Manchester United Banter Archive June 06 2014

06 Jun 2014 18:28:26
Hi ed, can you see Woodward delivering the targets we need to strengthen the team this year or do you think he will fail like last year. Looking at it this year either we are not looking at transfers just yet or we are keeping our business less public unlike last year which was common knowledge for everyone.

Thanks

{Ed007's Note - It doesn't matter what Woodward or the club do this summer, there'll still be people not happy and say they've failed.}

06 Jun 2014 17:24:42
Long time reader

First off Eds wanna say what a good job use are doing and to keep it up.

Quick question, I was having a convo with a friend who said united should sign 2 cbs and them both being varne from Madrid and vertonghan from spurs, I laughed at this and said if I could pick 2 it would be hummels and mangala

Just want your opinions

{Ed004's Note - I think we need one this summer as we have other areas of the team to address. However either of those partnership would be very good}

06 Jun 2014 16:17:39
surely remy cabella is too good for n'castle, surely we could/should snap him up?

thoughts anyone?

06 Jun 2014 16:40:07
Not good enough.

And stop calling me Shirley.

06 Jun 2014 16:45:17
What exactly does 'too good for Newcastle' mean? I believe they are in the same competitions as us next season.

06 Jun 2014 16:58:30
Lol stevie, R.I.P Lesley Nielson.

I agree he's a good player but not the quality we are looking for i'm afraid

Too good for Newcastle does not translate into good enough for us.

I love the guy, he is a local lad, and very hardworking, but here is a step too far for him atm

Stevie, nice beaver mate

07 Jun 2014 08:04:47
Cheers, Tony. I get complimented on it quite a lot :)

06 Jun 2014 14:57:13
So Fellaini was a 10,000 meter in his youth. It would suggest he has the stamina for a box to box role. Unfortunately, it counts for very little when you are as immobile as he is, not to mention the major deficiency to his technical game. I really want to get behind him as he is one of us and wish him to prove us all wrong, but much like Moyes, I just don't think he has what it takes to cut it at the top. I'd just like to point out that my criticism of Fellaini is framed in the context of his ability as a player solely. Many posters have wielded his hefty price tag to shoot him down. That is not on him. As a player his duty is to give his absolute best, not live up to external valuations.

06 Jun 2014 14:20:38
May end up getting some stick for this but for our CB situation I think we sould target one of juventuses out of chiellini Ogbonna careers or bonuci.

All they play in a back 3 so may take time adjusting to a back 2 I think it has helped aid in improving there passing which is something we are now looking for within our defenders.

On top of this chiellini would add experience, Ogbonna would add some power and careers would add pace bonuci is just a defender really lol

But yeah I'd be tempted to take a look towards them

{Ed002's Note - Manchester United are putting their efforts for CB elsewhere, that is not going to happen.}

Is it one of Hummels/Indi/Virj ed?

{Ed002's Note - RTP Elroy.}

I know we are looking else where but these are just names we haven't been linked with whom I believe could do a job aka fantasy land lol

Ed whilst your here do you know if we hold any interest in Quincy promes or was what I read lazy journalism due to him been Dutch

{Ed002's Note - I don't know of any interest and it seems unlikely.}

06 Jun 2014 18:16:04
Ed002, would the CB target be Hummels?

{Ed002's Note - RTP.}

06 Jun 2014 13:00:09
With less than a week until the first game of the WC I think the reality is that no signings will be made or at least announced by us. In all reality this has always been the likely scenario regardless of what us fans would have liked.
I am sure extensive discussions have been ongoing with players on Van Gaals wish list and some may have even commited provisionally but will be waiting for after the WC or at the very least for 1st July to pass and the official window to open.
Hopefully we will have Van Gaal working on these deals completely sooner rather than later (although I am torn as I would like to see Holldand do well. but a bad tournament would have him at old trafford sooner). Then we can start to expect announcements. this is after all a single minded controlling individual who probably will do away with Woodward in negotiations and get it done himself. Up to that point Woodward, Giggs etc. are just warming the fires!

I'm still astonished by the amount of people who think that the manager is heavily involved in negotiations. The manager has final say on targets, and may have some input in convincing the player to join, but they have limited involvement in negotiations.

If we fail to sign anyone before the World Cup it won't be because van Gaal is with the Dutch squad. It will be because players aren't interested and, most importantly, because Woodward is penny pinching.

SAF had input on some transfers, but generally it's nothing to do with the manager. Some managers don't even get final say on a player.

Danny

Absolutely correct.
Some people think that because were Man United it's our god given right to be able to sign anyone we like.
Sorry it doesn't work like that anymore. There are lots of clubs that are able to offer the same or even more money and Champions League football, something that we can't offer at the moment.
I said at the ened of the season a lot of people are going to be dissapointed with who comes in.

The only one that could be done is Shaw. I think that we are 'close' to Hummels and Schweinsteiger according to reports. But there will be a lot going on that we haven't a clue about and we are bound to sign one or two that we haven't heard of.

Apparently club secretaries can weild quite a bit of power at clubs as they are often the ones that sign off a fair bit of the paperwork.

It is too early to say that we will be disappointed with who comes in; just because we are seeing big names apparently signing elsewhere. Yes I get that not offering CL doesn't help, but plenty of players we are apparently linked with haven't committed themselves yet: Mangala (probably angling for more cash from city, but you never know), Hummels, Schweinsteiger, Muller, Konoplyanka.
Trust in Louis!

Fresh, I do not think we are close to Schweinsteiger at all. The editor has confirmed that. However the editor hasn't commented on Hummels so I am hoping that that's an indication that we are in negotiations for Hummels.

Simmo, I wouldn't be disappointed with Shaw and Hummels for the defence.

Danny, there is a lot of naivety on these pages. I think all of us have been naive at times, especially when we first started coming on these pages. I like it when fans say for example, we will sell Suarez for £90m, then buy Sanchez for £18m and have £72m left to spend. That is pretty hilarious way of looking at things.

I do think LvG will play a big part in players like Clasie, Indi/De Vrij and Depay signing.

Syd

I would be over the moon with Shaw and Hummels.
Shaw is a maybe but I just don't see us signing Hummels.
Im more worried about having to watch Fellaini, Cleverley and Carrick in the middle of the park next season. God help us!

I do think LvG will play a big part in players like Clasie, Indi/De Vrij and Depay signing.

06 Jun 2014 16:43:16
"Simmo, I wouldn't be disappointed with Shaw and Hummels for the defence".

And the award for understatement of the day, goes to Syd! :)

I would say Hummels is a maybe and Shaw is the more likely of the two. MU and Saints are at a standstill at the moment on price, but I think we will pay more to agree the deal if we have to. If Chelsea sign Luis Filipe then that is a great sign for us. I think we will sign at least one midfielder this summer. I think we may sell Fellaini.

I would agree that managers in today's working take a less hands on approach to signing players than in the past. that said everything I have read suggests that Van Gaal will be involved heavily using his network of connections. I may be wrong just my thoughts.

06 Jun 2014 12:23:05
Interesting if Mangala is holding out for a move here - would be a great move from my point of view. Well built, ideal for the EPL - must admit I don't know as much as many on here do though.

06 Jun 2014 12:03:56
Love and hate transfer/silly season in equal measure. The amount of players linked with and stories fabricated are absurd. Seems like us united fans have become obsessed with every big name there is through media BS. Everyone's flapping at how we've not made any signings yet and lvg is yet to start his job. Hurry up 2nd of September!

06 Jun 2014 10:19:35
If any of the Eds can answer. Reports claiming that Mangala would prefer a move to United rather than City, is LVG monitoring him at the moment?

{Ed002's Note - LVG is away with the WC team. The season has finished for Porto. Mangala is a fringe player in the French squad. There won't be much "monitoring" going on.}

What I mean is if LVG has any interest in that player? Thanks

{Ed002's Note - No. I was told that Mr Moyes had someone looking at Mangala on behalf of Manchester United towards the end of the season and there has been a flurry of activity from Manchester City and both clubs fear interest from Real Madrid if they lose Varane.}

06 Jun 2014 09:24:49
Morning Gents and Ladies,

It is inevitable that panic is going to set in with people when they see Liverpool, Chelsea doing business early doors and I appreciate people's frustrations with the lack of activity to date for United, however, I think a little perspective needs to taken since the appointment of LVG.

I believe LVG will want full involvement when signing and unveiling players and until the World Cup is over, he is not going to be able to offer this. That is not to say work behind the scenes is not going on, I have no doubt LVG is communicating with United, Giggs, Woodward etc and they are laying the foundations for these signings but from what I read, LVG is a very good man manager, tough but fair and past players seem to speak highly of him so I don't believe he will want to unveil a player without him by his side.

I also want to discuss our targets, I don't always agree with the Ed's but they offer a great insight into potential targets and will offer any knowledge they come across, but under LVG, I think the Ed's have an extremely tough job now in giving accurate transfer targets due to the character LVG seems to be. For example, Kroos seemed a sure target but rumours that LVG has pulled the plug on this due to his attitude throws this one into doubt. I read that LVG was not interested in Fabregas but in the report it said United were and would still push ahead with the transfer, however if all this is true then we would end up with a Chelsea/Abramovich/Any Chelsea Manager situation were Mr Abramovich signs the players he wants and not what the manager wants. I'm not so sure LVG would take to kindly to that.

My point is, LVG is a maverick, he will choose players he believes will suit the system he wants to play and he seems to be a man who may target one player one day and look else where the next if he gets the inkling that this player is not right for the team, and this will make the Ed's jobs very difficult.

So let's be patient, trust LVG, trust Giggs, pray for Woodward and believe the right players will arrive by k.o on the opening game of the season. Good luck Ed's, going to be a long summer, only about 100 days til September!

I have two words to say Ed Woodward

Louis van Gaal is not a maverick by any means. far from it in fact. He has a way he likes his teams to play, he doesn't deviate from the types of players he wants and how he wants them to play throughout the 90 minutes. He is also a very clever guy in footballing terms. he will have his targets and won't be changing his mind from one day to the next as you say.

Andy,

I have said he has a system he wants to play and I have said he will pick the players he wants to play this system but if they don't fit he won't pursue them. He is not going to pointlessly chase Kroos of Fabregas like Moyes did all summer if he feels they don't show the correct attitude, he will not be dictated to by the board or by fans to buy a house hold name, he will bring in who he believes is right and who will want to come and play for him and United and if he has to change targets he will, he won't continue trying to get them. He will conduct interviews on his own terms, he will play formations he wants, like he did the other day when he lined up 5 at the back with FB's bombing on.

So not once have I suggested he is not an intelligent guy in football, and I have not said he will change his mind on a daily basis. Please READ the post.

No wonder the Ed's get the hump!

Ok, number one I wasn't criticizing your post so calm down. I was simply saying he isn't a maverick, he is just very set in his ways in terms of managing a team. That is not being a maverick. Moyes changed his team countless times and fiddled with his system (whatever that was!) would you call him a maverick?

Secondly, I didn't say you never thought he was or wasn't intelligent. I was simply saying he is a clever guy, will have thought about what the club need in terms of players and will hopefully endeavor to get those targets.

Thirdly, these are your words and not mine, ''he seems to be a man who may target one player one day and look else where the next'', to me that seems as if you think he will change his mind a lot, I disagree. As I have said he will certainly have his targets in mind, and will be waiting (as you said in your original post) until after the world cup so things can be done on his terms.

The Eds get the hump because people ask silly questions which 9 times out of 10 cannot be reasonably answered. Not due to a reply which you clearly took to heart simply because I disagreed with one word you used in it. Chill out.

You must be a journalist Andy, selective quoting to support your view but neglecting the full sentence which finished with ''. look else where the next if he gets the inking that this player is not right for the team.'' David Moyes pointlessly chased Thiago then Fabregas all summer, will LVG do this?

A Maverick is someone who works on their own agenda, not influenced by others, he is not conventional and follow what is popular, which other managers have lined up 5-3-2 in recent years? I think Conte has at Juve? Holland traditionally are a 4-3-3 team and in 74 & 78 went 3-4-3?

I have no issue with you debating my post, perhaps I interpreted your post wrong and if so I apologise but us fans need to be prepared for some fireworks and a rollercoaster season under LVG, in football terms, with his philosophy and belief's, I believe he suits United perfectly, with his media ''management'' shall we say and dealing with players and other managers, I think he is going to give Jose a real run for his money!

06 Jun 2014 07:50:36
With all these players apparently telling woody that the want to sign for utd you would think we would be seeing some more activity, you don't think they are telling the same thing to other clubs and keeping their options open do you.
We should have had deals done by now other clubs seem to do it.

Last summer, City had all their business done early, so profited by having more time to bed players in.

06 Jun 2014 01:30:57
A question for shappy, if by some means strootman was able to sign this window, could you see felliani been used as the number 6 or is his days at united truely limited

06 Jun 2014 08:15:42
I don't think Fellaini has the passing range, the tactical intelligence or any of the qualities LvG wants in a midfielder.

I heard something and I don't know how true it is that LvG see Fellaini as a defender.

I doubt he'll sell Fellaini this summer, but I expect him to be gone before the start of the 2015/16 season. Hopefully he can have a good world cup and we could sell him this summer and recoup some decent money for him rather than him rot on the bench for a season and we sell him for next to nothing next summer.

Cheers shappy, so in your opinion whom would you have for the no.6 role.
I personally liked the idea of gabi from athletico when I seen him but his age goes goes against him for me. I'd also live to see xabi alonso but again couldn't see it

The Belgium manager said Fellaini is a box to box midfielder I also think he will do well this season as long as he doesn't get injuries, he isn't fast or anything but can still do a good job if he is brainy enough for Van Gaals system

So realistically could we see a summer of just a number 6 brought in for midfield with felliani doing the box to box until strootman is available

If Van Gaal is holding out for Strootman and he is able to sign then I think Carrick will end up being the stand in number 6. let's be honest it is what he has been doing the past few years.
Who knows, a summer of rest and reinvigorated by the new manager he may come back near his best (he has no pace to lose so age not a problem). What he would need is a strong number 8 in the Vidal (please Woodwood pull off a master stroke and get him) mould to off set his lack of physicality.
Strootman could then come in when fully fit and take the role on for the next few years. he has the brain for the role and additional physicality.
Long term Strootman and Vidal would be perfect and may actually allow us to play Kagawa in the advanced midfield role.

06 Jun 2014 12:45:22
Well Carrick will play the role at times, but I see him being phased out by LvG. If the rumours are true then either Schweinsteiger or Clasie could be playing the role. Personally I like the look of Granit Xhaka, his vision isn't quite as good as Clasie's but his passing is of a similar level, but the advantage he has is he is built like an ox which I think given the power of some of the players in the premier league needs to be considered.

All shappy I was reading yesterday about how you do not think mata or Rooney are suited to this new no.10 role and it got me thinking could it not be perfect for Powell whom IMO over time will drop back to the no.8 or even 6

Personally I would love to see someone with the energy and vision of clasie or verratti come in for the number 6 and alternate with carrick until they become a regular and phase carrick out and as for the no.8 my 4 options however unlikely they are would always be strootman Gundogan Vidal and pogba

06 Jun 2014 23:41:17
Shappy, I don't disagree necessarily however if we bought Clasie for the No. 6 role I would be more confident giving Carrick the role for this season. He has bags of premier league experience and has played the role well for us in recent seasons. I'm sure Clasie is a good/decent but expecting him to come in and command the no. 6 time from day one is unrealistic IMO.