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08 Feb 2015 21:53:01
I have it on very good authority that in the summer our main target is Phil Osophy. Phil always plays in his best position and is clear on what he is trying to do. He plays with pace, passion and energy and will fit right in.
Cracking post!
I, d heard lvg was keen on phil mcavity not phil osophy
RVP does that for him John.
08 Feb 2015 21:03:01
Can someone explain to me what is so wrong with having a plan B when plan A is clearly working? I see a lot of people complaining about our long ball approach at the end stages of the game today. Well we tried our plan A which was to keep possession and exploit gaps in the west ham defence but that didn't work, so what was wrong with LVG changing our tactics? FYI we created 3 great chances which should have been scored by our strikers. Also if we had probably not switched to the long ball we probably would have lost that game
There's nothing wrong with having a plan B other than:
1. We seem to need to have a Plan B a little too often nowadays.
2. A plan B is fine but lumping it up to the big man is not the United way.
Fair play it worked and we got a point but not for me.
08 Feb 2015 21:33:15
I agree we have been using quite a bit but as long as it works i don't mind for this season. Hopefully once we get more players suited to his style then we will not need to use our plan B or C as much.
You say its not the united way and i agree but you need something different. You can't just go about and rely on using the same tactics week in and week out because sometimes it will not work and you will need to change it up. Look at Barca in 2013 (i believe). Got trounced by Bayern in the champions league because Bayern knew what Barca were going to do and Barca and Pep didn't have a Plan B or C.
I know its not pretty but if LVG's possession based style is not working later on in time even when he has the right players at his disposal i do not mind him using this method with Fellaini cause let's face it, fellaini has the some of the best chest control out there and is very difficult to deal with.
The problem is that we need a Plan B because Plan A isn't working. Perhaps we could try a different Plan A.
08 Feb 2015 23:11:46
AJH,
I think that pretty much sums it up, plan B is fine every now and again but if plan A never works it needs changing.
Even while executing Plan A our defenders repeatedly hoofed the ball forwards to Falcao and RVP, and they rarely won those aerial duels.
Rooney in midfield doesn't work (herrera is a no brainer) and neither does ADM as a No. 10. IMO ADM needs to get the ball in space where he can run at defenders and play quick 1-2's in space (ie left of midfield 3 / left diamond). too many bodies aroud him as No.10 and he can't use his pace.
I also cannot understand why people have given credit to LVG for getting the best out of Fellaini. The guy is still immobile, is a very poor passer of the ball, gives away lots of fouls (and throws elbows). He is the same player - just been fortunate that some bounces have gone his away and he managed to get on the scoresheet. .he's also a suprisingly average header of the ball considering that he is a foot taller than most players around him.
The issue is when you keep putting rooney in midfield and somehow completely nullify Di Maria week in week out it has now become a joke as it never works and it takes a helter skelter long ball approach and the luck of a second ball to score.
This man is tactically inept and more interested about his ego and his way rather than changing it to suit us to play better football.
BTW for those who keep talking abut his Bayern days, that team also sucked and was terrible to watch and had it not been for a crazy tackle by rafael no one would ever be talking about that team.
We are getting out managed by lesser manager and out played by average players.
When people say he is getting the best out of fellaini that is such bs as that is the way Everton used him and hoofing it up to him does not take a coaching genius.
I wonder why people do not talk about how he has turned Rooney and Di maria in to nothing players by playing them where they play and why Janusaj who last season looked like he was about to have a break out year this year is now looking like championship player.
09 Feb 2015 09:11:39
tombomb,
The goals Fellaini has scored this season have been great finishes, it is not just that he has been 'fortunate with some bounces', people posting things like that clearly just have an issue with the player and will find any reason to say anything good they do was just lucky. He might not be the best player but give him some credit where its due, he has been an important player at times this season and has come up with some important goals.
GDS I disagree. The goals Felliani scores for Everton were world class. It's nothing to do with the manager the lad just needed time to settle.
GCU I agree. Letting a player like Januzaj slip backwards is a poor testament to LVGs judgement. Rooney in midfield is wasteful but Di Maria at £57million should be playing like a world beater if he is in CM, the wing or even around the strikers. Not good enough and if an improvement is not made sooner rather than later he will be considered one of our biggest flops of all time.
09 Feb 2015 10:37:15
Juan,
No matter how much you play for a player doesn't mean he will settle any quicker than other players. ADM will be fine next season once he is settled, he is a top top player and will prove that.
I am a bit confused what you disagree with in my post about Fellaini or where I said anything about the manager.
Why does Fellaini need time to settle but ADM doesn't when Fellaini came from the same league?
GDS I was also alluding to the OP when speaking about Felliani.
The difference is that Di Maria at the peak of his powers costing what he has cost us and his mammoth wages means he must perform. When Madrid signed Ronaldo or Bale do you think they didn't expect much of a return in the initial season? What about when Zlatan signed for PSG?
When you are a big name, coming in with a huge reputation and costing premium capital there is a responsibility to perform on your shoulder. No qualms.
If he does a Nani and plays superbly sporadically for the next few seasons will he be considered a success? When you look at the players who have come into clubs for the figure he has you don't get 'time to settle'. Torres was hounded by Chelsea fans and Kaka disgruntled the Bernabeu faithful.
When you look across the country and see Alexis Sanchez for example coming from the same league, at half the price with maybe a lesser reputation lighting up the league you can't help but question your most expensive asset.
Juan
This style of football is not suited to Di Maria and would not suit even bale and many players top players out there. The manager is responsible as this possession and slow build up allows teams to defend with 10 and get their lines all set. There is nowhere to go and very little space to make forward passes or any runs for the likes of Di Maria and Janusaj.
We have become an over the top football team and easy to defend against. Do you think it is a coincidence we struggle to create anything even against lower half clubs.
If I was PL manager I must be loving what this guy is doing as he is making it easy for them and all the guys an opposing team would fear are being nullified with this style of football.
Jmb - feillani world class ? Are we talking about the same player. It doesn't matter how long he is at utd he will never be utd quality let alone world class.
10 Feb 2015 10:13:22
What do you mean sparky? Some of his goals for Everton were world class. I didn't say he was world class. Read the posts correctly.
08 Feb 2015 20:50:00
Well that was another very flat performance to put it lightly, lvg is just baffling at times, myself personally today i would've played blind, Fellaini and Herrera in the middle, Herrera because he's simply our best cm who provides speed fluidity and creativity, with Fellaini adding steel and height . Now onto another pressing matter, rvp and di Maria just do not look interested anymore, and how lvg can think that Rooney is a midfielder is just unbelievable, rvp should not b starting, Rooney should b up top and Herrera should b in midfield, its just so frustrating watching us these days, why won't lvg just stop this stubborn pig headed nonsense, and stop putting square pegs in round holes !!! Put midfielders in midfield and strikers up top, its not rocket science louis, and no more favoritism play your best players not your favourite ones !!! Sort all rant over
Rvp should not start. And i agree on the midfield you mentioned. I said it before the match. But di maria is the big worry
, he looks utterly unhappy. Maybe a spell on the bench might focus both their minds.
09 Feb 2015 00:44:00
I think rvp should b benched for certain NM , and di Maria just looks unhappy , maybe he should not have started anyway after wat happened to him last week , so maybe we should give him the benefit of the doubt for todays performance. But as for persisting with a not interested rvp there is no excuse , like I said lvg needs to b playing our best players not his favourite, the team is suffering because of it . On a brighter note de gea was superb once again ,wat a keeper he's turning out too b , I really hope we can keep hold of him , and I thought like Shaw played well also , besides the sending off of course lol and Daley blind had another good game too
08 Feb 2015 19:42:07
I think we are suffering for some of our summer purchases. which at the time I was massively excited about.
Falcao - really like him but at the minute either he or RVP need to make way. Also, if we had not got him it would have meant Rooney playing up front and Harera getting more game time. Maybe we would be a better team now if that was the case.
Di Marea - Again love him when on form.he just does not look like his heart is in it and maybe just not someone suited to LVG style.
Maybe less money spent and more trust in the youth (yes we have played some but Wilson was already starting and Blackett/McNair were forced) would have been better.
Easy to look back though!!
{Ed004's Note - Think there has been a bit of an over reaction today. I reckon most people would have been happy with the team line up. We just didn't get going until they scored. We had plenty of chances to score with RVP and Falcao in particular. I can't think of any chances for west ham bar set pieces. Thought starting two strikers in a difficult away ground were city and liverpool have lost this season was risky and would have started Fellaini. Not sure LvG rates Rooney up top anyways and Di Maria will be better next season when he is used to league and we are playing a consistent team. There is still a lot of room for improvement but we are a point better of compared to Arsenal this weekend}
Do Maria looks very unhappy. I'm not sure he'll be here next year. And to be honest, he's looked anything but a £59m player. He looks so miserable all the time and I'm not sure his heart is at United. I think if PSG come in for him then he'll run there.
The worst buy though so far has been Shaw. He's young but we paid nearly £30m for him and he's been extremely disappointing.
{Ed004's Note - I thought Shaw was very good today. He's continuing to improve weekly. He was extremely unfortunate today. He committed two fouls all game whereas Song must have made about 7/8}
E004, its not just today though is it?
On the plus side, we have seen some youngsters given a chance, DDG now looks like one of the world's best, and we are currently in top 4 having lost only once in the last 17 games.
However, in those 17 games we have rarely looked convincing, we struggled to get past Yeovil and Cambridge, we are playing players out of position with a philosophy that is clear only to LVG. Rooney is not a midfielder, Herrera can't get a game (neither can Rafael) RVP and Falcao continually look poor, and when in trouble we resort to lumping it up to the big man.
GDS and I regularly take / took people to task for their negativity but right now I am starting to despair. This team has character and desire as we saw again today. We have some great players but they look lost. Clearly LVG is a well decorated coach and I am not, but how about we play our best striker up front, and play midfield players in midfield. How about we stop passing the ball back to DDG when we are in the opposing team's half and decide on a settled team and formation. How about we stop worrying about conceding and start focusing on scoring and how about we drop players who are playing poorly.
Finally, confidence is good, blind arrogance isn't. LVG doesn't seem to think there is anything he can do better whilst most of us would probably disagree.
Sorry for coming over all 'Beast' but watching us is painful and frustrating and it feels like there are some quick fixes.
{Ed004's Note - I was very pro LVG before Christmas. However I starting to become more and more worried. His favoured formation is 433. Play it!! Di Maria and januzaj wingers. The two strikers (especially away from home) doesn't work unless they are both mobile and willing to run the wings (Suarez and Sturridge). Our play is too slow. I do not think he will be manager here next season but in saying that he won't be sacked during the season so I don't think it's worthwhile talking about.}
Di maria is not a 10, rooney is not rcm, rvp falcao are 2 similar .
Very few top teams play 2 strikers
Ed, I agree, its not rocket science is it.
2 good wide players, 2 solid CMs, 2 CFs who are not the same (or 1 and a No 10). Simplistic but with the quality we have we would blow teams off the park.
I wonder if things would be different if we hadn't had the last minute deal fro Falcao? I think his energy and commitment is brilliant but I've seen nothing to justify the proposed expenditure.
{Ed004's Note - Out of curiosity what forward players do you/others think will be here next season. Plenty of strikers Rooney, RVP, Falcao, Wilson and Hernandez returning. Them Nani, Young, Valencia, Mata, Di Maria, Januzaj to sort out. We could raise a decent amount from selling players there}
There needs to be a clear out and a rebuild but the Manager also needs to have his head screwed on. I posted a long post which has ended up on the Other Posts page but jred had just summarise it in 2 lines.
Sadly, I think Falcao is over priced and RVP appears to have either lost interest or lost his form. However, I would keep RVP, push Rooney back up top and use Wilson a lot more - Falcao has not shown he is worth the investment.
Januzaj and ADM are the future, Herrera needs to play, Carrick and Blind should stay but we need that top quality CM to gel it together. I'm also not convinced where Mata fits in although if we were to sign a Pogba type CM, it might help him a lot.
Add in a top quality CB and possible a RB and we are up and running. I also agree that Shaw will be fine, he looks a top player who is struggling to settle but I have high hopes for him.
Good question Ed.
I would like to keep Falcao/Rooney/Wilson with RVP and Hernandez moved on.
Nani -sell for obvious reasons
Young - sell, just not good enough
Valencia sell, past his best
Mata - sell, unfortunately doesn't fit IMO.
That's got to bring in 80ish + million which would bring in the wide and defensive midfield players we need.
With RVP gone then Rooney would play in his best position thus opening a place for Herrera to get in the first 11.
{Ed004's Note - I would keep Rooney and Wilson for strikers and sign one. Mata, Di Maria, Valencia, Januzaj and sign a winger. Then probably purchase one more dominant midfielder. Would allow us to go 433 or play the diamond at home with Mata in behind the strikers.}
Herbie
Why would you keep Falcao? I like him and his record is great but he has yet to show he is worth the money. If it was RVP or Falcao, I would stay with RVP
AJH
Its more an age thing plus I don't think we have actually seen the real Falcao yet, if we could get a settled first 11 with Falcao in it I truly believe we would have a quality player.
Possibly Herbie, but LVG seems intent on playing both which isn't working.
I wander is falco 100% fit, after his injury and since he came here he seems to be off the pace by a yard.the way it stands now I wouldn't keep him, Wilson, Rooney, benzema
Well said, Ed.
Young has not been good for us in previous seasons but it would be stupid to say we would sell him next season. When we played a 3 man defense he was probably the best player in our team and deserves at least one more season with United.
08 Feb 2015 19:29:36
Hi eds.
Do you know where my post from earlier is, was a bit of a rant mind so dunno if it got taken down? Can't see it in my profile on previous posts either. Thanks.
{Ed002's Note - No idea. Probably removed.
It was a quality rant and whilst a tad emotional, your points were valid. Shame its been censored.
{Ed004's Note - Post should have initially be placed on the other page. If all posts after a game were put on the banter page it would become clustered up}
08 Feb 2015 17:03:08
It's as simple as swapping Rvp for Herrera and Wilson for falcao for me. Need pace and creativity.
Need Fellaini and Herrera and Mata on. Off with Dimaria, Janusaj and One of the strikers pick one as neither has done much. I don't know what he is waiting for 62 minutes and obvious it is a disaster a blind man can see that.
We have zero control of the middle of the pitch.
Gcu, a "blind" man can see that! I think you inadvertantly predicted our scorer!!
I like Blind, he is a real team player. He puts in a shift, he gets stuck in, and he scores important goals. A real plus point so far. So he's not the quickest, frankly I think he more than makes up for it in other ways.
Nomid
LOL yes i did but he had a pretty poor game as well not necessarily because of him but he needs a better CM partnership than rooney.
Rooney should play as 10 period and we need to drop one of the strikers. Herrera and blind for me are the way to set up but this guy is hell bent on proving a point to media and fans when they question his tactics.
Every pundit whether you like them or respect them or not says we look like a team lost and the players are completely confused with all this constant changing. They all can't be wrong as they have all either played the game at the highest level or managed at a high level. I wonder what Fergie thinks when he watchers this s. t
{Ed001's Note - don't worry GCU, Nigel Pearson will be available soon to take this team by the scruff of the neck......}
LOL ed001. He would do no worse I promise.
I am lost for words in watching our play, these players did not turn in tulips overnight, there is a lot of talent there but the guy driving it does not know how to bring the best out of them.
I wonder who on earth can defend this but I am sure people will try because he has a CV that is was good 15 years ago :)
Anyways no worries, the last bastion of his supporters will all turn on him in 6 weeks time given our fixture list when we have truly f. ked it and sitting in sixth and looking upward. He has us on a steady path going only one way.
Our only hope is that the other teams around us also have a few mares but on current form they don't like it.
{Ed001's Note - I look forward to finding out if you are right to make that promise....}
08 Feb 2015 11:35:51
A quick question to the ed's if i can with Herrera struggling to get game time when given our current team he should really be playing do you know if he will be looking to leave if LvG stays in charge next year
Thanks in advance
{Ed002's Note - No idea, sorry.}
I hope not. I still don't see why he doesn't play. He could play in a midfield 3 with Rooney and Blind for sure.
I agree Fresh if fit he should play but i get the impression that he isn't one of these players who is happy to just sit on his ass to earn his wages
Can't understand why LVG is still playing Rooney in the middle complete waste of a player hopefully LVG gets the boot before Herrera leaves
I guess the philosophy class didn't cover the topic where it's explained why starting a game without a single bona fide cm player does not easily translate to keeping hold of the ball.
Jalmej
I am starting to get to grips with you and beast and why you guys think he is no good. He seems to get it wrong week in week out against any decent opposition.
Danny
I reckon a league two manager could put a team out like this guys is doing and do no worse.
08 Feb 2015 04:45:13
Thanks very much Ed002 i really appreciate that response. interesting that you mentioned benzema i'd certainly take him at united.if de gea does go as we all unfortunately know ge eventually will i'd love Lloris to replace him. clyne would be my first choice for right back.
im hoping united aren't crazy enough to still go for strootman. pogba is unrealistic and will probably end up at madrid.Do you know are united interested in lewis cook of leeds united?thanks again Ed002 really appreciate it. i'm 1 of the many united fans on this site that really appreciates the work yourself and ALL the eds do for this site
{Ed002's Note - Dave, thanks for the kind words. I cannot help with Lewis Cook - try the Leeds page and ask Ed013.}
08 Feb 2015 08:31:12
Hey guys, I see Belfast Chelsea commented again, he's trolling, so take it with a pinch of salt.
Never posted on our page before.
08 Feb 2015 08:07:17
LVG says Rooney loves his midfield role, I can't believe that, he must know LVG won't play him up front.
So as long as Rooney has to play midfield Herrera won't get a game.
I'd love playing CM for Man Utd, doesn't mean I would be any good there. It's just plain wrong, LVG has tried it enough times now to know. Only the Newcastle game he looked class, but that was because their main DM was missing and we dominated completely.
I'd be interested to know what LVG considers to be a good performance?
All I know is a class Forward is being used as a below average midfielder and we have class midfielders rotting as a result.
08 Feb 2015 12:34:43
Totally agree beast like andy tate says rooney is an all out striker.Im coming to the conclusion we might be better off ,off loading di Maria.I don't think he suits the premiership & there's always some story about him being unhappy no smoke without fire as they say.I also think we massively overpaid but I hope he proves me wrong
I think he loves playing midfield because he's so far past it as a striker. He scores 5 goals a season now, why wouldn't he want to play in midfield? Guards him from the truth he's a pub player now on 300k a week
Good one Brock! People have been saying that for years!
08 Feb 2015 17:05:01
Brock,
Rooney has scored more than 10 goals every season including 17 league goals last year and 8 this year so far. What are you talking about?
08 Feb 2015 06:33:16
After the Siants got 3 points and an inspiring Spurs performace yesterday I hope we take 3 points home from London today.
I'm going 2-1 to the Devils. Falcao and young Wilson to get on the scoresheet and Herrera to play fanstastic for the last 10 minutes!
I think we will batter them today - ADM will have a stormer is my prediction, he is due his usual 1 in 6 today.
I get the feeling that we will smash em aswell beast the eternal optimist in me says that at some point we will click and absolutely destroy some one I hope it's west ham I can't stand that team !
08 Feb 2015 11:14:26
With city and arsenal dropping points we need to take advantage, the champs league games start soon so more opportunity to droppings , you know we could finish second.
If LVG hadn't started to meddle with who takes corners and playing people out of position we could be there now.
Beast
I am assuming you meant they will batter us.
07 Feb 2015 23:40:49
I really like this kid depay from psv. Scored two today and is top scorer in the eredivise. Has pace to burn and plenty skill with a good delivery. He will be leaving psv and think he would be good for us and only improve under lvg.
I hope he joins in the summer.
One centre back for sure will be signed. Marquinhios, hummels, varane have been mentioned. Of those three for me varane would be the one. However madrid will not be selling him and a deal seems unlikely.
For me Garay would be the fella. He is almost certain to leave zenit. I have seen him play on numerous occasions and i see him a good fit for us based on the attributes he possesses.
Lvg seems to ant strootman who I am not convnced about. Pogba i think is madrid bound. Gundogan is only back from injury and I can't see deals for sneijder or vidal materialising. Not sure how much he would cost but koke from a madrid should be a candidate. Very good player.
Looks as though a right back will be signed and alves is heavily linked and reportedly not staying at barca. For me past his best and getting on. Coleman would be too expensive. I think if we are looking for a right back clyne may be a better option.
Four very good additions if think.
3 points tomorrow would be massive. Come on lads let's have a top performance the busby babes can be proud of.
Agree with pretty much everything you've mentioned. Depay has been having a very good season and I'm sure interest in him will be high this summer.
While I wouldn't mind a marquee signing like Hummels being signed, I would like to see some lesser known players plucked from relative obscurity at a low cost. These sort of signings don't always work out, (Obertan, Bebe, Buttner just to name a few) but finding the next Vidic, Evra, or Chicharito makes more sense to me than splashing out 40 odd million on a player who will be judged under the crushing weight of his price tag.
We already on the path of signing unknown young players.
We already signed sadiq all fitouri and Kelley from Bolton.