Manchester United Banter Archive January 07 2013

07 Jan 2013 22:44:08
If we do get a new keeper I hope that it is an Eastern European or German (or similar like Holland). I say this because I think that they are much more solid and dependable than most Europeans. Players from these areas are more solid, I.e Vidic, Schmeical, VDS etc! I would feel more relaxed with someone like Adler in goal, rather than a Spaniard.

Might sound a weird argument, but I am sure that some of you will agree. Certain nations seem to have more dependable keepers and have a rich history of them (e.g. Germany).

Fresh!

Akinfeev!! Russian keeper, quality and Experience, Aggressive in the box and (this is nothing to go by) was always my first choice in Football Manager :P

Certain nations have certain styles of play which in turn produces certain styles of keepers to cope with this style of play. De Gea is suited to the Spanish league but because he is young he can easily develop the skills required to cope with the BPL. Let me ask you this did you know who joe hart was when he was 22.

Adler has been pushed out of the first 11 at Leverkusen by a youngster called Bernd Leno I think...... So why settle for second best?

No name three

Click on windows explorer, type into google 'rene Adler', hit search, click ANY result and that will tell you exactly where you are going wrong!

It's really not hard to do the tiniest bit of research before making completely daft comments!

Jono

Jono - I am pretty sure he was benched because of Leno.....

Jono - No matter how good Adler has been over the years.... At his age he should not be getting pushed out and kept out of the side because of a 20 year old no matter what.... It is pretty simple actually.

Rene Adler is not my first choice but he's back playing well again, not number 2 to Bernd Leno but number 1 for Hamburg. He's still young and looks to have his confidence back.
Tried google recently?

:-)

Snakey

Just reread your comment Jono and misunderstood it first time sorry!

Snakey

Since when is Denmark in Eastern Europe or Germany?

I thought Adler played for Hamburg?

Sydney!

Jono,

He's still going as well, no name properly making a fool of himself.

No name,

Why not do as Jono said, if you have this site you have google, stop making a fool of yourself.

GDS

I was on about when Leno pushed him out of the side which is why he left.... That is why I said why settle for a keeper that was second best at a team.

GDS - At which point did I say he is still there? I believe he got injured and Leno stepped up and Adler never got his shirt back..... Simple really.

Dunce

Dunce, that is simply not true. Adler was leaving for free in the summer so Leverkusen were preparing for life after Adler leaves.

Sydney!

Dunce

Adler was constantly injured for around 6 months and upon returning made it clear to Bayer he wanted to move on. This then forced them into playing the other keeper instead of having an inexperienced keeper take over in the summer. He was not ousted due to the keeper being better just Bayer covering their own backs with regards to the future.

It says allot of the man that he accepted this without moaning and was fully supportive of the new guy while awaiting his move in the summer.

He has currently got the No1 spot at hamburg and has helped them to the 4th best defensive record in the league even with half wit players like mancienne playing in front of him.

He is a very good keeper and a Utd fan also which would aid in keeping him for many years if he were to end up here.

Jono

I know he is a very good keeper Jono I wanted him here instead of DDG in the first place... all i was saying is when he got fit Leno kept him out and was just asking why accept a benched GK as our number 1.... Do you not get what I am saying?

But you were saying why accept a keeper that's not even better than a youngster from Leverkusen.

He is and always was. I have said how it came about that he stayed on the bench for a portion of his last season but he is No1 at a new team and playing well so we would not be opting for a benched keeper would we?

Jono

GDS

He is genuinely a f**king id1ot! Haha

I'm not even going to point out where he is going wrong as I cannot help any more than I have.

You can take a horse to water.....

Jono

....but a pencil's always lead?

Puzzled

07 Jan 2013 22:41:16
Been having a debate with my friends tonight, which league is better overall?

Spanish League or English Premier League.

Spain have two title contenders.

England have about 4, over the last 10 years it's can go to about 8 or 9.

England have more Class players.

Spain have two of the best players in the world.

I personally think England and German league are ahead of Spain.

Just look at some the players at United, City, Chelsea, Spurs and Arsenal.

Feel free to join in guys!

-JakeW

Real and barca are better then anyone in the prem. other than that the prem is miles ahead. More competitive, which equals more exiting. Anyone can take points of anyone

La Liga is just a richer version of the (old) SPL imo. I also hat the fact FIFA love the Spanish League and the teams in it, p!sses me right off.

#ags

I think the English league has taken a step back over the last two years. City won the league the last year and couldn't win a game in the Champions League in a group with the Spanish, German and Dutch champs. Chelsea was one of the luckiest teams ever to win the CL last year. Nobody could argue that they were better then Napoli, Barca and Bayern. This year it's just us and Arsenal.

Their argument is that if you made a BPL 11 and a La Liga 11 there would be much more spanish players in the la liga 11 than english players in the BPL 11.
Also they consider their 2 title contenders to be much better than our 4/5 title contenders.
Also the fact that athletic bilbao a team that came 10th last year beat United in both legs with a 5-3 agg.
They also argue the style of play is much more enjoyable than the BPL.
Also how many foreigners in the BPL.
Sulei

Going by the performance of Spanish teams in Europe, La Liga has 2 giants that are hard to compete against but a lot of the other teams would also beat premiere league teams of equal standings.

Shahram

I am sorry but you put each team out of both leagues against each other so Madrid v United, Everton v Malaga etc and the BPL easily takes it no doubt.... Our bottom clubs like QPR and Reading are miles ahead of the bottom clubs in La Liga.

08 Jan 2013 10:28:16
JakeW, do you really think the EPL is superior to Spanish La Liga? Though the EPL is more exciting and more competitive. But look at the qualities of talents these Spanish teams parade. We all know what happens when these Spanish sides meet with oppositions from outside their shores........ Fmy

Chelsea deserved to win the cl they were tactically better than everyone else and were owed one from barcelona from 2009

Chelsea last year is the most undeserving winner of that trophy since its inception and were rubbish.

Shahram

07 Jan 2013 22:15:27
Anyone buying this ddg rumor is an person. Saf is not buying a very young keeper just to dump him a season in when he's already improved tremendously. But if you're still concerned with the rumors, here's the easiest way to know they're fictional. They are linking us with reina, who is one of the worst keepers in the pl and all of Europe. Absolutely terrible. And that's who the journos on this story claim were going after. Give me Amos over reina. -kg

I think most people would agree with that,
jred

It's mischief making by the Mirror days before a Liverpool match.

I don't doubt that we are keeping tabs on certain goalkeepers, but it's not an urgent matter.

Sydney!

07 Jan 2013 22:04:38
What united need are an established centre back, of the likes of hummels or pepe etc, I don't feel left back is an issue, and I also feel we need a Xabi alonso style midfielder but younger. Any ideas of who that missing person is?
Finally, we need a winger with consistency and class, buying a young winger with potential is all well and good until people want nani back... Just saying.

07 Jan 2013 22:45:41
can i just ask why you feel left back isn't an issue

Evra is top class going forward, his problem is when he's defending against a winger who's not afraid to take him on one v one. I expect young to help him out on Sunday against Sterling.
Buttner is not quite there yet, one for the future, Bains is the man for the job.
We have all our centre backs coming to fitness at the business end of the season, i don't see us going for a centre back in the next 2 windows, not until summer 2013 window.
Flyhalfmitch.

07 Jan 2013 21:20:03
I really do feel that Ronaldo has been robbed, again. Even when he out scores Messi, Messi wins it. Even when he takes Madrid to a title he doesn't get it. Would love this to tip Ronaldo over the edge and make him force a move back to us.

Also, have you ever seen a worse suit than what Messi wore?

Fresh!

I think Messi deserved it TBH.

The Fifa XI was a complete shambes though.

Gav

Just googled it. My God, looks like one of Ben Elton's stage suits.

AJH

The suit was awful

did media not out score ronaldo tho
jred

All I can say is that its a good job his football is better than his fashion sense.

Fresh!

Fresh!

I would have agreed with you at the start of december, but given that Messi has just scored more than anyone else ever in a calendar year, it is quite hard to argue that Ronaldo out scored him.
I do think that if Ronaldo doesnt win it at least once more in his career then it will be a disgrace.
And I could not agree more with Gav about the world XI, ridiculous to suggest the best 11 players in the world play in only 2 cities, and absolute joke. Kompany, RVP, Hummels, Pirlo etc.
I would also liked to have seen Klopp in the top 3 coaches. Pep wasnt in a job for 6 months, and even when he was didnt win anything, slightly absurd that he made the top 3 no matter how good he was previously

Jaxer

07 Jan 2013 21:11:36
Any news on waslay schnigjderly? ;)

Rk16

Ha, really did laugh out loud

AJH

I really hope by the fact you ended with a ; ) that you are taking the pi$$, otherwise congratulations on the most obscure spelling of Wesley Sneijder to date.

AvidDevil

Just laughed out loud at this, finally people on this site are coming round to my sense of humour on the spelling thing :)

Seems it has all gone quiet though in all seriousness, I would be surprised if we went anywhere near him.

GDS

For what its worth, I was listening to a dutch football expert, who thinks he will go on the last day of the transfer and his reasoning was quite solid.

The story goes that Inter although want him to take a wage cut or sell him, are still going to try and get a chunky transfer fee out of him.

He believes that later it goes the lesser the transfer fee inter will ask for as it is higher priority to get the wage bill off their books and hence helps Sneijder negotiate a decent wage. He also said that Sneijder is not demanding the wages that is being reported and will end up with a pl club on the last day.

Shahram

GDS

I love reading the posts about him.like ive said before im at sea fishing alot.always reading just don't post alot.at home for christmas.thought i would amuse myself last night.

Rk16

07 Jan 2013 20:24:57
Can't wait to see Andreas perreria in our side! It may be a few years but my god he is only a year older than me and it makes me re evaluate myself! Good luck to him :)

Caolán.

Get those boots on mate you have some catching up to do haha

Jono

Playing in a cup semi final tomorrow mate :)

Caolán.

07 Jan 2013 19:31:52
I see Puzzled is back again. ED002, how come Stoner, Lfc, and Puzzled seem to get free access onto our page, but trying to get any posts onto their pages seems not to work. Are the Gooners and Scousers too sensitive for banter?

AJH {Ed002's Note - I have no idea who most of the people support. Posts go up on merit. If I think a post is not worthy of posting I just delete it. Perhaps you shoudl try when one of the other Editors is around - perhaps tomorrow as I am on a plane most of the day so will miss the opportunity of deleting your posts.}

07 Jan 2013 20:27:19
AJH,

Sign your name Sydney, he's always over their giving us his expert analysis.

Stoner

Gee thanks...memo to self, must try harder....

AJH

Thats simple AJH, its because everybody who doesnt support manchester utd like to see us put down! We must be the only fans who can take it on the chin!

Duggo

Hey Stoner, pop over to your page and answer my Wilshire question...

AJH

07 Jan 2013 20:55:27
AJH,

To be honest the posts about Wilshire (your comedy spelling of course) and the kit joke were a tad poor for you. Bless.

Always good to see you over there. Like to think of you as one of the nice guys. Not in a man love way of course.

Stoner

07 Jan 2013 21:22:01
Did that ages ago mate. Didnt bother with the kit one as it was a bit old.

Stoner

Oops, I guess when he joins United I might learn to spell his name properly...unlike Snydger of course

AJH

07 Jan 2013 19:33:22
What a World XI! La Liga!
This would be mine:

Neuer

Lahm Kompany Hummels Cole

Xavi Y Toure Iniesta

Ronaldo RVP Messi

MUFC19

Sorry with all due respect falcao pips Rvp lets be honest

Id replace toure with Falcao.

JK92

That's a much fairer representaion than the official one TBF, you can't deny Falcao deserves to be there or there abouts though.

Gav

Falcao hasn't been as consistent as RVP in 2012, maybe he has set this season alight, but it's based on 2012.

-JakeW

08 Jan 2013 15:08:18
calender year not last season

07 Jan 2013 19:04:05
Yet again, the little argentenian wonder wins the ballon d'or. As much as it pains me to say it, considering the majority of us support cristiano, I have to admit Messi fully deserves it. What a player. Its frightening that he is still 25 and can still get better ( is it even possible ? )

Mick

Its getting boring, there's no point in having the award or bothering to vote for it, just hand it him in August.

I still doubt Messi's abilities.Would he be able to play like that in another team?Without Iniesta and Xavi supporting him?As it seems we will never find out because theres no Messi without Barca and no Barca without Messi...

Messi deserves it without question IMO. Even though it pains me to say it (would rather see Ronnie get it). Messi's goal scoring record in 2012 speaks for itself, I didn't think that was possible in this day and age. Then you have to consider that he creates many of those chances himself, either directly or via one-two's. He does things with the ball at pace that only one or two others on the planet would even attempt.

I don't agree with the argument that he plays in too good a team. Ronaldo plays for Real Madrid after all, not exactly lacking in quality! Also, can you blame Messi for wanting to stay at Barca? I don't, in fact I think he's be stupid to leave! Pele never played in Europe but that doesn't stop us from appreciating his talent.

So, Messi is the clear winner for me. And if he continues this level of performance for a few years yet he will rightfully be spoken of as one of, if not, the best ever.

Gav

We keep saying that its hard to find loyal players in todays game, and yet we critisise messi for not changing clubs. Rubbish.

Mick

'I still doubt Messi's abilities'. Really? I get the 'Barcelona way' issue but the man is a genius. Much as I love Ronaldo, I'd still plump for Messi and happily build a team around him. He is simply unbelievable.

AJH

I would love to know what it is about messi abilities you doubt
jred

07 Jan 2013 18:36:19
World team of the year? My ass!

Fifa have seriously lost it, how can you put Marcelo in over Lahm or Cole.

Pique over Hummels, Chiellini or Kompany?

Falcao is amazing, but surely RVP is better? and has done much more?

Xabi Alonso?

Oh Chelsea must annoyed, won the champions league and noone got into the team of the year.

Feel free to argue with me, but we all know FIFA have been biased here, all la liga players.

-JakeW

I would take marcelo over lahm and cole. Chiellini and the last one is a tough call as they play in different leagues and hard to separate.

Hop CR wins but doubtful.

Shahram

Spot on Jake, although its voted for by a host of people. I think it's a sad case of MOTD fever all round

AJH

Fifa is obsessed with la liga. Utter BS. Totally agree with you JakeW.

kdevil10

Not one player in the team who got into the champions league final, absolutely appalling


anon

How was Guardiola nominated ahead of Klopp? To me the whole awards was a sham. Where was Lahm and Pirlo? And Cech did more than Casillas. To most annoying part was Pique and Ramos in that team!! And Iniesta deserved it more than Messi.
NB: who will seriously pick Falcao ahead of RVP? Is there something going on in FIFA we are not aware of?
FEH

07 Jan 2013 19:31:56
Its pretty bad, both centrebacks, the left back, arguably the right back, alonso and falcao were all wrong. And possibly the keeper as well.

I beleive Ballotelli was nominated? if so what did he do in the last 12 month?? its a joke

Rouge Diablo :)

It's alway been a sham but that's the worst Fifa 11 I remember seeing. Shocking. Pique being in there is a joke.

Gav

Chelsea and Bayern Munich didn't have players in there either and they were in the UCL Final. Says it all.

I am never voting again, waste of time. The last time players i chose went in were Rooney and Vidic last year, Barcelona didn't have the finest of years in 2012 did they.. Half their team is still in it.

-JakeW

So who exactly from chelsea would be in world 11? cole? no chance almost as overated as joe hart, i think scweinsteiger had a decent shot of making the team but in general it is spot on

07 Jan 2013 17:17:05
Hey guys, just going to put in my views on the goalkeeping debate.

Before I start, I used to sign off as U.T.I.D but am going to change it to just my name as its just easier to find my posts then.

A replacement if we were to sell DDG, anyone want Edwin Van Der Sar back? Ferguson has told close sources he's still young enough to make an impact and is the future of the team! ;)

Now all joking aside, if we were to get rid of DDG, I think we should at least me able to pick up 22-28 million for him or at least around that mark, but I don't think we should sell, he is one of the best shop stoppers in the world, and lets be honest that is not an over exaggeration, he is stunning at close range reflex shots, he gets down and makes save the best in the world would only dream of. Also I do actually rate him very highly, one of the best easily and will be for a long time! Now I read earlier somebody wants a swap for Casillias, that just can't and won't happen, DDG cam from Spain young and was used to punching balls away, Casillias has spent all his career so far in the Spanish league, he is going to be more used to punching balls away than DDG and therefore will not adapt to the English game IMO also age is a factor. I also read earlier on , that DDG Out, Reina In, this can also not happen, why would we replace Spains current 3rd choice GK that will be Spain's number 1 in the future, with Spains former 3rd choice GK who was never good enough to be number one with the people in front. Yes Reina is a very good goalkeeper, but replacing DDG for him?

If we was to sell DDG, a big IF then Begovic, Adler, Ter Stergen or maybe a very hopeful bid for Courtouis to come in, i also wouldnt say no to Vorm and Krul either if DDG was to go, but lets say Begovic or Adler being the main targets as we know there has been rumors about them before, I think Begovic is the most likely, he is a good goalkeeper definitely, but is he United standard? IF he was Spanish would he be a number one goalkeeper in the future? Definitely not, Will he be able to be the number one for the best team in the world? I rate him, I really do, but in my opinion we should hold on to what WILL turn out to be the number one goalkeeper for the best team in the world and the best national side at the moment.

I've not covered everything, like values of targets, or wages, or how I think the other keepers could do, but I think I've made a fair point about DDG staying in the United goalkeeper kit for a long time.

Tommy.

I personally think if we were to get rid of DDG(I would keep him though) then Asmir Begovic would be a very cheap and good replacement for him.

And DDG should fetch us at least 25million.

MUMBAI_BOY

I agree with all of that, good post
jred

I would prefer going for Butland who seems to be an exciting prospect.

But still I believe in DDG and I think he will be top class in 2 yrs time. We have to be patient with him. Given his age, if we are patient enough and if he develops into the player we all expect, I guess he could easily play atleast 15 years.. Remember VDS played till 40 if I am correct.
Players make mistakes so will he but I hope our manager backs him and he will surely develop into a world class goalie

AJ

AJ, there you are again my friend.

AJH

07 Jan 2013 19:20:08
Buttland is just that though, a prospect. e'd have to sign an out and out experienced number 1.

Also Buttland is a little over hyped.

He had 6 months on loan in league 1 i believe, went into the Olympics and has had 6 months in a Brum side that is awful. He's been one of the few bright sparks and god knows where they'd be without him, but having seen quite a few games there this season he isn't ready for a step up to the Prem as a number 1 and certainly not for an elite club like United. {Ed007's Note - Ebeneezer Goode....}

I can't see us signing Bergovic to replace DDG in this transfer window, however if we were to sign him it would be to put pressure on DDG and not to replace him, but it would be the end of the road at OT for Lindeguard.
Raffa

07 Jan 2013 21:51:21
Lol @ Ed007. 'Naughty, naughty very naughty'. Tune!

Gav

07 Jan 2013 15:55:14
Hi everyone, been visiting this site virtually daily for the past two years and this is my first time posting.

I was curious to know how those of you that weren't brought up as united fans became united supporters and if you can remember what it was that drew you to the club? I live in South Africa and my father is an Arsenal supporter and I was 9 when i watched my first full football match... So there I was sitting on next to my dad watching the tele, it just happened to be the 99 FA Cup semi-final replay - United vs Arsenal. Despite my fathers avid support for Arsenal during the match I found myself remaining rather neutral up until Giiggs went on a splendid run from his own half to score the wiinner. Although my father didn't appreciate the goal very much(lol), I thought it was absolutely brilliant... and from then onwards I supported United which has gone from watching the occasional game to watching every game I can over the since high school. There's just something about united's "never say die" attitude that resonates with me.

McMan

For me, it was back in about 1998. I used to watch the EPL as a neutral, but the realised that Dwight Yorke and Andrew Cole both played for Manchester United. As a Jamaican, that made me proud because Dwight is Trinidadian (Caribbean neighbor) and Cole has Jamaican roots. I instantly became a fan then, and rarely missed a match since then. I try, to the best of my ability, to follow all things United and still hope to travel to OT one day to watch my first live match.

Bernidre

How can you not be drawn to a the United family of winners

Was brought up in West Wales where you basically just pick out of United or Liverpool, unless you follow your dad's team. My father wasn't a supporter of any football team but he did tell me stories about the Munich disaster and George Best's skills and off the pitch tales. Add to that Ryan Giggs making his debut for United at 17 (he quickly became my idol) and the choice for me was straight forward....luckily I made the correct choice ; )

I know it's difficult for those who live under the shadow of OT to understand how you can 'choose' your team. But since the day I did that, it hasn't felt like a choice. Supporing United is engrained in me and always will.

Gav

When Cantona retired. I was about 7 years old, and started to watch United with my dad.

Mick

Honestly can't remember

nikz

07 Jan 2013 15:23:24
I hope all the rumours about DDG are just that !
I think he's a fantastic keeper who is still young for a gk and still adjusting to the EPL. Even great keepers make mistakes if you saw van der sar at Juventus two words spring too mind bloody awful and look how he turned out. Also the English presses supposedly world no1 across the city has made several errors in the last 6 months the most recent against Sunderland. Even if we were to get rid off DDG who would be available as all the top world class keepers are at top clubs.

United knew what they were getting when they bought ddg, a good young keeper with bags of potential.

typical of United to buy a good young player and look to develop them .

not so typical of us to buy a good you player and flog them after 18 month

the story of him leaving is in the mirror, not the most reliable of sources and the article goes on to say we are looking at reina, I think that says it all really
jred

I imagine that its all paper talk. We wouldn't do such major business like this in January. If he leaves it'll be summer, but I think that he will be here a while longer yet.

Fresh!

No Name

How was VDS 'bloody awful' at Juve? He played just 2 seasons and was only ousted by them smashing the world record for a GK when they signed Buffon.

He didnt get sold due to playing badly or making mistake after mistake just that they had a better longer term player they just spunked 30+ million on.

Jono

If he does leave which I think he will but not in January.... The GK to replace him has to be Asmir Begovic.

Jred, we did not realise we were getting a keeper who cannot command a box. Eric Steel made a blunder IMO. He didn't factor in the differences between the EPL & La Liga. I like DDG and think we should stick by him, but the club have been actively looking at keepers so there is a question mark there mate.

However I do not think it's an urgent matter and the Mirror are jumping on this coincidentally before the Liverpool game.

Sydney!

Syd
the club knew exactly what they were getting I would suggest it was you who never.
it's funny really because when we signed him and many on here were going on about him being the best young keeper in the world, yourself included I pointed out he was a shot stopper he was young and would need to learn to command his box and adapt to the league.
and if I could see it I'm sure Eric steel could.
I would imagine it was much more likely that they knew exactly what they were getting, a good young player who could develop in to a great player and bought him with a bit of a longer term plan than 18 month.
if any keeper is likely to leave it would be lingard imo

after all a club like United rarely pay the best part of 20 mill on a 20 year old player after scouting him for 12 month to flog him 18 month later for the latest fancy name
this is not fifa
jred

I refer my honourable friends to my earlier posts. Loads of potential but £17M? If does feel like someone cocked up - you don't pay that sort of money for a keeper who is still developing...unless you are prepared to take the brick bats whilst he fulfills his potential. Time will tell...

AJH

I'm with jred on this one. I'm sure the club knew what they were buying. And we aren't really known for selling players on after 18 months. I assume it's papertalk and I'm sure if we were looking to replace DDG is would be in the summer. If it were to be Jan uary then he wouldn't have been given a run in the team IMO.

Gav

"It is harder when you are replacing Edwin van der Sar and Peter Schmeichel. They are probably two of the greatest goalkeepers in European football over the last 40 years, " he said.
"That is not easy. I found it difficult to replace them.
"That's why we went for a young replacement, who would develop and mature into the position because the potential is there."ferguson

jred

Jred, I disagree. Goalkeepers younger than him can command their area. Butland, Stegen, Szczesny, Courtois etc. I think watching him in the U21's and in La Liga he was never seen tested up against a Stoke or a WBA. I think the United staff took it for granted that he would command his area because he did in Spain. I think if they could rewind time they would.

Just to make it very clear, I am a massive fan of DDG and I want us to keep him and trust him. Us scouting keepers could well be to replace Lindegaard, he is a good keeper, but he gets injured a lot. Does he want to be a number one? Who knows.

Sydney!

Syd
we are not talking about other gk we are talking about ddg
I said at the time it was an issue,
I had seen it a few times myself so I'm sure our scouts had after watching him for 12 month.
in la liga he rarely came of his line and he dropped a couple in the u21 if you remember
I wasn't the only person to mention it either plenty others did it was a hot topic on the site for a while

crosses and commanding your area are a major issue for most young keepers never mind keepers in spain.
to say United staff took it for granted is very naive, the same staff would have looked in to his personality lifestyle everything it's quite clear fergy done a lot of planning in to who would would take over from vds.

but keep making excuses thats better than admitting you could be wrong.

"that's why we went for a young replacement, who would develop and mature into the position because the potential is there" and funny enough that's what's happening.

but your probably sure your right and that the United scouts thought they were buying the finished article at 20 years old
jred

Syd
as for upping his contract in the summer as you mentioned before, I would say that if your right and United regret buying him then that's unlikely
jre

08 Jan 2013 08:19:09
Syd is spot on here, the club knew they wouldn't be getting the finished article with ddg, but they expected to get a keeper who was better in the box. If the club could turn back time they would go in a different direction. Ddg is a good keeper, but will get bullied in the Premiership and he still isn't bulking up. The scouts and AF have made a costly mistake here and although we will come through this, they didn't forsee these issues with ddg. It has been an headache for AF. Its not the first time AF has messed up in the keeping deparment.

Jred, I never said the club thought they were signing a finished article in DDG. I said they would have expected him to be more commanding than he is. DDG has been dropped several times by the manager, did you think the manager imagined he would pay £18m for DDG and be dropping him for mistakes? Like I said 'I BELIEVE' the manager made a slight blunder and didn't see DDG's weaknesses as being such a problem. I think if the manager could go back he would invest the £18m somewhere else. That is my opinion.

Sydney!

07 Jan 2013 15:04:03
I wanted Asmir Begovic as number 1 as soon as VDS announced he would be retiring, looking at Real Madrid, Casillias is not looking like being first choice anymore, therefore could anyone see De Gea heading to Real and MUFC swooping for Begovic? -JI

No. Casillas is very much first choice. Mourinho has dropped him clearly to show him that he isn't undroppable. Adan is a poor keeper so Casillas will be their main man, certainly until the summer. De Gea will be here for a while yet I think.

Fresh!

I'd much rather have ter Stegen


Anon

07 Jan 2013 12:40:06
Any idead when anderson is back anyone?

Also I do think will be pushed into signing strootman this january as other clubsare showingmajor intrest!

Big V

07 Jan 2013 12:05:15
I wonder if a swap deal involving Casillas could be on the cards?

Sydney!

Paper talk for me
jred

Syd, when have you ever known high profile swap deals to come off? Casillas is not in good form and has got worse. This may be due to his relationship with the manager though. We should probably stick with De Gea though as he is the future.

Fresh!

God, I hope not. Casillas is no more accomplished at coming for crosses than De Gea at the moment and he has a worrying tendency to punch. I would prefer to see faith being put in De Gea but if we are to sell him then I would rather see someone brought in with PL experience.

TK-Red

Even I wouldn't want that to happen!

Jono

I can see us signing Begovic soon, that would mean the end for DDG surely. As much as I like DDG I think the manager isn't comfortable with him and Lindegaard's horror show the other day has asked a few questions about him.

Sydney!

If he were to be replaced there are only 5 men that I would feel are good enough:

Krul, Begovic, Stekelenbury, Adler & Neuer.

Most of which aren't available - Adler is the most plausible. I think we will stick with De Gea. To be hoenst the only appealing deal talked about that included De Gea was the Ronaldo rumour.

Fresh!

07 Jan 2013 13:15:59
its paper talk. The mirrors quite anti united anyway. Like we're going to sell our number one keeper in january and replace him with the guy from stoke. Its laughable rubbish pretending to be sports journalism. Have you read the article. Its all fergie has been on to gill and the glazers begging for funds to buy a keeper. No one knows what goes on at the club at that level. Then its full of more lies about doubts on his handling of crosses when he's actually improved this season. Then some huff about him being targeted on set pieces.

I think Ter Stegen wouldn't be a bad shout either but I don't see SAF selling De Gea and then bringing in another 20 year old as first choice.

TK-Red

To be honest Syd, if we sign Begovic I think it would be the end of Lindegaard, not De Gea.

Fresh!

Asmir begovic is pure class..... He is perfect for the BPL and is still pretty young for a top keeper... maybe £8 million ? I would let Madrid have DDG if he was to join.

We have been watching Mignolet, Stegen, Begovic & Vorm over the season.

Sydney!

We watch players in every position we work on along term plan and plan for the future
jred

Jred, I agree about that. I hope we put our trust in DDG by maybe upping his contract in the summer. That would put an end to any rumours.

Sydney!

07 Jan 2013 10:22:56
I know this isn't fifa, but a midfield 3 of strootman, carrick and bender with kagawa playing behind Rooney and rvp would still be a pretty decent team in real life. Your thoughts are welcome

James

I personally admire strootman,

07 Jan 2013 10:09:26
Hi Guys,

Ben Davies

The young lad who played left back for Swansea yesterday against Arsenal looked very good.

Great going forward and was fairly solid at the back apart from one or two small errors.

Im not saying on the back of one performance go out an buy him, but I will certainly be keeping an eye on him and at 19 will only improve and get a lot better.

Gaz

Neil Taylor is the better leftback of the two. Would prefer him to Davies, when fit and in form.

Seems he've been "thrown in at the deep end" due to Taylor's season-long injury he's doing a fine job.

I watch Swansea every week, although he is very raw you can see the potential is there. Reminds me of the situation when Keiron Gibbs had to step up because Clichy left Arsenal for City

ALDUtd

ALDUtd

07 Jan 2013 09:39:55
what has happened to Lucas Evangelista, Agnaldo, Aguilar and Gladstony. Any news about them?

Red Devil

I was wondering the exact same thing myself - so does anyone have any update info?

There has been quite a bit of stuff about Bruno Gomes recently, but nothing about these other lads.

Red Rob

07 Jan 2013 08:32:14
After the game on Saturday, can we please have an acceptance that Giggs still has a role to play this season.
I know he and Scholes shouldn't be starting games together, but I'm sure both will have vital cameos before the end of the season.
Some of the bile against them, especially Giggs, was disgraceful, yetthse who uttered them have gone strangely quiet of late.
I remember someone even said he didn't want to watch Utd, if Giggs andScholes were playing!

Steviek

When Giggs and scholes generally start the midfield gets swamped. Recently the impact of Giggs and been as a sub. He still has the eye for a decent pass and until recently he hadn't been able to make that pass.

The criticism IMO has been justified to an extent. When teams can dominate our midfield then questions need to be asked. Giggs seems more effective in the last part of the game when it has opened up. Would you honestly start him against Real Madrid, with Scholes? I wouldn't either! Point made!

Bryn Mez

Stevie ive watched giggs all his career and he has been a fantastic servant, this last 2-3 years he has been a shadow of himself.if he hadnt of pulled off that pass in the last minute to rvp on saturday everybody would of said he did or contributed nothing to the game and sadly thats all he did (thankfully) in a very bad team performance.
johndenton

Giggs should be used as a substitute, an impact player that's all. I agreed with Bryn he gets swamped and cannot cope with the full 90 minutes against good midfields.
I think that both he and Scholes should call it a day at the end of the season.

Simmo

07 Jan 2013 10:53:00
'If he hadnt pulled off that pass'
He did and we are still in the cup.
He still has a role to play and still has vision that few others can match, probably mainly as a sub but he still has lots to offer the team.
Get behind him and enjoy his last bits of brilliance in what could be his last season.
Will Red

Stevie a lot of the fans know that Giggs and Scholes are legends and should not be pushed out, they were loyal to us now its our turn to be loyal to them, and if Giggs wants to go on playing and increasing his number of apperances, he should be used sparingly when we are in need of an eperienced player, same for Scholes.

The only thing that worries me is when they are together on the pitch, along with Carrick. So basically we have 3 midfielders who can't press, Giggs and Scholes beeing too old and Carrick having a rather laid back and static style.

Mick

Bryn Mez - I'd actually read my post before you come out with smug comments like, 'point made!' (love the exclamation mark for emphasis, by the way).

I do say, 'I know he and Scholes shouldn't be starting games together'.

The whole point of the post was to highlight the effect they can have as impact players in cameo roles.

Judging by other replies, you weren't the only one not to grasp this, but your superscillious, self-congratulatory post grabbed my attention the most.

StevieK

07 Jan 2013 13:22:46
i think they'd get more support if a definitive statement on their future was forthcoming. If they announced they were retiring at the end of the season whether we won the league or not they'd get more support in a farewell campaign. What i and maybe some others fear is them being handed new deals based on what they've done in the past rather than this season. It would also suggest no midfielder this summer as well. Yes they were great players. Yes their experience comes in handy but there must be a time when they go and it should be this summer. They have earned it after all.

07 Jan 2013 03:14:15
Here are a few of my suggestions for the areas I believe we need improvement within be it this window or the summer window.

CB - I do not believe that vidic is still the top player he was. His is too injury prone and lets face it has past his peak. I believe that we could offload him too a club like PSG or Anzhi and still get a decent amount for him aswell as a huge chunk on the wage bill.
Evans IMO is not consistent enough for united and I believe could being it from a season on loan to a club like sunderland.
Rio is another player I hear people say this of but personally I would like to keep him at the club as back up aswell as offering him a role helping out the youngsters coming through.
I think the most obvious choice I would live to see come in would be Hummels but if this proved to be too costly then I would like to see us attempt to get subitic, Howells or even badstubber aswell as zouma.

Lb - Evra out. In recent years I believe him to have become lazy due to the lack of competition of his spot, I think that buttner and fabio although not both the best would provide excellent competition for one another and help improve one another. However if we did manage to see Evra within this window then i may be tempted to eat my words and get baines.

CM - as quality of a player snjieder is I do not want to get him. His wages are far to high and if he won't drop them for inter he won't drop them for us, plus iv heard him and RVP arent exactally best mates and I would not want to unsettle RVP whilst he is in this form. Who I would like to see brought into the club would be gundogan of BVB. He is the type of player we are looking for aswell as used to playing with kagawa so would help improve his game plus with what I hear about lewandoski coming in the link up play to him would be sublime and he would settle in straight away. Also with the two (possibly 3) of them in it may help us lure other Dortmund stars. If we cannot get gundogan then my next target would be strootman of PSV.
Anderson regretfully should be sold now, he is not at the level he was a few years back aswell as becoming way to injury prone.

Wings - I do not care much for if we get zaha as I do not believe we would give him much game time behind young and Valencia, however with this been said I would like to see our wings reinvented with malagas Isco on the Left and portos James Rodriguez on the right (which I believe a deal involving a combination of nani and Anderson heading the other way) using young and Valencia as cover before gradually selling the two and introducing some of our promising youth e.g petrucci

On the topic of ronaldo coming back, as much as I would love to see him back in red I believe the deal would cost way too much considering his age and the other options out there. I know we would make a tonne of money off commercial sales but same could be said if we brought beckham back in aswell so unless we wait and give fergie his two more years as manager then bring in Mourinho and ronaldo (his contract will be up resulting in a free transfer)


19jack94

No, no, no, and no.
SK.

You lost me after saying Evans should be sent out on loan.

StevieK

I have only read the first paragraph and I disagree with all of it so I don't think there is much point in going on.

You have decided vidic is past his peak and never going to get back to how he was after 3 games coming back from a year long injury lay off. Can't you see how bonkers that is when you put it like that?

Evans has been our most consistent defender for the last 12 months, yet you think he isn't consistent enough. I think you are never going to be pleased unless we sell all the team and sign Messi and ronaldo.

GDS

So lets get this straight you want most of the team sent to Sunderland on loan. Maybe the rest of the team should play in red and white stripes for a bit of experience. I AM KLOOT

Hi 19Jack94
Although you have some good points I think your'e a little quick to write players off, if you continue to swap and change so readily you'll lose all continuity and end up with a mercenary group of players like at Chelsea or PSG.
I think if Evans had a foreign name a big price tag and played for someone else people would be calling for Fergie to sign him up

snakey

I don't get the logic of sending our best defender atm on loan. your post is pretty balanced, but sending Evans on loan is as pointless as it is absurd.

Mick

Right so I suggest Evans out on loan and vidic out for Hummels and that's the entire post wrong. Forget about sending Evans out on loan and what have I suggested, swapping vidic for Hummels, bring in a new CDM and improve our wings with Isco and Rodriguez, all points widely talked about and agreed upon all other the site

19jackc94