Manchester United Banter Archive January 06 2013

06 Jan 2013 23:32:03
So there's a lot of Lewandowski talk on here. Theres also plenty of talk about wingers, AM'er, CM'ers, LB's and even the odd CB.

If everyone got their wish, between now and the summer we would sign a LB, CB, 2 x CM'ers, LWF/AM & ST.

That's 6 positions in total and wholly unlikely, as we all know. I'd bet we will make only 3 major signings between now and next season, going off previous form etc.

So my question is, out of those 6 positions which 3 would you choose to purchase? And no, you can't sell players to bring in more as I just don't think it's realistic that we'll make so many changes. Evolution not revolution, and all that.

I'd pick a LB (Baines), CM (Strootman/Bender) and LW/AM (Isco/Ozil/Rodriguez).

Which would likely see the end of Nani and Evra, with Giggs and Scholes to retire.

Which 3 positions would you strengthen?

Gav

Ps. personally I think it puts the Lewandowski talk in perspective as I just can't see us making 4 or 5 major changes in one hit. It could be at the expense of strengthening one of these other positions.

Jonathan Tah
A. Vadillo
Sven Bender

TJ

Mine would be CM ( Vidal as 1st choice, Then Strootman/ Sandro/ Bender), a left back ( Alex Sandro/ Baines ) and an attacking midfielder who is equally comfortable left or right in a 4-2-3-1 ( Isco, Goetze, Ronaldo... )

Mick

I would like -

Kevin Strootman
Leighton Baines
James Rodriguez

George

I think there will only be two signings on top of lewandoski.

"I think there will only be two signings on top of lewandoski"

And that's exactly what I'm worried about, why spend time and money bringing in a forward when the squad would benefit more from a LB, CM (at least one ) and a LW/AM?

G

06 Jan 2013 22:48:01
Guys what about us signing frank lampard for 2-3 years he can do it week in week out proven in Europe consistently reaches double figures in goals and knows the league inside out. If we are looking for a quick fix then why not frank? Surley he cost 10 million at the most?

Caolán.

Other than the fact he is on his way down and has been poor for a year (apart from the last 2 weeks) why would he want to come to us?

What more can he win with us that he hasn't won with Chelsea? We can't just have him because we want him he has to sign for us. I would imagine he wants a new challenge and wouldn't disrespect the Chelsea fans by signing for a rival. And could you imagine him living up north? Me either.

GDS

But we already have Rooney, Kagawa for this position. If we're going to buy another AM'er I'd rather we get someone younger, faster and more agile/technical.

Gav

Why would we pay 10m for a 34 year old who's contract expires In June? T45

Are you joking?

Sydney!

06 Jan 2013 22:17:02
I love all the fans on here who love up Valencia but say how inconsistent Nani is....

Surely Valencia is one of the most inconsistent players in the team. Played well for around 10 games last season and since then has been one of the most boring, unimportant players on our team. Has played more games than Young, Rooney etc. but yet produced absolutely nothing.

Maybe its just me who doesn't see that he is "a world class midfielder" kick it to the touchline and cross it was his game and he doesn't even do that anymore.

RedKnight

Do you want the definition of the word inconsistent?

GDS

Do elucidate GDS !!!!!!
Steve

06 Jan 2013 23:18:44
completely agree, some people seem to hate nani that much that they are blind and kid thereselves into believing valencia is some how worthy of playing right wing.

I disagree.. Valencia has been consistently bad all season!

Flash.

Apologies, I did mean to write a bit more to be honest but had to do something.

Valencia has been consistently bad this season, nani has spells where he is class and then spells where he is dreadful, that's why people say he is inconsistent. Unfortunately with nani he is dreadful more than he is class these days.

Valencia can still get back to his form of old, it's only been 4 months of him playing badly and some of that time he has been injured, and still is if reports are to be believed. Maybe we should be giving him credit for taking one for the team and playing through injury until nani gets back as we have no one else for his position. Not saying I agree with this, but maybe the manager has asked him to do it?

GDS

Nani is a selfish player where as Valencia is all about the team. You can see it in their play and body language. Nani goes for goal instead of running the clock and Chelsea gets a late pk in the carling cup. It wasn't a league game but typified Nani in a nutshell, scored a great goal and then did a selfish thing that contributed to our defeat.

06 Jan 2013 20:44:18
Jred, you clearly haven't seen enough of him mate. I would have him ahead of Rooney, Hernandez & Welbeck as an out and out striker. It's no surprise Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter Milan etc have been keeping tabs on him. The way that Chelsea and Co have been knocked back so to speak gives me that impression that he only has eyes for us. It happened with Kagawa, teams wanted him and inquired, but then their interest waned, was it because they knew he was coming here?

Sydney

what a condescending thing to say
just because i dont think lewandowski will reach the level of falcoa and rvp doesn't mean " i clearly haven't seen enough of him " it means i dont rate him as highly as you.

welbeck as i have said many times before will not make it as first choice striker at united imo how ever he is a good young LOCAL lad who i would like to be given a chance to prove me wrong before we ditch him for the latest fad player, lets leave that to city. For me thats not the united way.

hernandez does a great job coming of the bench his pace is great against tired legs and i like the role he plays for us, we bought him relatively cheap and I can see him improving .Again i think buying young talent and developing them is fergys and united way, rather than buying a young player and flogging him after a couple of years while he is still improving.

rooney well its interesting to see you say better as an "out and out striker" as rooney doesnt play that role for us so, like i have said many times i dont see lewandowski as a replacement for rooney as they play a different role.

so you think fergy wants lewandowski, even tho you cant possible know that.
and that lewandowski will be as good as falcoa and rvp, fine you might be right

i dont think he will reach the level of them two .
i wont pretend I know what fergy is planning.
and i dont think we need lewandowski.


rant over ( feel better now)
jred

Calm down Jred, stress at your age cannot be good for the heart. Didn't mean to come across condescending, I just think he is a quality player and have seen a lot of him so can see that. I did have a sneaky feeling you would get irate once I mentioned Rooney, you always do ;)

Sydney!

Syd
not really I just thought it was disrespectful, but I've had a long day
jred

Have you watched a lot of Bundesliga Jred? A lot of Dortmund over the past two seasons? I have done so I can see the talent the lad has, if you have watched him closely for 18 months like I have then you must have seen it too. I would be incredibly p1ssed off if Chelsea or City signed him. Dzeko was the bee's knee's when he was in Germany, but Lewandowski is much better and will only improve.

Sydney!

I've seen enough, he's not a bad player but not a patch on falcoa imo
over the last 18 month if I had a choice of any Dortmund player it would of been gotze or kags to be honest

so you would be gutted if he went to city but that's football I will be gutted if isco goes to Chelsea I was gutted when Martinez moved to munich but you can't sign them all.
like I've said I have no idea what fergy has planned and won't pretend I do, but at this moment in time I'm quite happy with our front 4 for reasons I've gone over many times,
if we sign him great if not well I will just have to support the players we have

and with that it's bed
jred

The German league has also progressed a lot since Dzecko left, hes not a patch on Falcao you say, maybe that's because hes 2 1/2 years younger. He is much more developed all round than Falcao was 2-3 years ago.


Anon

Goetze would be a class addition.

Sydney!

Goetze is the best german player of his generation and at his age is incredible. Not just good but also very intelligent with his decisions which is quite rare for a guy at his age.

Unfortunately, we will never get him as they will build that team around him and don't see them selling him unless he wants to come and that is very unlikely.

Shahram

Reus is also a top player, and hummels i would take both them before lewandowski
jred

06 Jan 2013 20:34:21
Fairly big debate about Lewandowski on here, should we, shouldn't we? Well, the way I see it, he is a world class striker and in a couple of years he will be spoken about amongst the likes of Aguero etc. Obviously are pretty full up in the striker department. However think two years down the line, Welbeck might not have reached his full potential, Rooney has dropped back into midfield and RVP is getting old. Add to that Lewandowski is the ideal replacement for RVP, but he's signed for a top club and is worth £40 million. How would you feel?

RVP will need replacing in a couple of years time - is it not a good idea to sign his replacement now while he is unbelievable value instead of shelling out silly money in a couple years time for someone. Lewandowski would be a player for now but also a player for the future which we can add to the list of the likes of Smalling, Powell, Jones etc...

The other benefit of course is keeping RVP fresh by more rotation. Hernandez is class but offers something different and Welbeck isn't the full package. Lewandowski would fit seemlessly into the side and do as good a job as RVP. He could line up a longside him with Rooney or Kagawa behind him.

What are your thoughts of my arguments lads?

Fresh!

My thoughts exactly Fresh.

Sydney!

I think fergy will improve other areas before he starts to worry about the strongest area of our team.
if we use Lew to rotate with Rvp where does that leave Chica welbeck.

but who knows
jred

06 Jan 2013 21:15:13
i agree it makes sound financial sense. I just wouldn't fancy the selection headache

None of us know what is going to happen this summer regarding Rooney. He will have less than two years on his contract when the new season is away and after his performance in 2010 it's highly unlikely the club will let him go into the new season without agreeing a deal. Unless there is a further year option on his contract similar to the Berbatov deal he will need to agree a deal this summer. If he plays hardball (highly likely) then will the club cash in on him? Have the club been getting ready to cash in on him by buying Kagawa and RvP? Is Lewandowski the final part of the striking puzzle for Rooney's departure? Plenty of what ifs, but one way or another Rooney's United career will be decided this coming summer.

Sydney!

Or he could be happy at club and happy with his present deal.
I would agree with"nobody knows what's going to happen this summer regarding Rooney"
jred

Sydney;
Fergie will be buying no one at the end of the season, signings will be left to the new manager.
Fergie is having one last throw of the dice, he's kept Giggs and Scholes, spent big money on Van Persie with little sell on value...but a masterstroke in my opinion for short term gain. He's kept to many over age players when in the past he would have been blooding new younger players in. Utd will win the EPL this season but there will need to be a lot of re building next season.
Although Utd make big profit how much are the Glaziers prepared to put in. The trend in the Premierdhip is to lower wages and cut costs a trend I think Utd will have to follow in the near future.

Bobbinred

Obviously no idea on Rooney. He has already stated he will finish his career at united, ferguson loves him, the other players love him, the true fans love him. Ok he may not be scoring like ronaldo or messi or even rvp, but the work ethic and what he does for the team is second to none, anywhere. He would walk into any other team including barca and Madrid so why sell? Look how we play without him, slow, no linking up and no vision, just long ball and iffy crosses by the wingers who have yet to shine, when Rooney plays he takes people with him, if you go to the matches, you would see what he does rather than just what the tv wants to show.

Sorry but Welbeck will never be true united quality. I agree with everything else you say and at a different team, villa, Newcastle, west ham he would be terrific but he just hasn't got it for us. Don't get me wrong, would love to eat my words but fergie is not sentimental and neither am I.

No name - "true fans love him" re. Rooney. How old are you, seriously? I'm guessing under 12.

StevieK

StevieK

Classic, LMAOF

Shahram

06 Jan 2013 20:04:46
I believe bender and subotic have signed long term deals with dortmund.
Karni

06 Jan 2013 19:16:09
Brendan Rogers has said the officials did a great job in their game today, did he say that with a straight face. That was a robbery, if we had gotten those calls today the media would be calling for an investigation. However, because it's everybody lovable losers Loserpool there is no outrage.

Its because most of the "pundits" & "experts" in the media are ex Liverpool players. Whilst the majority of ours go on into management theirs go and infest tv studios. They are hardly going to criticise anything involving their old club.

BR talks out of his ar*e most of the time, mid table manager for a mid table team.They should be ashamed of being outplayed by a non league team and had to cheat to win it.
Oh well RVP will tear their defence a new hole next week, can't wait.

Red Daz

In every BR interview he mentions that Liverpool are a massive club, a huge club, blah blah blah. I have never seen so much PR going through a manager in my life. It's desperate and very needy IMO.

Sydney!

Used to like rodgers wen he was with the swans then he left for the rubbishpool and now hes started talking rubbish. rubbish to rubbish

He is a puppet on John Henry's string.

It's almost as cringey as City paying film stars to watch their games.

Sydney!

06 Jan 2013 21:46:19
did city really do that?

Lets wait for sunday eh

tom lfc

Tom Cruise, but he was on the phone everytime the camera went to him!

Snakey

Wilshire??? The most overrated player in the prem, have not seen him do anything that sets him apart from the rest. Would have cleverly any day

Sydney

John Henry is actually a decent owner as I have supported the Boston Red Sox since I was kid and if their approach to managing liverpool is the same as the Red Sox, I Think the senior executives and managers at liverpool are a joke and have screwed thing up royally and not the ownership.

Shahram

Shahram, and who employs the senior executives? Listen I am not criticising John Henry, just saying that BR is a puppet on JH's string. He is his PR b1tch.

Sydney!

Syd

The Henry's are just like any owners of a business and hire executives who are supposed to be capable. In this case they have hired persons and the club is paying for it.

Shahram

06 Jan 2013 18:40:31
On last night's game, I was very impressed with Welbeck in the first half, his link up play was excellent, he tracked back and contributed to counter attacks. The only thing that winds me up about him is that for a striker he seems to HATE getting in the box!

He always stays outside the box or ends up in the wing which frustrates me alot! In the second half he faded and went out of the game a bit.

Oh, and was I the only one to to start shouting things when Valencia fired the ball 30 yards over in the 94th minute?

Hoppy

06 Jan 2013 18:16:06
Has the scouse onslaught started ? Great tales of how they 'handled' the threat of mighty Mansfield - world take note

N.I Devil

06 Jan 2013 18:08:48
Who does everyone think is our best defender? And please no one say Evans! FREDO

Currently Rafael but if everyone was on form it would be Vidic by a country mile.

AvidDevil

Smalling is our best defender IMO.

Sydney!

FREDO, I've taken issue with posters calling each ther names but you sir are a troll. Please sod off.

AJH

This season Evans.

Jay-c

Evans and Rafael this season. I don't care what you say, against west ham Evans was class, he's so composed on the ball. Lets face it anyone can see that Rafael is playing his best football for United yet, lets hope for more to come.

Covey

06 Jan 2013 18:49:05
If we're going on form Evans.

Smalling will definitely be our defender in the near future possibly the best defender in the BPL as well

AvidDevil

FREDO

Apologies, I thought you were being deliberately provocative again. I misunderstood your post.

AJH

FREDO - I think they are all much of a muchness. Vidic USED to be good but he is now at the same level as the rest

Puzzled

Puzzled you mean they are miles ahead of Agger-Doh, Skittle and Get Ya Coates....

06 Jan 2013 17:45:11
Just want to say it is an absolute disgrace if this game stays 2-1. I'm sick of rubbishty officials making mistakes like this .
SUAREZ = cheat

Jay-c

I think you're being extremely polite. If I'd typed Suarez = and entered my choice word the modulators wouldn't have let it through!
RedSince68

06 Jan 2013 16:26:19
This is just for you Kloot....

Tom Cleverly:
Games - 49
Goals - 7
Pass % - 90.4%
Yellow - 2
Red - 0

Jack Wilshire:
Games - 61
Goals - 2
Pass % - 87.7%
Yellow - 13
Red - 2

Not bad from young Tom, eh?

MPez

06 Jan 2013 16:37:54
Nice try at comparing a class player who you can actually see has class with Tom fricking Cleverly. Geez give me a break ffs.

Stoner

I would still have wilshire to be hhonest I think he has a much bigger impact on a game
jred

MPez, I don't doubt your figures but how many of Cleverley's passes were clinical through balls that set up goals? I don't want to do him down and in time he may become a great player but right now, Wilshire is a far better player.

AJH

I'd like to see an assist stat included in this comparison to quash all complaints

AvidDevil

06 Jan 2013 17:16:21
Wilshire for most of the game today looked average. He has potential but he's not going to realise it with so many average players around him. Arsenal are nowhere near the side they were a decade ago. Cleverley is doing well and playing with good players around him will only help him.

AJH, Wilshere is the better player right now, he will probably end up being the better player when we look back in hindsight, but he is not far better. I personally think Cleverley and Wilshere are playing for the wrong clubs. Wilshere suits our game more and Cleverley suits AW's style more. Like I have said many times, Wilshere is naturally gifted, Cleverley works hard to get where he is. One thing for sure is that Cleverley will end his career with more medals and honours than Wilshere.

Sydney!

06 Jan 2013 17:26:07
stoner will you be saying that when young jack jumps ship because he has ambition? I'm sure he'd look good in a midfield alongside cleverley and kagawa with van persie ahead.

06 Jan 2013 17:50:04
No we bring Kagawa into it, another player yet to prove himself in the epl, he also has to be the first to prove that any Japanese player can cut it over here.

Sydney, I don't see Citeh buying Cleverly anytime soon.

Stoner {Ed004's Note - I don't see united selling to city any time soon so that's pointless..}

06 Jan 2013 17:55:03
Oh nearly forgot, average players no name, just run by the class that Cleverly is currently playing that will change him for a ball carrier into a class player. Sorry I can't hear you.

Stoner

Ok how about Carrick, Rooney and van Persie for 3

06 Jan 2013 18:28:54
Stoner. Stoner. Please don't blow a gasket. Thought the post was for KLOOT. I guess its only right for you to support the only bright thing in Arsenal's rather bleak future. Just saying.
PeeBoaiy

If Van Persie is an average player and carried your team the entirety of last season, what does that make the full arsenal team then?

AvidDevil

Stoner, you best hope we do not take him like we took RvP off of you.

Arsenal = Selling club.

Sydney!

06 Jan 2013 18:52:51
Sydney it really is no wonder someone on here said you don't know your ap*e from your elbow.

Stoner

Stoner, you are clearly just bitter that we took a quality player from you, and the quality you have lost has not been replaced.

You are fighting a loosing battle mate, the results in the league tell a story, and your team are just not up there anymore. Stop pretending you can compare Arsenal with United, you can't do it anymore. Come back when Arsenal are a top 2 club.

Covey

06 Jan 2013 18:44:08
Ed004 the wasted joke was him moving to Citeh to win medals, obviously they also wouldn't buy anybody that average, Tevez of course a different matter as Ronaldo when or if he comes back.

Stoner

AvidDevil - you mean like he is carrying YOUR team this season?

Puzzled {Ed004's Note - And what is Suarez doing at Liverpool then...other than cheating}

06 Jan 2013 19:18:54
I'm not comparing Arsenal with Utd, the table doesn't lie and I'm not one for trying to convince anybody any different as much as I'd like to.

If and when we get our 5h1t together than maybe once again I will.

Also have no snags with RVP going to you, if that's what our board consider good business then they probably rate Cleverly too.

Stoner

Stoner, running out of things to say are we?

On your way now, early bath for you son.

Sydney!

ED004 the poster was talking about RVP which is why I spoke about the same person. Strange that YOU feel the need to talk about Suarez - a little insecurity perhaps?

Puzzled {Ed004's Note - I was just thinking its a bit hypocritical to call us a one man team when Liverpool rely on Suarez more than we rely on Van Persie that's all...}

06 Jan 2013 19:41:13
Dear oh dear Sydney, for someone who spends his life on here recycling to same old dross. Come on man sure you could do so much better with all that free time on your hands.

You are obviously worried, what about one can only wonder, life being so rosey at old Trafford.

Chin up poppet. Life's good.

Stoner

Puzzled, bit rich to be talking about insecurity when your next top scorer has 5 goals.. and is a midfielder (and 32).

Covey

Puzzled,

RVP isn't carrying our team at all, if he gets injured we still have three strikers that can score goals for us. Also all of our players are scoring goals for us not just RVP.

Where would Liverpool without Suarez? Sure they now have Sturridge now but he is nothing special. Every time Suarez goes down from a tackle you can sense the fear from the Liverpool supporters as they know what will happen without him.

AvidDevil

Stoner, like you have said the table doesn't lie.

Life is pretty Rosie as a United fan.

Sydney!

If cleverley and wiltshire were in the same united team cleverley would be cleaning his boots

06 Jan 2013 15:55:03
As you all saw yesterday kagawa is not strong enough for english football and he cant keep up with the pace. His passing was awful and he gave the ball away on numerous occasions in dangerous positions. We NEED another midfielder someone like Fellaini! FREDO {Ed004's Note - Oh Jesus ......}

LOL, Plonker!

Sydney!

Are you taking the p*ss?

Snakey {Ed004's Note - I hope so...}

HA!!

Patzi

Sadly I don't think he is taking the p1ss. Well down Fredo, a balanced view of a new signing, you should get a job as a pundit.

AJH

Total ba**ocks
Onecu

06 Jan 2013 16:41:36
fellaini over kagawa its like comparing katy perry to katie price.

If anything our style of play is too slow for him, person.

06 Jan 2013 16:59:06
like having a porsche and trading it in for mondeo...

For a short period he dropped deeper when Scholes went off, he's a little lightweight but I think in the second half of the season he will get better. A fantastic player who is everything Felliani is not. But fine if you want us to develop a refined rugby kicking game them fellaini is your man and get rid of those "softies" rooney and Kagawa.

Supasub

Wait¦ are you making a judgement on a player who's just come back from injury?

Can't give an opinion until he's played at least 5 games after recovery. I thought he was bright in Rooney's absence early on in the season.

Philiphs93

Just to clear things up i was just joking and saying the things everyone else says when someone has a bad game! FREDO

I'm not sure you were lol

GDS

Liar! Hahaaaa

06 Jan 2013 15:14:50
Can anyone remember Fergie's statement...

"Inzaghi was born offside"

Looking at all the commends about Hernandez and it reminded me.

ALDUtd

06 Jan 2013 14:42:40
Valencia is having a bad season. No denying that but I think he'll get back on track soon. Still, feeling that Brady is gone it's a bit of money for a move for hopefully Isco or Zaha.

06 Jan 2013 15:08:18
im afraid i dont share your view and dont think we will ever see the best of him again. he has shown nothing that hints he is gettin form back and i think he is just to predictable for defenders

Just a bad run of form, our star man last season. Give him time to rediscover himself, as this does tend to happen to most players at some point.

Patzi

06 Jan 2013 13:17:47
Hi everyone.. can anyone tell me how angelo henriquez played on his debut for wigan??


REDCORE!!

I thought they play on the 15th.

06 Jan 2013 12:57:06
The forgotten man Nani...

The kid returned to training last week and could be the difference coming into the final months of the season. We saw last season when a fresh Carlos Tevez came back and turned City's season around. This could be Nani's time to shine.

2 months out he will come back fresh and hopefully replace the pathetic excuse of a winger in Antonio Valencia. For a winger he must be one of the worst players in the squad at taking someone on, it's not as if he even tracks back anymore very lackadaisical in trying to help Rafa. The majority of the season Rafa has looked more threatening and dangerous than Valencia. Nani could be the different a bit of flare, pace, trickery to beat a man and picking out the crosses and shots we know he is capable off.

Hopefully plays himself into being offered a new contract.

RedKnight

06 Jan 2013 13:22:34
i think nani's well past the age he can be called a kid

06 Jan 2013 13:32:06
Oh do me a favour! Get off his back. Do people expect all our players to be young, world class, multifaceted and always playing in top form?!

Whistler.

This is guetting really boring. There is a reasomn AV7 is playing through injury, because even when injured, he still contributes to the team more than a fit Nani does.

Mick

Mick, I don't think that is fair. The fact that Nani is injured and we have no one else means that only Valencia is really free to play on the right handside. And he is being rested if possible, e.g. playing Rafael there and also Rooney has played there. With Kagawa back I imagine we will play Young and Kagawa more to allow Valencia to recover.

Nani is still an important first team member until we replace him so his performances will impact on how we do in the rest of the season. I just hope that the good Nani turns up.

Fresh!

Mick please tell me exactly wot valencia has offered to the team this season?he runs at a defender does a 360 turn with the ball then passes it either inside or back to the rb!i like valencia but im sorry there comes a point when u have to realise he just not performing at all and it is bad to watch maybe it is the burden of being no7?and this rubbish with him being injured why the hell would saf play him injured there is just no commen sense to that at all

Calvin

Pathetic excuse of a winger? you are a pathetic excuse of a whinger.
Valencia carried us for large parts of last season, Something is clearly not right with Toni at the moment and you can say that he's out of form but to slate him like that is stupid.

Snakey

How has Nani suddenly become the answer whilst he has been injured? He has been very poor every time he has payed. Valencia is having a rough time but I doubt Nani is the answer.

AJH

Anni carried us through 2010/11 more then Valencia did last season, yet everyone seems to have forgotten about that.
He clearly has the bigger potential the Toni, though both are rightly highly regarded when fit.
I believe Toni needs to be given a rest to sort out whatever is bothering him, send him back home for 2 weeks if needed!

Jonny8

Valencia is having a poor season for sure but is twice the player Nani is. How anyone can continue the 'love in' with Nani is beyond me.

Valencia's problem has always been he's too 'fixed' a right winger. And I accept that if we ventured into the transfer market we would for someone who could play either wing or also thru the middle. Lets not forget the great play Valencia has given us in past seasons though. Something aside from about 5 games in as many seasons we cannot say about Nani!

Halesini

Valencia offers all he's got. Most players when struggling with injury sit on the sidelines and wait until they recover. Not Valencia. He runs himself to the ground on every occasion, pulling Defenders wide and running up and down the wing on countless occasions.

He may not offer the same quality as last season, but this is a player strugling with injury and definetly short on confidence.

But he is willing to sacrifice everything in order to help the team. Fergy knows that, and knows that even off form, Valencia is a useful player to have, releasing Rafael from his defensive duties and adding a certain fear factor that makes opposing fullbacks stay behind and not join the attack.

After a deserved couple of weeks rest that he should get right after Nani is in the squad, we will get our Ecuadorian train back, Bulliying his way past defenders and creating countless chances.

Mick

06 Jan 2013 12:29:55
I watch MUTV under 21's & even go to watch the home games live at Moss Lane. I'll also keep a close eye on the young players we send out on loan.

After letting King & Brady leave recently it made me think who else needs to leave to push on with their careers. I think these two will play well in the Championship & also have decent international careers. It seems that it was the right time to move on.

This is my solution for the players below.

AMOS: needs to go back out on loan. We only need one back up keeper Johnstone. As Amos is nearly 23 he could possibly finish the season on loan to push for a move. With a younger keeper already ahead of him he'll always be 3rd maybe 4th choice. SOLD

BROWN: needs to keep doing well on loan to get himself a move. To many better players ahead of him. SOLD

WOOTTON & VESELI: both players contracts run out in the summer. SOLD/RELEASED/COMPO?

VERMIJL, M.KEANE & THORPE: the most promising defenders need to be loaned out next season. Championship then 2nd half of the season a lower Premiership club. LOAN

TUNNICLIFFE & PETRUCCI: they both need to see if they got what it takes to play for United. A full season EPL LOAN, KEEP THE MOST PROMISING AND THE OTHER SOLD.

COLE & LINGARD: both players need to toughen up & in Lingards case bulk up. Div.1 or Championship LOAN TILL JAN 2014.

MACHEDA, COFIE & BEBE: with better & younger players coming through the Academy these players maybe SOLD.

W.KEANE & HENRIQUEZ: with a strong strike force of 4 already at the club Will will get a Championship loan & Henriquez will get an EPL loan. LOANS

GOLLINI, SUTHERLAND, LOVE, BLACKETT, MCCULLOUGH, PEARSON, A.PERERIA, M.DÆLHI, BARMBY, JANUZAJ, WILSON, LAWRENCE: will replace all the player i've suggested go out on loan. They can improve themselves & playe at a higher level than the U18's. ACADEMY TO U21'S.

TJ

Agree with all apart from the Tunnicliffe & Petrucci part. I think both with stay for a couple more years at least. That is IF Petrucci did sign a new deal, I am not certain he did.

Sydney!

06 Jan 2013 12:50:04
TJ good analysis and seems fairly realistic as well. Some of the academy lads seem really good and looking forward to them stepping up. It does look as if the club is starting a bit of a clear out to make room, and good luck to those leaving. Mort

06 Jan 2013 11:43:30
Looks as though the Modric saga is about to raise its ugly head again in the summer. Apparently he wants a move back to the EPL with us Chelsea and Spurs all fighting for his signature. Now, wouldn't this be the typical SAF move? We valued Modric around the £20-25 million mark, he went for £33 million. If he wants out, then Madrid will make a loss on the deal and will probably listen to offers of £20-25 million.

See where I'm going with this? It would be our turn to stick one up the shirt of Levy by signing him for the fee that we wanted to pay, only a year later.

Strootman in January and Modric in the Summer would complete our central midfield with a balance of styles, ages and abilities. Add to that a left back and a forward and we have the potential of a CL winning side:

So signings wise (wishlist tbh):

- Luka Modric £25 million
- Kevin Strootman £18 million
- Leighton Baines £15 million
- Robert Lewandowski £15 million
- Alvaro Vadillo £5 million

That is what I would like to see us do, but I reckon that we might be seeing Zaha on the back of a United shirt very very soon.

Fresh! {Ed004's Note - I reckon we need a Nani replacement to put pressure on Valencia/take pressure off him if he's injured and to keep Young on his toes.}

I imagine that might just be Zaha, but would love to see Vadillo have a chance because he might just take his chances like Ronaldo did.

Fresh!

Strootman would cost half that amount Fresh lad.

Sydney!

That's a lot of new players Fresh. Clearly we need a LB, and midfield remains an area needing major improvement. If we are signing eal quality, I would be happy with LB, CM, and a wide player.

AJH

06 Jan 2013 12:39:17
i like those signings fresh. I do agree ed that we could do with someone to take the pressure of valencia but couldn't we just play young on the right, as he's right footed he might do better, and just sign someone for the left? Mort {Ed004's Note - Yes you could do that aswell}

I think we need 5 or 6 players when you look at the squad as we are going to be losing Scholes, Giggs, possibly Evra, Ferdinand, Nani, maybe Fletcher, Anderson.... There will be a fairly sizeable rebuild which will complete the squad. Then I think we can go back to signing the odd quality player here or there again after this summer.

Fresh!

06 Jan 2013 14:25:07
Miguel Delaney says his United sources say that United feel they are favourites to land Zaha. Of course that means nothing until a signature is on the contract. Zaha has Tweeted that RvP is a different class, many Tweeted back, well sign for us and you can play alongside him ;)

Before anyone asks I am not on twitter, just read one or two profiles.

Sydney!

06 Jan 2013 10:14:49
Who else finds Valencia unbearably frustrating to watch? The guy's decision making is poor and often non-existent. Even when he was on form last season and the one before, he was not champions league standard, too limited.

Right now he is more frustrating than Nani has ever been - but even then, Nani did do a bit of magic now and then. Valencia is apparently playing injured right now though and he is the best option we have, so that is why we are playing him.

Fresh!

We are screaming out for a winger, this is why I think one will sign.

Sydney!

Syd
Your right we are crying out for a winger but what will most likely happen is we will sign someone young with potential and then not play him and loan him out much like powell that atm is our problem we have/buy players and don't give them a chance and I fear this will continue for the forseable future sadly
Onecut

06 Jan 2013 09:54:19
'Fa cup highlights' what an absolute joke, itv are a sham. 'Highlights' all they did was show goals and did no replays, poor effort.


Anon

The full game was on live though

AJH

Yes I know I watched it, but I'm not sure if you know but other teams were playing too...


Anon

06 Jan 2013 09:12:08
Interesting game last night. Watching The great Paul S just makes me smile, what an incredible player.
Kagawa excites me, tough game for him tonight but I do believe he is going to be a great player for us. The more him Cleverley, Rooney, RVP, Chica, Young all play together the better.
Evans is also really starting to impress me, he is growing into a great player, reminds me of Pique.
Anyway, rumour wise the only whisper I keep hearing about is Lewandowski, apparently 'things' are being organised this month to allow for a Summer transfer.
Eds, are you aware of any serious interest from United in a CM?
Thanks,
PJ {Ed004's Note - I haven't heard of any interest in a cm}

Im sure pique was quoted saying something like jonny evans was the best defender he's played with? obviously he must mean on the training ground etc... but i agree, hes playing well and his confidence is improving by the game, top defender :)

Rouge Diablo :)

06 Jan 2013 08:44:16
81st minute. Remember it, fellas.
Valencia crossed with his left foot.
SK.

06 Jan 2013 04:09:16
Only in after another 16 hours having persons pelt me with various types of missile, so didn't see the game.

Was RVP's goal as good as everyone is saying?

StevieK

ps if you watch carefully on the news, you might see some guy in full riot gear standing in a cordon, suddenly break off from the line and break into a moonwalk at around 7pm - that was me with my two earpieces again :)

RVP's goal was sensational, not the goal, the touch from one of the juiciest passes from Ryan Giggs.

Defiantly one of our better goals, to top it off it was in the 90th minute to make it that little better!

-JakeW

It was similar to Suarez's against Newcastle, very few players can kill a ball, control it and score at full pace. Real quality, I jumped out of my seat.

AJH

06 Jan 2013 03:44:36
Hi guys I just wanted to ask you a question, do you think buttner has what it takes to make it as a first choice left-back for united, I think the way he has started his united career is very similar to the way evra started his career here - a bit dodgy but the potential is there to be seen. I really believe that if buttner polishes off his defending then we could have a ver ph very good left back, on the athletic side of things he is very good - great pace, strength, determination etc. I think it's his technical side that lets him down a bit, like I said before if he polishes his skills off and the right coaching is given to him then we could have a world beater, if you can't see at least the potential in him I think you should look at his debut vs Wigan, yes I know it's only Wigan but I don't think he did a single thing wrong - apart from being a bit rash but I think it will disappear with experience, I honestly do believe we have a rough diamond here, just wondering what you guys thought?

I don't post very often...
ShaunMUFC

Patrice wasn't great in his first season and we are only starting to see a decent Rafael now, Fabio still hasn't done it. I think Buettner needs a year to settle in, but he is hardly a risk as we would get back the £3m if he never worked out. He is on a very low salary too.

Sydney!

Shaun
I would agree with a lot of that, it will be interesting to see how he kicks on over the next 12 month
jred

06 Jan 2013 03:11:06
there are huge hypocrites on this page,
after a win there would be people moaning we didnt dominate the midfield and all othe rubbish last night we had 70% of the ball, yes we dominated the midfield, didnt do much upfront and drew, yet we dominated, didnt we .
you clowns need to shut up.

and kloot cleverly would have a glorious carrer with utd, whatever you say is irrelevant

nikz

If Cleverley's goal was the only one scored yesterday people would have a different opinion about him yesterday. With there being three other goals or it being a draw, the opinions are negative. Very strange IMO.

Sydney!

Nike, I've read this several times and I still don't understand your point.

AJH

Nikz I think you mean will have not would have. I AM KLOOT

06 Jan 2013 02:13:58
Problem was today we thought we had a deep squad. Evidently we don't.

West ham are not a good team, our second string should have put them away, strong evidence we need reinforcements.

I hope the diamond is dead, I think that's what we started of with yesterday hard to tell as we were all other the place at times .
can't believe vidic is getting a hard time if his knee holds up to it I would give him a run of games the sooner his back to match sharpness the better.
hope Rooney is back for Liverpool but I doubt it, I think even some of his many critics on this site would like him back for that one.
Valencia is struggling at the moment but I think he will come back although no doubt the sell Valencia posts will start soon .
I think giggs has done ok in his last few games as well.
clevs is doing ok and finding his feet I think his main problem is people on here are expecting far to much of him.
Kags is a good player but is finding it hard at the moment it's far to early to judge him tho, that said like every other player he needs to prove his good enough for United.
still think fergy is rotating the squad well and if we can get every one fit we will reap the benefits later in the season
jred

We have a very deep squad. But a midfield pairing of Scholes and Cleverly was never going to be enough against the power that West Ham had in there. It was selection at fault, not personnel. We will get the job done at OT.

Fresh!

Good post Jred, I also think one or two good signings this winter could spur us on. We are certainly making room for a winger with King, Bebe & Brady gone.

Sydney!

05 Jan 2013 23:43:10
Modric said he is finding it hard to adapt at Madrid and is rumored to want a move back to the PL at the end of the season. Cheeky bid next summer please SAF. :)
Did we actually make a bid last summer Ed?

Dan {Ed004's Note - I am not sure we made a bid but I think he was a player that SAF likes}

Not a player I really rate IMO. If we were to chase this deal for 30mplus IMO we should be looking at Cabaye instead.

I think he is a far better all round player.

Jono {Ed004's Note - I think Modric is a brilliant player and anything under 25 million and he would be a bargain, however, Cabaye would be a brilliant back up option and I think we should try and get one of them}

I'm a huge Modric fan and would love us to sign him. I think creatively he is better than Cabaye. I do like Yohan though and think he'd be a good 2nd option. If we do buy a creative CM though I can't see us getting a more defensive one too. So it would be Carrick with either Modric/Cabaye.

Gav

05 Jan 2013 23:33:30
If Coentrao really is available, I think we should be moving for him. As good on the wing as he is at LB...gives Evra and Young a kick up the a**e knowing he's around!

Andy!

05 Jan 2013 23:31:20
I know we didn't play particularly well today but I think we should give a lot of credit to Sam Allardyce. Got his tactics spot on and underlined our biggest weakness... and that is we're weak, literally. Our diminutive CM's got knocked off the ball all the time. It's still obvious that we need some muscle in the middle.

The shape of the team was wierd and showed that playing without natural wingers doesn't really work without full backs who are prepared to Bomb forward on both sides. This only happened down the right for us, as Buttner was either told not to make the runs, didn't have the confidence or was ignored. This meant we tried to play it through the middle where Sam's men could out muscle us OR down the right where Rafael was marked out of the game and time and time again the ball ended up with Smalling who would simply play it back into the middle as he has pretty much no attacking quality.

But although the result was poor and Fergie will get slammed for his selection there are some positives.

We gave game time to some who really needed it (Kagawa, Buttner, Vidic, W elbeck etc) without risking premier league points.

We rested RVP, Carrick, Young, Valencia and Ferdinand. We cannot play our best players in every match this season we will burn out like Chelsea did.

And lets face it the FA cup is not our priority any more so lets not fret too much. Think of the long run guys!

Kai

Don't give him too much credit, it's what they do every week irrespective of opposition.

For me, we should have a long run in the FA Cup. We haven't won it in a while, and I think this year is a chance for us to win it.


T-O-I