Manchester United Banter Archive April 07 2014

07 Apr 2014 22:04:43
Just wondering, is any one else thinking one of the most important things to do this Summer is sell Robin Van Persie?

I would like to see Griezmann come in as he can solve our wing problems, give us so much more Pace and if Rooney get's injured then, as an alternative to Welbeck, Griezmann could play as the main striker.

Who would you replace RVP with?

I'm tired of this. you guys don't know what you want. U can't sell the best and hope to be the best.

I cannot see us selling RVP. He is one of the best players in the league, nevermind at United and with Hernandez looking likely to leave I just cannot see us buying in another striker. I'd fully expect Rooney, RVP and Welbeck to be our 3 main strikers next season with Wilson being a squad player. That said, I don't want to see Mata shunted back out wide so I'd prefer to see one of Rooney/RVP up front and not both, as ridiculous as that sounds.

Only way RVP should be sold is if he is being disruptive, which I don't believe he is and the media is making stuff up to stir the pot.

RVP wold be just as good or maybe better if we went with a lone striker.

I think we sell RVP, he isn't mobile enough and injury prone. If we base our plans on RVP playing up top then they could be in disarray almost every month. We can still get a lot of money for him, take a chunk out of our wage bill and buy another striker. Granted RVP is top quality but I think he won't fit the style Moyes wants to play and this season has been very frustrating with square peg round holes.

I'd still be happy if he stayed, but can't see it.

I don't think we should RVP in a million years unless he wants to leave.

I think wanting to get rid of RVP is insane! But if he wants to go then that's different.

Don't think RVP will be very good in a million years fresh

Quite a conundrum. We will never play to our best ( and a very promising Mata-Kagawa-Januzaj partnership will never see the light ) unless we play with one striker.

We can no longer play Rooney in the number 10 role after seeing the effect of playing Mata there, it would be too cruel.

And since neither Rooney nor Van Persie are the type to happily sit on the bench, we'd have to lose one ( both and get Cavani would be pretty great ).

I have no personal preference over which one of the pair we lose, Rooney's younger age and superior physical attributes are rivaled by Van Persie's ability on the ball and superior goal scoring prowess. But since one of them just signed a new long term contract, and the other is bit**ng around quite a bit, I think we won't see Van Persie here next season.

Van Persie will not be leaving.

On paper - keeping RVP seems like a no-brainer. He's one of the best finishers around. There's a few things to take into account though.

He doesn't seem to play well with Rooney. He's injury prone. He's slow. He doesn't have the ability to track back. There's been many times this season where he's had very few touches of the ball. Playing him means that Rooney needs to play in the hole - which means that both Kagz and Mata have to be played out of position.

If he were sold and we signed Cavani I would not be in the least bit disappointed. Cavani has demonstrated this season that he is versatile and would leave us with a front four each able to cover two of the front four positions (Rooney - CAM, ST, Kagawi - ILW, CAM, Mata - IRW, CAM, Cavani - ILW, ST).

Throw somebody like Reus into the mix and we are set as an attacking force. Those two would give us a fluid and interchangeable front four and also inject a bit of pace into the side - which is something we've been lacking this season.

We can easily have both in the squad. RVP gets injured so much that it's not like we have a permanent conundrum. Mata has to play centrally though, Rooney wide would be better than Mata wide.

"he doesn't seem to play well with Rooney"

Redseven, this season RvP has been injured a lot, as has Rooney and MU as a whole have been tragically poor this season. Last season Rooney was p!ss poor when RvP was sensational. We have seen glimpses of what they can do when both are 100% fit and both playing well. The Villa game last season when Rooney assisted RvP's worldie goal is one example. If both can stay fit and MU can improve as a team, they will start playing well together. Another major problem this season was Rooney demanding to play as an out and out striker and Moyes playing a 4-4-2 to accommodate him. When Rooney signed his new monster deal he moved straight back to the number ten position and we have seen glimpses of improvement. If we can sort out our weak areas this summer, Rooney, Mata & Van Persie will be frightening next season if Van Persie can stay fit.

Redseven, he is no slower than Rooney and the main striker isn't meant to track back.

RVP is a gonner Syd, i'm willing to put a wager on it as well.

Syd. I would rather RVP than Rooney, but the gaffer has made his intentions clear that Rooney will play - this either messes around our whole midfield/attack or it means he leads the attack only making RVP bench warmer. RVP won't be here next season Unless and I have said it before, the Rooney Contract was a compromise.

"You sign a new contract which means we get more money from a buyer and in return for signing it we will let you go to a domestic team!"

Whenever RVP & Rooney play together they don't get the service because they nullify having attacking midfielders and Rooney eats the space they need to operate in. Rooney is the worst thing for our team if you ask me, because he isn't a leading striker and he isn't a #10, he is 7/10 at both and he means 9/10's (Mata/Kagawa) are out of position and play like 4/10.

It isn't that crazy and frankly it would solve a lot of problems as RVP with Welbeck and Wilson as back up would be ideal. Hernandez will also be gone obviously in this scenario.

Simmo, it's not going to happen. The editor has said there is no plans to sell Van Persie. Hernandez is very likely to leave also, and there will not be much time to move Van Persie on and get a good enough replacement in. I wouldn't waste your money mate.

I would say so far kagawa has been a 5/10.
What makes me laugh is the whole kagawa can't play well because of Rooney.
Kagawas only 2 good games have Been playing with Rooney.
Kagawa hasn't looked any better when Rooney hasn't been in the team .
Kagawa hasn't done enough in training or during a match to convince fergy or moyes he should be a first 11 player never mind be given the 10 role
Supposedly kagawa needs to play the 10 role yet he doesn't play 10 at international level, Honda gets the nod before him.
In 2 years at United he has been no better than young.

Kags is a good player but he hasn't done it at United and that is nobody's fault but kagawas.He has had numerous chances and never took them
When Rooney was out of form or injured neither fergy or moyes have seen fit to fully back kags and they see him in training every day and know a lot more about football than anyone on the site.

Kags is a talented lad but has done nothing yet to prove he can handle the epl, Rooney Mata, Jan, rvp kags are all good players to suggest they can't play together is a bit daft.
Kagawas form is down to one person and that's himself.

07 Apr 2014 20:24:08
Well guys some great news, Evra has declared himself fit. I can't wait to see what a treat he is going to be for Robben Yumie, Yumie

I think Moyes will go with Buttner actually, he deserves to play. I like a management style where those who play well, play. He deserves the start.

Fingers crossed Buttner plays. Ribbentrop had a quiet game against Buttner. Against Evra he would have a field day

Fresh - he does that with some players, but there have been numerous occasions this season where our best performers in previous games are on the bench for the next game. Kagawa, Valencia, Januzaj, Fletcher to name a few.

I hope he sticks with Buttner but he will opt for experience in my opinion.

Buttner should start, he studied him before the last game and playing against him he would have learned a few things. I think Moyes knows that Buttner is more reliable defensively too.

07 Apr 2014 19:20:54
Guys why don't we just go English or related to Englishin our summer transfer with a little foreign influence, i'm not being a racist but Ed if you realize our own sons tend to be more loyal than leave to teams like Barca or Real when they come calling look at Scholes, Giggs, Rio, Bruce, Butt, Cole, etc, i'm afraid that soon, in a year or 2 we will be battling to keep Januzaj, the Gea, Mata and Buttner, why don't we just for Shaw, Shawcross, Lallana, Bakley, Coleman, then a few like 2 foreign. what do u think Edd

{Ed004's Note - I think Liverpool tried that a few seasons back and look were it got them. It put them even further back Carroll, downing, Adam etc btw know Adam isn't English. I can't recall many English players that have moved for big money being worth it Lampard, Cole, Shearer, Rooney and rio. There may be many more I just think foreign players are more technically gifted that English ones. There is a reason England are poor every time they play a game}

What British players would you realistically want? I'd only take Barkley, the Ox, Baines, Coleman, Sturridge, Lallana and Wilshere. The rest I wouldn't touch with a barge pole - we have a lot of the top English players, you need a ballance.

You're not being racist, you're being xenophobic.

You have a lot of the top English players? the only English United player who should get anywhere near the England squad is Rooney, the rest are abysmal.

I think the reasons most English players stay in England is because a lot of them don't want the challenge of a new league and learning a new language. The other is that there are better players that are far cheaper in Spain, Germany, Italy and France who are just as good or better and cost a lot less. Why would a team from Spain spend 20 million on Lallana why they could pick up a better player for a quarter of the price. Shaw and Barkley would be the only two young English players i'd like to see join but you're talking 25-30 million each which is quite steep.

I like Cahill at Chelsea as well. But it is slim pickings for sure. Henderson looks quality this season and if we had his driving runs through the middle it would open up a lot more space for our creative players.

Sterling looks to have improved a lot. I also like Flanagan for cover on either full back role. I wouldn't have Wilshere now, he is going backwards for me.

Ramsey definitely just like Henderson. Shawcross not good enough on the ball.

Sturridge is too hit and miss for me and very selfish, I would rather Welbeck as a squad player.

The Southampton right back is real good player and watch him flourish in the next few years. I can't remember his name as he is not a starter yet but from what I have seen he is going to be very good.

Calum Chambers.

Chambers and remember Clyne? He was great at Palace, their captain and so composed on the ball at the age of 20? Now he's battling for a starting spot at Southampton.

The only english players I think that would be good for United are Shaw and Barkley, big fan of Lallana but we have better players or as good players for the same position.

Plymouth red: you are talking utter rubbish. Jones, smalling and Welbeck have the potential to be top performers for England over the coming years. We also have the likes of Powell, Lingard, Zaha and Wilson who also have great potential.

The arrogance of you lot is quite funny. I am sure will will wipe that proverbial grin off your boat races next season.

Sam, am not saying it to be a propeller, it's my opinion, fair enough Jones is a solid squad player but I honestly don't think Smalling or Welbeck are anywhere near good enough for England or United for that matter.

Welbeck is good enough for the England reserves:)

Zaha is grossly overrated and supposedly a terrible attitude, if true he is a long way from being in the England squad.

07 Apr 2014 17:09:28
Guys what are the bare minimum we need to cover next season? I'm not talking about the "good to have" positions but positions where signings are absolutely necessary?

Also name the players of your choice.

Mine are:
LB - Shaw or Coentrao
CB - Garay or Mangala
CM - Vidal or Kroos or Schneiderlin or Carvalho(havent seen him but he looks likely)
RW - Moura or Di Maria (inverted winger) or Cuardado(read rumours about him today)

Outs:
Anderson
Macheda(Banging in goals for Brum)
Nani
Evra
Vidic
Rio
Giggs
Clevs(?)
Chicha(?)
Kags(?)
Lindegaard(too good to be second choice)

Ideally i'd like to keep Kags and Chicha.

Lb- Shaw 2nd choice cole
2* Cm- vidal and kroos/gundogan
Cb - Mangala
Rm - Lucas Moura

{Ed004's Note - Shaw and Buttner as the two lefts backs would be fine IMO, Garay/Benetia/Mangala to partner Smalling or Jones with Keane as cover, Vidal/Carvalho/Bender and Gundogan/Kroos/Rakitic/Koke/Herrera along with a winger Reus/Sanchez/Di Maria/Griezman/Moura. 5 signings with Rio, Vidic, Evra, Anderson, Cleverley, Nani and probably Hernandez leaving. One of RVP or Rooney up top I could see one being sold if so we must keep Hernandez IMO. I'd also let Young go as Lingard could take his squad place. If Rafael goes Coleman priority IMO}

We have good young players to cover the like of Amos Macheda Bebe Young Anderson who haven't and never will make it at United personally I want to see Nani stay he has the best skills of all our wingers just ahead of Januzai on his day Zaha might go or spend another season on loan then Rio Giggs should retire with Vidic and Evra leaving for minimal fees one of Rooney RvP could leave allowing Hernandez to play more and letting Mata play the number 10 role Kagawa looks good on the left with Mata and Januzai as they interchange well Kroos and Vidal would be a good mobile midfield and interchange well with the front 4 the back four with Shaw Jones Garay Rafael would be young energetic and have an experienced head in there I would make Jones vice captain De Gea in goal is self explanatory then Wilson and Lingard look like good prospects so next year looks bright with a good end to this season nothing less than 5 more wins and it would give us some momentum for next season

We have to look realistically, we all know that the areas that are first to be targeted will be center back, left back and central midfield. The right back area could be looked at and a past paced, skillful winger would be useful as that is something that we are probably lacking in. We have good defensive wingers in Young and Valencia but no one with any real flair apart from Nani and Zaha who are both going I think.

I'm sure there are lots of targets for each position with probably two main targets per position.

For left back we will have Shaw or Coentrao. Center back we will prioritize Mangala and then Garay. In midfield a lot of people think that the Carvalho deal is done and I think Kroos or Gundogan will be the ones to come with perhaps Koke coming back on the radar. I think there will be lots of changes in the middle, Fletcher may go, Anderson too and Carrick will become less important with new signings and Fellaini taking the mantle.

Di Maria is probably the only realistic winger. Griezmann would be ideal. Cuadrado is possible though I suppose, he is regularly being looked at apparently and has the attributes that we need.

07 Apr 2014 16:02:56
Hey all,

Been a while since I've posted, as there hasn't been much to post about this season and I'm not one for griping and complaining about results. Moyes has been far from superb this season, but since March he and the squad seem to be gaining some confidence. I'd like to hear what you all think about his season/ future at the club. Like Moyes, Fellaini's season started off very rocky. poor performance after poor performance followed by some red cards and injuries. But, again like Moyes, I think that he is starting to find his feet in the middle of the park. Is he Toure? No. Is he Schweini? No. Is he Vidal? No. Is he a tall, lanky, strong, elbow throwing, afro donning, SOB that plays with passion? I think so. Although he has seemed disinterested at times earlier this season, over the past month I believe that he's starting to find his legs and become the player that we saw score 10 goals and assist 10 at Everton. Sure he played a little higher up the pitch at Goodison, but I remember a player who picked the ball up in the midfield and drove at and bursted through defenses in the Prem, causing all sorts of problems. I guess I'm saying that I believe and have faith in Fellaini to get himself sorted out and be a good box to box midfielder who can break up play, pass, and score. What do you guys think?

On another note, who do you all think has been our best player this year? My vote would be Dave De Gea, due to sheer consistency and reliability. Besides de Gea, our squad can be split into a couple of different groups: average, below average, and needs to leave. Players such as Rooney, Jones, RvP, Evans, Carrick, Hernandez, and Mata have been par, or average. Below Average: Kagawa, Fellaini, Smalling, Rafa, Butts, Young, Valencia, Welbeck, Cleverley, and Nani. Needs to leave: Vida, Rio, Evra, and Giggs.

Anyways. bring on Bayern and here's to a good run of form in the last stages of the season,

Cheers,
Sparty On

I think we could see Nani, Kagawa, Hernandez, Anderson & Young all be sold this summer. Along with the likes of Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Giggs freeing up space on the wage bill we are set for a nice spend this summer. I just hope we get the players we want. Players like Wilson, Powell, Pearson etc will replace the likes of Bebe, Kiko, Amos etc.

Sydney, Kagawa must stay for me. He has played really well recently and he has linked well with Mata, which are very encouraging going forwards. Also I expect Valencia and Young will stay, since we need to have a certain number of English or British players in the squad, and Young provides good cover at left and right wing, and he offers more defensively, plus Valencia covers right back and right wing, and seems to be a player that Moyes likes, puts in a great shift both ways. Hernandez not sure, I think Hernandez wants to play more, but at the same time wants to stay. Plus, with the outlay we need for centre mid, centre back, left back and left wing, I think Moyes might keep Hernandez as a back up especially if Rooney and Van Persie are both out at the same time, since Welbeck is not reliable enough. I can see Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra and Giggs all leaving this summer, although I am especially sad to see Vidic go, just not got the pace for the Prem, still class in our Champions League matches and still the most aerially dominant centre half around. Whatever happens, big changes this summer.

It would be pure madness to sell Kagawa IMO. The guy is coming into his own now. He looks fitter, stronger and quicker; and with Mata, we have two world class attacking CM players' who can utterly destroy teams with their quality.

07 Apr 2014 13:56:25
With Roma retiring the number 10 shirt after Totti has hung up his boots, do you think it would be fitting if we did the same for Giggs? Seeing Ashley Young wear number 18 still pains me to this day, I don't think it would be right to give it the 11 to another player

I reqlly hate this shirt retiring stuff, what are teams going to to do in a few years when they retire 1, 7, 8, 9 and 10.

I don't go along with all this retiring of shirt numbers. it's good to have numbers being worn by players that have a history and a tradition and this shouldbe continued.
it also should go to someone special and inspire players and make them feel special to wear it. someone like Adnan would be deserving of it in my opinion.

Retiring shirt numbers is just plain stupid and pointless, what does it achieve exactly apart from showing a mark of respect to a legend who will most likely think its just a whole load of fuss for no reason. i'm pretty sure in years to come giggs will be proud of the way januzaj is tearing teams apart in his shirt.

Personally I love it that we have a regular number 1, 2, 3, 8, 10 on the pitch, I think its a shame to not have these numbers and I still miss seeing a number 7 and 9. I wonder who will get the number 7?

I also agree retiring shirt numbers is stupid unless in an extremely rare case for example a player suffers a horrible accident and dies only then it makes sense as a genuine mark of respect.

I'd love to see Adnan in the number 11 shirt, it's fitting for a pacey, young left footed wing wizard out of the youth academy ;)

06 Apr 2014 20:35:41
sorry again edds, but do you think we'll go back in for ander herrera or rafinha or even both? or has moyes got 'toni kroos' written on his forehead?

{Ed002's Note - I have said where I know interest to be - I really can't guess about what might happen in the future.}