Manchester United Banter Archive August 30 2015

30 Aug 2015 23:16:33
No more beating round the bush, if we stick with rooney we will be finishing outside of the top 5. Not being negative its a statistical

30 Aug 2015 23:37:44
*projection

30 Aug 2015 22:29:04
Austin -> Martial -> Bale

Things a looking up Messi could be with us by morning

30 Aug 2015 21:24:54
They say the team replicates the manager on the field. Under SAF we were prickly, relentless, bloody minded and not beaten to the very end. Today I saw us go 2.1 down and couldn't see the fight to get level, in fact I thought we were beaten when the second goal went in. We replicated the manager, retained our structure, do not lose the ball, the almighty holy grail of possession, it was all about function, but what happened to throwing he kitchen sink at teams? We can't up a tempo from what has been set and that is not good enough. LvG needs to understand the demands of the football club, we are not a technical excellence club, we are a passionate bunch that appreciate and desire technical excellence as part of the overall offering. We want evolution in our football but the passion and drive needs to be part of it. If LvG doesn't grasp that then he will come under increasing pressure, after all is LvG connecting with the fans and, despite people like me supporting him so far, I am not sure he is. He needs more time but one key area when undertaking change management is understanding what the directors and in our case the supporters see as the required product, and we are nowhere near that yet. I don't want to be bamboozled with tripe about possession or how Rooney is the answer, when it is clear he isn't.

Shaw, Smalling and Darmian are excluded as they have been excellent, Schweinsteiger who I thought played well, must have wondered why there is such hype around Rooney because Wayne offered nothing for an out ball. Are we, Manchester United, really seriously going to use Fellaini as a target man as LvG said? Reallly?

The club need to significantly support LvG in the transfer market before Tuesday evening or expect the same result as last season. Einstein said the definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different outcome, . Fourth is the best we can hope for unless we are to believe there is madness in the boardroom. Then, if they do support him, there are no further excuses for LvG.

30 Aug 2015 22:07:41
Completely agree with this post. My thoughts exactly. To be fair we have a top squad, i don't think some players are playing to their potential.

These players are professional footballers they should be able to use their initiave be a bit more proactive and find the goal.

30 Aug 2015 22:17:22
I just don't understand how Giggs is able to put up with this game-play of ours.

30 Aug 2015 22:18:39
redman
the club have supported lvg in the transfer market .
This is what you get with lvg he won't change .
he will do it the lvg way not the united way.
im not a big fan of how his teams play which is why i have always been surprised why yourself and others have been such big fans of his.

i think he will get us close this season but it won't be pretty .
people want superstars bought but is that the lvg way ? see di maria ,falcao .

30 Aug 2015 22:46:14
Love how you always have a go at Rooney who else had a poor game today?

30 Aug 2015 22:56:40
The one consolation being, that he'll leave a much stronger squad when he goes. In the right hands, this is a strong squad.

30 Aug 2015 23:05:55
Jred
Have a look at our net spend. I think LvG has got it right so far but with 2 days left there is still so much to do. The lack of passion today worried me.

Darren,
Blind and Romero were wide open and Memphis believes his own hype, wanders around as if he owns the pitch. LvG needs to drop him, make him understand he isn't the emperor and has to work harder.

30 Aug 2015 23:16:34
redman
what has net spend got to do with it ?
lvg has been given 250 mil to spend in 12 month he has sold the players he didn't want .
only 3 out of the starting 11 where not bought by lvg .
he has been given plenty of cash

30 Aug 2015 23:21:58
darren
you make a good point , read down the page and you would think it was all down to one man .
that the rest of the team where playing great.
i would be all for spending even more cash if we could get the best out of the players we have .
or in di maria, falcao rvp case players we had

31 Aug 2015 06:23:31
jred

I think Rooney today was criminal on 2 clear breakaways and his inability to even get a shot off is very poor. He clearly is not a striker in the mold of the Aguero's or Cavani's as he seems to need lots of time to get set and in this league you will not be granted that.

What compounded his terrible day was his silly pass to allow them to score their first goal on top of that. All in All his contribution as a striker in yesterdays game was appalling.

31 Aug 2015 10:24:53
Redman Van Gaal told Memphis to stifle his eagerness. Memphis is still probably wondering what that actually means.

All this is showing how great a manager Sir Alex was for us. If we weren't entertained it wasn't good enough.

A few times in the press conferences though, I thought I could sense frustration from Van Gaal it's wasn't working out behind the scene in terms of transfers. I think he came to the club thinking he could splash the cash and the marquees would roll in. I don't think this is the team he had hoped for . Some good additions but not in anyway complete.

To me there seems a shortage in top quality players available.

30 Aug 2015 20:31:58
If we sign Austin and he proves me wrong for saying he's an average player, I'll come here and publicly apologies to him !

30 Aug 2015 21:20:58
He got 18 goals in the league last year in a very poor side, some brilliant finishes, don't see why everyone's slating him just because he's never been given the chance at a big club.

30 Aug 2015 22:22:26
is Austin any better than Hernandez?

30 Aug 2015 20:05:10
GK please
RW please
ST please

30 Aug 2015 20:13:21
completely agree.

30 Aug 2015 20:13:59
New Philosophy please.

30 Aug 2015 21:04:28
What happened to "CB please" ?

30 Aug 2015 19:55:59
Make of it what you will but my nephew and a few lads I know play championship level football and sometimes bet on things that maybe they shouldn't and I've just been advised to put a tenner on Charlie Austin joining United just thought I would share.

30 Aug 2015 20:13:49
If he signs, woodward should be sacked!

30 Aug 2015 20:26:13
I would find that quite astonishing and damning proof that all is not well at the club and we have had a disastrous transfer strategy and no real plan.

Smells of desperation and not sure what on earth we are doing there lol.

30 Aug 2015 20:40:43
Really nozzla? Why would that be out of interest.

30 Aug 2015 20:51:51
QPR have said from the start of the window at the right price. If he was a first choice target (which I highly doubt) then one has to wonder why we didn't sign him as soon as the window opened to give him time to settle in. If he wasn't our first choice - then we should be asking why we're having to settle for second best. Either way the fault lies with LVG and EW.

30 Aug 2015 21:10:37
Red

I doubt he was number 2 or even number 5 on the list mate.

30 Aug 2015 21:18:18
I'm mystified as to why this would be such a terrible signing ?I agree he would not have been first choice but at the right price I imagine it would be a decent bit of business.
I would have thought the whole Di Maria/Falcao debacle would have shown people an exotic name and excessive price tag guarantees nothing.

30 Aug 2015 21:56:59
GCU. I'm inclined to agree. I don't think he's a bad player; but I don't see him as a champions league player. That said; I don't see us as a champions league club at the moment.

30 Aug 2015 21:32:54
Deano, I don't think it would be a terrible signing by any means, but I agree with redseven - it shows a serious lack of any sort of transfer strategy.

30 Aug 2015 22:12:25
Red

He might turn out to be a handy signing but he is way down the list i would think. There are a number of teams looking for a striker and the fact that he is still there with 48 hours to go is a bit odd.

30 Aug 2015 23:01:04
The fact that he's been linked with Villa and Newcastle for most of the window says a lot about his caliber. He's not a bad finisher - but in a side where very few chances are created we needed something more from a striker.

To be honest there aren't many top strikers about - but there are a hell of a lot who are better than Austin.

30 Aug 2015 19:42:11
I have always felt Lvg was working towards something but he makes very strange decisions which at times are impossible to defend. The subs today left me shocked. Depay and Rooney deserved to be taken of more than mata and herrera. The goalkeeper made a shocking mistake which in all honesty went along way to proving we need a top keeper if ddg leaves.

All summer myself and others have spoken of the need to add a striker,right winger,centre half and keeper.

The net spend is at zero so are the owners holding back the cash? Is the coach to stubborn with the style and pointless possession that lacks penetration? I just don't know what to believe.

I think today may be a blessing in that it may show the club we need additions to this squad to make a challenge. If we fail to bring in top quality before the window closes then it suggests to me the club are settling for top4 or competing for a top 4 finish.

I have been telling my mates we need two players at the least to challenge so I'm not overreacting to the result today.

Lvg strikes me as stubborn and I don't think we will bring in any players unfortunately. Really hoping to be wrong on this.

150 million imo could really transform us but with a few days to go bringing in top players would be very difficut. Why the club have waited this long I don't know.

Personally If I may play manager.

Lloris 20 million
Garay 15 million
Griezzman 50 million
Muller 65 million
or something similar. Drastic yes but If we seriously want to compete with city in rhe league and the barcas and madrids its a must.

Love to hear fellow posters opinions of what we need and who.

{Ed004's Note - I expect there to be a big signing or two in the next few days...}

30 Aug 2015 20:15:41
We needed a new spine, ST, CM, CB and a GK if De Gea left. We've added players (darmian being the best) but we have added no pace to the team which is another major thing that we lacked.

If we sign austin it will be a complete farce.

30 Aug 2015 20:18:29
Ed use your Ed powers and ask Ed002 if he knows anything please

30 Aug 2015 20:24:36
Spot on

30 Aug 2015 20:42:43
ed004

You are the ultimate optimist mate lol. Watching PSG against Monaco and watched a few other games this weekend ( Bayern, Juve, Inter, Real, Barca) all the top players in the teams that people constantly talk about are playing and no signs of any of them going anywhere. I would think if we were in discussions on any major player with 2 days to go, they would be scratched from the line up and on a plane for a medical.

This manager is so stubborn he will not move for anyone as it will cost us a fortune this late in the window and make the whole set up a laughing stock.

{Ed004's Note - Maybe he doesn't play for a top team...}

31 Aug 2015 07:00:59
Ed004

Like who? Everyone we are connected either plays for Bayern, Real, PSG, Athletico. Lacazette is the only player that is not part of those squads and ed002 has said a long time ago he is staying put.

I think we will see a goalie come in if DDG goes as Romero would be madness.

{Ed004's Note - It doesn't matter haha}

30 Aug 2015 19:35:17
Today was th first big test, against a team I expect to push for top 6-8 this season. We came out the block quickly and looked fairly threatening. But once Swansea settled I thought they were the better side for a lot of it, especially the second half. Once again I saw the same things I have the last few games. Blind tries and is a good footballer. He's clever and reads the game well. But when he's up against a powerful, strong, quick striker he struggles physically. This then makes smalling vulnerable as he tries to help and cover. Against the lesser aides I'm sure blind will be fine there, but against benteke next week, gomis, Costa, lukaku etc I'm concerned. On to the midfield and were ok, although I think we lack threat from the right. Mata is a player I really like but can't beat a man. He's a number 10 being played out of position week in week out. Up top I've said many times Rooney had been finished for 18months at this level. We can argue he isn't getting the service etc etc. but in a system where we keep things tight and create little, it's vital the one, two or three chances that come the way of the CF are taken. A world class striker only needs one chance. Remember a certain RVN? Rooney has lost that yard of pace, dithers on the ball, takes too many touches and by the time he hits it, it's too late.

I'm sick of LVG saying we're creating loads of chances. We aren't. We are no where near as threatening a side as we should be.

The whole De Gea situation baffles me. We have got this far in the window that surely we are keeping him, which if this happens fair enough. But if we allow him to leave with 48hours to go I'll be fuming. If he leaves now, then he should of been sold 6 weeks ago. And a sufficient keeper of similar standard bought in. Romero isn't up to it. Today highlighted that. He's also poor with the ball at his feet.

Pedro was a player to significantly improve our attack at a relatively cheap price. Yet we dithered missed out on a good player. Up front we are seriously lacking.

That leaves us needing a GK, CB, RW and CF if we're being honest to compete with the best. After £250m spent I find it baffling we still need to address this much of the first 11

30 Aug 2015 21:06:30
Can't fault that summary.
Rooney at least needs a top quality No.9 who will directly challenging him for his place. Mata needs to play No.10. And in his place we need a top class right winger who can inject some much needed pace into attack m

Start playing people in their right position and don't be afraid to drop those performing below par. It ain't rocket science!

30 Aug 2015 21:18:33
I agree with you about De Gea being sold weeks ago. But according to Guillem Ballbag Madrid haven't even been in touch recently! So how can they sell him.

30 Aug 2015 22:32:32
FZZ

If true then you have to wonder why he is not playing. Tomm is deadline day as the spanish window closes earlier than ours. so if anything is going to happen tomm is it.

30 Aug 2015 19:30:12
With Rooney not performing at his best, I think all we need is a change of play with Depay slotting in as a striker, Rooney/Fellaini just behind him, Mata on the right and Young(best player) on the left.
Depay has shown how good he is with the ball, he can link up play and has shown how quick he is while pulling the trigger.
Rooney would play back in to his favoured, running in the box and getting goals. Young would provide so many assists for us and has unfairly been dropped despite being one of the star performers for us.

30 Aug 2015 19:45:32
With rooney not performing at his best, we need to drop him to the bench. End of.

30 Aug 2015 19:48:43
Rooney hasn't been at his best since 2009 Rohan. He is not good enough to be a number nine at a top club like Manchester United. We need someone like Lewandowski with Rooney fighting it out with Mata for the number 10 spot. He's not crap, he's not poor, he's not average, he's just not good enough for the highest level. Not as a number 9. There's a reason why we bought RvP and brought in Falcao. We still need a world-class striker.

30 Aug 2015 20:28:52
rvp couldn't do it , falcao couldn't do it in the first 4 games rooney hasn't done it .
how many good chances have our players missed this season.
lew scored 17 league goals for a very good attacking munich team , he wouldn't get that many in this team

30 Aug 2015 20:44:08
He could well have been booted out by SAF, remember his last season when SAF said rooney wanted a move. RVP would have made Rooney cry.

Or if SAF just signed Lewandowski than RVP

30 Aug 2015 19:16:31
Some valid points made also a lot of horse shit, 'today's match emphasises the importance of a decent no 1. We would have won that last year one nil, so many +'s for me darmiam, shaw (outstanding), scheinsteiger, Herrera and I have to admit smalling has shut me me up big time he's been immense. So we have improved in so many ways yet lose to Swansea again. Looking back at last season Ashley Young was arguably are best player/biggest threat therefore I would have said that would be the last place we look to buy (all for competition but others area were needed) we buy depay as soon as the season over (don't know if this is his favoured position or not). No one city, Liverpool anyone could deal with our left side he kept di Maria out for ffs so why we went down that road well have to wait n see. Don't think we are far away from being a top team GK, RW and a pacey CF then I think we could challenge thoughts please ????

30 Aug 2015 19:30:38
my thoughts are . Money aside, although we are awash with it and less than 48 hours away from transfer deadline where is the GK the RW and the pacey CF?

30 Aug 2015 19:15:52
It feels awful.the game showed up all our concerns about Gk, CD, no attacking flare, paceon tthe right. I am going to look.another way.
Other than Man City we are there or there abouts. everyone seems to have had an up and down start.
Also. thisvresult and performance cod be the kick up the back side for the next couple of days.
What may have been 1 addition may now be 2/3 if they can get them done.
Thanks. the optimist!!

30 Aug 2015 18:54:54
10 mins to go, we are losing 2-1 and not looking like scoring, then I read the site and a poster rightly said "I will settle for a draw" to which the reply came from GDS "Why would you settle for a draw?"
Jesus help us!! We're playing crap football, not looking anywhere near an attacking threat and GDS still has the false optimism which is based on nothing whatsoever.
Even GDS must surely know that this team in attack is absolute rubbish. LVG can philosophise as much as he wants, but the fact of the matter he's had a long time to mould an attacking formation and frankly speaking, it is not working.
Reason? Wayne Rooney. He is unfit, disinterested, too comfortable, lacking pace, lacking ideas, unprofessional. Why would we still play this idiot in the team and pay him £300k a week when it is obvious he lacks the professionalism to keep his body in trim and act as captain as one of the biggest teams in the world.
And to cap it all, LVG tells us that he consults him on team selection. Its official, WE HAVE NO HOPE!!!!

30 Aug 2015 19:18:20
I don't see how you can pin the blame on Rooney. I agree that he's not a viable option at number 9 anymore as a result of being played out of position for so long; but ultimately we're just not creating chances.

We look incredibly ordinary as a team and have done now since before SAF left. The side is screaming out for some creativity but unfortunately LVG either doesn't see it or is to stubborn to accept that his 'philosophy' just doesn't work in England.

In many ways the loss may prove to be a blessing in disguise as it may force his hand in terms of signings; but I have to worry that the board won't trust him with any major acquisitions after the Di Maria and Falcao fiascoes.

He just doesn't seem capable of managing top players any more and I don't see us bringing in any more or playing the style of football that most fans are hoping for until he is gone.

30 Aug 2015 19:28:26
NM, you're more fickle than the British weather, mate.

LVG was our saviour when he arrived, and Rooney was our only world-class player.

Now, one's clueless and the other's an idiot.

30 Aug 2015 19:27:46
Starting to agree again with Rooney. I wanted him to play up top, as there is no where else for him to play, but he just isn't with it. Maybe he is too comfortable, maybe somehow not fit, or maybe he is just declining very fast, which I have said for the past few years,and people have shot me down for.

Yes he is closing in on scoring records, but if he was starting his career now, playing as he is, he would get no where near those goal records, so are people ok playing him because of the memories of past performances, which we are seeing more and more now? Playing like that, he has no place in our first team squad.

He isn't the only under performer, before people explode with rage, but he is our goal scorer and he isn't Looking capable of scoring, going off the start of this season and pre season. He got 3 tap ins against a hugely weakened side in the week, because of all of Brugges injuries and a suspension. Getting worried about the goals now tbh, we need a striker before Tuesday, I'd happily wait until January/summer 2016 for a CB etc if we could get a Muller or Lewandowski.

30 Aug 2015 19:50:52
Wayne Rooney has never been what I consider world class. To be world class you have to be in the top 2/3 in your position in the world. And Rooney has never been that

30 Aug 2015 20:23:10
He isn't in the top 20-30 strikers in the world.

30 Aug 2015 21:57:59
Thanks StevieK, even our wonderful weather is more predictable than our team and manager.

30 Aug 2015 21:37:14
Stand - I was paraphrasing NM's previous views on LVG and Wayne. They're not my views by any stretch of the imagination.

30 Aug 2015 18:39:16
So is it down to the players or is it the style of football we play?
We will never win silverware playing this way.

30 Aug 2015 19:21:41
I blame Rooney for the loss the most, he should have hit it first time, why the hell is he so nervous about using his left foot, he would atleast have gotten a single goal if he used his left foot.
I really hope we bring in ibrahimovic and he shows rooney how to play as a CF.

30 Aug 2015 19:55:40
The weaknesses are there to see in the team. GK, CB, RF and striker.

30 Aug 2015 18:30:40
Transfer deadline in 2 days.No right sided player, no centreback, no striker, no goalkeeper. What have Van Gaal and Woodward been doing this last 2 months?
So Plan B for the next 9 months is lumping a ball up to Fellaini, this is Manchester United not Stoke 3 years ago.
The De Gea and Valdes situation has been laughable, is Romero really the answer with Johnstone as number 2? I can't believe the arrogance of this manager.
Is it because we can't get the marquee signings he craves? So do your job and bring in some players that are better than the ones we have then manage and coach them into marquee players.
Im more p***ed off than at any other time since fergie left

30 Aug 2015 18:57:11
Agree Red Staffie.

It kind of made me sick when it showed Ayew & Gomis were signed on free's.

30 Aug 2015 18:57:11
I have posted same. Let's see if this gets through by eds

{Ed004's Note - Check the other page or it might not have been posted because it's exactly what 90% of posts coming in are saying}

30 Aug 2015 19:01:15
Haha here we go, more pissed off than when we lost 3-0 at home to city and Liverpool?

30 Aug 2015 19:02:59
Van Gaal isn't the issue transfer wise. He wanted Otamendi and Pedro but those in charge of the purse strings decided they weren't prepared to pay the fees demanded by the selling clubs. The manager can't do anything aside from identify players he wants to buy. It's on the money men to bring them in.

Thankfully we have a host of supporters who think we'll do just fine this year with the current squad, so nothing to worry about if we don't do any business over the next two days.

30 Aug 2015 19:07:38
"Im more p***ed off than at any other time since fergie left"
I don’t believe it for a second, i'm pretty sure you can think of another frustrating time after fergie.

30 Aug 2015 19:35:10
Danny,is it the money men who drive wedges between the players and the manager? As for Otamendi i think its been well documented we never went for him.

30 Aug 2015 20:37:02
It's actually well documented that we did enquire about Otamendi, but what we were willing to pay was miles off what Valencia's valuation.

And LVG's rapport with the existing players has very little to do with us not signing new players.

30 Aug 2015 18:24:43
Romero has been tested for the first time and did terribly for both goals.
As soon as fellaini comes on we stop playing football and resort to punting long ball after long ball - really frustrating to watch.
We are still lacking creative edge and a really threatening centre forward that gets in between / behind the defence. Mata makes more runs into the box than Rooney does currently.
I know Memphis is still young and learning and I think he will be a superb player for us, but he has been very poor so far this season apart from against Brugge, He's not running at defenders like he did at PSV, he ran at defenders then but not doing it now, boggles the mind!! He just slows down won't cut down the flank always cuts in on the right, and then falls over when someone's in the way, it's very frustrating. And for the size of the lad too he should be milling through people. He'll learn quick enough that you got to be tough in this league.

I don't want this post to be a negative because the opposite view is if Rooney took his 2 chances we are 2-3 winners but unfortunately it's difficult to talk about ifs and buts. But the positive are that he was given those 2 clear chances and overall we are creating much much more than we have been. The signs are there, just not our finishing unfortunately.

Rooney needs to be more instinctive in the box, he's taking too much time on the strike and as a result defenders are getting back to defend. Just smack low and hard work the keeper, he's not even working the Keeper.

30 Aug 2015 19:01:27
Rooney is not working in the box. Numerous times he was on his heels, the chances he could have done better with of course (difference between playing part-timers and top flight pro's), but the second chance was not really down to any creativity. He is so frustrating to watch, but I did notice twice he made a great run and Mata cut back inside again rather than threading it through. His movement out of the box isn't too bad, he just ball watches when it matters.

Watch when Mata is about to score how he is just watching the ball go in, not thinking about rebound's, his defender would have beaten him to any ball - he has lost that instinct.

30 Aug 2015 19:01:32
Makes you wonder if he allowed to run at defenders we know LVG didn't like ADM doing that, I honestly think he is holding us back money spent we should be better than this. If there is no improvement on fourth surely he needs to go at the end of the season. We are the least attractive team to watch in that league if we go a goal down its game over

30 Aug 2015 18:18:46
A few individuals playing well, Smalling in particular again. To sum up though. BORING, SLOW, PREDICTABLE, IF IN DOUBT PASS BACK. Is it the players, is it the system, is it LVG. Another frustrating season ahead i am afraid unless there are a few surprises over the next 24 hours.Even if we get the right players in, will LVG play the Utd way. I don't think he will and it is sad to say but if the playing style doesn't change people will be wanting LVG out.

30 Aug 2015 18:43:23
Forget the utd way! i'm fine with the LVG way its just the attacking players need to do better/ better players are needed in those positions.

30 Aug 2015 18:45:42
Absolute rubbish
Too slow
To predictable
Possession who cares if we have 75% 60% sod it we can have 10% for all I care. Attack attack attack.
I want goals I want the united we all love. Not this bag o boring.
Shaw class
Darmian like what I see
Roony pants. Shoot man stop pi. ing about
If that don't tell us we need certain players brought in before Tuesday 6 pm
Nothing will.
Keep the faith boys and girls

30 Aug 2015 18:46:10
That's the philosophy.

30 Aug 2015 19:14:55
And so say all of us
Keep the faith boys and girls

30 Aug 2015 18:12:42
My summary: Just having a high possession statistics don't make us Barcelona or Bayern for that matter.

30 Aug 2015 18:19:40
Back passes. side passes. long balls. Head of fellaini
What has changed since Moyes left??
Scared played who are behaving like they will be fined for loosing possession in little try to be creative.
Or a fat scared Rooney who just don't want to shoot. Any striker would have tried to hit that. u can't always slot with precision. best example is Gomis goal. Just run and hit bloody hell. 2 time ball got nicked from his leg in one on one situation

30 Aug 2015 18:56:50
Correct, it makes us a boring team trying to win 1-0.
Barca and Bayern keep the ball for a reason, because they know that their forwards will explode with pace, energy and skill at any moment.
We have rooney, so that's the end of that tactic!

30 Aug 2015 18:06:44
We are far too slow in possession, so can't create much. This possession football is intended to tire the opposition out, so how come we looked like we were running in quicksand when they attacked us. That was a seriously poor performance.

30 Aug 2015 18:23:00
This game is just pointless. every 5 the pass is going back to keeper.
I can't believe I would say revert back to SAFs 4-4-2

30 Aug 2015 18:59:14
Agreed and totally in contrast to your name I'm afraid, there is no hope!

30 Aug 2015 18:03:28
Lets buy a striker and play him on the right wing so wayne rooney can have more support or let's buy a striker and play rooney no. 10 or let's buy a number 10 AND a striker and then play rooney number 10 and play the number 10 on the wing
But never ever should we treat wayne rooney like a player and you know, drop him to the bench. No that would make him angry and we wouldn't want that would we?

30 Aug 2015 18:14:08
His 3 goals seems to have papered over his flaws.
Rooney should have been the summer when that stupid Moyes gave him an extension.
SAF would have kicked him out.

30 Aug 2015 18:20:03
Hit the nail on the head. Play Rooney at 10 and buy a 9.

30 Aug 2015 18:25:19
I have never criticised Wayne up until now. I think he is finished as striker. maximum as no 10 or else bench.

30 Aug 2015 18:01:49
Thoughts on the match lads??? Personally thought they done well to a degree. Few points I like to make see what u think
1. De gea would have saved both goals
2. DePay uninterested
3. Sweinsteiger looked at home played well
4. Herrera decent - made 3/4 good assists/through balls
5. Not enough up front desperate need to buy
6. Young very unfortunate not to be playing

30 Aug 2015 18:14:16
Depay was very very poor. Should have been subbed a long time ago.

30 Aug 2015 18:49:39
1. Yes he would have saved them.
2. Too big for his boots, (seemed to give up far too easy), played well against a European minnow and that is it so far.
3. Schweiny looked shattered after 5 mins, this seasons Luke Shaw, but he brings undoubted class, just as shame the rest of them don't know how to benefit from it.
4. Decent for Herrera is fair, we have a problem with this "second striker" lark, why is Rooney dropped into that role as well, he never does anything there?
5. Weak upfront, as we are every game - Euro minnows and Preston shouldn't count
6. Our bench is not very good, pretty scary to think City have signed Sterling & de Bruyne this summer and we have Valencia & Young.

7 (just something else to consider) - What did the manager do to solve the problem, my school PE teacher could have come up with "hit Fellaini and hope"?

{Ed004's Note - What annoys me about the hit Fellaini is that we just thump it long aimlessly. Why not go down the wings and get into decent crossing positions and then have Fellaini, Rooney and Schweinsteiger competing for crosses? Surely better than Blind crossing from the half way line}

30 Aug 2015 19:07:01
A sensible post and very restrained except, there is nothing to be sensible and restrained about this match. Rooney was a total insult to the shirt and the club. GK showed why he has never been a regular for any of the big teams. The lack of pace showed why LVG cannot be trusted with any more money. It was a pathetic effort at showing everyone we can keep the ball and do sweet fa with it.
Our striker had two opportunities and decided to let the defender make up 3 yards on him and clear.
What was it about our performance that gave any hope to anyone??

30 Aug 2015 17:59:43
Ironic that today we were debating Romero. That's the first point he has cost us. Not a bad keeper, but not a top class one either. And keepers of his standard will always cost you points in a title race.

Other than that:

Schwein should have been subbed because he obviously isn't fit enough to play the full 90 yet.

Shaw is positionally suspect, especially because Memphis doesn't track back.

Smalling had to constantly babysit Blind because he didn't have the strength to go one on one with Gomis.

And Rooney was back to his painful worst again.

Biggest issue is that when we desperately needed to get back into the game the best we could do was throw on Carrick and Young, and then bring on Fellaini with 15 min to go and start lobbing long balls in. Nowhere near enough quality on the bench to win a title.

We will grind out enough wins to finish in the top four, but we will be grinding for the next 9 months and it won't be pretty, make no mistake.

30 Aug 2015 18:12:57
Sorry Danny but I thought Shaw was our best player today.

30 Aug 2015 18:15:18
The 3 areas that we need to improve on are the ones that cost us today, striker, centre back and goal keeper, something needs to be done about all 3 but I fear nothing will be done about any.

30 Aug 2015 18:16:59
specsavers will be samped tommorow with people saying there rose tinted specs don't work anymore.after beating a poor brugge side we were going to take everything by storm,as soon as we meet a decent side the wheels come off.romero not good enough a few mistakes kicking in the 1st half and should of got to both of swanseas goals,rooney was back to normal and defensively against a big strong forward we were bullied.we are lightweight in front of goal and lightweight in central defence,if we don't adress these positions and the goalie then expect a good few days like today this season.i would rather play young sam jonstone in goal,hes a confident top class prospect who couldn't be any worse than romero.

30 Aug 2015 18:31:15
Try to remember Ed Woodward.
Don't worry we will have 2 quality players for each position.
Where is 1) Darmian option
2) forget option,where is main CB
3) main Striker
4) main Right winger
5) option of schinerline
6) second quality CBs
7) main keeper?

How come Ed think supporters of biggest club in world are fools??

30 Aug 2015 19:11:06
Good to see you back, John.

30 Aug 2015 20:22:03
i wish it was in a better mood :)

30 Aug 2015 17:57:25
It's disgraceful having to rely on fellani to get us a goal. Rooney giving the ball away for the first goal doesn't even chase after it, poor showing today surely we need a striker. Go all out of someone like benzema and if de Gea does go a top quality keeper. We need to get the finger out and quick.

30 Aug 2015 18:32:21
More weired is no one can properly do that either.
No long balls were reaching him properly

30 Aug 2015 17:55:45
And cue meltdown 5.4.3.2.1

30 Aug 2015 18:31:31
LOL

I think young should start all day before Depay. He leaves shaw exposed and unfortunately our left flank is where we can create something and shaw needs to go forward. Rooney needs to find a left foot.

I said earlier today Romero is not good enough and today was a clear indication. His distribution is terrible and on some of his longer kicks there was not a united player within 10 yards of where the ball came down.He also seems to be unable to move the ball around quick enough. Hope to god we have a goalie lined up if DDG goes.

BTW not overreaction but a few observations. I had us drawing the game and think that would have been a fair result as there was very little in it.

30 Aug 2015 18:33:19
Looks u r proud and surely some positive from the games.
I give u one.
U can point amount of possession.

30 Aug 2015 19:17:33
Deano, meltdown? Suppose you enjoyed watching that? Or shall we just accept we're a great club with great history and keep going on about our great memories and forget where we are now and where we want to be in the future.
I do not understand this apathy that exists among some of the fans. It is as if we just have to turn up to win. let's all wake up and realize we are a seriously mediocre team with a mediocre future. But if you call it meltdown and think that we're all wrong to go into meltdown, then maybe we should all start watching Harltepool instead!!

30 Aug 2015 17:55:22
Pedestrian football. Lvg needed a kick to his balls to realise we need a striker and cb. Something really wrong with our club in terms of ambition.

30 Aug 2015 18:34:35
He left his balls at Bayern when he dropped his pants to show to players.

30 Aug 2015 19:21:21
totally agree and he'll be arriving here next few days so I would be delighted to deliver the kick that he and his philosophy deserves.

30 Aug 2015 17:54:40
Playing without a decent striker - 10 League games without a goal - simply not good enough.

30 Aug 2015 17:52:36
In a way today should highlight what needs to happen in the next few days been lucky we have played poor sides until today. Rooney and Delay 4 awful prem games now but they will start again next game. not sure what LVG was doing today even our midfield was poor made Jonjo Shelvey look like Xavi. I know tempers are always high after a loss but this squad is not good enough 4th place would be the best possible outcome with these shortages. How many games will he persist with This set up that clearly does not work. stubborn LVG only 2 more years though

30 Aug 2015 17:49:23
Swansea have given the back four a real test today. Fortunately the transfer window is still open. While some will say it's only one game and others will say buy buy buy more players. If Swansea can do this what will City and Co do?

Rooney is a good player but being played as a number 10 his natural instinctive ability seems to be slowly slipping away. We can't rely on Depay and others to come up with the goals. Depay will be hit and miss. This is to be expected. Although someone should have a word in Depay. He goes down quicker than our lass.

30 Aug 2015 18:20:36
Depay is a bit one dimensional and if you show him the outside and don't allow him to cut back in he tends to run out of ideas.

Rooney seems to have no left foot at the moment and wants to control and bring everything on to his right foot and allows the defender to get back imo missed two simple goal opportunities.

30 Aug 2015 17:45:33
Let's not kid ourselves any longer. This is as good as we are right now! I don't mind getting bet from time to time but what I do mind is the thought of watching this rubbish every week. We are so so slow and one ugly to watch. No inspiration from anywhere ( Sweinsteiger apart). Rooney looks like he doesn't give a monkeys! We the ones paying our hard earned money to go support this club so think we are entitled to expect better than this!

30 Aug 2015 17:31:56
What this game has shown us so far:

1) Blind is not a CB for the premier league when the opposition have a powerful striker.

2) Rooney can't hold up the ball and does not have enough pace to run in behind or down the channels. Lots of effort though with little product.

3) as we all suspected, Romero is not the answer. Might as well call him uncle Albert given the way he flapped at that ball.

4) the "philosophy" falls apart when we go behind as we have no real penetration. It only seems to work when we nick a goal and then pass the ball side to side for the rest of the game.

Go on king Louie, make me eat my words and prove me wrong.

30 Aug 2015 17:26:28
The problem with playing two holdings players is that they play deep allowing the opposing side to push up, making it harder for us to move the ball around. Typing this just as Gomis scores. This game is crying out for Fellaini to impose himself in midfield. By switching to 433 we play at a higher tempo and generally don't leave gaps in midfield as we are currently doing. Fingers crossed we can turn this around

30 Aug 2015 17:38:07
Depay has done nothing either and Young should have been brought on a lot earlier.

30 Aug 2015 17:23:46
We best be rejecting any bids for De Gea

30 Aug 2015 17:35:40
He won't play for this club again.

30 Aug 2015 17:40:48
The problem with this goalie is he seems to be unable to move the ball around quick enough and holds on to it.

30 Aug 2015 17:21:42
Schweinsteiger looks very slow and leggy and we seem to be a bit open in the middle of the pitch. Need to make a substitution here soon.

30 Aug 2015 17:52:01
I wish we had bought Vidal and not schweinsteiger.

30 Aug 2015 16:56:44
Can somebody wake me up in 2017 please?

30 Aug 2015 17:08:53
Playing ok, Swansea play a similar way to us so easy to cancel each other out, created a few chances just need to be more clinical.

30 Aug 2015 17:08:59
Sounds like a poor rendition of Green day.

30 Aug 2015 17:25:23
In a way this is good maybe now we will sign the goal keeper, CB, RW and striker we have been crying out for all.

30 Aug 2015 17:27:10
From whose bad touch the counterattack arise? Mr. Rooney.

Who was stood still as Mata breaks into the penalty area? Mr. Rooney.

All the potential defensive frailties, the lack of a top quality goalkeeper, right wing or striker exposed.

From muted joy to adverse overreaction in 5 minutes. Are we any better than the Nivea men?

30 Aug 2015 15:14:41
Well the staring line up has been announced and it is pretty much what most people have been asking for all week. Time for Herrera to stake his claim for a permanent starting place. Massive game today before the international break can go second and only 2 points behind city .

30 Aug 2015 15:22:43
Happy with the selection, only possible change would be Carrick for Schweinsteiger as I don't feel he's quite up to speed with the PL as yet and Swansea are a very mobile side who play good football. Nevertheless he'll never be up to it if he doesn't get game time.

This will be the toughest challenge our CB pairing have faced as yet because Gomis is a handful and I think this is the first team we've played who have the quality to get behind us and create good chances.

Hopefully we carry on the momentum from midweek and pick up a win though. I'd love to see Depay get on the scoresheet today.

30 Aug 2015 15:43:31
Agreed Jamie, this is probably the 1st 11 most would pick from our current squad.
This is a big test today and to keep another clean sheet would be a great achievement and set us up nicely going ion the int break
No Montero is a decent break.
Another win would help lvg and the squad win over some of the doubters with other results this weekend this is a great opportunity to press on maintain god momentum

30 Aug 2015 16:47:41
Need fellaini on there. Everything is in front of them and need to get down the wings rather than trying to go through the middle with everything.

30 Aug 2015 16:55:27
My 1st eleven would include either young/valencia instead of mata.Now I do rate mata,just I don't on the right side,pace and stretch of play needed.1st half pretty much controlled.New signing needed right wing.

30 Aug 2015 15:07:03
I've been watching Mane very closely today against Norwich and I know it's only 10 man Norwich but he finds space brilliantly and is such a handful with his pace and quick feet.

20m is steep but I do think he is the type of player we're lacking for the right, and he's still only young, the only reservation I have is that he's African (hear me out) and he'll be off to the Afcon every few years.

Anyone else seen more of him because granted I've probably only seen him 4/5 times and this is the first I've actually specifically looked out for him.

30 Aug 2015 15:56:18
He is a bit too wasteful in possession. I like him, but I just can't see him ticking the boxes for LVG.

If we are spending £20m on him we should up it by £10m and go for a top quality player rather than somebody that could very easily be a major flop.

30 Aug 2015 16:19:45
He looked alright. Good option for the league.

30 Aug 2015 17:08:01
I hear what you're saying Beast but the problem is there's no one really available for that kind of money, especially this close to the end of the window, Southampton would probably be wanting around that for Manè.

There's not many other options really, Greizmann would probably command a price of around 40m and plays predominantly on the left.

Anderson also plays mainly on the left and is still relatively 'unknown' for want a of a better word.

Bellarabi would probably be my pick but there seems to be little to no interest unfortunately, don't know whether the eds or anyone else has heard or seen anything about it but like I said, little interest if any.

Any other options? I can't really think of any, we could push for Muller but Bayern, in my opinion, will never sell him, he's their poster boy, Mr Bayern. Even if we do offer upwards of 80m it still doesn't sort out our lack of pace up top.

Sorry if this comes across as a rant, it's not at all, just can't think of any realistic options in that price bracket, a great man once said "there's no value in the market", can't remember who it was though.

Out of interest, who do you think we should go for?

30 Aug 2015 14:38:47
Can 100% say that mane will not be going to United

30 Aug 2015 15:03:12
No you cant.

30 Aug 2015 10:36:07
I want to talk about Sergio Romero.

People talk about him being a disaster waiting to happen, and I can see why. He does seem to take an age when he has the ball at his feet. He has had be gasp a few times. And yet he has so far only conceeded one goal, and a fluke of a own goal that was too.

Would DDG have been able to do any better than him so far this season? I don't think so.

Our weak defense has been pretty water tight so far. Last season we didn't concede that many goals, but we did concede a load of chances. And fortunately DDG was there to save our arses time and again. But this season how many times has Romero pulled of a great save?

Maybe twice? Once against Spurs and once in that one on one agaisnt Brugge away.

Do I think we will concede goals this season? Yes of course we will. Will Romero be the cause? Maybe but probably not, most goals conceded are through mistakes made by outfield players not keepers.

Yes I expect Romero to make a couple of mistakes, everyone does. Even DDG made mistakes last season, but his weekly world class saves stick in our minds more than the mistakes.

I don't think Romero is the best keeper we could have but I think if the team plays the way LvG wants them to play then he is good enough.

Johnstone is a great young keeper and is good enough to stand in for Romero if needed. People say he isn't ready, how do you know? As until he plays for us amd shows how he can perform for us on a weekly basis you have nothing to base that opinion on. DDG wasn't ready for a top team when we signed him, it took a couple years for him to become a top keeper.

I don't see us signing a keeper in this window. Nor do I feel one is a top priority. For me we need pace and goalscoring threat in the right wing and a quality back up striker before we need to look at the keeper and CB positions.

30 Aug 2015 10:53:43
i don't think he looks great to be honest , i think he will cost us points

30 Aug 2015 11:09:41
"I don't think Romero is the best keeper we could have but I think if the team plays the way LvG wants them to play then he is good enough."

I think this will be the story of the season, not just with Romero, but our squad in general. We are set up to play functional passing football, and have enough to grind out wins against most of the sides in the league. The question is what is the squad "good enough" for? Winning titles or doing enough for a respectable finish? The proof of the pudding will be toward the thorny end of the season when fatigue starts setting in and we have to deal with injuries.

30 Aug 2015 11:14:50
I agree with jred. Look at what has happened to arsenal in the past without a top class keeper, small margins in the EPL

30 Aug 2015 11:36:48
I don't think he is good enough to be honest. We have not been put under pressure yet but there will be games against the likes of city and arsenal on the road where you need a top keeper and they can be the difference on the day.

30 Aug 2015 11:39:40
Eoin, Arsenal are a totally different kettle of fish, Sol Campbell apart name me one world class defender Wenger has signed? He inhererited a very good defence and since those players have left Arsenal have always been a team that attacks well but defends poorly. So to put them not winning things at the feet of their past keepers is exetemely harsh and a little misguided.

Danny, I think your probably right. This team looks far more functional rather than fantasy. But maybe without that world class player who can create something out of nothing that is always going to be the case.

Where we finish will show how successful this way of playing can be. But to be honest when I look at our squad I think really its the best way to achieve our aims.

Jred, I do think to really reach the top we will need a much better keeper than Romero. But how many players can we bring in during one window without causing too much distruption. We currently have brought in 5 players and most of us agree we still need a striker, a centre back, a right winger and a goalkeeper.

Thats another four, I think we can bring in one more at most without causing too much distruption. So three positions will have to make do until January at the earliest most likely until next summer. Personally I think a goalkeeper is less important to this squad than a right winger or a striker. Its a lack of goals scored than will cost us this season rather than the amount of goals conceded in my opinion.

30 Aug 2015 11:55:08
Arsenal's problems in past season lay a lot deeper than problems at GK.

If De gea moves on I'd expect Cillesens to be signed. If not, De Gea will be back in between the posts again.

I still believe we will sign another forward player. And I still hold the hope that it will be griezemann.

30 Aug 2015 11:59:31
He is a liability for me without doubt, he seems a bit wimpy and too quick to smile and laugh with the opposition (like he has gate crashed a party and everyone will realise soon, or he knows he is only there to prove a point to DDG and will be shunted back to the bench).

What I would say for him is that we seem better defensively, maybe I/we underestimate how good he is at organising, I really don't know who should take credit, manager, defenders, midfielders and keeper all should get a bit. But did DDG contribute to those chances being created in the first place by not organising enough?

It is open for debate and too soon to know but maybe DDG was called upon because he wasn't doing another part of his job as well as other keepers do. Romero will cost us points by simply lacking in confidence imo, hopefully once DDG is moved on he will feel/look more self assured.

30 Aug 2015 12:49:31
shaps
you say buying a new gk may cause disruption , you are away romero is a new player.
whats the difference between him coming in to the team compared to someone else ?

30 Aug 2015 13:11:20
Come september 2nd if de gea is still at the club i think we all know hell slot back in and play their for the rest of the season and then go off to madrid for a free. This would give us a season to get our scouting network on the case of a new golkeeper, much like we did with de gea, analysing him over a long period of time until we were confident that he could take over from van der sar.

30 Aug 2015 13:50:21
The deal to sell De Gea will be dependent on Utd already having a deal in place for Cillesen or someone else.

It's the same as Hernandez can find another club and leave but only if we have an agreement in place for a replacement. That's the exact reason why Spurs were knocked back when enquiring about him this week.

Whatever your opinion is about LVG and Ed Woodward they are not stupid.

30 Aug 2015 14:07:47
Beast for once I agree with most of what you've said. I don't know I would go as far as calling him a liability as he hasn't done anything to let us down yet. But he certainly makes me nervous with how long he takes to play the ball out.

Jred, its about the sheer number of players coming and going. We could well bring in another goalkeeper but I'd only want us to do that if we are 100% sure he is the right keeper for the next 5 years. No point panic buying for the sake of it.

But from everything I've read and heard about Romero he is working well with our current defenders and has settled pretty quickly.

You don't know how long it will take for the new goalkeeper to settle and build a good working relationship with our defenders.

Ultimately its not a good idea to bring in 7 or 8 players in one window as it causes problems with everyone settling into the team and creating an atmosphere.

I'm of the opinion we should sign one more player, two at absolute most, and looking at our priorities I think depth up front and pace wide right is more important than a keeper at this moment in time.

30 Aug 2015 14:31:40
shappy
until the keeper has a bad game .
as for panic buy we have know all season ddg may leave so we will have targets.
if ddg leaves we need a new gk .
romero doesn't look great and if he got injured our number 2 isn't ready.
we would have more and better options at cb, rw and st than we do at gk

30 Aug 2015 15:39:37
Shabby, I wasn't putting it down arsenal keepers for them not winning the league but how many teams have actually won the league with a poor keeper. A good keeper could be the difference of 12 points in a season.

30 Aug 2015 09:22:50
Just watched MOTD, and I must say Liverpool were very unlucky. Much the better team really, and never deserved to lose 3-0. At home. At Anfield. And to!a superb West Ham team.

The players really looked shocked at the result. James Milner, in particular, had a very long face at the end.

30 Aug 2015 07:16:41
De Gea's off? LVG you'd better pull something out the bag Mr.?

30 Aug 2015 03:59:00
LOL ! and Merson the stupid man predicted 3-0 win for liverpool yesterday. can't stop laughing

30 Aug 2015 09:26:01
Every week Merson goes against utd in his predictions he really has something against us, twunt

30 Aug 2015 11:46:19
Hardly a surprise, if he was good at predicting scores his gambling wouldn't have been an issue. He lost a lot of money because he's terrible at gambling.