Manchester United Banter Archive March 05 2015

05 Mar 2015 15:51:29
I am delighted after yesterdays good victory. It was a must win game and we got the job done. I also thought we played well and should have won by a more comfortable margin.
I would wager that as it stands, the vast majority of fans are happy to be challenging for a CL spot and the F.A. cup at this stage of the season.
It hasn't been pretty at times but that is because of a number of reasons. Yet, there seems to be growing disdain of the manager.
Fans having their opinion on the manager and his style is perfectly normal; and in our case, to a degree, it has been justified; but the constant negative polemics against the manager from former players has become a bit ridiculous and harmful. Take Scholes yesterday. He couldn't stop putting the boot in. He even went as far as saying that Blind and Herrera are not good enough. Of course, he is entitled to his opinion, but not once was he so outwardly hostile to the manager last season. Even on the clubs TV channel, the pundits are far more vocal, with one in particular not hiding his obvious dislike of the manager.

I recall Ed002 saying that LVG has upset someone quite significant at the club. I am wondering if this person has been influencing this barrage of negativity of the manager?

I for one would be livid if it were the case that some parties had an active agenda to undermine the manager with a view to the club getting rid of him.

I could be clutching at straws, but there has been a few things that suggest to me that there could be some discord at the higher echelons of the club.

I for one hope the manager comes out on top. I generally believe that the the players are behind him. You can see it in our performances.

05 Mar 2015 17:08:56
Or maybe scholes and co are just giving an honest opinion and it differs from your?
I don't agree with every thing scholes says but on the whole i find him right on the ball

05 Mar 2015 19:45:46
I just compare things now to last season. It doesn't seem so bad now. No where near as bad as some make out.

When you take into account the changes that have happened at the club in the last year, I think we are in pretty good shape. That is my honest opinion. Of course things could be better. We should probably be at least 7 points better off. The football could be better although again I can honestly say that, IMO, we haven't played half as bad as some suggest. We have been the better more deserving team in a lot of games this season, even if it was achieved in a fashion that is not aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

05 Mar 2015 20:02:33
Sam
That's your opinion and your entitled to it, as is scholes who may know a thing or 2 about united and footy himself.

What did he say yesterday that so upset you ?

05 Mar 2015 21:14:16
Not just what he said jred; it seems a constant theme with a few ex-players. I just think some of it isn't justified at thia moment in time.
I suppose they are paid to say something. Maybe they could be a bit more positive, given their standing with the club?

05 Mar 2015 21:56:59
Sam
Should they lie ?
they are paid to give there opinion,

There's a reason scholes and that got to the top, they set a standard .

05 Mar 2015 22:24:53
When you hear some of the nonsense on mutv, ex-players like Schoes who attempt to provide an honest opinion are a god send. It's no surprise that the lads who set the highest standards for themselves are the most critical.

05 Mar 2015 23:25:17
Punditry is a major part of todays football, most pundits on televisionare told to say controversial stuff for people to get attracted to watching the programme.

06 Mar 2015 00:38:15
Didn't Gary Neville write an article about how we should stick by LVG regardless of what happens this season?

06 Mar 2015 01:48:46
he mentioned it on talksport the other day JMB, and personally I agree with him. We can't just keep chopping and changing, we'll just turn into exactly what we ridiculed for years.

06 Mar 2015 04:27:20
Paul scholed is finest midfielder we have had in the last 20 years and a great servant to the club. I am surprised anyone would question his motives as by all accounts he is as honest and straight forward as they come.

05 Mar 2015 12:46:57
Just to add to the comments regarding the LVG and Giggs altercation last night, was it nothing or were there something to it?

In my own opinion I think Giggs and LVG have had a disagreement prior to the goal. Once we scored I feel LVG made a point in singling Giggs out in a 'I told you so moment' or a 'I am right moment, you were wrong moment' and Giggs was not in the least bit interested in what he had to say.

If that is indeed the case, firstly I feel that is poor of LVG and shows another level of pigheadedness and a lack of team camaraderie. It was most definitely a shame to see a legend of the club who has sweated blood for us over many years disinterested to see us score and nick three points if that is indeed due to the manager.

With Ed002 stating that LVG has already caused disharmony among the club's hierarchy and by Giggs's reaction last night it does seem that he is rubbing some folk up the wrong way. Love him or loathe him I think we can all agree LVG is his own man and I have the feeling based on the murmurs this season as well as his reputation that when he leaves Old Trafford (be it this year or later) he will leave a fair bit of carnage in his wake.

05 Mar 2015 13:25:29
If the kind of carnage he leaves results in the team going on to emulate the feats that his previous clubs have gone onto achieving, I can personally live with that.

05 Mar 2015 13:50:04
I wouldn't mind a bit of smugness if the goal came about because of his tactical decision, but it was a bit of a freak incident. Seems a bit deranged to revel in a fluke if that is what he was doing.

We will probably never know what the clear odd Giggs reaction was about. If it was not that, then it was great to see the manager engaged and celebrating, but if it was "I told you so", then it further heightens my displeasure about him representing our club.

05 Mar 2015 14:11:38
'If this is indeed the case' So you've made something up so you can have another dig at the Manager. Is it a slow news day today? Perhaps he saying 'I've got more hair than you baldy'.

05 Mar 2015 15:08:05
AJH,

Well if there is nothing genuine might as well make things up!

05 Mar 2015 15:51:45
JMB, I tend to agree wit AJH (above). You wouldn't be making mischief again, would you? Just to have a dig at the manager.

You also said "With Ed002 stating that LVG has already caused disharmony among the club's hierarchy".

Forgive me if I am wrong, but didn't Ed002 actually say something more like " he has upset SOMEONE in the clubs hierarchy "?

A little twist can make a big differnce!

05 Mar 2015 17:25:13
Seen the video, Giggsy does not look in the slightest bit interested. He wants to see more from the lads and rightly so!

05 Mar 2015 18:07:11
He's a better man than me. If LVG had started squeezing my cheek in front of 40000 people, just to say I told you so and make himself look like some sort of genius, I'd have sunk the head in him. At least it would have got him out of his seat.

05 Mar 2015 20:19:10
AJH - 'if indeed the case' is a speculative remark I am not saying that this is a fact am I? Something happened between them that is plain to see.

Betty - isn't upsetting someone causing disharmony? It's hardly me 'twisting words'. There is ways to Paraphrase without using an exact quote word by word. For instance a goal in the 90th minute could be paraphrased as an injury time goal could it not?

Hinksey, NC and Beast - I agree there was definitely something strange going on with the reaction we seen last night. Actions sometimes speak louder than words.

05 Mar 2015 21:02:09
Rumour is (and its probably not true ) its was over the bringing carrick on

05 Mar 2015 21:24:55
Jred do you think there was something going on or do you think Giggs and LVG were just caught on camera at a bad moment?

05 Mar 2015 22:38:38
Jmb
No idea to be honest .
Did giggs want a more attacking sub, had lvg just passed wind ?

06 Mar 2015 00:41:25
Does make sense JRed about the sub. When your chasing a goal and you have a top front man on the bench but opt to bring on a defensive player that would irk me as well.

Then again maybe he did just pass wind and this is all conjecture.

05 Mar 2015 10:38:28
I think last night was the clearest sign yet that DDG is leaving in the summer and being replaced by Krul.

I'd be checking LVG's phone records!

Only kidding, but in all seriousness I hope to God we don't replace DDG with him, not sure who would be worse Krul or Valdes?

05 Mar 2015 11:08:54
Asmir!

05 Mar 2015 11:15:36
I think Valdes was initially overrated and then directly underrated after he was linked to us and then joined us.

To be honest he is not on the level of DDG but he is a pretty decent GK with tons of experience at the top level and I would take him over Krul.

05 Mar 2015 12:09:43
I agree with MB completely. I don't think Valdes is currently at DDG's level but he is far from a poor keeper. The only thing I disliked about him at Barca was his inability to command the area when coming for crosses and some of his decisions were poor. But if you eradicate those errors he is a fine and capable goalkeeper.

MBD - Also I agree mate. Cannot believe Stoke have held on to Begovic this long!

05 Mar 2015 09:38:09
What does everyone make of the Van Gaal celebration and Giggs lack of celebration. Van Gaal was obviously made up with the goal and the club have no doubt told him that top 4 is a must for him, however, Giggs looked totally and utterly peed off. I am sure Giggs wanted to celebrate but i think he didn't for a reason and i think that reason is because he doesn't agree with the way Utd are playing or dislikes Van Gaal (Or Both). Van Gaal grabbed Giggs's face as if to say "Told You So" which would have really pissed me off. Can't see that partnership next season, but who will leave ?

05 Mar 2015 10:27:00
I thought the same. I watched a bit of his interview (Giggs) before the game and he mentioned his job is mainly to tell LVG about the history of teams and what to expect when we go to away grounds. Well the history is kind of irrelevant, and our record award is not good at all.

I think the board were that adamant that Giggs remain part of the set-up that LVG has just left him to rot, so naturally when we get a lucky break last night despite Giggs probably saying we need to attack not settle for the draw, it kind of made Giggs look inept. Just guessing, but it was a jammy goal of course and for LVG to act how he did it shows the pressure was on and it's like somebody putting all their money on Red 36, it lands and they act like they are amazing saying "I told you so!" Would irk me if I were Giggs, even though we won - Giggs is all about attacking at pace, he will be hating this just as much as Scholes is.

05 Mar 2015 11:40:46
Last year Giggs was'nt happy with Moyes, this year he's not happy with LVG .

Seems the only way to sort this is either give him the managers job or get SAF back

05 Mar 2015 11:59:54
When we scored last night I was celebrating like a mad man, every United fan should have been, that win last night was so important the way the other games were going, the 3 teams around us were playing at home to the bottom 3, we had a tricky away game, and it was so important that we won. I don't really understand why Giggs wasn't happy, and if he wasn't then he is in the wrong job.

05 Mar 2015 12:09:19
Or let go of the Giggs dream for 10 years and send him to get some worthwhile experience elsewhere.

05 Mar 2015 12:15:01
Beast don't say it was a 'Jammy goal' mate, you may get into trouble. We had so much possession and would have definitely broke the deadlock last night had their keeper not gifted us the win . . .

05 Mar 2015 12:44:15
I was in full fist punching the air mode so much so that Mrs redman took a few steps away. I can only assume lvg was the same?

Maybe giggs suggested ADM stayed on? Maybe LVG had said the goal would come before long? Or maybe just maybe he was just really happy our efforts to score and win paid off?

Having said all that it could of just been giggs shocked of the emotion displayed by lvg that he showed no involvement in the celebration.

Either way I particularly liked the embracing at the end for every player after the game.

There has been signs over the last few games that maybe everyone is starting to get to grips with the 'philosophy'.

05 Mar 2015 13:15:35
Me to Cris, my wife thought I was having a heart attack! And she was downstairs watching film at high volume and even then she heard me shouting and screaming.
I thought we played well and controlled the game, 68% possession away from home and we created a lot of clear cut chances which we should have put away. Having said that, they should have had a clear penalty. But overall, rooney twice, Fellaini and Young missed simple chances while Newcastle had one clear chance.
My annoyance last night was our ex players in the form of Savage, Scholes and Owen, telling us all that we were total rubbish. It really is getting a bit boring when ex players have some kind of issue. We controlled the game throughout last night, and if we had our shooting boots on, we would have scored 3 goals.
I watched West Ham hammer chelsea for the last 30mins and should have had a few goals, Qpr did similarly against Arsenal, and Spurs were also lucky to scrape through with a win after Swansea hit the bar and had a very clear chance cleared late on. So how come we are the only ones who are labelled lucky? The only team which won convincingly last night was Liverpool unfortuantely.

05 Mar 2015 14:34:06
I woke the little 'un up from the other side of the house and on a different floor, when we scored, the mrs was well pleased :-). I thought we were letting the scousers get level and Arsenal move away so the goal was a huge relief. On the Giggs thing, I think he needs to move on at the end of the season, whether LVG is here or not. Yes he is a club legend, but if he ever does want a chance of the managers job, he needs to get experience elsewhere to prove himself first.

05 Mar 2015 14:34:47
Scholes, Owen, Savage and the rest of the plastic media can go do one. I have lost all respect for Scholes. It is one thing having an opinion, but he is digging the knife in deep.

Come on Man Utd, prove all those cretins wrong!

05 Mar 2015 15:56:07
Scholes a cretin ???
Sam hold your head in shame

05 Mar 2015 16:26:15
So Sam, one of the greatest players ever to pull on a Utd shirt, a guy who could have went to any team in the world but chose to stay at Utd for his entire career, is now a 'cretin' for expressing his opinion that our team might not be playing the best football that we've ever seen?

Let's face it, he's only saying what a lot of fans are thinking about our performances to date, and remember, he has something to compare our current football to - Utd teams that played some of the most exciting, attacking football that you'll ever see. Maybe he's just a little disappointed, as a fan as well, at how far the club have gone downhill since those heady days.

Should he just play the game, and get a job doing VIP visits at Old Trafford, a bit of MUTV, and travelling with the team on a pre-season tour for a bit of PR work. Savage and the rest, I take with a pinch of salt, but Scholes' opinion is always worth listening to, whether you agree with it or not.

05 Mar 2015 16:53:46
Scholes is one of my favourite ever players, he has every right to criticize if he feels we warrant it, which we have a lot of times this season.

He will never be nothing short of a legend much like Keane to me Sam buddy. I understand where your coming from in terms of constant digging but we have to understand he has played in some amazing teams with amazing players, so he expects the best as that is all he can gauge United with.

05 Mar 2015 19:59:32
I understand that Chris, but I would have thought that he would have been a little bit more clued into the the fact that we have basically assembled a new team this season, and appointed a manager that has a certain way of playing; the pressure the manager is under to get the team into the top four. All those things - along with the injuries - have had an impact on the side. It has not allowed for a settled team. The manager, IMO, as thus decided to work on a game to game basis, picking a side and formation that has the best chance of picking up the three points.

I am almost certain that next season the team will be much more balanced and perform on a consistent basis. The signs are there now IMO. Add a few more top players to key positions, and we are ready to rock and roll.

We are in a good position at the moment. I just think that the level of criticism should be toned down, and everyone involved with the club should get behind the team and manager, considering the phase of the season we are entering and the importance of our next league 11 games.

05 Mar 2015 20:07:57
Nou, all this about Scholes playing with the best etc, is one thing; but this United side is a new side. It has been together less then one year. How can he compare it to the teams he has played in? Seems illogical if you ask me. Sure, if the current side had been together for a few season and was playing like it was I could understand; but it hasn't. Also, Scholes played for a manager who has a certain way of playing. LVG is the polar opposite to SAF in terms of how he likes his teams to build up. So Scholes see's the game in a certain light. What he see's is a unite team playing unlike any united team he has ever played in.

At the end of the day, I am just sick of hearing all the negative crap. I don't think it is warranted in the slightest. Not while we are still in with a very good chance of finishing in the top 4 and lifting the FA cup. Totally counter productive. Do you think the players here this stuff and value the constant put downs from ex-players?

05 Mar 2015 20:45:37
Sam
I would imagine the players would value the input of scholes .

05 Mar 2015 21:06:14
So Herrera and Blind will take heart from hearing Scholes has said that they are basically not good enough for United?

05 Mar 2015 22:02:03
Sam
If they can't take it they won't make it, they also wouldn't be where they are now .
What did he say about herrera (who i rate) and blind, who i'm far from convinced is good enough for the very top .

05 Mar 2015 22:58:33
Sam, he has high standards. There's nothing wrong with that. That's what helped make him the player he was.

He's not employed by the club, and he's constructive with his criticism. If players or LVG haven't got thick enough skin to take a bit of criticism from someone who knows what he's talking about, then it says more about their brittle mentality than anything else. Hardly the strong-minded individuals you'd like to have playing for your team.

And he most certainly is not a cretin.

05 Mar 2015 23:59:49
And can I just say. Me and jred are not sitting beside each other while we're posting!

06 Mar 2015 00:27:24
The term cretin was a bit strong and apologies to those who took offense. I just am a passionate supporter and don't like all the knocks the club are taking at the moment.

Of course Scholes has high standards. He was a great player; one of the greatest to have worn the red shirt. But I would have thought he and others might have a little more perspective with regards to the circumstances and context of what has happened to the club over the past 18 months. That is just what I think anyway.

06 Mar 2015 06:22:17
Sam

Thats rich, thinking you have a better perspective than a guy who has played at the highest level, won everything and been praised by the likes of Xavi and Zidane and probably has 10 times more insight than any one us at what is going on. But hey he is an idiot and you know better.

06 Mar 2015 09:36:52
Sam, don't worry about it. We've all been guilty on here of saying something exaggerated for effect or to make a point. It's easy with hindsight to pull someone up on it.

06 Mar 2015 13:54:22
LOL GCU

Didn't you know I was a football Oracle?

05 Mar 2015 06:32:22
For a bit of fun, looking at Ed002's list of possible summer targets, who would you like to see us sign?

I'd go Clyne, Hummels, Vidal and Strootman (if 100% fit) or Carvalho if not, Depay and or Griezman (ok I know he ain't on the list but 26 goals last year and 14 already this) for a winger/forward is impressive. 6 players its a big ask.

05 Mar 2015 09:04:31
N'Golo Kante or Allan Marquez instead of strootman and vidal. I must say i have a soft spot for Pastore. Too bad none of these names seem to be on our radar.

05 Mar 2015 09:34:34
I'd go
1)De Bruyne
2)Depay
3)Lacazette
4)Cabaye
5)Coleman
6)Varane

05 Mar 2015 12:18:42
IMO:

Laporte
Depay
Danilo
Lewandowski
Pogba

05 Mar 2015 14:39:35
I'm going for Prunier, Bellion, Poborsky and if De Gea leaves then I'd definitely try and get Taibi, absolute quality at stopping long range efforts.

05 Mar 2015 19:07:54
1.hummels 2.coleman 3.depay 4.vidal 5.lewondoski

06 Mar 2015 06:31:38
Varrane or Marquinho would be my top choice before Hummels. Coleman or Clyne all day at right back and no guessing with either and proven entities in the league.

Midfield Pogba obviously ticks all the boxes and right winger would have to be Bale. Lacazztte or Dyabala

Another 200 million outlay needed and probably get about 80 to 90 million for selling players in Mata, Evans or Jones, Chicaritto, Nani, RVP, Rafael.

All Disneyland stuff obviously LOL.

05 Mar 2015 05:15:20
With Carrick back to fitness, I think United should play Carrick and Blind in midfield and drop Herrera.
Both of them can pass the ball to our wingers fairly quick, and we could play Carrick as a quarterback and Blind just a bit in front of him.
Our problem lies in creativity and a combo of Carrick and Blind ensures that along with good defensive strength.
I would drop Herrera, largely because he is good and can run with ball, but he can't do what Scholes or Carrick did, switching up play so fast.

05 Mar 2015 08:25:41
Quarterback?

I can see this post going down well!

05 Mar 2015 09:07:53
LOL GDS2, maybe it will fly under the radar and get a free pass! :P

05 Mar 2015 09:49:18
Oh, dear God. Quarterback.

05 Mar 2015 09:52:09
Not sure I agree as we would have a lack of pace and energy. Why can't we play all 3? Carrick can sit in front of the CBs and distribute whilst Blind and Hererra play a Ms up and down. In simple terms, last night's team but Carrick instead of Fellaini. This gives us an extra man in midfield and 1 up front, and we still retain 2 wide players.

05 Mar 2015 10:36:45
AJH the problem we have we playing 1 up front is Rooney always drops to receive the ball but nobody runs on ahead of him so we always have to pass backwards this could be improved if AdM And Young were to swap wings

05 Mar 2015 10:37:05
Our problem is we don't score enough Touch Downs.

05 Mar 2015 11:11:32
On point Betty! On point!

05 Mar 2015 11:18:42
And our dee-fence is rubbish.

05 Mar 2015 05:02:16
Anyone else noticed how LVG seems to be relaxing a little more recently? Hopefully a sign that he's growing into the job, maybe its because he ditched his mate Phil, who knows.
Anyway I'm off to the greatest city in the world for a couple of days, Amsterdam. Hope you guys n gals can play nice while I'm gone.
:-)

05 Mar 2015 09:50:09
Where else would a hippy turtle go? :)

05 Mar 2015 10:30:41
Maybe LVG has been visiting Amsterdam recently as well Herbie. Enjoy mate.