Manchester United Banter Archive March 09 2015

 

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09 Mar 2015 23:26:03
Disappointing but we lost due to a horrendous mistake when the game was fairly level and could have gone either way. Di Maria did show flashes but doesn't track back and became more frustrated as the game went on. The one he got booked for looked a dive but there were several fouls before that which looked like fouls but were not given.
Our starting line up was wrong, I don't get the obsession with Fellaini. Now the first half was a good cup tie quite enjoyable but then LvG made 2 substitutions, I have to ask why? If it was tactical then it was a diabolical decision. Herrera moved around well and Shaw looked fine to me. At half time my thoughts were that LvG must have thought Herrera particularly left us too open and he wanted Carrick to hold, what we got was a stodgy slow midfiekd and it looks to me like Carrick has lost the pace of the game. I would really like to know the cause of those substitutions and hope it was injury related. Then chasing a goal we go long to Fellaini who was clumsy to say the least and bring on a winger leaving Falcao on the bench, strange.
We showed spirit but the substitutions were baffling. It was a horrendous error to lose to but if you continually pass back it will happen eventually. Opportunity missed and we now need to win league games.

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10 Mar 2015 00:11:40
Some very odd game management I must say.
It's also worth noting I think the game was entertaining but lacking in any quality for both at various times, there was only patches from both. Herrera was our only central midfielder and possibly the only one on the pitch that looked to penetrate the game through the middle.

Quite how Fellani and Valencia stayed on was unbelievable. Blind also looked like he lost the pace of the game at times.
Smalling spent so much time covering Valencia I thought he was playing RB at some point in first half (Honest).

It was a game where a case could be made for both if either had won, it was arsenals day for a change and time to suck it up. I'm pretty confident they won't be to frequent.

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10 Mar 2015 00:38:22
I really really don't understand what goes through LVG mind at times. Its a no brainer that Rafael should have played RB and not Valencia. AW exploited this and most of Arsenals play looled to come down that route. He has got so bad that the Barman now serves a drink in honour of him called 2 Shimmy's & Dash to the right.

Taking AH off affected the pace of our Play as MC is not 28 anymore and him and DB Are far to slow for a fast ball playing Arsenal team.

Why could LVG not put Jones and Carrick together in Defence pushing Rojo/DB out to LB and push LS up to Midfield as Young was loosing Stamina. Rafael would have done a job on the right and i'm quite sure Mata would have put in 110% and had more of an Impact in the game. maybe alongside AH our play may have been quicker with ADM cutting in. Any fool Knows Arsenal play high tempo football and burn out early in the 2nd . I think Falcao deserved a Start in the 2nd period but LVG chose not too and we have to except that.

We seriously need to beef up our Defence and midfield if we want to stand a chance of staying a top 4 team. We do have skillful Mid players but their pushed off too easily

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09 Mar 2015 23:25:37
In my time it's the worst united defence I've ever seen, smalling not good enough, when I saw jones coming in I got nervous he is capable of anything, rb we don't have one, we played well at times just couldn't get the second goal, carrick and blind shouldn't be on the team together it's one or the other, falco should have got 10 or fifteen minutes, I was surprised that Roy keane was backing the manager saying he should get 2 or 3 years, he seemed patient about the rebuilding but said it would be a disaster if we don't get top 4

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10 Mar 2015 00:12:33
I don't think smalling can be blamed to be fair mate, he had so much to do covering Toni when he switched off (which was a lot)

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09 Mar 2015 23:15:32
After going on a run after the match to let the game sink in and reflect on the performances. I felt there are a few key points we learned from the game.

Partnering Blind AND Carrick in midfield partly led to our downfall as both players essentially fulfill the same role.

Rooney is a striker and plays his best stuff up top, admittedly he didn't have the best of games but his runs, connecting play and header were very good.

Di Maria is showing signs of improvement. Yes he got sent off for what was a silly decision. To me it looked like a dive that led to the sending off. but let's focus on the positives, he assisted Rooney, quickly switched play on several occasions, and sent in some dangerous crosses into the Arsenal box.

Herrera is essential in our team. This to me was what enabled us to play well in the first half.It was evident in the second half we had lost a spark and that was Herrera. His off the ball running and space creation especially for the attacking players enabled us to pin Arsenal back. When he went off I felt they gained more control.

Valencia is not a right back and his errors today let Arsenal take the game. In my opinion playing Smalling/Jones there would be much more sturdy defensively, Its Crazy but actually having defenders in defense would be better than a RW at RB. Surely I am not the only one who can see that.

Januzaj's decision making is awful which is probably why he is not getting much game time

Saying all of that I felt we showed a bit of our old selves today and enjoyed the game throughout, obviously I would have preferred the win but there is nothing we can do about it now.

4th is a necessity.

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09 Mar 2015 22:38:46
And then LVG comes out and says Valencia was the best player on the pitch, are you kidding me, is he being sarcastic ?

De Gea was the best player on the pitch. Valencia was one of the worst performers on the pitch apart from his pass.
What goes in the team meetings is beyond me, we place Valencia to defend against Sanchez with the liberty of having Rafael on the bench. Surely Rafael is defensively better than him.

And we have now began to massively under use Mata. He should have come on for fellaini. And how can one ignore his goal scoring abilities at Old Trafford, Mata usually puts in a good performance at OT.

I wish LVG uses his brain or else he'll be sacked.

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10 Mar 2015 00:02:13
Imo Valencia did have a decent game, tracked back, worked tirelessly (as usual), he even ran from RB to LB noticing that Shaw slipped, unfortunately they scored as Monreal was left free. For most parts of the game he did do a good job at RB. Npt sure if he was asked to man mark Sanchez as he was all over him today whether that meant he was dragged out of his position or not.

That said, I can't say I know LvG's intentions or if he meant that, but perhaps he was just protecting his player? Giving him some confidence? I can't imagine how Valencia would feel after throwing away the last chance of silverware this season.

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09 Mar 2015 22:13:44
It's an especially disappointing result because I thought we actually played pretty well tonight, and were it not for such a terrible error, who knows what might have happened. Personally, I think we would have won. But that back pass followed by Di Maria's flop, inexcusable reaction, and sending off, but pay to any reasonable expectation of a comeback.

I don't think you can fault the manager's tactics. It comes down to the players. I feel sorry for Valencia because bar the fatal error he had a decent game marking one of the best players in the league, in contrast to Di Maria who, bar the assist, was once again a liability on the ball, being caught in possession too often, and defensively non-existant. He provided no help to Valencia whatsoever.

LVG needs to start fining players for diving. It's unacceptable. And tonight, as a consequence of the attempted cheating, opportunities and momentum were lost.

Overall I am trying to take this one positive from the performance. If we can cut out the silly mistakes, I believe the team displayed the mettle required to hang on to a CL spot.

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10 Mar 2015 00:15:26
there was patches here and there but in general arsenal came to spoil and it just about worked for them. Just.

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09 Mar 2015 22:32:35
I for one iam proud to have watched my team tonight thought we were excellent the never say die attitude was fantastic mire so when di Maria was sent off (say no more). Thought we played a bit like Utd of old just a shame a silly mistake let us down

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09 Mar 2015 22:28:15
Very disappointed, but have to say that I thought we played well in the first half. The mistakes for both goals just show how much we need a top RB, even though Valencia has done well there this season in general.

Sunday is now a massive game. The F.A. cup was always going to be a bonus; but top four is paramount.

Sunday will show just how much character this team has.

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09 Mar 2015 22:23:40
Liverpool Fan in peace,

Unlucky tonight lads, Didn't think either team was better than the other quite equal game really.

However reading through some of your posts I have to give credit to all you fans on here, Its so easy to blame the ref when you lose but you lot have praised him for his decisions which takes a big person to hold there hands up and say we deserved that.

With fans like you lot on here I don't think your club could ask for more your a credit to Man Utd.

Now forget the cup and focus on OUR battle for top 4, May the best team take it.

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09 Mar 2015 22:53:06
Great post, so nice to see posts like this.

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09 Mar 2015 23:07:16
I for one think the ref has a lot to answer for how the arsenal rb stayed on the pitch i will never know there was no consistency in his decisions every nudge on an arsenal player was deemed a foul. Example danny welbeck had an arm on him went down in the box no pen but no yellow di maria goes down outside the box arm on him yellow card. can't blame the ref for everything we still had chances we should have done better with but he his seemingly one sided decisions have had a massive affect on the game.

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09 Mar 2015 22:19:26
I for one iam very proud to have watched my team tonight I thought we were excellent tonight. Silly mistake cost us but the never say die attitude was fantastic especially after di Maria was sent off (say no more)

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10 Mar 2015 07:08:54
We had no one last night who could carry the ball through the midfield. We kept passing it to the wing then back to our defends then swap wing. Oxlade chamberlain ran through our midfield last night and blind could not cope with that. Lvg says Fellaini is an option but he seems to be our only option ! We need a midfielder who can carry the cb all through the midfield!

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09 Mar 2015 22:18:04
I didn't see the game as I'm in Italy. But did di maria dive? He pulled the ref to show him where he was kicked, so if he had been kicked then he didn't dive.
Maybe someone can clear it up. Also, i read Blind was rubbish and another poster say he was good. Can someone give an honest assessment on the match? Thanks.

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09 Mar 2015 22:53:51
Di Maria had his wrist brushed by the Arsenal player, and he went down like he was shot - and not for the first time. It was a dive. No kicking involved. Took a hissy fit and grabbed the back of the ref's shirt to pull him round. Totally deserved what he got.

Blind was steady and unspectacular. Looks slow, but generally a steadying influence.

Even game in the first half, with Utd dominating possession as usual. Plenty of mistakes made it a proper cup-tie. LVG trying to show how clever he is by making a totally unnecessary double change at half-time (unless Shaw and Herrera were injured). Totally lost our momentum after that. Pushed the self-destruct button after we went 2-1 down.

Players should be ashamed of themselves. Some people on here saying they were showing fight. If throwing yourself to the ground, making silly fouls all over the pitch and running round like headless chickens is enough to convince fans that they're 'showing some fight', then Keane, Robson and Bruce will be holding their heads in their hands.

That's my view, NM. I don't know if others saw it that way.

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09 Mar 2015 22:54:21
Blind gave lots of balls away but so did quite a few of our players. Valencia played a big part in arsenals second goal.

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09 Mar 2015 22:58:41
Blind was not good 2nite mate how he stayed on ill never know he gave the ball away so many times in 1st half but he took herrera off for carrick when in the 1st half we were better side. In my opinion the half time subs killed our rhythm and we were nowhere near as fluent in the 2nd half but all in all we threw that game away. Absolutely Gutted mate

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09 Mar 2015 23:02:11
Also Di Maria had his arm slightly touched he could of run on and should not of grabbed at the referees back imo. Rooney looked shocked at what he did and he's dropped a clanger 2nite and januzaj also dived when he was clear in the box and could of run on and maybe shot or cut it back. Disgraceful

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09 Mar 2015 23:06:29
Blind looked limited tonight imo

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10 Mar 2015 07:27:46
Thanks guys. I agree with all posters that blind and carrick should not play together. They're too similar and both slow the game down.
I also agree that whenever I ve seen hererra play, he's been the only one to up the tempo on midfield. So taking him off at half time seems a really strange decision. I'm worried now as to where lvg is going with regards the future of the team and the players we buy in the summer.

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09 Mar 2015 21:58:54
I've just seen one of the best refereeing displays in my time watching football.

The Januzaj one especially, took amazingly big cojones in front of the Stretford End.

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{Ed007's Note - If more refs took action it would help stop all the diving. If a player is on a yellow he's not going to risk a red by diving.}

09 Mar 2015 22:14:04
Totally agree that do Maria and januzaj should have been booked for diving, but thought the ref was inconsistent. Belle ring should have been sent off for a second yellow at 1-1 which would have put a diffrent slant on the game.

Thought arsenL deserved the win, but don't think the ref was great.

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09 Mar 2015 22:14:39
Here here Noucamp, for me he got the big decisions right and it was embarrassing watching us trying to cheat. Hopefully the bookings and sending off will make the players think again about their actions.

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09 Mar 2015 22:18:27
No Bond, he'll just pull the refs shirt instead :)

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{Ed007's Note - That was just stupidity and naivety, there's no excuses for it.}

09 Mar 2015 22:20:29
Absolutely, Bond. I hate it. And I hate it even more when it's our own players that are doing it.

Watching the game with my 12 year old, and he was trying to make excuses - 'it's no big deal', 'he was just trying to be clever' etc etc. I nearly cuffed his ears! But it shows how it's becoming more acceptable among younger fans, who are starting to see it as part of the whole theatrical nature of the game.

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09 Mar 2015 22:55:23
Those 2 decisions were big decisions and were correct. Other than that though I thought the ref was awful. Every time Fellaini went near someone they fell over and got a free kick. Bellarin had to go, if it was a man utd player I feel sure they woul have.

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09 Mar 2015 22:55:38
Huggy, if you're talking about his foul on Young, which Young made the most of, I would never have seen that as a second yellow card in a million years. I was more disgusted with Young crying like a tout, trying to get him sent off.

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10 Mar 2015 07:31:35
Diving is the worst thing and i would like lvg to come out publically that he'll discipline both players, but i doubt that'll happen.

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09 Mar 2015 21:33:29
Posting while still watching this game. Some points to raise in regards to us at the moment. Mata is an amazing player and I can't believe that LVG is not building his attack around him. Luke Shaw, is he an amazing talent or an expensive flop? We spent the same sort of amount on a young Rooney. Why did we buy Di Maria, when the same amount would have bought two amazing centre backs? Is LVG promoting a diving policy because we could of signed Tom Daley instead of Daley Blind?

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09 Mar 2015 21:42:38
Spitting, Diving, Wimps, Hoofers = Not what I expect

Bad, slow performances I can stomach (just about), but we are not a team and we have lost the aura now.

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09 Mar 2015 21:44:38
C'mon, we were at par with them, however we played, Valencia's pass was absolutely shit, and on another day, maybe we'd have had a replay.
And what the hell is wrong with Di Maria, is he made of glass or something, falls at every opportunity holding his knee and shouting. Valencia's was a mistake, his was a absolute shocker.
And I can't believe whenever we play nice we kind of lose to teams.
Carrick for Herrera baffled me, Fellaini should've been off.

PS I was a bit surprised to see Welbeck celebrate, loyal players usually don't do that.

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{Ed007's Note - Dry your eyes, why the hell does Welbeck owe Utd any loyalty? He's an Arsenal player that scored a goal and deserved to celebrate. It's just even more modern day rubbish that seems to be becoming the norm to just keep the PC prawn sandwich brigade happy, next you'll be saying you found it offensive that he celebrated, that usually gets the hand-wringers going.
Attention seeking powder-puff footballers that want to show how 'nice' they are don't celebrate goals - it makes me want to vomit. If you don't want to score against a team then don't join a team in the same league, it's simple enough.}

09 Mar 2015 22:02:15
Everyone will blame Valencia but it is Phil Jones who is an absolute sh. t of a defender that started the whole thing by his bone head header. Very disappointing as we just killed ourselves.

This is turning out to be a forgettable season and hope these guys can pick up their heads and be ready for Spurs, which will be very difficult. Kane will have a field day against our defenders. Di Maria should be ashamed as he dives all over the pitch.

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09 Mar 2015 22:16:05
Does anyone know where James Wilson is? Is he injured?

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09 Mar 2015 22:28:37
I think that was a disgrace lads. How blind stayed on is beyond me I said to my mate soon as I saw the subs that I didn't have a good feeling. I disagreed with all 3 subs if I'm honest! Di Maria an januzaj let the club down bigtime tonight and when u see how our strikers have performed it was very ignorant of van gaal to not even give welbeck or hernandez a chance. There is too much favouritism going on at our club at the moment which I hate but fairplay to rooney degea and young tonight Who gave everything and didn't deserve to lose

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09 Mar 2015 22:12:02
Quite agree Ed007, why wouldn't Welbeck celebrate, didn't LVG say he was not the standard of player we want at Utd, so why would we expect loyalty from him.
Maybe if Valencia had set him up with those sort of chances when he was at Utd then we might of kept him lol.
Just another drab performance in the 2nd half, couldn't understand the substitions, but then I give up trying to understand LVG. Without another inspired performance from DDG it would have been a lot worse.

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09 Mar 2015 22:41:10
Why should Danny not have celebrated? He plays for Arsenal. He's a striker with a point to prove against his old club. He never asked to be sold. Fair play to him. Still don't think we should have kept him, but I've no problem with the lad celebrating his goal.

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09 Mar 2015 21:32:49
Still perplexed as to why we bought Blind? No strength, no pace, average passing. Probably because he's dutch.

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09 Mar 2015 21:47:05
Blind was decent, we know we bought an above average player, he could play LB, CM and I think he did good today. He almost played one cross to Rooney in the first half, I think he's better offensively, has a brilliant eye.
Mata should have come on though instead of the pathetic Januzaj.

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09 Mar 2015 22:33:34
Rohan I'm sorry mate but I thought blind was the worst player by some distance in the first half and a bad decision to keep him on. You could see by having carrick and blind together we were a lot poorer in 2nd half. Carrick should of come on for blind not Herrera

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09 Mar 2015 22:50:08
Blind at best is a squad player far to slow herrera must be thinking why the hell did I come here ddg must be thinking I have got to move to try and win things redman was on about how poor we were under dave sexton I also remember those days but this ois worse infact slowly begining to side with beast with the stupid decisions van gaal keeps making I fear for us getting a top four place and then one step from becoming another liverpool

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09 Mar 2015 21:31:31
Its not the fault of the manager when Valencia and Di Maria make stupid mistakes like that.
That has got to be the end of RB position for Valencia.
Got to admire our spirit though. Real United Like.

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09 Mar 2015 21:48:43
Which game were you watching man?

We went from very good in the first half to absolutely disgraceful in the second half.

Valencia was getting owned all around the pitch. he was the standout worst performer on the pitch

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09 Mar 2015 21:43:29
Spirit? What did we do to try and save the game?

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09 Mar 2015 22:00:01
I think Valencia sometimes forgets that he's playing at rb and gets caught of position. But lots of positives from the first half, taking Herrera off for Carrick slowed the tempo and was a bad decision. Oh well no excuses now if top 4 is not reached.

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09 Mar 2015 22:02:10
Beast, lump it to Fellaini

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09 Mar 2015 22:13:39
We played like we have all season, boring. We started second half poorly but we were solid enough not to concede and then a backpass and a red card and we're dead.
Spirit because we committed a lot of our players forward although our crossing, especially Januzaj's was bad.
Haven't we played like this all season?

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09 Mar 2015 22:44:00
We lost all momentum and impetus with the half-time substitutions. That's the manager's fault. What's he trying to do? Show us how clever he is, by making a double change at half-time? Unless there were injuries, the changes were totally unnecessary.

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09 Mar 2015 21:25:35
Unbelievable how we have self destructed in the second half. Can't blame the manager but a couple of bonehead plays.

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09 Mar 2015 21:47:52
What did we do though GCU? Mistakes happen, we have so many players underperforming, no confidence to pass the difficult ball and we even get the simple things wrong now.

Lump it to Fellaini is all we do. Thank God for DDG again.

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09 Mar 2015 21:50:02
The only thing I could recall in the game was the real Madrid defeat when Nani was sent off in the champions league, 2 years probably around the same time.
I was encouraged by some things and think we'd probably beat Tottenham in the Premier League.
I wish Rafael starts at RB against Spurs with Valencia ahead of him.
And Shaw is as injury prone as Lesley King.

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09 Mar 2015 21:44:58
Or we could blame the manager for taking of Herrera unless he was injured. Changed the shape and tempo of our game.

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09 Mar 2015 21:20:38
Well done for giving Danny such great applause when leaving the pitcg, top class that.

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09 Mar 2015 19:10:14
Looks like the gunners have gone with a lot of pace upfront in their line up and less of a possession game and more about attacking at pace.

It will be interesting to see who we match up as ours definitely looks like the same thing we have witnessed most of the season.

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09 Mar 2015 21:05:41
Really don't like the Carrick Herrera substitution. Would have preferred fellaini to go off instead.

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09 Mar 2015 21:05:54
What a poor 2nd half it has started off. LVG has switched a offensive minded herrera for carrick, if he was going to make the chance it should have been Blind there both the same player neither wants to go forwards.

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09 Mar 2015 21:13:12
Good match up for Ashley Young against Callum chambers. He has been skinned by quite a few this year.

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09 Mar 2015 21:15:31
Arsenal are overloading the right wing, there should be room in the middle but need a midfield runner.

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09 Mar 2015 21:27:10
Meant left side.

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09 Mar 2015 21:43:57
Totally agree he takes away more than he gives us, liability

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09 Mar 2015 19:23:18
No excuses tonight. Big game, big crowd and playing one of our biggest rivals. Its about time we won the FA Cup, its been far too long. Good line up tonight, with probably our strongest team on paper given current form.
Also, I feel this is a real opportunity for DiMaria to show us all what he can do. I really hope he takes this chance to shut some of his critics up. And that includes me !!
If he can't show us all that he is up for it tonight, he may as well pack up now.
Monday night at Old Trafford, full house in the quarter finals of the biggest and best domestic competition in world football.

More excited about tonights game than any other this season so far.
Come on United!!!

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09 Mar 2015 16:15:12
Guys what sort of striker do you think we will go for in summer? Rooney will probably be top man and I think RVP will stick around and come back stronger with a summer off. I hope Wilson signs a new deal soon. Do we need someone experienced or someone that is starting to fulfill their potential like Dybala or Vietto?

Part of me wants us to get a Cavani or a Benzema, but the other part of me wants us to push for a Ronaldo or Bale type winger as I feel that would be a more effective use of funds.

Cheers in advance for your thoughts.

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09 Mar 2015 16:43:34
I think we need someone coming into their prime fresh. Van persie is hitting veteran stage, and Rooney is only a couple of years behind. Wilson is still only potential. So we need someone mid 20s who can stick it away. i'd probably prefer cavani over benzema. But the talk of ings intrigues me. Also a lot depends on where the management sees Rooney. Hopefully the midfield experiment is dead once and for all. Get him up top where he's most effective with pace on the wings and a partner with movement.

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09 Mar 2015 16:44:43
And regards wingers this summer depay and in a years time try for bale.

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09 Mar 2015 17:05:02
I'm not normally one to jump on the band wagon of hype. But I really like Kane, he would be ideal for an LVG system. I think RVP will stay until his contract runs out, so it leaves us with Rooney, Wilson & RVP - Kane would be perfect, young, English, and has all the attributes needed, perfect foil for Wilson and they could lead our line for a decade.

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{Ed007's Note - Gary Hooper.}

09 Mar 2015 17:05:24
You're right, a lot does depend on where the management see Rooney. Who thinks he can lead the line? If he had Di Maria, Bale and say Depay/Januzaj supporting him would he be a 30 goal striker for us again? I personally think that he would be and with RVP/Wilson and say Ings as back up I don't think that would be too shabby. Our major investment this year needs to be in a winger, a right back, center midfielder and at least one centre half if not two - where does the money come for a world beating striker too?

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09 Mar 2015 17:23:53
Dybala all day long for me, there are lots of journalists talking about Depay to united. This would suggest moving to a front 3. I'd think RVP should be moved on in the summer, along with Falcao. Dybala is fast, strong and direct. He has an eye for a pass. He is perfect for a fast interchanging front 3. Dybala, Wilson and Rooney would give is decent options. The biggest question if the Right Wing, who is there out there available and of sufficient quality?
Felipe Anderson? domenico berardi?

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{Ed002's Note - I would certainly not my breath about Dybala.}

09 Mar 2015 17:30:59
Cavani would be ideal. He is a centre forward, but I think we will go after bale and stick with what we have.

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09 Mar 2015 17:31:16
Beast, I agree with the signing of Kane but if I am honest I don't think he would leave and with the amount that we need to do in the summer, I don't think we could afford him either. We could quite easily spend over £150 million before we even look at another striker what with the need for a full back, two centre backs, central midfielder and a winger.

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09 Mar 2015 17:45:05
I love Kane but levy being levy I can't see him leaving for any less than £30m, based on that fee I feel we could get a proven striker coming into his prime; Benzema, Muller, Lacazette? Maybe even a Reus type player who we could have on the left of a 3 which would allow rooney to play a a bit of a cantona role. A player the youngsters look up to.

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09 Mar 2015 18:11:26
Maybe its time Rooney was moved on and we refreshed our striking options. I don't know where the 30 goal striker thing has come from he has only scored more than 25 twice in all comps in 10 seasons (not inc this season) both times he hit 34, but 2 out of 10 doesn't make him a 30 goal striker

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09 Mar 2015 19:19:40
I agree Clarity. He is a good player, but not a proper striker anymore. he just drops too deep and doesn't deliver enough on a regular basis. I would have moved him on when SAF was trying to. However I don't think we will move him on now as he is captain and frankly we lack leadership throughout the team.

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09 Mar 2015 20:24:33
HMM

Rooney moved on. LOL. You guys are a trip.

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09 Mar 2015 20:27:33
The team needs a complete rebuild. My personal opinion is that we should move on Mata, RVP, Rooney, ADM, Fellini and Falcao. More on one of Smalling and Evans. Then also sell Clevs, Nani and Hernandez. And go all out on top top youth players (19-23).

As mentioned above, it's very unlikely we will sell Rooney due to being captain and our most marketable player.

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09 Mar 2015 11:52:35
ED001/Ed002

I seen a post on the Liverpool page of "So what do you think will happen in the summer then Ed002?" in which you guys gave very detailed accounts of your expectations.

I was just wondering if you guys could do something similar in regards to United? It would be an interesting read.

Great work guys.

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{Ed002's Note - I have done it previously - I will try to make the time to update it later in the week - remind me Friday please.}

09 Mar 2015 12:56:10
I will do. Thanks mate.

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09 Mar 2015 11:13:53
I was watching Spurs the other day and it got me thinking about squad values. About 8 of their players will have seen their values rise quite substantially this year and the others will remain pretty much static, whereas if you look at our team it is kind of the opposite. If you had a league table of player valuation fluctuations from the end of the summer window, (disregarding contract situations) I think Spurs would be top and we would be bottom, close with Liverpool but I don't think their player valuations have dropped as much as ours have. I'm talking re-sale value of course.

I'd be interested to know what you guys think of my view and whether you think any manager has done better than Poch in increasing player values? It's something worth considering in this day and age, getting the most from players you have paid for or brought through the system.

(I'm thinking Mason, Kane, Bentaleb, Rose, Eriksen, Dier even Chadli and Lloris will have seen their values increase from last summer).

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09 Mar 2015 11:53:08
Except DDG none of our players will fetch more than what we paid for them (academy youngsters aside).

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09 Mar 2015 13:04:48
The thing is beast that all player 'valuations and fluctuations' are very subjective. At the end of the day mate it depends who is willing to pay what for a player, I don't think their is ever an exact value.

For example club 'x' is looking for a striker and defender but are more in need of a defender. They are willing to pay £10million for Kane but £20million for Shaw as that's thier priority. They are very interested in both but even though Kane is in better form club 'x' is only willing to pay a certain amount because a LB is their primary focus.

A slightly basic example but I'm assuming you get my point.

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09 Mar 2015 13:22:38
Totally JMB - I'm just assuming in a perfect world. Kind of like if you had to pick a dream team, which teams have seen their players value increase and decrease the most this season. If you picked a team of Utd players you would not have made money. (DDG, maybe Young & Fellaini) will be the only ones with a notable increase, possibly Rojo but negligible.

I think Spurs have added the most value, I assume some people may think Southampton have, (maybe not). But I think we have seen our "theoretical" players value decline this season more than any other team has and Poch deserves a lot of attention for undoubtedly making his players more valuable in a perfect world.

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09 Mar 2015 15:07:07
Beast 3 of those you mention came from their academy so of course the value has increased. Fair play to pochettino for giving them a chance but then its about time their academy produced someone, I'm struggling to name the last good graduate from their academy between sol Campbell and Kane.

The rest were all bought fairly cheaply. Players like bentalab were cheap gambles which paid off. Like we tried on players before which didn't come off. The kind of gambles on cheaper less known players some were arguing against last week as they wanted to only pay for proven quality.

To be honest the only one i'd seriously take would be eriksen and I remember an argument over him.two years ago.

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09 Mar 2015 15:58:30
Well done guys for putting up interesting posts every time.Also, kudos all the 'eds'.A new poster here please.

Beast, I really enjoy reading your posts together with responses from other regulars. I can't help but to say this(no offence), when are you going to post something positive about the team you so much love and devote your time to?
Like I said earlier, I enjoy your contributions on this site, please let's be more positive about our team.

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09 Mar 2015 16:03:04
MrE - yeah I'm not talking about us signing them, Kane I would sign, maybe Mason as I think he is better than Herrera if I'm being honest.

Blackett, McNair & Wilson are all from our academy and haven't done much this season compared to the Spurs lot, but they had the major advantage of a lot more games to blood them. Kane only really got his shot because of Europe.

Next season we will see more of our youth players kick on I think, especially Januzaj. The cheap gambles have paid off for Spurs, our mid-market spend hasn't paid off for years £7-£15mil), I just thought it was worth pointing out that Poch could be a viable candidate to replace LVG - he got the most out of Saints players and he has done it with Spurs this season, not afraid to not use flops like Soldado, Paulinho & Lamela.

It's been a bit quiet on here lately, so just wanted to get something going, it will be redundant in a few hours of course!

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09 Mar 2015 16:45:18
Cheers Fanboy, I will try and post something positive tomorrow mate.

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09 Mar 2015 16:49:47
Beast I only mentioned signing eriksen because I'm a big fan and thought i'd nudge his name again.

I agree they've had more games to blood them. Its also helped having a settled side and less pressure. Saying that macnair, blackett and Wilson haven't done too badly.

I also agree with our mid spend players. But is that scouting issues or coaching issues?

Poch could be a good candidate for the job in a couple of years. i'd have him on the list.

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09 Mar 2015 17:11:51
I think it's a coaching issue and a blooding issue. Jones & Smalling struggled because of Vidic & Rio - it went on too long that their careers have stalled, the talent has been wasted. Just bad timing. Januzaj is struggling because of a lack of games as well, no Europe has set him back more than anybody.

Timing is crucial, signing world class talent is only worthwhile if you are going to blood it. There is a post above where I talk about Kane. The time is right for us to bring in a young striker with ideal experience and faze out RVP even Rooney. We don't have the strength elsewhere to do it, so the only prospect we should be signing next season is a striker the rest need to be top class already as we are too weak in other areas.

I like Poch, I like how fit his team is and how he doesn't yield to the big name players - he is young, intelligent and tactically astute. Hopefully LVG will sort himself out and it won't be a concern.

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09 Mar 2015 10:28:55
Big game tonight lads and I see no reason why we can't win it. We have had Arsenals number in recent years and here's hoping it continues.

I feel keeping our possession game going will be key tonight. If the Gunners can't get their own possession game going they have very little in the way of a plan B.

Also for me I'd play Fellaini at the tip of a diamond to get right in the face of Coquelin. I feel Coquelin's physical presence has been a huge factor in Arsenal's renascence recently. I feel if Fellaini can out-power him and keep him out the game our forward players will be able to get at the susceptible Arsenal defence.

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09 Mar 2015 10:38:32
JMB the difference Arsenal have made this year against big side (City game) is that they have stopped focusing on possesion and have started putting men behind the ball in defence.

During the opposition attack you can see they have almost their entire team falling back.

But I still expect us to beat them today.

Hoping Danny gets a good reception.

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09 Mar 2015 11:50:50
That's one game in about 4-5 loses MB I tend to think that was more fluke than anything.

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09 Mar 2015 12:10:59
Yes I think it was their lucky day too.


Whatever form we might be in at whichever time of the year, I feel the most confident when we play against Arsenal.

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09 Mar 2015 13:15:16
Thanks mate, very considerate.

The game is on BBC over here so I shouldn't have any troubles. However, the weather is awful today so I'm just hoping that doesn't interfere with my reception.

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09 Mar 2015 14:10:14
Haha Danny you had me wondering what you were on about.

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