Manchester United Banter Archive May 30 2018

30 May 2018 19:55:39
Hi Eds

Do you know if we will keep Andres pereira? Big decision to make this summer. He's a player that can help break down teams in a low block (which we have been struggling with for some time)

Thanks.

{Ed004's Note - I'm not sure what our plans are with him but I'm not sure he's the required quality so I could see him being sold to fund our summer signings}

30 May 2018 20:15:22
That would be a shame ed004, I think he could fight por a place in Mous team and actually be great for as. I hope he plays for MU next season.

30 May 2018 20:19:51
Personally of Romero decides to leave or we lose De Gea and Romero steps up as first team keeper then Pereira or Johnstone should be stepped up as the reserve keeper. They would get good game time in the cups and we could see if they are up to being the number 1 in years to come.

30 May 2018 20:35:19
Wrong pereira brad but i agree joel looks an exciting prospect.

30 May 2018 20:36:36
Wrong pereira Brad, you're thinking of Joel.

30 May 2018 20:40:00
Brad. I think you've got the wrong Pereira.

30 May 2018 20:57:30
Hope Andreas stays. Think he has got the talent to make it and going on loan was a big mistake. Would have had plenty of opportunities this season. But with us looking to bring in a couple of midfielders he could see opportunities as few and far between. Hope he has a decent pre season tour.

30 May 2018 22:46:34
Cheers chaps for pointing out my stupidity! That will teach me for rush reading on the train home.
My point stands on Joel.
On Andres I think we bring him in for the season, his loan spell this year had positive reviews even If a little up and down but with all the potential departures we have room to give him a good run at the first team.

30 May 2018 15:23:57
As the football is over until the world cup and no-one has an idea what's really going on with transfers how about a different question.

What 1 or 2 rules would you change/ introduce to improve football?

Only proviso is it must be able to be implemented at all levels, and expensive equipment (so no VAR! )

Personally I'd allow physios on to treat players and subs to be made while play continues. These would both stop the time wasting at the end of games, and in the case of subs maybe managers would use them to try to win the game rather than waste 30 seconds of the last minute.

Over to you guys.

30 May 2018 15:47:01
Agree totally. There's no reason why, with a keeping an eye on things, there can't be rolling subs (up to the 3 limit obviously) . If they can do it in a breakneck sport like ice hockey, there no reason why they can't do it in football.

30 May 2018 16:03:19
No more replays and no extra time, go straight to penalties and matches really should end on the day they take place.
Stiffer penalties on diving, playacting etc, it's ruining the game. Maybe bigger club fine and longer suspensions.

{Ed004's Note - Either stop the clock when there is a break in play or allow physios to treat players as the game is continuing on. If ref deems it serious play can be stopped}

30 May 2018 15:45:04
Not thought about it too hard, but:

1 - Stop clock when ball isn't in play, which would cut out all time wasting.
2 - Introduce an Orange Card - 10 minute sin-bin. There are too many cases where an incident deserves more than a yellow but less than a red. I especially hate professional fouls when a player is away and the guy pulls their shirt or trips them taking the practically meaningless yellow. I also hate it when a player is on a yellow and miss-times something accidentally in a meaningless position, to then be sent off, when a 10-min sin bin would be more than enough punishment - and doesn't kill the game as a spectacle.

30 May 2018 16:21:10
No shaking hands hugging and kissing in the tunnel before a game.

30 May 2018 16:40:40
Sin bins/ orange cards.
Physio on pitch whilst game carries on.
Stop the clock if injury is deemed serious.
Subs to cone on whilst play continues.
Automatic red card for dissent.
Post match reviews with cards handed out for diving.

{Ed002's Note - Those of you within easy reach of London should perhaps go and watch some of the ConIFA Football World Cup games and see how they get on with the green card that will be shown for dissent or diving. It means that player has to be substituted right away. The pick of the group stage games will be Northern Cyprus Vs Abkhazia on June 3 Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, Enfield.}

30 May 2018 16:49:34
Quite like the rolling subs idea, works in other sports. Also totally agree, no need to stop the game for a substitution except for an injury.

30 May 2018 16:52:13
Give obstruction when players are shielding the ball until it goes out of play. If they haven't touched the ball they are not in possession and therefore are obstructing others from getting the ball.

{Ed007's Note - That does my nut in!}

30 May 2018 16:55:37
Stop the clock when the ball goes dead, to stop time wasting.

Then I would do away with traditional penalties which if taken correctly is scientifically proven to be unable to be saved. And instead introduce something similar to the hockey penalties. With the player starting off on the halfway line one on one with the keeper and given a time limit of 30-45 seconds to score. I think its a fairer and potentially more climatic way to settle it.

30 May 2018 17:03:40
Beast - How about automatic penalty for professional fouls no matter where it occurs, and none/ yellow/ red card according to the type of foul? So for example the Solksjaer/ Shearer incident (as much as I love Ole for it) would be a penalty and yellow card.

30 May 2018 17:07:19
Get rid of the official behind the goals cause he might as well be at home watching television.

30 May 2018 17:15:57
Instead of a yellow card if a keeper is time wasting, John O’Shea has to play in goal for 15 min.
If a British player dives, they have to give up their citizenship to conform to the media narrative.
If players spit on the pitch, the ref needs to call their mother and they must tell her what they’ve done.

30 May 2018 17:19:26
No crying like big girls when you lose.

30 May 2018 17:37:27
Lol danny and Tony 😂 it's been funny as f**k on here last couple of days.

30 May 2018 19:02:01
give penalties for fouls in the box at set plays to stop all the manhandling that goes on. Not a rule change just referees growing a pair and applying the rules as they stand.

30 May 2018 20:50:59
Put a cap on players wages, starting off at a set wage, then for every year your at a club your wage goes up, No player to earn more 100,000 a week. Agents should be only allowed a set percentage of a transfer fee.
The money in football needs a good look at, it's crazy the way it's going, ruining the game.

{Ed025's Note - im with you leahy..

31 May 2018 00:28:02
I played in a game where the ref stopped their watch at every break (throw in, corner, the lot) . It was their first game reffing and I don't think they really knew as much as they needed to know to be reffing a game of football. Anyway we only found out after the match that we played about 70 minutes a half. So if that rule was introduced to stop time wasting you would see the end of 45 minute halves.

In-play subs is a great idea, I'm also a fan of the orange card for a 10 minute sin bin, and a good shout about obstruction if the shielding player hasn't touched the ball.

All of the above should result in more goals and less cheating.

30 May 2018 09:27:55
If we had a chance to sign one of these players.

Who would we want to sign out of Lewandowski or Bale.

I would go for Lewandowski as i don't really trust Lukaku in big games and we desperately need another striker if Lukaku gets injured.

{Ed004's Note - Lewandowksi has gone missing in a lot of big games recently as well. I'd go for Bale personally}

30 May 2018 10:14:57
Bale. Lewandowski was someone I wish we had signed whilst he was at Dortmund. Got a great domestic goal scoring record but ed is right he goes missing in big games, particularly in the latter stages of the champions league. I would imagine that PSG, real and Chelsea will be in for him. Will be a great signing if Chelsea get him.

I’m a big fan of Lukaku and think he has all the attributes to be world class. He is at a great age and his goal scoring record is impressive. Issue is we are not playing to his strengths and if we do he will be scoring for fun and challenging for the golden boot every season. Get someone who can cross the ball properly and you will see the impact he can make.

30 May 2018 10:34:30
Mourinho generally always plays one up top so one of lukaku or lewandowski would be on the bench, don't see that lasting long without someone throwing a hissy fit.

Also we have a gaping hole at the right wing position which is a way more pressing need. The only logical choice if we had one between the two is bale.

30 May 2018 12:03:43
Bale for many reasons:
1. RW is a priority
2. Ed 004's reason
3. Like DSG said, mou won't play both Luka and Lewa.
4. Bale is a year younger and shouldn't need time to adjust to the EPL and its baggage.
5. Bale is easier to spell :)

30 May 2018 13:21:45
Neither, one we don't need and the other is and expensive crock.

30 May 2018 13:51:13
Who would you like to see us sign shappy? We definetly need a right winger and I do somewhat share your concerns regarding bale’s injury record. I like Pulisic but again we are guying potential. Also a fan of Willian but would rather bale. If you can keep bale fit he will score 20-30 goals a season. Something we desperately need.

30 May 2018 17:06:44
Park, I wouldn't sign a right winger at all. I would invest in two world class full backs and switch to a 3412 type formation as I feel that suits our current players best.

Width from the full backs. We have three strikers in Lukaku, Rashford and Martial. Playing two as strikers would be best for their development and to give as an offensive edge.

We have a high number of centre backs (Smalling, Jones, Bailly, Lindelof, Rojo and Tuanzebe) so three at the back makes sense. It also covers for the fact that many of them look suspect in a back four system.

There is also flexibility in midfield with the three either being a holding midfielder, a box to box and a No.10 type player.

Or two holding midfielders and one No.10.

Or a deeplying playmaker with two box to box midfielder.

Matic and TFM can battle it out for the holding midfielder role.
Lingard and Sanchez for the No.10 role.
With Pogba and what looks like Fred for the box to box role.
With Herrera and McTominay also rotating around.

That way we would only need two world class full backs, and one midfielder. João Cancelo, Jose Gaya and Fred. If possible bring in Alderweireld to up grade central defence and move one of the poorer options on.

30 May 2018 17:34:43
I can see yr logic in that system shappy as we have lots of CBS and not many attackers great out wide but I find it flawed sometimes when yr wingbacks are affraid of the opponent's wingers threat and don't get forward enough it can end up a back 5 with two of the midfield defensive aswell plus the keeper and 8 of yr team end up there to stop the other team . I suppose if the wingbacks are brave and only one midfielder sits it can work but teams normally just play a front 3 against it, stretch the CBS and the wingbacks are forced bk.

30 May 2018 17:48:59
Shappy I agree actually I think the 3 at the back and two up top would suit our squad much better than 4231/ 433 does. We lack any real wingers and investing in two full backs would sort out that width problem. 2 up top would also solve the issue of game time for martial/ rashford with more rotation of the striker position. A back 3 of Alderweireld lindelof and bailly would be very strong and it perhaps this formation would enable us to get the best out of Sanchez and pogba. I just think we cannot pass up on a player of bale’s quality, but I understand the injury concerns. He would still be formidable in the striker position, no 10 or even as one of the wingbacks. Interesting to see what happens.

30 May 2018 20:05:38
Slate, it all depends on how you set up. If you look to press your opponent and try to attack them as often as possible you'll find your full backs forward more often than not. Plus three at the back with one or maybe even two players in midfield covering still gives you a solid base.

If Rojo was on the left of the back three and Bailly/ Lindelof on the right then when possession is lost and the teamnis put under pressure the players in the wider central defensive position just move out to cover that space with your holding midfielder (Matic) dropping into defence and your box to box midfielder dropping in infront of the back four to track runs from the centre.

Park I just don't think Bale is worth it. The cost of signing a player so injury prone who'll be 29 by the start of next season seems silly to me.

Far better to make signings that fit a system that get the best out of what we already have rather than trying to sign players and crowbar them in.

30 May 2018 21:02:33
I like cities way shappy, two wide attackers staying wide, three cm two of which very attacking . One cm helps the wide man the other goes in the box and the fullback moves in 20 yards each side to take the position of the defensive midfielder. I just think you end up with offensive players attacking and defensive players defending, I think tfm would be good at that on the right, a full bk when we defend and a defensive midfielder when we attack . I know it's not the way we will go Jose likes wide men tucking in and fullbacks providing width.
I would go for bale I keep thinking nah should have joined last year to late now but then I watch him and think of course I'd buy him.

30 May 2018 22:18:37
Slate, it clearly works very well for city. However, it will be very hard to out perform someone at their own game. Also I don't think we have the squad to play that way. We would need 2 fullbacks, 2 midfielders, and 2 winlde players at least. And even then there are question marks over the others already at the club to be able to step up and play that way.

If you imitate someone else you'll always be a poor imitation. Your better off playing to your own strengths. That in my opinion is half of Jose's problem. He is always changing his set up to counter his opponents rather than playing to his own players strengths. Sure you need to tweak things each game, but your entire set up shouldn't be dictated by the opposition.

I think there is a lot of poor centre backs around at the moment, they are still trying to catch up to the change in what is expected of them. You either have some who can defend but can't play out, or ones who can play out but can't defend. Very few who can do both well.

I would take advantage of that and put two strikers against teams, while three at the back for us would cover that weakness.

That extra defender will also make it harder for teams to press us high as we will always have an extra out ball.

30 May 2018 22:36:43
I don't think you'd need two fullbacks shappy if there role was fullback when defending and defensive midfield while attacking city even use Delph for that he duznt have to beat men and get to byline for a cross he just becomes a defensive midfield when they attack, I think tfm could do that and blind or Shaw could from the left, it's when they are asked to hit the byline and attack the struggle comes . I'd far rather have say bale or rashford or martial with the job of beating a man and crossing than I would a fullback . I don't feel we would need as many players as u do to play it, maybe savic and bale, then u have pogba n savic to emulate Silva and kdb and bale and martial for Stirling and sane I think that's a close call . I don't think we will play the way either of us would like to see.

30 May 2018 08:03:33
Now that we only have the silly season to entertain us until the a World Cup (woops nearly abbreviated that) what do the punters think of the proposal to flog Wembley to pump money into the grass roots.
To bring it closer to home, should we (heresy! ) consider the same for OT to give us a bit more clout in the transfer market?

30 May 2018 09:05:45
Telling people it's to limb money into grass roots is just a way of dressing up an ugly truth by blatantly lying.

The English FA is the richest FA in the world, every other country invests in grass roots football without having to sell the family jewels. So I'm fairly confident that if our FA really wanted to invest in grass roots they could easily find the money. Fact is they don't because they are too shortsighted to see the long term benefits for themselves. Their thinking goes a little like this "what's in it for us? " They see it as they spend the money on developing youngsters for them to sign up to an academy and for that club to benefit from the investment and then sell the players on and receive a large fee, while the FA get nothing.

They looked into whether they could receive a sell on fee for any youngster who had benefitted from their investment a few years back. When they found out it would be almost impossible they pretty much shelved any plans to invest significantly into grass roots football.

So when they say they will use the money from the sale of the stadium to invest we can be sure it's a load of rubbish.

The fact that they received special grants and dispensations to reduce the cost to them to build the stadium in the first place should bar them from being able to sell the stadium unless they reimburse those savings in full.

30 May 2018 09:22:10
I have no problem with the principal of selling Wembley. I don't think English Football needs a national stadium anymore, especially one which is so difficult to get to for most of the country. We have plenty of stadia around the country which can host cup finals and the England team.

However, when you look at the economics of the sell off, it does't equate to much of an impact in the grass roots of the game. I can't remember the exact figures but I think it goes a little something like this. FA sell Wembley for £500 mill and after paying off debts are left with £250 mill. The FA want to use the money to create 3G pitches which cost £500k a pop so that's 500 new pitches. I think curremtly Germany has about 4,000 3G pitches and England has 700.

So, it's great that the FA want to do something but it's not quite the magic bullet for the game that it might seem at first glance. Also, bear in mind that Wembely cost over a billion £ so selling it off for £500 million after paying a load of interest on the loans to build it doesn' seem so clever either.

The problem in the FA who decided to spend a billion on a stadium they could have built for £100 million. They could have pumped the rest of their money into the grass roots in the first place. Also, the insistance on building 3G pitches doesn't make sense when decent, maintained grass pitches with good changing facilites would suffice. Also, the Government's policy of austerity and the mass sell off of public land including sports pitches have hugely contributed to the mess we are in with grass roots sports facilities.

30 May 2018 09:24:59
So, sell of Wembley? Sure, why not; it makes no difference to me and another piece of our national infrastructure under foreign ownership won't matter.

Sell off OT or naming rights; absolutely not. Utd has no need to do so and if we lose the name we lose another piece of our history.

30 May 2018 10:58:21
It seems that so far most people see things pretty much the same as me.
Don't quite understand the thumbs down voters. I didn't think up the crazy idea of selling Wembley - just put it out there as change from rather repetitive fare on here at the moment. Shappy, I agree, it's covering up ugly truth with a lie. Never works
As to OT, I did say it was heresy.

30 May 2018 15:54:25
Have you played on those 3G pitches? Absolute nightmare for anyone with a previous knee or achilles injury. There is no give when you turn and half my team are cripples on Monday after playing on them. Bring back Lutons plastic pitch! Made a man of you!

30 May 2018 16:47:56
As a kid I went to many birthday parties playing on Boundary Park. Now that did sting.