm just not too hopeful.

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Andy I know we won't do it but if I were manager I would even away tonight. With our weaker CM's only available and Vidic and RVP also out having 3 in there would give us a bit more protection in my eyes. It won't happen though I am with you. I just hope we can scrape a 1-0 and qualify tonight.

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27 Nov 2013 11:00:57
There is still quite a lot of negativity around because of the less than great start we have made but did we not expect it to be this way? We replaced, pretty much, the irreplaceable and brought in a guy who is looking at the job long term rather than a quick fix. He inherited a strong squad but we all know the first 11 needs a lot of money to improve it. The summer was very painful as a fan but this is as much to do with Gill's decision to leave and the inexperience of his successor as it is Moyes.

Considering it has been painful to watch a lot of the time, we are only 7 points off an Arsenal team that aren't going to win the league anyway. We are only 3 off Chelsea and only 1 off City who I think will be top 3 with us this season. Moyes needed time to assess exactly what he has in the squad. Watching from outside previously and even anything SAF told him isn't enough for him to make the huge decisions we all know need to be made. His neck is on the line and he wants to make his own mind up and live or die by that, an excuse of 'well SAF said I should do it' or 'well they looked ok on match of the day last year' won't cut it if he fails and he won't be happy with that.

We are in a huge transition and i'm pretty certain he knows what he wants and needs doing by now. He won't say that in the public eye but it will be the case i'm sure. This season is about ensuring we qualify for the CL next season and finishing as high as possible, silverware this season would be a huge bonus.

People compare Moyes taking the United job to Pellegrini or Mourinho taking their jobs and the fact they spent money and are, at times, playing better football. We have to accept that those 2 clubs are very different to us and yes City spent a lot but those signings were made for him on the most part which will, and should, never happen at United. He just slotted in with the rest of the new staff at City and didn't have to assess his squad or try to settle in, assess and target players at the same time and using a hugely unqualified chief to do negotiations. With Mourinho, he knows Chelsea inside out, yes he probably signed mostly his own players but going back to his old club made it very easy for him all round and he still had a lot of his old players still there.

Taking these things into account and how close we are, surely we have to take some positives from that seeing as we have been so poor. When we do hit some form we will be back in the top 3 and maybe challenging if we can get a few in in January. Its not great viewing right now but we need to give the boss more than a few months, we are United and that is exactly what we should be, from us the fans right up to the manager and players.

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I think you are right Brendan. Moyes inherited a strong squad but a first team that were, perhaps, fortunate to win the league last year and that needed fairly major changes in order to compete at the highest level. I think he was right not to rely on SAF's recommendations for new players but to take his time, assess the squad and then rebuild. He needs two years to do this and I think we will see steady improvement over that period. My one concern is the purchase, at way over the odds, of Fellaini. I'm not sure he's going to make it but hope I'm proven wrong.

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Could not agree more Bren. I'm just concerned with whether the Glazers will spend what is needed.

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Brendan,

But we drew against Cardiff, the season is over, we are an absolute laughing stock, the summer moyes should have bought exactly who sir Alex told him to and then we would have been 10 points clear by now #moyesout. ;)

The posts after every time we draw or lose a match are exactly the same, we are in the middle of an unbeaten spell, tonight will be a tough game but hopefully we will get through it alright. We are playing without our best striker, best midfielder and best defender at the moment so it's going to be difficult. Remove aguero, toure and kompany from city and see how they do, same with any top team.

Thanks for being a bit more positive Brendan I agree with all of your post, let's hope the injured players come back soon and we can have a real go at picking up some silverware this season.

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I agree Paulo, the Fellaini deal still baffles me. Why didn't we pay his cheaper release fee if Moyes wanted him? There is a reason i'm sure but not an obvious one. I'd put it down to Woodward I think. Maybe he was trying to pay as little as possible but then in desperation ended up paying over the odds as we needed some kind of midfield reinforcements, who knows. I, personally, hope he does come good. Seeing him protecting Januzaj the other week was a great sight for me. We need someone like him around even if he isn't a world beater, as opponents might think twice before hammering our young lads coming through when they are trying to settle in in the future.

Grund I do think we will spend but I don't expect £100m+ unless we offload Anderson, Young, Nani etc for decent money. I expect a CB, LB, CM, Wide player and maybe a Hernandez replacement if he goes within the next 2 windows. I wouldn't expect them to be squad players, they will be to go straight into the first team except for the possible new striker.

Totally agree with everything you said GDS2. I see us top 5 by Xmas, top 4 by end of Jan and top 3 from end of Feb onwards. I've said all along that I don't think we will win the league this season and we are no where near the CL unless we get a lot of luck along the way. wouldn't mind a trip to Wembley for the FA Cup final though, I have lots of good memories of those trips growing up and it is a while since we won it. Be good for Moyes to get a trophy in his first year and then build on that.

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Brendan

I thought you had choked on your cornflakes ;) . Good post and I agree with the most part of it.But there is something which will always stick out like a sore thumb, that is the ultimate balls up by Woody. No excuse on earth can justify how "the most important transfer window" in recent history was allowed to transpire as it did. Like it or not, what we are facing now is a direct result of that. That said, I have very little against Moyes. As I have said earlier, I don't expect Pep Guardiola to be doing wonders with our current lot.

Deeps.

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Sorry but I can't see too many positives right now. The team are playing boring old fashioned football.
The manager elected to sack all the backroom and coaching staff who knew this club inside out. So the blame on this one, lies completely with him.
He also chose to sign the biggest donkey of a footballer we caould have bought and paid £27m for him.
He decided not to pay the asking price for Herrera and other targets.
He also decided that Thiago was not required over here!
He comes with a reputation for being a defensive coach, and yet our defence has been shambolic.
He decides to play Kagawa out of position, ignore any of the up and coming mifileders in our U21 team in favour of playing Giggs and Jones in that area.
Instead, we have teams like City, Chelsea and Arsenal playing modern football with modern tactics while we carry on playing with two wingers. And non of the wingers we've got are good enough in any case.
So what positives are we drawing out of this?

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I agree Deeps totally.

Nomidfield, getting rid of the back room was drastic yes, but Moyes wants to build a team his way and if in his eyes he needed the people he truly trusts, then that is what he had to do. He has brought Scholes, Giggs and Neville into the coaching team and Butt is also there, so long term I think it will be justified. I think Woodward was the main reason we only got Fellaini and paid over the odds for him and Thiago was never coming as many have already said. He was waiting for Pep and Bayern to make their move as that was what he wanted. He is also going for experience during the difficult settling in period and can you blame him really? If he put more kids in and we were losing more games can you imagine the sh*t you would give him then! The wingers aren't his fault, SAF signed Young and kept Nani for years. He will sort the first team out but a few weeks over summer was never really going to see a huge overhaul, he has a 6 year contract for a reason like it or not. The positives are that we have played badly and yet are just 1 point off the team I believe will win the league, we should qualify for the next round of the CL and he has shown his faith in Januzaj by playing him in the first team and got him on a new contract. We have also had injuries to Rafael, Vidic, Carrick and RVP who are all first teamers during this difficult period. If you look at it from outside of the doom and gloom, it's not all that bad really. Yes it could be better, but did you expect it to be an easy transition? Really?

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27 Nov 2013 10:31:38
Very happy 40th birthday to Ryan Giggs on Friday but the mark of a top sportsman is knowing when to hang up the boots/gloves etc and going with dignity.

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