Manchester United Banter Archive June 06 2012

06 Jun 2012 23:33:50
Gone mad on twitter about Strootman signing for Man U in the next 5 days. Apparently some Dutch football reporter has mentioned it.
Probably a load of boll@cks!

Simmo

Don't even use that word.

Hugo Borst was his name, and the fee mentioned was around £11 million

What the word Boll*cks??
Read the post properly!

Simmo

If Ed002 is about, maybe he can shed a little light on this. However it is probably about 4:38am where he is?

Sydney! {Ed002's Note - I arrived back in to England today Syd. I cannot rationalise anything on Twitter Syd. Manchester United have been looking at Kevin Strootman but I do not know of any deal just yet.}

Thanks for your reply Ed.

Sydney!

06 Jun 2012 23:15:38
"I'm guessing Andrew B is around 15.

G.A.G.U.S"

I'm 17, don't put him that close to me, mate ;)

MPez

You're 17 already MPez? ;-)

G.A.G.U.S

Minus 12 and we've hit the nail on the head ;)

MPez

06 Jun 2012 23:13:09
Believe of this what you will, but my dad sits next to Roy keans wife at Wigan rugby(apparently there big fans of rugby league) and she told him that in 2 years sir Alex is retiring, and David beckham is taking over with keans as his assistant! And the reason to this is the board don't believe beckham has the ability to control the players alone, and that's where Roy comes in! This is the reason he's not been in management for a while, because he has an agreement with the glaziers to work at mufc again. I culdnt believe it at first untill my dad showed me the 20 pound each way bet he,d just put on it (and he never gambles) so I guess we'll wait and see!
What does everyone make of it, cos I'm not sure I believe it to be honest.

Graham duggos likkle lad

Bit late for april fools

LOL. 2 great players they once were but if that happened I think my face would melt from shock...

Gav

Haha what do u mean each way? its not horses were talkin about

06 Jun 2012 22:59:57
People, Pogba has not gone anywhere yet! Its bulls**t, there's no news on it just yet, I believe he will go, but he hasnt gone yet! I think his agent is a real A hole, and most agents actually corrupt football for there own welfare. And its beyond a joke now. Is this the best move for Pogba's career? Not at all, Juventus hardly play any youngsters, and they're trying to sign more midfielders as we speak. He'd get alot more game time anywhere else. Its a shame if he does go, because he really does have the potential to be amazing. If he gets played at Juve, then fair play, but I think he's got a better chance at United considering we put an emphasis on youth. We help so many young players to become better players.

06 Jun 2012 22:25:36
well done to melonred for posting the christmas pudding formation. With carrick as the sixpence.

06 Jun 2012 22:20:44
JAVI MARTINEZ next bye enough said.

Next buy or next bye or next bi even?
Invisible STuey

06 Jun 2012 22:07:34
Paul Pogba right up there with all those other mercenaries who infect football. Surprised its Juve considering all the brown stuff they are stuck in, but hey money talks.

I think the club have some good potential in this next batch that are coming through hence why Master Pogba was deemed expendable.

What is with the mentality that anyone who does not stay at, or go to our club is a mercenary. People seem to conveniently forget that Rooney held the club to ransom, yet I never hear him being called a mercenary.

CnM

Be funny if the Italian PM shut down the top 3 tiers of Italian football for 3 years though wouldn't it... Be tough to get more game time then ;)

06 Jun 2012 21:59:02
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36WuTNscEX0

Check this out for a pass, Kagawa is such a classy player. It's good that the shirts sales brigade have quietened down.

Percy

06 Jun 2012 21:20:46
Another thing we seem to be split on is this holding midfielder role, the majority seem to want a strong keano type, the others want a modric/ carrick type and some want both.

I am on of those who want both, my first midfield signing would be m'villa as we don't really have someone like him (even if we keep pogba he has always tried to work his way up the pitch in 1st team games) and then i would take modric or strooman (modric fan).

i also really hope cleverly stays fit all season as he is a fiesty player who will get stuck in yet he can link up play too, i think he is brilliant and i think if we don't sign modric or strooman he can do just as an effective job for us.

m'villa is the player i want next though!

1redarmy

If we were to sign Kagawa, M'Vila and Modric in the same window and then Sold Anderson, Pogba and lost Fletcher to retirement.....we would have replaced them with treble winning players imo....

lewis.no.9

If we managed to get M'vila and a LB, I would be ecstatic. We would be able to dominate next season.

Percy

06 Jun 2012 20:52:25
Regardless of what you tink about berbatov he may be lazy and slow etc.

But he was mistreated and misused last season and we suffered

He was top goal scorer and didn't get a sniff last year, yeah he might of scored only at home but he slowed the game down and made things happen

Plenty of times he was told he would play yet fergie didn't this is simply poor management, I would much rather of had berbatov than welbeck who just runs around like a chicken

Anyway will only get about 5 million now where as last year we could of easily got 15

I agree he was mistreated.

Welbeck has benefited though, I think he will command a first team place this year, his development is gathering pace. I din't think he is a headless chicken anymore..

DodgyBanter

I could be wrong but did we not accept an offer for him last summer and he refused to go ?
Also you are right he is lazy and did only score at home and did slow the game down credit to you then I suppose for stating all that and then making case for him to be in the starting eleven.

However you are wrong.

Devil Dust.

We could have used him in games last year when we needed to control the game I.E Everton being one.

Regardless of playing style he is class sad to see how his carrer went

MUFC1990

06 Jun 2012 20:42:21
------------------DDG------------------

--------Smalling---Vidic---Evans-------

Valencia----------Carrick-----------Bale

------Nani-------Rooney----Kagawa-----

-----------------Welbeck--------------


This is a formation that plays with 3 at the back, with wingbacks. I personally can't think of two better players to play the wingback position than Toni and Bale. They would run all day, and make up the ground. The front 4 can still play with fluidity, but space will be aviaiable on the wings also for ale and Valencia.

Carrick can pull the strings in midfield by himself in this formation IMO, he can pass to the likes of Kagawa, nani, Rooney, Valencia and Bale all around him. When defending, the wingbacks drop back, Rooney sits next to Carrick, and we counter with the pace.

Kagawa- 12m
Bale- 35m

minus approx 20m for Berbatov, Anderson, Macheda, Diouf etc..

Any of the eds like to give me their thoughts on this, would be much apreciated!

MelonRed

The issue with this formation is that Rooney would have to drop into midfield to help Carrick out and we'd be wide open in the middle for teams to.stroll through. I had awhile ago looked into the possiblity of having three at the back with wing backs and I just don't think we have the personel to make it work. I think you also need to have at least two in midfield with a front three floating around making life differcult for our oppersition, but then you lose the wingers to a certain extent and with so many good wingers in our side it seems daft playing a formation where you limited their chances.

Shappy

06 Jun 2012 20:32:27
Here are some interesting stats., plucked from the GiveMeFootball site:-

Eden Hazard: 192 club appearances, 50 goals, 38 assists, Cost £32 million, 28 international caps and 2 international goals.

Shinji Kagawa: 198 club appearances, 86 goals, 45 assists, Cost (upto) £18 million, 30 international caps and 10 international goals.

Now, I do not know what the quality of opposition they each faced in their international matches, but I would have thought that performing well in the German 1st division is a tougher ask than doing so in the French 1st division.

In my opinion therefore, Kagawa looks a better deal than Hazard. Can't wait until next season to see if I am right.
Mike B.

Might aswell say it
114 of his games came in japanese 2nd lge with 50goals and 30 assists
12 in jap main lge 12 games 7 goals
altho his dortmund record aint bad
71 games 29goals 15 assists
hazards is 198games for lille 50goals 38assists

A lot of Kagawa's games and stats there came from the Japanese league.

Still credible, but not perhaps as credible at the French league.

Joe

You should come on the site more often mate that way you will know everyone has been through the stats every day..

1redarmy

06 Jun 2012 20:27:56
There is a lot of talk about Defensive midfielders and who we could sign yet I think something has been over looked. Sir Alex has said that he has never played with a DM and he feels the need for one is out dated and that we won't be in for one. We've had some very combative midfielders in Sir Alex's reign but all have been box to box players not sit deep and break up play type players so players like Yann M'Vila as good as he is I think will be off the menu.

At the start of last season we had alot of success with Cleverley and Anderson in the middle, the only down side was we conceded alot of shots on goal from distance(although at this time it was a widely held belief by the media and our oppersition that De Gea couldn't save long shots, possibly prompting more hit and hope shots from distance rather than working an opening). Anderson is the key to this puzzle, Sir Alex has tried and failed to change Andersons game from an AM/SS to an attack minded box to box player. It hasn't work due to injuries to Anderson and his lack of stamina. Now its reported that Anderson wants out and I wouldn't be against letting him leave even though I think he is hugely talented but just not right for us.

So this leaves us with who will we sign in midfield, to work this out we need to see what we need from that midfielder. Now I think the signing of Kagawa shows that we are likely to line up in a 4231 formation next season with the front four being quick and interchangable thus giving us flexablity and fluidity in attack. So we need the midfield two to be solid defensively, be good passers to feed the front four and have alot of energy and movement as there will be times they are out numbered in midfield.
Carrick is an almost certain starter if you listened to Sir Alex's comments about him. He is solid defensively and has a great passing range but what he is missing is that energy and movement. So I think the player were looking for to partner him has to be full of running, strong in the tackle and has the ability to pass well.

The first name I should mention is Modric who is a brilliant player but maybe not the strong tackler we are looking for, he might be too offensive, this formation requires a solid base and Modric has been bullied out of games before and this formation wouldn't give him any protection. So he could be a expensive gamble.(also i've had enough of paying over the odds for Spurs players. Lol).

Thae player i'd love to see is Nuri Sahin, but we don't seem to have an interest in him.

The best player we could get that fits all the critera is Kwadwo Asamoah, he is full of running, a great tackler, a very good passer and a great reader of the game. We should do what ever it takes to keep him out of the clutches of Juve( plus it'll go some way to making me feel better about losing Pogba to them).

If we do indeed miss out on Asamoah then I think second choice will be Moussa Dembele, who is similar to Asamoah but has prem experiance, the thing that worries me slightly with Dembele is he has spent most of his career in that floating forward role(SS/RW/LW), and has only in the last year or so been played in the centre of midfield, yes he's blossomed there but it's still a concern as he is still learning the position properly.

Other players who could be in with an outside chance but wouldn't quite fit the criteria perfectly are: Strootman, Witsel or Cabaye.

Shappy {Ed004's Note - M'Villa is decent going forward for Rennes, it is just at international level where he is restricted in his forward movement... He is surprisingly very good on the ball for someone who is meant to just be a DM. He is like a better version of Song tbh}

He does have great techique for a defensive player but I thin maybe he stands out more for Rennes coming forward due to the lack of quality around him, with France he has plenty of really quality players around him and he no longer looks as good going forward and is told to play deeper. He could be a good player but i'm not sure he's the one were after. It's like the Martinez thing all over again, people get hung up on one player and maybe become blind to that players limitations, we all get caught up in the buzz and when enough posters say he is perfect we all get swept along with it and start to believe it. Last year everyone thought Sanchez was perfect, then Nasri. This year it was Martinez then Hazard and now M'Vila is starting to gather momentum. Also something i've noticed when watching M'Vila is sometimes.he struggles to get going during agame with vast parts of the game passing him by, sure he is young and learning, but in this formation it is vital that the midfielder don't allow that to happen or we'll be over run in the middle.

Shappy

I know kwadwo asamoah is a good defensive minded midfielder but tbh his tackling is not good. Ive heard it from many sources: his tackling is his biggest weakness, and whenever i have seen him play, he didnt look like sliding into a challenge. Apart from that he is a very good player, a more physical and dynamical carrick
Mick

I would say he is a good tackler but what he suffers from is the same afliction as Scholes in that he flies into some tackles too hard and alittle wild thus making him suseptible to getting booked.

Shappy

I am not sure the manager wants a tough tackling midfielder. IMO the game has moved on from them and it's about intercepting play nowadays. I haven't seen much of Asamoah but what is his ball interception like? I know Strootman can play that role very well.

Sydney!

06 Jun 2012 19:40:53
Lyon have said Aly Cissoko is available for 11m euro. That is £8.9m, I think a deal for around £7m/£8m isn't out of the question. I would prefer Willems or Alaba, but if they fall through I wouldn't mind seeing Cissokho or Izaguirre.

Sydney!

As you know Sydney Bayerns Alaba not Valencias Alba is definitely the best bet but probably difficult to get

Red Man

Red Man, highly unlikely IMO. But Cissokho is available so perhaps if we cannot get Willems we should pay Lyon what they want for Cissokho. I do not want to see Baines arrive.

Sydney!

Valencia alaba is a good player but not a great defender If people have an issue with evras defending they will have an issue with Alaba he will never reach the standards evra set in my opinion
Jred {Ed004's Note - You mean Alba...}

Sure do edd
Jred

06 Jun 2012 19:28:33
from what ive seen of kagawa he looks to be a good signing skillful,great balance good shot and chips in with goals only reservation is will he be too light weight for the pl i know bundesliga is a tough league but the pl is a lot more physical.opinions please

Aguero and Modric have coped with the prem so think kagawa should be alriight. Could be a shaky settling in period and i expect him to get slated on here by the usuals, but think once settled he will be fine.

Might be an idea to sign a teammate to help the settling in process?

Wouldn't mind Honda

06 Jun 2012 19:10:51
I seriously dont think a defensive midfielder will be brought in. i think fergie will give this job to carrick and go for modric.

TRUMORS

I like carrick but he couldnt tackle a bag of crisps
johndenton

Carrick doesn't tackle players, he uses his footballing brain to get into the positions between the next pass thus slowing down the opposition and forcing them to change their game plan or he intercepts it to then start another attack.

He is a great player and is truely undervalued by most United and England fans. Easily the closest thing we have had to a Desailly in recent times.

Paso

06 Jun 2012 18:55:57
why dont people want modric. Just because he doesn't score or assist many, alot of people dont look at his strengths of keeping the ball and the pace of the game. we've got kagawa to pinnch in with the goals and assists and modric can provide the extra stability.
if we could get him for 25mil, i'd go straight in but not for 30mil or above

TRUMORS

I see your point and i also think he is a very good player and for 25mil a good bit of business. i just think our priority should be a more combative midfielder. We have cleverly scholes and carrick who are able to keep the ball
nathan

I'm just not sure he's worth over £25m. I think were we to be able to secure him for that amount and no more, I wouldn't complain - but I feel like for more than £25m we could get someone better.

However, I do understand the reservations based on playing - I make no balms about being a football genius, I often watch games and fail to see the CM do a lot because I see the goals and the last ditch defending and everything else kind of blends together sometimes. I understand that it is difficult to see the worth of players like Modric as I often fail to pay enough attention.

Joe

I think many want an out and out DCM like M'Vila or the likes but we seem to be looking more for possession keeping CM'ers instead.

Me personally, I would of had WS or Vidal over Mods last summer and would still again. Also above him I would have Cabaye, Schweinstiger, Strootman or Thiago for reasons of cost and personal preference.

I would also replace Carrick and Evra if I had my way but that's just me.

-----------De Gea-
Rafael--Smalls--Vida---Izzy-
--------Vidal---Cabaye-
Toni V----Kagawa----Rodriguez-
----------Rooney-

Would be ideal for me personally for around 7+25+20+12+25= 89m minus sales of Berba, Ando, Park, Kiko, Bebe, Norwood(boo), Wootton, James, De Laet to make around 30m and possibly Nani aswell for a further 30m.

So outlay of 60m with keeping Nani or 30m if we sell him.

Jono

"I make no balms about being a football genius, I often watch games and fail to see the CM do a lot because I see the goals and the last ditch defending and everything else kind of blends together sometimes"

I think this is a very valid point made by Joe. And it probably goes for a fair proportion of fans, including me at times when I'm watching non-United games

BUT having made a deliberate effort to watch Modric closely during Spurs games over the past 2 seasons it baffles me how some people slag him off for not scoring or assisting enough....when actually that is Bale, VDV, Lennon and Adebayor's jobs (much like the front 4 we will be looking to play next year e.g. Nani, Kagawa, Valencia, Rooney)

Modric is the one who pulls the strokes and gells all those more forward-thinking players together. Much like Scholes has done for United since Christmas. We don't see people slagging off Scholes for not getting enough goals/assists do we? No, as that's not what he's there to do, primarily

For me Modric is the best direct replacement for Scholes' current role we could hope to get, unless Xavi or Schweinsteiger become available of course ; ) I do admit he may be overpriced and possibly even too expensive but there's certainly no need to slag off Modric because he doesn't get loads of goals/assists, just watch his game

Gav

Gav
It's all down to stats its a pet hate of mine
People who judge a player from stats or u tube with out watching them
There is no stat that proves team play or linking midfield to attack
Jred

Yes Jred

A colleague of mine (l'pool fan) uses the stats from PL Fantasy Football to tell me I'm wrong when we have a debate about players like Modric. LOL. They show he's not a good midfielder apparently

Then he showed me the score chart and I had to laugh as Evra is one of the best defenders in the PL according to them! Well ahead of Kompany, Coloccini et al ; )

Gav

06 Jun 2012 17:42:23
Since the Glazer family took over Manchester United in 2005, United have been outspent not just by reigning Premier League champions Man City (net spend £417.12m) and European champs Chelsea (£276.44m), but also Liverpool (£108.95m) and Tottenham (£90.95m), with the net spend at Old Trafford totalling £52.6m in the past seven years.

Even more shockingly, in the past three years United have been outspent in terms of net transfer dealings by Hull, Blackpool and Burnley

Yet we only lost the title on goal difference behind the most expensive team ever
look how much further ahead of the rest of the teams we were and liverpool spent twice as much and its hardly done them great
its about the talent not the price

Who are you? forget City and Chelsea who happen to have made huge trading losses due to mega rich owners who under write their debts but what has all that spending done for all the rest of the clubs you mentioned.
If you come back with a credible reply i will be very surprised
ARB

That is true but you have to take the sale of Ronaldo into consideration... Thats £80million to think about

fearny

That's obviously excluding the £50m we spent last summer and the £12m we have just spent?

Sydney!

The teams you mentioned only spent that much to get closer to our level, we havent really needed to spend big untill now, and even now we dont need to spend that much just add 2 or 3 quality players and we'll be back to our best..in fergie we trust

Rouge Diablo :)

Yawn, who cares what Liverpool and Spurs do, it didn't work out for them did it.

Hull, Burnley and Blackpool all division 2 clubs. seems spending aint what you think it is.

ARB
Does it not raise the question if hull and Blackpool have a larger net spend where is the money going?
Very surprised that teams like burley have spent more

Only decent recent signing as been young, others mediocre.

Whats the point in this post? So we haven't spent as much as other clubs since 2005.......whats the point?

We have however won 4 ELP titles, 3 League Cup's, 4 Charity Shields, 1 Champions League title, 1 FIFA World Club Cup since the Glazer family takeover........so I think regardless of what all you "Glazer Haters" feel....I think we've done okay.

I've supported Man United all my life, win, lose or draw. I've seen and felt the lean days where the Division 1 title just would never happen.....I've lived the glory days of Fergie and have never taken our position for granted. I never believe we will win every title or cup we will compete for.......their are too many good teams and other variables that can affect a season or cup run. We don't have a God given right to win everything.......but as long as we try our best, that's alright with me!

I'm sick to death of these Man United "fans" who hate the Glazers.....why the hate??

Manchester United was a PLC, anybody could have bought them. The fact is the Glazers did....and because they treat the Club as a business....it pisses off the fans.

The Glazers have other sporting franchises, they have other business connections too. Manchester United is there company or club. Yes we have a workable debt....yes they use profits from Manchester United for other purposes other than Man United......so what?? If all the moaning fans are so pissed of with this, then why didn't they buy United when it was a PLC? Manchester United is just a part of their business empire.....but some of the fans thing they own it......reality check.....YOU DON'T!!!

We are just fans, yes I love the club....but like I said I don't take anything for granted. Manchester City and Chelsea have super rich owners....but they don't run the club like a good business......£196 losses for Last season testifies that. Chelsea have an owner who decides which players he would like at he's Club.....

When are these "armchair managers" on this site going to stop getting jealous of other club's spending power. Why do you want to spend £100 million each summer? What do you want us to do......replace the squad every year with new players......ie Man City....

Like it or hate it, but the Glazers are here for the long haul....they plan to make the club debt free....but not overnight.

Some of the fans posting on here want United to buy 5 or 6 players this close season......way over the top reactions to losing a title on goal difference. So we had a bad Champions League.....I think in recent years we've done okay...won it once and runners up twice under the Glazer's.

Burnley, Hull and Blackpool have not net spent more than £114m since 2005. It's nonsense.

Sydney!

With a post like that you dont deserve to be a red if you cant see the impact they have had on utd.they didnt buy utd they never spent a penny of there own money but mortgaged the club.they inherited a team at its peak and fergie as well.look at the last 2 years we won the league playing poorly against teams rebuilding ,last season we might of been level on points but in terms of footballing ability we were a million miles away,some of the crap i watched last season was championship level.i dont expect success every season but i expect decent attrative football,ive been through all the crap years like others including relegation but we still played football the right way last year i saw some of the poorest performances ive seen in 40 years at old trafford the decline in quality players is there for all to see out of a squad of 25 we have 3 players at the most who would get into other top teams and thats not good enough.the poor midfield hasnt just crept up on us its been obvious for 2 seasons and ultimately not addressing it cost us the title.it wasnt sorted because the leeches were to busy funnelling multi millions out of the club.
johndenton

Sydney!
I think it's net spend

John, I completely agree that cash has been pouring out of our club unnecessarily due to the Glazers. I don't like it anymore than you do, but our revenues have been expanded to cope with the outgoings and I genuinely believe there has been money there for the midfield for the past two summers. I think Last summer the manager thought Nasri was in the bag so didn't have a plan-B ready for when it fell through. If he only had limited cash he wouldn't have spent the £50m the way he did as he knew midfield was the priority. I think the manager this summer will not make the same mistakes and will fix the issues.

Sydney!

No name, I am aware of that mate. Our net spend since the Glazers from 2005-2010 is £52m, then our net spend of £44m in 2011, plus the Kagawa deal of £12m is £108m net spent since the Glazers arrived. I am not saying it's great, but it's a lot more than Hull, Blackpool and Burnley.

Sydney!

Sydney the 80 million for ronnie wasnt touched till last season thats where the 50 million came from.its all right growing the commercial side of utd but from what i can see all thats doing is giving the glazers more money to buy back the bonds instead of investing in the playing staff.
johndenton

"Only decent recent signing as been young, others mediocre"

Smalling, DDG, Jones, Hernandez, Kagawa not even decent? You are a harsh (and nameless) critic!

Gav

John, the £80m left in the bank served no purpose being there. You could understand the hatred from the anti-Glazer brigade if Ronaldo was sold and the £80m disappeared into their pockets, but the cash remained in the bank untouched. Last summer the manager wanted to spend all of it and I completely believe the manager would have spent the £80m had Nasri agreed to join. I have no doubts that we will spend the other £30m plus more this summer.

Sydney!

06 Jun 2012 17:17:48
I know I keep banging this drum but I truly believe that with our budget constraints the best buy we could get would be Fellaini from Everton. He dominated against our midfield and dominated against England. I have very good contacts at Everton and they tell me that he is the fittest both physically and mentally. He lives in Manchester so no moving. He is every thing we need. I AM KLOOT

Everton won't sell him cheaply, so if we're prepared to spend 20m and upwards then yes we might have a chance. but i can't see Everton selling Fellaini and Baines to us though.

I'd rather have Fellaini than Baines if i'm honest.

Shappy

Fellaini is an absolute beast. Would love to see him here.

Percy

Fellaini is not for sale RFT, this is why United and Chelsea have turned attentions to Dembele. Everton paid £16m for him and he would cost anything upwards of £25m now. He is a decent player, but he is not worth £25m+ IMO.

Sydney!

We could look at a 30m double swoop for Fellaini and Baines with a loan or 2 to sweeten the deal. Two positions reinforced for the same price tag and wages as Mods.

Would still prefer Cabaye above all CM'ers.

Jono

How does a loan of 1 or 2 cast offs sweeten the deal?

Why would it be cast offs? Could be Fabio and Tunners to replace the outgoing players and give them both a years stint in the Prem!

Jono

06 Jun 2012 17:02:57
Paul Pogba to Juventus?

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is likely to leave the club despite his admiration for Sir Alex Ferguson, according to his agent.

Pogba is highly rated by the Red Devils, who have been trying to tie him down to a new contract, but the French youngster has also attracted strong interest from Juventus.

And the 19-year-old's agent Mino Raiola has revealed the player's future appears to lie elsewhere.

"As things stand now it is more likely that he goes away from Manchester," said Raiola.
LiamsBiz

Wasnt this said about 3/4 weeks ago?

phil

Yes this quote is weeks old(and some people may say what the agent means is I hope he goes to juventus as then I make more cash). Bookedredmole

I will not appriciate it but i guess i have to accept the reality..wont complain a bit in heart if we snap yaan m'villa. i want the job to get done. no mater who is doing it for us.
rodio17

I don't think its as straight forward as suggested. he's been able to talk to Juve since January, yet six months on no deal is confirmed. Just seems odd, if he was going then it would be signed and announced by now. He could have signed a pre contract anytime between January and now but as i said 6 months have gone by.

06 Jun 2012 16:46:51
There seems to be alot being said about our fullbacks not being good enough, I think that is abit harsh if i'm honest. The role of a defender is different to any other player on the pitch. The most important thing about a defender is not their individual ability but the ability of all the defenders to play as a unit, that being said last year we had so many injuries and had to chop and change so much in the back four that it would be almost impossible for any of them to work and perform as a coheasive unit. Rafael had a serious injury in pre-season which is a key time in the season for any player. Neither Smalling or Jones are natural fall backs but played as cover and Evra has had no competition which also means he hasn't been able to be rested which is important to be able to maintain a high level of performance. But like I said the main issue I feel.our full backs have suffered from is a new goalkeeper was settling in and our constant inability to name an unchanged back four. I think if we can get someone in to cover Evra at left back then I think we are well covered if i'm honest. Let Fabio get a years experiance and then access the situation next summer, if Fabio and/or Rafael don't show what they're cabable of then move them on. I don't see the point in signing Jetro Williems no matter how good he is potentially as we have good young left backs in Fryers and Blackett(who i'm excited about) so maybe someone who can step in for Evra and maybe push him for a starting spot, someone like Oviedo who has potential but would be happy being second fiddle to Evra to start with. I don't see any point in signing a right back as if they were older than Rafael then they would just impede his progress and signing someone about the same age or younger would mean we still lack experiance in that position and with two young players one would be taking chances of gaining experiance off the other one.

Thats my views on the situation anyway.

Shappy

Top notch post Shappy, totally agree

Sparty On

Sparty is ur nickname toe nails?

I don't get it :/

Sparty On

One point I really agree on is that we suffered from lack of a regular back 4. Our success has usually been built on this in the past. Really hope Vidic comes back raring to go and we can build a solid and reliable back 4 around him. Personally I'd look to replace Evra and start with Vic, Smalling & Rafael alongside the new LB

Gav

06 Jun 2012 16:41:47
I have read some posts on here recently and im bewildered by people....

1 - According to some of you Rafael was our weakest link .... He is a top class youngster i think as he has been around a while people have forgotten he is still mega young and will be one of the most sought after right backs for 10 years....apparently he is weaker than Evra which is nonsense Evra is so poor in all aspects going forward defending anything to be honest and i think Aly Cissokho is the perfect fit he is strong young and quick he is so powerful.

2 - I have also seen alot of Luka Modric posts well i like him but 30mil is far to steep im thinking more like 20mil plus rio or 15mil plus carrick maybe they would be good deals imo there isnt many central midfielders that can control a game so maybe two defensive cntre mids would release our attack like man city have done with M'Villa,StrootmanAsamoah,Inler,Bende they are all good defensive midfielders

I wouldn't like for Carrick to leave, he's very good.

Percy

06 Jun 2012 15:47:10
I dont get why all the hate is on modric, he's a class player personally, and for £30 million, why not, If we have this money, and the nani rumours true, bale + modric will link up beautifully, maybe valencie + bale wing backs, and kagawa + modric playing attacking behind rooney and welbek, the "n 3 defenders, possibly a new signing and de gea, an unstoppable team on its day! Just happy SAF wants to do some business:)

06 Jun 2012 15:37:23
A lot has been said about our FB positions last season. IMO they were weak links. Twins a little rash in the tackle and bad decision making. Evra had his problems but deserves another chance and Jones isn't a RB. For most of the big teams FBks play a huge part especially going forward. So being able to cross the ball is vital. I feel we are seriously lacking in this dept. Yes Da Silvas have potential and will improve, and yes Evra was class but I feel something needs to be done. Evra hasn't cover for a while now and we havnt had a top RB since Nev. I'm sure SAF has a plan though...

Ps, don't tell me about youth coming through.

Agree - to an extent - but feel that our RB position needs more attention than the left.
T0MB0Z

06 Jun 2012 15:27:59
Shinji Kagawa - £12m
Jordi Alba - £12m
Nick Powell - £3m
Yann M'Vila - £17m
Luka Modric - £35m

_________________DE GEA_______________
RAFA_____SMALLING_____VIDIC______ALBA
_________M'VILA________MODRIC_________
VALENCIA________KAGAWA_________NANI
________________ROONEY_______________

LINDEGAARD; RIO; JONES; ANDERSON; CLEVERLEY; YOUNG; SCHOLES; CARRICK; HERNANDEZ; WELBECK ALL TO BE ROTATED.

What a great team..

tbir.

06 Jun 2012 13:23:26
I've posted a few times on here and other sites the last day or so and I've also replied to people on here and nothing has been posted. Have I been banned or something?

I've just changed internet providers so I don't know if that makes a difference either, im posting this from my phone though.

The Moon. {Ed002's Note - If anyone is cutting your posts it is not me - but I must admit to not recalling seeing any.}

Ed, do you think it could be the fact I've changed providers? I post on 3 or 4 sites so I don't think its a specific editor cutting my posts.

The Moon. {Ed004's Note - I am not sure. Unless the Ip you changed to has previously been banned for some reason. I haven't edited any of your posts recently...}

Check your firewall settings and see what traffic its allowing in and out Moon

Is there anyway to tell if my new IP. Is the issue? When I posted about modric [my last published post] it was with my new provider so surely it would have been banned before that?

The Moon. {Ed002's Note - There is no way to check - send a couple of messages from your non-mobile account and we will see if they get through.}

My posts werent coming through for a spell yesterday/Monday but it just fixed itself. I know a couple other posters had a similar problem yesterday but that just seemed to fix itself too

Perhaps just a temporary glitch with the site?

Gav

06 Jun 2012 13:25:50
next up (hopefully) m'villa and a leftback.
all we need IMO, and a few youngsters.

JK92

06 Jun 2012 13:06:13
Love this page. You do get some ambitious fans though. One saying Bale, Modric and M'villa all to come in the summer. Dream on darling.
The player that I want to see and someone who SAF is an admirer of is Moussa Dembélé. He has been great for Fulham over the last year and a half since my hero Mark Hughes brought him in.
He's as strong as an Ox and can pick a clinical pass. He was by far the best player on the pitch the other night against England. Gave Parker a torrid time. Half the price of Martinez, M'Villa and Modric, and proven in the Prem.
Fergie sign him up! What do you think Ed's?

Matty (out in Afghan) {Ed004's Note - I think he would be a good squad player}

Mark Hughes hero?

I've lost all respect for him after him managing city and what he has said about United in the past year.

JJR

Still gotta love Mark Hughes!
City was his shot at the big time, would've been pretty hard to say no.

M.D.

I want him here, very good player.

Percy

Good shout Matty and those who have mentioned him before.

i have watched a lot of Fulham over the last few years as one of my mates is obsessed with anything that goes on near putney bridge.
Dembele is a stand out performer week in week out. My issue with signing him and i think the Ed touched on it, is that he would be a bit part player.
I would see the inclusion of Dembele to be at the regular expense of Anderson or even Cleverley, and I honestly do not think he is any better than either.
If however we were to sell Anderson, or even if Giggs was to step into the shadows then I feel there would be a place in our squad for him. At the moment we look like we are going to play a front 6 in a 2-3-1 formation and we already have a lot of competition for places:

Carrick-Scholes
Nani-Kagawa-Young
Rooney

Cleverley-Anderson
Toni-Giggs-Park
Welbeck

As well as Berba?, Hernandez, W.Keane?, Pogba?, Fletcher?, Petrucci, and maybe Cole all pushing for spots and then add in the dream lists of all the fans on here (myself included) and it is a lot of players.

Paso

I stopped seeing Mark Hughes as a hero the second he was asked who he wanted to win the 2007 cup final. They even said "this must be a hard one for you" to which he replied "no not really, I was a Chelsea fan as a kid so I'll be behind them". Dont get me wrong, he is entitled to his opinion but Im also entitled to not see him in the shining light I used to as that was a bit of a slap in the face if you ask me.

TK-Red

06 Jun 2012 12:53:21
It amazes me how many people are posting next years teams without Valencia in the starting line up, he is clearly the best winger in the PL and one of the top wingers in the world

=v1=

The thing is, we do not have a 'starting line up' we have a 25 man squad and everybody will play their part.

I think a lot of people are naming nani, kagawa, young and rooney as the attack as all of them can play in multiple positions and would be difficult to mark and contain. In many games we would need a direct right winger like Valencia.

Since when did United play the same 11 two games in a row anyway, so anybody putting a first 11 doesn't really work.

GDS

He does a job - certainly. One of the top wingers in the world though? I'm not too sure about that one. I can think of at least ten who are better.
T0MB0Z

I personally think he is one of if not THE best out-and-out right wingers in the world. Ok there may not be that many 'out-and-out' wingers anymore, but I still couldn't name many wingers better than him.

APC

I cannot think of a single out and out winger who we can all agree is better than Valencia. Good luck naming ten T0MB0Z mate.

Sydney!

Ten was a little ambitious -

Ronaldo
Ribbery
Robben
Di Maria
Nani (on his day)

There's five.
T0MB0Z

Mata, Sanchez, Bale, Hazard, Robinho.
T0MB0Z

I think Nani is a better player (let's not get into it) but, I would say as regards out and out wingers, there is none better than Valencia.

Percy

Very few of those players are out and out wingers TOMBOZ. Ribery, Robben, Bale, Nani and Di Maria are the only wingers there. I rate Valencia above all of them.

G.A.G.U.S

I said wingers - not 'out and out' wingers. People seem to view Valencia's ability to play solely as a winger as a positive whereas I view his lack of versatility as a major flaw. Yes he's a very good winger - but his inability to rotate with other players limits us creatively. Ronaldo plays as a winger more often than not but can interchange with the strikers with devastating effect. I think if Tony could develop that side of his game he'd be a far more complete player.
T0MB0Z

Robinho better than Valencia? Are you mad?

WizardOzmand

T0MB0Z

I agree with you on that to an extent, and I think it is probably what will give Nani the edge in team selections and the reason Hazard was looked at. But don't talk about versatility and then claim Bale is better ;)

APC

He plays in the centre for his country, but I think Valencia would make a very very good wing-back. Both Valencia and Bale are limited to what they can do so would IMO make quality wing-backs on either side as both can defend and attack. With three solid centre-backs they could have as much freedom as they liked to get forward.

Sydney!

Tbh the latter five are probably around the same level as Valencia - I just wanted to try and justify my ludicrous claim and come up with ten!

Agree with you Sydney that Bale and Valencia would make brilliant wing-backs - but wonder whether a team with such an attacking formation could survive defensively in the EPL?
T0MB0Z

I've been thinking about the balance in our team too and which wingers should start big games

It is clear that the 2 wingers that would 'suit' a more fluid 4231 system would be Nani & Young as they can mix it up and interchange positions...however I really don't think it would be bad in certain games to play a more lob-sided formation with say Valencia on the right (as an out n out winger) and Nani down the left (mixing it up more)

It would depend on who we have in midfield but let's say we got the ultimate midfield of M'Villa and Modric with Kagawa sat in front I think it could work out

i.e.

__________Rooney___________
Nani______Kagawa_____Valencia
_______M'Villa__Modric_______

The beauty of having say Young on the bench is he could come on to take either Nani, Kagawa or Valencia's position (versatility) and we could even change things tactically when he comes on

So in short - I don't see playing one direct winger and one more interchangeable winger/AM as a problem. Any thoughts?

Gav {Ed004's Note - I think most people on this site are now rooting for a partnership of M'Villa, Kagawa and Modric lol}

T0MB0Z, it could work with the right personnel.

____________DDG
_____Smalls__Vidic__Jones
Tony_______Martinez_______Bale
___Clevers__Kagawa__Rooney
___________Welbeck

Linders / Evans / Rafael / Scholes / Carrick / Young / Hernandez

Nani would be surplus and would help fund Bale and Martinez. Not saying this will happen, but it could IMO.

Sydney! {Ed004's Note - Thought you said Jones didn't have the positional sense for a CB?}

Ed004, I have always said Jones will replace Vidic. That Smalling and Jones will be the United and England CB pairing for a very long time.

Sydney!

Gav - really don't see us getting Modric and M'Villa. Would be a pretty decent midfield if we did - but very unlikely.

Sydney - That just looks wrong. I don't remember the last time I saw a team playing with 3 CB's although with that formation I can certainly see us bossing midfield. I wonder however whether Welbeck would work as a lone striker. He's looked nervous at times playing up top with Rooney so don't see him being at a position in his career where he can handle playing on his own.

T0MB0Z

Sydney!

I like the ideaa of Toni and Bale as wing backs and you say with the right personnel it would work and i agree, I dont however see the need for 3CB if you have Martinez in your side:

__________DeGea________
_____Smalling___Vidic_____
Toni_________________Bale
___Cleverley___Martinez___
__Nani__Kagawa__Young__
_________Rooney________

In that formation when we have the ball Martinez would sit just inside the opposition half picking passes similar to how Carrick does (but more positively), Toni and Bale would push up to give the width, Clevs would do the running, Nani, Kagawa, and Young would create, and Rooney would score a bucket load.

When we don't have the ball Toni and Bale would drop deep into FB, Martinez would slide in between the CB, Cleverley and Young would drop deep for support, and the opposition would then be pressed higher up the field by Rooney, Kagawa, and Nani.

Perfect!

Paso

That team could easily work. You're effectively playing with 5 at the back AND 6 in midfield as both Bale and Valencia have the stamina and energy to get up and down the pitch. Dont forget that Martinez used 3 at the back for Wigan in the latter part of the season and it worked wonders. Also how many sides do you see playing with out and out wingers. They all tend to cut inside so a lack of RB and LB wouldnt be such an issue for the majority. That team would certainly work against lesser sides.

TK-Red

T0MB0Z

Fair enough, it may be asking a lot LOL but that would be my ideal outcome. TBH I would settle for M'Villa and Carrick with Kagawa in front...although I find this hard to say as Modric is my 'favourite' he's just so damned expensive! If we could get all 3 I'd even forego getting a LB as our midfield would be THAT good

Gav

06 Jun 2012 12:45:03
if utd sign all these players they'd need more money than sense ! unfortunately citeh an chelski have inflated the transfer market,but they do need new blood another left back, 2 cm an 2 strikers,i know theyve just signed kagawa an possibly powell but the squad needs a massive over haul even though saf will say we finished 2nd, i'd sell nani,anderson,carrick,berba,macehda,fabio and in my opinion its needed......wots your opinion ed ?

Kagawa
Rooney
Hernandez
Welbeck
Will Keane

And you'd buy TWO MORE STRIKERS?

APC

We will not be selling Carrick and we certainly do not need 2 strikers. We need one striker at the most as we have Rooney, Hernandez, Welbeck and Kagawa or Young who can push up there.

GDS

I'm still not convinced we need a new LB this season. Yes, Evra has not been at his best (probably due to personal reasons) - but nobody seems to notice the fact that we haven't had a decent established RB since Gary Neville left us. Sure we have Rafael, Smalling, Jones and even Valencia who can play at RB - but none of them have really excelled enough in the position to make it their own. Rafael has probably played there the most this season and IMO he's not too much better there than Fabio is at LB. As bad as he's been - Evra's still much better than Fabio and IMO Rafael. Thoughts?
T0MB0Z

He isn't going to be buying a striker. You look at the players he is interested in, it will be 1 up top next year so we only need Welbeck, Rooney and Chicharito

fearny

"i'd sell nani, anderson, carrick, berba, macehda, fabio"

Thank god you're not manager! No overhaul needed but we do need to sort out CM and LB

2 strikers wtf?!

Gav

06 Jun 2012 12:35:33
I hear alot of people talking smack of players and their agents for being money hungry. That they may be but let us understand that as transfers are complicated matters involving REAL people luck plays into it alot.
I say this cuz in case of Hazard, I have it on good authority that the deal was agreed for Hazard to join United and we were confident he was going to join us the night before his last game for LOSC! That he didn't join had nothing to do with money (he accepted our package) But to do with Drogba scoring that Penalty which sealed Chelsea's place in the CL. Hazard had three priorities: to play champions league football in England and preferably live in London. Before Chelsea qualified he had given up on playing in London but after as even Rudi Garcia said he changed his mind! So really we lost to London.

Now on our future targets, Fergie wants possibly two CMs.
One two dictate play and one to anchor but who can also play as a box-to-box midfielder. Fergie prefers to get modric as the first CM whom he sees as more of an priority cuz the coaching staff believes Carrick and Modric can hold their own for a year so we can review the progress of our targets for the second CM position. That is why no bid will be made for your beloved "holding mid" player until after the Euros where our targets have shown what they are made of. This is because our coaching staff wants Strootman for that position with an eye on Mvila. The problem is Strootman only moved to PSV last year and so getting him is considered a risk. We are not bidding for Martinez! The alternative for Modric that the coaching staff like is Christian Eriksen of Ajax however his issue is the same as Strootman he is young and has only been established at Ajax for a season so he is likely to stay unless he mesmerizes us with his Euro showing. I have read alot of disagreement with SAF choice on modric. What SAF values is a player having proven himself in the premier league as being able to control possession for the team which is exactly what Modric has done. So even though I also think that Eriksen might have a stellar potential it is unlikely we will get him at least this year. Oh and regarding Baines, there is zero chance we are in for him as we want an Evra understudy. Nick Powell signing is also wrapped up.

Our team for next year
4-2-3-1
De Gea
Rafael Smalling Vidic Evra

Carrick (hopefully Strootman tho)--Modric (wished Eriksen)


Nani Kagawa Young

Rooney


Sorry for the long post!

I hope there is truth to this point as generally this is the thought process I would go through...with M'Villa and Modric being my first choice

Gav

Completely agree with what you are saying about both Strootman and Eriksen. I would love to see both in our squad but honestly can not see either moving for 2 years at least and because of this i have even started to remove them from my dream teams. Both would be brilliant in our side in my opinion and i feel they would be great to work alongside each other as well as Cleverley, Kagawa, Nani and Young.

Could you do us a favour in future though and sign off with a name?

Paso

The name is Art...

I don't know why it didn't get posted

06 Jun 2012 12:11:17
bleacherreport.com/articles/1207019-manchester-united-10-things-the-media-doesnt-get-about-red-devils

worth a read, great article IMO.

JK92

It's very true, injuries are bad luck and hitting the woodwork is incompetence.

Sydney!

Great article. Although pretty bold at the end saying Guardiola will be the next manager though.

Ruudinthemood

06 Jun 2012 12:10:16
would love to see rvp alongside rooney with chicharito and danny rotating, midfield keeping gigsy, scholsy, park in mind as they may be in for key matches and rotated young, valencia , kagawa, tom cleverly, carrick, nani, may be another good midfield would be a great addition to our squad and keeping that vidic evra ferdinand are getting old and our youngsters jones, smalling, johnny, rafael are there we made very many defensive errors last season which i think has cost us the premier league eventually but i think we need another othe or two strong defender pique would be good but am loking for some one who would be with us for atleast five years.

only kagawa has been added to our squad from all these years of speculations and i dont want to get dissapointed with another year of no big or promising players inwards i no we are not a big money spending team but we have to buy someone who can make a difference, fergie please listen make a team who can win against barca in finals, i felt so bad when dani alves and rest of the party cut the nets from the goalpost on the champions league finals at wembley we want to be the best team on planet not second third nothing but the best because we deserve to be the best- get us quality players who will win us quantity

**Redpoltergeist**

Keep Giggs, Scholes and Park in mind....are you on drugs??
This is the reason we need to sign midfielders because Park and Giggs and crap and Scholes is coming towards the end of his career.
I didn't even read the rest of your post after that.

Simmo

Same as Simmo here I am afraid.

GDS

06 Jun 2012 11:49:52
I know this may seem a strange question but do you think that Kagawa may play in central midfield with Rooney in the hole and Welbeck up top?

Depends if he could get a player like Yann M'Villa to play alongside him and sit in front of the back four

fearny

I think that would be like asking do you think Rooney will play central midfield with Kagawa just behind Welbeck up top.
They are both ideally suited to the number 10 shirt they are NOT central midfielders at all so the answer to your question is NO.

Devil Dust.

06 Jun 2012 10:46:06
great bit of business with kagawa top player will make a difference to the first 11.
Also got him at a good price both transfers and wages.

I think this may go some way to show that players still want to play for united when money is not involved.
if you look at the players who have turned us down or moves have broken down hazard sneijder etc there has always been rumours of high wage demands .

where as the players who have either turned other clubs down or said they will only play for united kagawa, jones etc have all had modest wages by todays standard.
I think if you take high wages and high agent fees out of the equation players will chose united.
Club history ,manager etc still make united as much of a pull as any team in europe when we can afford /match the daft demands of the worlds top players
jred

06 Jun 2012 10:27:43
{banter please}

i think the only positions that need revamping are leftback and cm/cdm.

leftbacks:

cissokho
baines
izzaguirre
williems
alaba

centralmidfielder:

m'villa
strootman
asamoah
martinez
modric
tiote


IMO i think williams and m'villa should be first choice for each position.
-williems is a good leftback who is only 18 so has plenty of time to get even better.
-m'villa, young, great passer of the ball and sits just infront of the back four, something we lack.

................de gea..............
rafael..smallind..vidic..willems
...........m'villa..carrick.........
luisnani......kagawa.....young
................rooney..............

nani over antonio due to versatility.

id also get powell and clyne and maybe hoilett?

HUDSON. {Ed004's Note - I would rather play Cleverley instead of Carrick or sign someone like Modric or someone world class.}

But would we have the money to afford modric though? if we did then definitely.

as for cleverley i agree, don't know why i put carrick..

HUDSON {Ed004's Note - Hopefully we do. Him alongside M'Villa would be brilliant and Cleverley would learn a lot from him}

I have to admit after getting Kagawa my Ideal and dream signing would be Mvila no doubt him and Clevs could be brilliant together Kagawa and Rooneys movement and intelligence would be unplayable and I also think the left back issue might not be such an issue if we actually got back to dictating games and bullied teams like we use to....heres hoping.

Devil Dust.

06 Jun 2012 07:59:57
hi eds, is there any info that we are looking at m'villa coz i ve heard a lot of rumours that SAF is looking at m'villa as the replacement for pogba or is there any confirmation that m'villa has pre-signed for arsenal? {Ed004's Note - There isn't any confirmation of M'Villa to Arsenal}

Talks with Arsenal have stalled with reported interest from Man Utd. He has gone on record to say he is a Man Utd fan.

fearny

06 Jun 2012 09:55:34
Arsenal fan here,
Great work signing kagawa. Quality player who I can't wait to see in the premier league. Great signing.
Personally I think doumbia, a decent CM and Vertonghen would win you the league but kagawa is a great signing.
Nick.

06 Jun 2012 08:08:52
Lots of Positions we need replacements or cover most especially our fullbacks - i wouldn't mind Jordi Alba & Nathan Clyne, then comes our biggest problem IMHO, midfield. I do believe we need a powerhouse but with creativity in the DM area. Now two players i have in mind with the said attributes Kwadwo Asamoah and Yann M'Vila. Personally I'd rather we went with Asamoah cos he has impressed me a lot & I don't know much about M'Vila. Finally if we can land a top notch CF, it'll be super if not i think we'll still be ok in that department.
All Eds if possible( I want to have an idea on the majority)- Who would you suggest us to buy among the two if the final decision fell on your shoulders? {Ed004's Note - Don't think Ed 7 is about but I would sign Clyne and Izaguirre to sort out full backs while signing M'Villa and Modric to strengthen the midfield and thats assuming Kagawa is a done deal.}

I believe Asamoah has signed for or is going to sign for Juventus, is that right Ed? {Ed004's Note - It hasn't been agreed yet}

06 Jun 2012 00:17:15
Love this site and on it daily but confused when people make comments like 'be disappointed if...' and 'why would Fergie...' etc. I for one trust him and if he is interested in a player then I am happy...if he is not then its crap so why worry?