Manchester United Banter Archive March 02 2015

02 Mar 2015 18:52:00
As things stand there is no way Falcao is signed at the end of the season. In fact, if the price that is being quoted was halved as well as his wages I still think there would be no chance. But there is still hope for him. We have some big games coming up and he needs to make an impact. The way we are playing at the moment isn't helping his game. I don't want to see Falcao coming deep to receive the ball with back to goal. It has to be said though he has been shocking in that department. His touch has been found wanting far too often when it's been fired in to him in those areas.Early on in the season I thought he was showing great strength but he has been bullied the last few months. With RvP out and Lvg finally coming around to the idea of wingers he might just turn things around.

02 Mar 2015 20:15:03
I think his future will be sorted soon. My only worry is that we don't sign him and he ends up having a blinder for another club.
Some of his touches prior to the excellent bit of skill he produced that led to the penalty were top class. If he can show that quality for the rest of the season, then we might end up signing him.

02 Mar 2015 20:48:00
He was so good in the Newcastle game I thought he would fire our season up after that game. sadly i was wrong

03 Mar 2015 00:11:06
Alan shearer analysis on motd was excellent. Falcao needs to make forward runs while at present, he's receiving the ball with his back to the target.

03 Mar 2015 04:47:10
Falcao will have a fantastic year next year where ever he plays. The knee injury he had usually takes about 12 months from the time of playing again to really solidify and have a that stability that you would want. The good news is he seems to have no lingering effects from it like so many do and no new injuries.

03 Mar 2015 09:00:01
no midfield do you think falcao is playing that way due to our tactics? our midfielders rarely make any penetrating balls and often just want to keep possession. if you never receive them balls do you eventually stop making the runs.

03 Mar 2015 09:24:19
Nomid/fuller
I saw shearer on motd and i think he was bang on the money.
i also do wonder if he is playing that way due to our tactics.
at the start of the season i thought his movement looked good but he wasnt getting the ball .
im a big fan of falcao but his game isn't about coming short he is at his best on the shoulder in and around his box

03 Mar 2015 10:26:04
Falcao's problem this year has been his inability to do what he has built a career on and that is coming alive in the box a few seconds before anyone else on the park. It was awesome to see that little piece of magic last weekend but it has been a one off as far as this season is concerned.

I like him but I don't think he has found his feet at OT and I fear he never will. I think the European game and La Liga are more suited to the lad and I feel he will go back to Spain and bang in the goals we all wished he scored this season.

03 Mar 2015 11:42:07
If the plan is for us to play more expansive quick football next season then we should keep Falcao. Any striker would struggle in our current set-up, especially one that is a fox in the box or thrives on having chances made for them.

Why do you think Hernandez was let go?

04 Mar 2015 08:03:28
I agree jred. Shearer was spit on. Its not just up to the midfield playing the killer ball, the attacker has to make the initial move in the direction of goal and then the midfielder can make the pass. At the moment, falcao is coming towards the midfielder with his back to goal and that's making it easy to defend against him.

02 Mar 2015 17:35:47
Hello ED01/02 I was wondering if u could possibly clear up something for me, I have searched but not really found much.

What was the situation when it seemed we had signed Adam Ljajic along with Tosic? It was widely reported that the deal was done then the next thing it fell through.

{Ed002's Note - No work permits was the issue.}

02 Mar 2015 19:54:56
Thanks ed, was there any fall out at all from the deal because I'm sure I read somewhere there was.

{Ed002's Note - Ljalic was particularly miffed.}

02 Mar 2015 16:55:41
Just wanted to make a post about the injection of pace upfront.

I think we are dead certain to buy AT LEAST one new winger in the summer. A second could depend on the future of Nani. Januzaj, Young, Di Maria + 1 would be nicely balanced options.

My question is though are we better to bring in raw potential that let's be honest, is playing incredibly well in Depay or the tried and tested (but reached their peak) player like Pedro or Lavezzi?

02 Mar 2015 17:02:20
Gotta be Depay for me his stats this season are phenomenal and he's already shown he can perform on a big stage at the wc. Players who can do that at a young age are special and i think we should be pulling out all the stops to get the deal tied up before summer.

02 Mar 2015 18:30:53
I rate Depay, but don't get carried away with stats. There has been plenty an average talent over the years that have impressed in the Dutch League.I think this kid is the real deal however. It's just a question of is he ready to come, not only to the EPL, but to one of the big clubs. LvG will have a good idea from their time together at the world Cup.

02 Mar 2015 19:19:36
What i think we need desperately is a striker who can creatw chances for himself. Someone who had the ability to dribble past players and create something out nothing. We have class strikers but lts face it, the service we give is poor and we cqn see that from a lack of goals. A player similar in the suarez/aguero mould but i honestly have noone in mind.

02 Mar 2015 19:28:44
I prefer DePay. Pedro and Lavezzi are good, but nothing special.

02 Mar 2015 20:28:10
People throw the dutch league line about too casually. I heard it for ruud and we all know what happened there. In fact I can't remember a player who has been victim to that line that has been a flop. I can't even think of a player off the top of my head who justifies that line??? Where and why did it originate

02 Mar 2015 20:45:11
Dybala TRUMOURS have a look at him

02 Mar 2015 21:08:08
I am swaying towards Depay as I love putting faith in hungry young players, we reaped the reward with Ronaldo and if Depay turns out half as good we are on to a winner. He also knows LVG and played well under him at the WC (this may mean nothing though when you look at how RVP has played under his best mate LVG).

I would be more tempted by potential that proven though, Lavezzi and Pedro will either stay at the same level or get worse. Depay will only get better and better and at the price of around £15 million he could be the signing of the summer giving us additional funds to spend on a top class, all round striker.

03 Mar 2015 06:38:53
I believe we will make a pitch for Bale in the summer.:)

03 Mar 2015 09:34:31
Always liked Javier Pastore, versetile AMF as he can play on either wing effectively.

03 Mar 2015 10:33:38
Agree GCU. Maybe not the gaffers choice but I feel the hierarchy want Bale bad.

04 Mar 2015 11:19:07
He is the total solution to our right side which at the moment struggles when Januzaj performs poorly. Valencia is a poor winger offensively evident by his lack of assists or goals.

02 Mar 2015 14:08:21
I am going to have a bet today that Man Utd go unbeaten for the rest of the season. I should get good odds. :)

With regards to peoples - myself included - belief that we might struggle to overcome Liverpool and Arsenal for the CL places, I must admit to being a little bit more optimistic about our chances; and heres why. Firstly, the system we used against Sunderland suited the players. We looked far more balanced. Secondly, a number of players are starting to look like they are finding good form. Valencia, for example, has really grown into his new role. Smalling has shown excellent progress this season IMO, and is looking like a top CB. Herrera and Blind are looking like a very good CM partnership. But most importantly, I believe Falcao and Rooney will form a very effective forward duo. There were signs against Sunderland that Falcao is starting to find his feet; and I can see him - if he is given the game time - scoring goals and having a big impact on the rest of the season.

Liverpool looked good yesterday, but they were helped by a Poor city team who look tactically inept. They will come unstuck. Of that I have no doubt. They are not as good as some suggest IMO; and I certainly believe that we can go there and get something.

Positive mental attitude. If we all believe, it will happen. :)

02 Mar 2015 15:01:42
Good luck to you! Would be incredible if we pull it off, hope you get better luck than I have with bets recently!

02 Mar 2015 15:13:21
Sorry but I disagree completely. 1- I don't think you will finish top 4 Chelsea, City, Liverpool, Arsenal will. 2- Not as good as some suggest, We are every bit as good, 17 games unbeaten says it all really. 4- With our recent form the most you'll get from us is a respectable defeat. 5- We beat a tactically inept Man City, Doesn't being tactically inept apply to LVG also.

Unstuck is what you will go through in pursuit of top 4, No disrespect intended in any of this post but LVG isn't good enough.

02 Mar 2015 15:33:57
On paper only City & Chelsea are better than us. Despite that in practice we perform like a 6th/7th place team most games (or worse). We should get top 4, but we have made the job far harder than it ought to have been.

I honestly wouldn't put money on anything related to Utd this season because we don't know what we are going to get from one game to the next, its just wishful thinking that we will make top 4 now, I hope we pull it off but do we really want to be witnessing more of the same brand of football next season?

02 Mar 2015 15:47:20
With all due respect "ceasar", yes lvg may be tactically inept but I'm sure you said something similar about Brendan Rodgers too not long ago, and although you are on a bit of a run at the moment you have to admit that we have the better players on paper. Remember how you faired at the end of last season? You might bottle it again.

02 Mar 2015 15:48:52
Its not ideal Beast but I don't think anybody at the club including LVG would pretend it is. I also think next season will be completely different football once our back line has been reinforced IMPO

02 Mar 2015 15:59:04
Beast, I honestly believe that things are only going to get better. I think the Sunderland performance was a good step in the sides progression. The game against Newcastle is massive in terms of team confidence and momentum. If we can win that, which I expect us too, I think we can go on another run.

Against the Liverpool's, Arsenals and Spurs of this world, I think we will be effective because those teams don't set up defensively. We have seen in previous games against those clubs that we are more than capable of getting results; and I don't see why it should be any different this time around, regardless of improved form from said clubs.

People have said that LVG isn't a good man manager, but I have to disagree. Young, Valencia, Smalling and Felliani have show big improvements this season, and that is partly down to good man management. And the way he handled Januzaj at the weekend was excellent and led to Januzaj producing such an effective performance.

The manager isn't everyonse cup of team, but I think he will deliever us a title before he leaves. For we are, IMO, three top players short of being a top side.

02 Mar 2015 16:13:51
How dare you be optimistic. There is no place on this site for people with optimism.

02 Mar 2015 16:54:03
I'm offering no advice on bets, I'm leaking money from everywhere.

02 Mar 2015 17:10:28
I think we'll revert to wing backs against Liverpool. If we play with 2 centre backs and simultaneously aggressive backs, we will get creamed. Falcao can play up top with Rooney in behind him. Young and Valencia are hard working and experienced, and the former is quite capable of doing what both Henderson and Coutinho did against City - cutting in and curling a good shot towards the far post.

02 Mar 2015 18:21:51
I hope you are right Sam.

I think LVG is an ideal man manager for a certain type of person, the players who are doing well are all similar. I would rather ADM, Falcao, RVP playing great than Young, Fellaini & Valencia playing great.

Lets hope we play as well as we did against Newcastle first time out, get some momentum before the problem games.

02 Mar 2015 19:26:17
Sam

You swing about from result to result mate. Beating Sunderland at home is zero indication of how our form is coming good. Let's see how we manage newcastle next.

Our away from is terrible mate. we need a minimum of 72 points I reckon to finish top 4. That is 22 from 33. With games at Liverpool away, Chelsea away and city at home those are a possible 9 points gone.

That leaves us needing 7 wins and a draw from the rest and that might still not be good enough. I reckon 74 to be sure but that means winning 8 out of 11. So good luck on your bet, i can't see us getting anything from those games unless city do a Mancini and once they realise the league is gone, lay down at OT.

We also have arsenal at home and Everton Away and have never done well at godson and martinez is under pressure for getting some results.

02 Mar 2015 20:08:03
GCU, I don't "swing about" from game to game. I have never once said the manager should be sacked or gone into total meltdown. I was upset after the Swansea game because of the way we lost and suggested that the manager and the players needed to get their act together, which in the last game they did IMO; and for me that represented a step in the right direction. Plus I just feel more positive about things and think that too much negativity breeds a negative reality.

03 Mar 2015 09:39:08
Reminds me of the frog that said he will reach the top of a tree. All other frogs shouted it was impossible but he still did it. how? He was deaf and he actually thought the others were encouraging and cheering him on!
"BE DEAF TO NEGATIVE THOUGHTS IF YOUR AIM IS TO REACH YOU GOAL!"

03 Mar 2015 10:04:06
mbd, did you use to work in The Office, by any chance? Or have you been attending the Brendan Rodgers School of Man-management? :)

03 Mar 2015 10:55:41
Hehehehehe maybe BR attended my school of man-management. ;)

04 Mar 2015 11:20:01
Or blind to a simple math :)

02 Mar 2015 13:21:48
MB and Juan and all the other doubters. Yes we have got a tough fixture list coming up, but please, let's take one game at a time and try to get as many points as we can and see where that gets us.
Newcastle away is by no means an impossible game to win, so let's go there, play well and support our team. Then we can think of the next game. Its not much point at looking at the whole fixture list and writing us off. Anything can happen, injuries, loss of form etc.
If we make top4 and have a good run in the cup, then that will be considered a good season. Your reference to the money spent is valid, but please don't forget that for the first 4 months of season, we had over 50 injuries. We have a lot of new players who need to settle down in a new country, a new team, new language, new culture. These things don't happen overnight. Some players settle quickly while others take longer. So the only thing we can do is get behind them and make sure they're giving 100%, if they don't step up to the plate, then they will be gone anyway, but please let's give them and the manager the time they need.

02 Mar 2015 13:39:53
I missed this type of post last year

02 Mar 2015 13:42:46
We all laugh at other teams fans and say they're delusional when they talk up their teams, but that's exactly what they do they talk UP their teams. All i've seen on here and around social media from the majority is any reason to talk ours DOWN. Just goes to show how spoilt we have been because after last season I'm just glad to be in the race. Some of the things i've seen going as low as "LVG sitting down too much" now today referencing our wage bill!! its pathetic. If we won every game left now and finished 2nd people would still bemoan how it was done. The problem is people always think they know best and never take into consideration all of the facts. If we do make CL which I think we will just take a second to explore the idea that maybe the way we have played this season is the reason we have managed to do it. Take the positives as positives don't win then slate how it was done because its not guaranteed doing it any other way would have worked. be supporters not critics

02 Mar 2015 13:45:20
Jred

Perhaps there is a difference in standing of the manager since last season

02 Mar 2015 13:45:40
Very reasonable post and hear hear.

Watching Liverpool City yesterday we have to acknowledge that we are comparatively deficient in pace, creativity, and confidence, and unfortunately our tactics have to be geared to that reality. We have spent a lot of money, but once you take ADM out of the equation and balance out the sales, it was not a ridiculous amount. Blind, Shaw, Rojo and maybe even Herrera were all reasonable purchases with potential long term futures at the club.

We will see how we do in the upcoming fixtures. It is easy to fear the worst, but I'm hoping the team will surprise us. If we over commit to attack against Liverpool and the like, we will lose. We will have to play tight defence, with a solid commitment to midfield control, and maybe with Rooney and Falcao up top we can engineer a few goals and wins where we don't expect them.

With respect to the manager, I think both he and his predecessor started with a squad and structure that is short on a number of vital characteristics required for the modern game. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. It's going to take time to rebuild.

02 Mar 2015 13:51:01
Spot on shawthing this is the mentality we should all be adopting as supporters of the club

02 Mar 2015 13:59:58
Redman
So back the manager if redman rates him .

02 Mar 2015 14:12:49
I think Liverpool and Arsenal are being talked up a little bit too much. If memory serves, we have dispatched both sides this season; and I see no reason why we can't repeat that when we play them again.

02 Mar 2015 14:17:12
Nomid,

Spot on mate, the posts on here saying how bad we are and how we will never make top 4 are a little bit silly. After all, we are in the top 4 at the moment and did fine against the top teams earlier in the season. I can't wait for the big games, they are what the season is all about, what make buying my season ticket worthwhile, as a fan I will never ever go in to them games thinking we will lose, especially with the players we have in our team. In this really tough run of fixtures we have, a few of them are at home, our home form has been pretty impressive and we have to be hoping to win them games. Instead of assuming we are going to lose these games let's back the team to win them and stop bloody moaning.

02 Mar 2015 14:38:04
Is there any post on the site saying we def won't get top 4?

02 Mar 2015 14:53:12
Jred

You need to get away from poor hard done to Moyes. There is a difference in standing and gravitas between last years manager who hadn't earned respect at the very top level and LvG who has. I think a lot will depend on the strategic plan LvG has almost certainly put forward to the board based on his top level experience, not one battling against the odds of the big boys. If the board like it it may not matter about top four but only the board will know. I support the club not the manager but recognise the difference between individual managers and form an opinion from there

02 Mar 2015 15:23:08
Redman
Its your attitude of slagging the last manager off from day 1 and then trying to preach "back the manager" just because you rate this one .

Ive said it many times all managers need time, i'm far from convinced moyes or lvg are the right man or best choice for the job but time will tell

02 Mar 2015 15:34:48
Its not about whos right or wrong none of us going go get a medal from the queen for getting our opinions right.

We need togherness at the moment and back our players otherwie we are only putting more pressure on our players/manager which is only going to have an negative impact.

What happened to the confidence we as fans had in our team?, Imo we will do well for the last part of the season becuase we have to to reach our objectives for the season, which is to get back into champions league.

02 Mar 2015 15:39:37
Jred

On nearly every positive post with LvG mentioned you pop up and say why didn't we do that last year for the last manager. The reason is pretty clear why and also why I think this one is different, LvG is not who I want but better than the last choice. Time doesn't necessarily bring success but expertise and relevant experience are more likely to.

02 Mar 2015 15:48:25
Redman
Ive discussed lvg to death, i gave my views at the start of the season on him and nothing has changed.
But regardless of who the manager is i think the "back the manager" call from someone like yourself is a bit rich pal.

02 Mar 2015 16:09:12
Jred, I wouldn't worry. While you struggle to contain your gag reflex at the hypocrisy of some shown on here, and the tired attempts to defend the volte-face, be assured, that after another bad defeat, Nomidfield will be back to his usual doom and gloom. He's up and down like a hure's knickers.

I still remember vividly his post last season, hoping the Scousers would beat us, just to hasten Moyes' demise. Take with a pinch of salt, mate.

02 Mar 2015 16:32:15
Good post, where does pessimism and negativity get you? The term 'supporter' is lost on many. Believe!

02 Mar 2015 19:38:34
Jred

I have said we will not finish top 4 and still believe that. The romantic optimist after beating a poor sunderland team at home, believe that we have suddenly clicked.

As far as I am concerned nothing has changed. We beat poor teams who are all in the relegation zone and struggling at home with a lot of labor and then go away and drop points. That has been our form for the last 2 or 3 months.

This manager has not been able to win enough games away and against any decent opposition away we are the ones generally having to huff and puff to get a point. Finally, No point in discussing anything with certain posters here as they have very little objectivity if you know what i mean:)

Nomid

I hope you are right and we somehow get there. Needless to say everyone is behind the team

03 Mar 2015 06:28:23
GCU.Jred, StevieK (Noucamp)

Blind allegiance and support to a Manager, a transient employee of the club should not be a given. Just because SAF said support your new manager it seems to have triggered an emotional side to people, who then after 26 years of SAF think it is a badge to collect to say give the manager, all managers this magical thing called time. SAF got time from us because his excellent CV from Aberdeen said he knew how to win, we watched his Aberdeen beat the old firm and win in Europe so we gave him trust, his CV merited it. His replacement arrived with a CV long discussed on here but he had won nothing, lacking the criteria set out and the level of gravitas to earn our respect and that of the players. LvG does have a CV that says he can re structure clubs from basics, he has won domestically and in Europe so like SAF but probably not to the same level he has a CV that earns a level of trust far more than the previous incumbent.

GDS said it and I say it, you guys can't get over that you were wrong on Moyes. All managers need time is a glib high horse attitude, all managers with the necessary experience need time and need to outline a satisfactory vision. There is a reason why there are different levels of trust and I coukd talk to you about Docherty, Sexton and Atkinson as well because they all had the same thing. Move on from last year, that shocking year caused us too many problems.

03 Mar 2015 08:02:47
Gcu
i had us down as getting 4th at the start of the season, its going to be tight .
i think we have the players to do it but That is the heart talking.
if we don't improve our football, like arsenal and liverpool have we may miss out.
on current form i would take arsenal and the scouse to pick up more points than us.
southampton don't have a bad run in if they can remember how to score and are still playing some nice stuff.
i can't make my mind up about spurs.

i think united may need one of our stars to pick it up and drag us over the line, maybe rooney to score a few, he tends to score in batches or maybe di maria or falcao to provide that spark.

03 Mar 2015 08:52:17
Redman
No not at all, calling for one manager to be sacked "from day one" just because you didn't rate him, blaming him for every single thing that happened at the club again due to the fact you didn't rate him and then shouting for every one to back lvg just because you do rate him is out of order.
Add to the fact that on more than one occasion you have defended lvg for the same thing you berated moyes for is the height of hypocrisy imo.

back lvg due to his cv ? problem is as i have gone over in the past i'm not that impressed with his cv, he was imo a top manager 20 years ago .
since then very hit and miss .
Just to point out this isn't about moyes v lvg i don't think either has done a good job or are the right man for the job.
Its the sheer BS of some fans trying to preach back the manager .


"Back the manager as long as redman rates him "

03 Mar 2015 09:37:48
Red Man, I'm touched by your renewed enthusiasm for supporting the club, I really am. It's lovely to see you so excited again about our prospects, and even deigning to go back to OT this season after your self-imposed exile last season. I'm genuinely happy for you.

But along with this new evangelism, enough already please, with the Mel Gibson-like rallying cries, and lectures on how to support a manager.

I may have disagreed with Danny last season, but at least he has been consistent in his position.

Moyes last season, was no more my first choice than LVG was for you this season. It was a big job for him, and I thought he deserved every chance to help him succeed, just like any new manager would. He wasn't backed properly, he struggled and now he's gone. No one will ever know if he would have turned things around. Not even you. My ego really isn't that insecure, that I have to try and stick up for someone, just to try and win an argument on a banter site. I don't lie awake at night thinking, 'oh no, Red Man was right about Moyes, and I wasn't'. Please. I thought we were grown-ups.

You went on and on last season about there being, 'no plan'. Can you enlighten me as to what the plan is this year that makes you think LVG is deserving of your support? I just see a lot of muddled decision-making to be honest. And from a man who is always so sure about his own ability.

03 Mar 2015 12:01:58
The board also thought he couldn't turn it around after last season. Oh I am consistent because I judge the two mangers in the same way, one didn't have the experience and one has relevant experience, two different starting points as well. I must point out yet again I am not an advocate of LvG but merely point out why, in my opinion he deserves more time.
A plan, a decent question.
At senior management level I would have expected both Moyes and LvG to have submitted a strategic plan to the board, they should have evaluated that and I would imagine it would form part of any decision to retain a manager. The only point I would make here is that I recall Guilem Ballague saying LvG actually took the Barca way of playing which had often been spoken about and wrote it out in detail

It is up to the board to decide on the quality of a plan but they tend not to be just short term

03 Mar 2015 12:42:01
So plan-wise, we're really none the wiser. And yet it was such a core part of your argument last season - Moyes doesn't have a plan. It was re-iterated time and time again. Nevermind that he would have had to have shown a plan to the board. You didn't see one, so there mustn't have been one. Yet this year, it doesn't seem so important to you. Ah sure, Balague mentioned something about Barcelona - that'll do for me.

I really don't mind that you are getting behind the team and manager this year, as opposed to the active opposition last year, when you announced that you were not attending any games because the manager didn't meet with your approval. A slap in the face I thought, to those who would love to be in the position to go and watch Utd regularly, but nevertheless I think it's great to see fans giving the manager a chance at the start of their tenure.

I do so mind the regular call to arms though. The denunciation of anyone who dares to question LVG, and most amusingly, the exhortations to all of us to stop being so negative. And if you still fail to see the irony in that, then I'll assume it's deliberate.

03 Mar 2015 13:27:52
I think as long as we give the manager a bit of time and get behind the team, then we will come good in the long run. let's see what happens in the next few games, some games that look straightforward for other teams might not turn out that way. Injuries, loss of form can play its part. Also some teams that are struggling for survival could be the most difficult to beat.
StevieK, it is a shame that you decide to find a negative in everything I say. When I right a negative post, you mock, when I write a positive post, you deride. Shame, I think you have a problem mate! In any case you are entitled to your views but suffice to say, that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.
I agree with RedMan in that Moyes should never have been appointed, and we will all be calling for his head if he had stayed. I think GDS, Shawthing, Sam and rozmcr try to stay positive all the time and there's nothing wrong with that.
The main thing is to stay positive, take one game at a time and I'm sure there are going to be lots of twists and turns before the end of the season.

03 Mar 2015 14:28:32
NoMidfield, you're not above a little bit of riling too - GCU and his Liverpool prediction? You seemed to like rubbing his nose in that. I've seen other attempts to try and put posters down, too, so enough of the mock outrage, please.

I disagree with a lot of your stuff, because it does change from from one week to the next. There is no consistency whatsoever. One week you're saying LVG is a great appointment, a couple of defeats later, and you're starting to rally the lynch-mob, saying he needs to get his finger out, and then a couple of wins later, you're calling on us all to get behind the manager! Which is it this week?

But what really sticks in my throat, (apart from hoping the Scousers would beat us), is having to listen to hypocritical lectures from you and Red Man on 'staying positive', or 'getting behind the team'. I always have, mate. Not just when it suits me.

03 Mar 2015 14:33:50
Sorry, I forgot - "the main thing is to stay positive". I really wonder if you see the irony in that sentence, coming from someone who couldn't wait til half-time in matches to start a rant. Remember how we used to think you were a troll when you first started, like our new friend Jamie?

Not much positivity there at all.

03 Mar 2015 18:28:26
Noucamp, StevieK

In terms of Moyes plan, well it would be easier to conclude he didn't have one or it was a very poor one given item one seemed to have been replace experienced Champion winning back room team with Everton's and install underdog mentality.

You dismissed LvG having a plan at Barca, have a read of what Ballague said.
"If you want to understand what's happened with Barcelona in the last decade or so, you have to go back to the job he (LvG) put in there. If you want to understand what Bayern Munich are now, you have to understand what he did at Bayern Munich.
"He is a fantastic manager with a big idea of how the club should be run.
"He comes to Barcelona after Johann Cruyff - Bobby Robson was there for a year - but then he takes over and says, 'Okay, what did Johann Cruyff say?' Well, he said all these things and left nothing written. He put the whole structure of the club in place, started working on the positional game, he put the likes of Xavi and Puyol in the team and certainly was a guy whose dream was to have 11 players from the lower ranks of Barcelona to win the European Cup.

Now you are also getting irrational, "hypocritical lectures on getting behind the team", I didn't think that was in question, we all support the club, the team, but judging the aptitude of a manager is different.

03 Mar 2015 20:25:37
Ballague, really, we are judging lvg on what he said ?.
Or what lvg done nearly 20 years ago at Barcelona.
Dear me redman you should have a good read about barcelona and see who was really behind there success.
A process that started at the club before lvg and was successful after he left ( when they where 3 points above relegation ).
He was at munich for less than 2 years left them in 4th . Read what hoeness the main man at munich had to say about lvg.
This is just a taste
.

"Football should be enjoyable, but there has been nothing enjoyable about football at FC Bayern for a while now.

"And to say that he had the players behind him was a myth."

"Problems were created which were totally unnecessary and which have ripped the club to pieces.

"Louis Van Gaal should consider what he has done."

there where fan protest at the style of play.
lvg left, munich won the treble the following year the league by about 20 points .

but if ballague said he done a great job

03 Mar 2015 21:26:23
Is boycotting OT because of your dislike of the manager, 'getting behind the team'? You withdrew your vocal support for the team, when they needed as much as possible. That seems quite irrational to me.

Anyway, carry on. Just go easy on the sermons, please. Especially when I've just eaten.

02 Mar 2015 10:55:32
Whether united get top 4 or not, it doesn't matter in terms of the players they will look to recruit. You may not enjoy playing in the Cl next season but vidal and hummels if sought will still likely sign with united this summer. It's not the be all end all.It would likely force a LVG sacking who has shown to be a shocking manager this season. If united get top 4 and LVG remains united have bigger problems

02 Mar 2015 11:33:43
I disagree Big Al. I think it will most definitely affect who we recruit in the summer.

02 Mar 2015 11:40:01
hows lvg been a shocking manager if he is on course to achieve what was set at the start of the season?


and yeah just keep sacking managers, get a bad reputation for sacking managers after 1 season then who is going to want to manage us?

02 Mar 2015 11:57:07
SPB if we finish fifth or sixth what do you suppose we do?

02 Mar 2015 13:49:34
We could finish just above the relegation zone this season and could still sign top players.
Money talks and bull walks.

02 Mar 2015 17:47:12
Jmb - what says we're going to finish 5th or 6th?

02 Mar 2015 19:13:06
What says we're not?

02 Mar 2015 08:14:23
Sitting with my own thoughts about people on here talking up ancelotti. the same ancelotti who didn't win the league with 11 superstars and was minutes away from missing out on CL The same ancelotti who couldn't turn chelsea into a dominating force. People are too quick to think the grass is greener elsewhere but if ancelotti couldn't even win the league with about a billion worth of talent what makes you tgink he would be great at utd???

02 Mar 2015 09:47:42
The same ancelotti who won the CL in his first season at madrid and are top of the table now.
2 seasons at chelsea won one title and was second in the league the following year. Also won the fa cup.
Won the league with psg.
Won the league with milan as well as 2 CL.

02 Mar 2015 09:50:44
Won the double with chelsea in his 1st season won the champions league with Madrid and look at the team he built for Milan.

02 Mar 2015 09:51:29
RZO - I think Ancelotti would be a fantastic capture for our club at the moment. He wouldn't be my first choice (I have always been a huge Pep fan) but he has a tremendous CV, he is well respected and he never has an issue with players the way LVG seems to.

He is a winner and plays a very attractive game and is not afraid to put his hands up if he gets something wrong. He would bring style and swagger back to United in my opinion.

02 Mar 2015 11:01:46
Ancelotti is one of the better managers out there. He's a cup specialist if you look at what he has won but he maybe should have won more league titles than he has.

02 Mar 2015 11:23:16
Am I meant to be impressed that he took over an already incredible Real Team and added to it even more and only won the Champs League with one of the easiest groups, a walk in the park knockout with schalke and faced off against a very poor Bayern??? you lot on here would be spewing molten lava!!! Walked into chelsea who was already established and challenging with vasts amounts of money (that you lot bang on about) at his disposal and failed in his 2nd term. this is not impressive

What Simeone did at Atletico was impressive and Klopp (this season aside) was impressive NOT Ancelotti

you're all hypocrites, imagine LVG had Ronaldo, Bale, Modric, Benzema etc etc etc and didn't win everything going u would be tying the nooses yourselves

And I don't see how predicting Ancelotti on bringing "swagger" to UTD is a just assessment based on the players he has at his disposal its not exactly a difficult job he has over there its like playing Champ manager in cheat mode

{Ed001's Note - if it is not difficult how come Jose struggled so badly? Why was there even a vacancy for Ancelotti to walk into, after all if it is so easy you would win with their team right? Oh and a poor Bayern? Ludicrous comment. If you really think Bayern are poor you need help.}

02 Mar 2015 11:36:15
If you think Bayern were not poor in them games I think you need glasses

{Ed001's Note - so are they poor or poor in those games? Were they poor or made to look poor by Madrid?}

02 Mar 2015 12:01:32
Personally I think Bayern have a better spine and balance than Madrid (CR7 aside). Ancelotti outfoxed Pep fantastically in those games. Rzomcr at least give him credit for that.

02 Mar 2015 12:08:55
No they were poor, they had about 70% posession but did nothing with it about 20 shots finishing was shocking and every shot on target for RM was a goal

The point is everybodys cooing over Ancelotti and i'm not bowled over by the argument "he won CL in his first season" when he finished 3rd in the league with a team of Superstars, so should we get Di Matteo in aswel if Ancellotis not available???

{Ed001's Note - so 70% possession is poor now then?}

02 Mar 2015 12:23:31
JMB

im not trying to make it a Bayern vs RM discussion i was merely pointing out they had a very easy CL run with the exception of Bayern who in my opinion should have done better

{Ed001's Note - final wasn't easy....}

02 Mar 2015 12:50:08
again using arguments to defend one and attack another are UTD not avaeraging about 70% posession in games where they are deemd as poor?? If you read the full comment it says they were wasteful with it so yes that is poor. If that had done more with it and finished better they could have won it but because they was poor they didnt

{Ed001's Note - how am I using arguments to defend one and attack another? I asked a question, you are the only one doing any attacking and defending. You are so desperate to prove your point you are attacking anyone who even asks a question now.}

02 Mar 2015 16:11:27
You do love your multiple question marks.

03 Mar 2015 04:53:25
rzomcr

In case you missed it mate. RM lost the league to the team who made it to the CL finals and also have a Barcelona team to deal with. Your posts are amusing i have to say.

02 Mar 2015 05:41:15
Hello Guys,

Losing young players with potential has now become a trend these days. Any young player would have their heads turned when they are followed by some big clubs and it's nothing unusual. But, it is the agents and the media alike who talk them up as the next big thing in football and make the situation even more difficult for the player.

What is disappointing to see from a few younger players these days is their impatience to achieve everything they want at their own pace and especially with their agents eager to earn the next big paycheck it is a foregone conclusion.

The situation regarding Pogba and Periera is rather a case of impatient players who already think they are so talented that they have the eternal right to play in the first team, irrespective of what the manager feels. Also, in both cases one has to remember that both the players just got into the first team squad and were just getting started.

Let's take the Pogba situation:
1. Sir Alex and the entire coaching staff believed and rated him highly enough to get him into the first team.
2. The fans had huge expectations of him and believed he was going to be the next superstar at the club.
3. It was quite blatant to see that our midfield at the time was nowhere good enough and it wasn't long before someone would get a chance.

Unfortunately Pogba didn't believe in one of the greatest managers of all time and nor did he believe in the club and with his agent making all the moves he decided to oblige and jump ship.

For Pogba it has worked out really well but, would he have achieved the same thing at United in such a short space of time? With all due respect to the Italian football, it is nothing like the Premier League which is a lot more demanding, physical, fast and competitive. And it would have certainly taken Pogba more time to reach the levels he is at if he was at United.

With Periera, the situation is a lot more different. The club after going so much transition over the 2 seasons and the need to finish in TOP 4 a priority, it is a lot more difficult for younger players to get their chance. Especially with new players with more experience brought into the midfield positions, it makes it even more harder for the young players.

What these young talented players really need is patience, especially when you are already at a big club. The other thing they would need is proper agents who guide them properly rather than trying to get a quick paycheck. If these young players are talented enough and want to prove themselves and feel that the manager is wrong, they need to get their heads down, work hard in training and show what they can do both in training and on the pitch when given the chance.

02 Mar 2015 09:58:16
LPU - I agree with most of your post but I do think if a young player is ready then he should be introduced to the first team scene quickly. Look at Messi, Rooney, Fabregas, Hazard, Neymar etc they were never going to wait around if they didn't get the opportunity to play.

In terms of Pogba and Parreria I think the difference is that Pogba was a somebody by the time he left OT. Everyone home and abroad knew he was a young lad with plenty of talent who was going to be a star if he put the work in. Parreria on the other hand is a nobody trying to make himself a somebody by trying to mimic Pogba's situation.