Manchester United Banter Archive May 09 2015

09 May 2015 22:31:10
At least we now have another option for captain.

Love the way every time I see Herrera without the ball, he's always barking orders, cajoling his team-mates, telling them where they should be and the like.

Smashing little player, with a bit of bite about him, too. Rapidly becoming both my and my son's favourite player.

09 May 2015 22:59:23
Can't say I disagree with any of that. Superb player

09 May 2015 23:05:31
Why pick out players who you think did well when you could slate players who were poor? Thought that was the done thing on here.
I agree I like him also, with Carrick behind him and another top midfielder alongside him he could be great for us.

09 May 2015 23:36:17
Also love some of Mata's touches. He took one down after receiving over his shoulder. Against Liverpool (I think) he plucked one out the sky and caught it on his foot. It would be worth the entrance fee alone for my son to witness it for technique. Sometimes it the littlest things.

09 May 2015 23:48:31
Herrera is my favorite player of the current squad as well. Fantastic attitude, intelligent, versatile, and he makes everyone around him better. He is the type of player you show to a young kid and say, watch and learn, this is how you play football.

10 May 2015 15:50:07
Yeah, I saw that one, supasub. There was a collective, 'wow' in our living room at that one. I love Mata, too. Even just the way our Spanish contingent conduct themselves, on and off the pitch, is a joy to watch. Our own players should watch and learn. Classy guys.

09 May 2015 21:44:45
Aaaarrrggghhh. We won, if Liverpool lose we have secured top 4 but hey, let's not think about that, let's find something to whinge about. After 3 defeats any win would do and despite losing a lead, we won. Let's get some perspective here

09 May 2015 21:07:35
How awful was Valencia today.
He hardly put in a cross of value.
His passing was bad.
And how many times did he give the ball away in the attacking third and Smalling and Evans had to cover for him.
Blind looked like a scared man today. The way he was holding his hand on his face and then he just stood still instead of trying to deflect the free kick. Is he made of glass, Carrick in the same position would have jumped and headed the ball anywhere.
Young and Fellaini : we wouldn't be anywhere without them this season. Thank god Fellaini for injured and transfer to napoli fell through.
If Liverpool lose to Chelsea, I could see LVG playing a back 5 at arsenal and see Pereria and Januzaj get game time at the Hull Game.

09 May 2015 21:19:55
I don't know how many times I have moaned about Valencia with no agreement.

Valencia is no right back, he is always out of position and gives the attacker too much room, he is also very clumsy. Defence will be much more solid when Valencia isn't starting and also Jones who is disaster waiting to happen - never have I seen anyone (apart from Evans) be more error prone.

09 May 2015 21:23:00
Not having a go at you Rohan, just a general point.

Valencia isn't great but what did our left backs offer? He gets a hell of a lot of stick but we all know his strengths and weaknesses, he is doing a better job at RB than Rooney was doing in midfield if you ask me, yet Rooney gets praised for sacrificing his best role for the team. He also looked more threatening than Mata today as well.

LVG is playing him there and he always gives his all. I like Valencia as a guy he seems to have the right attitude, he is not a right back and is too one dimensional for a team that breaks as slowly as we do. He would be much better if we attacked at pace as he would have room to run down the wing rather than cutting back all the time. He is a decent squad player.

Blind shouldn't have been signed, he offers very little and LVG is going to play him whenever he can. Don't get me wrong ok squad player, but he just shouldn't be starting and under LVG he always will when fit.

I thought Fellaini was bad today, got the goal and won a few defensive headers but he gave it away a lot and offered next to nothing going forward - he has been pretty poor the past 4-5 games for me and I am a fan of what he can offer.

I agree that we could see 5 at the back, he was trying it all game with Blind with Arsenal in mind I think. Nothing ever changes with this guy.

09 May 2015 21:23:43
If Carrick was in the same position it'd hit him square in the face because he's a good 5 inches taller, nethertheless I'm guessing DDG told them not to jump but still had he had his hand by his side he'd have seen he could've clearly cleared it and natural instinct would have kicked in

09 May 2015 21:31:41
Like Valencia and would keep him as a squad player because he is hard working, versatile, and down to earth. I agree that he was woeful today. He has been pretty unspectacular all season but credit for doing the job in the full back position where we severely lack options. Hopefully this summer we will address that position and Valencia won't be required to play there any longer.

09 May 2015 21:32:12
Stupid freekick to give away in the first place by Smalling, these are the things I was talking about earlier, they get overlooked but he is very very clumsy and has been at fault for a lot of goals this season, despite looking better on the whole!

No excuse for Blind, but that sort of thing happens. We should have not let Olsen stand where he did last week either.

09 May 2015 21:45:01
Agree with you Beast about Valencia. Clearly we need a new right back but he has done ok there, it isn't his natural position and sometimes I think he has had a pretty good game and then come on here and he is slated by most. Good back up for next season.
I think the Smalling free kick was harsh though as Murrey was holding him first, could have gone either way.

09 May 2015 21:46:01
I am a big fan of valencia and I am thankful to him that he could play a season without getting injured often.
There is no one in the squad who could play there apart from Young.
He is a genuine player but he was great when his crosses found peoppe, he needs to get back to that form.
He is an engine and never stops running.
Smalling Jones and Evans can't play if the teams press. All forget how to ppay football and should be squad players. Garay and Hummels should be signed or players with similar calibre.
MCNair took can be easily bullied and is far away from being in the team.
Blackett surprisinly has been overlooked even though he has performed well in the reserves.
Fellaini got the goal and did nothing much. He is a very decent squad player to have if you want to bully the opposition.
Looking forward to some top class signings and some quality football.
We are still 2 cb, 1rb, 2cm, 2 wingersa and a striker short of a decent team.
Cleverley couls have still done a job in pur midfield and letting fletcher go was plain stupid.

{Ed025's Note - clevs and fletch are not good enough rohan, squad players at best mate..

09 May 2015 22:03:40
I think Blind has failed to impress in Midfield lately.
He needs to improve dramatically in terms of his movement off the ball. Carrick finds pockets of space and pushes the ball forward Blind has yet to flatter along those lines.

Blind is too deep at times and I find he never looks for the ball as much as he should. He plays the defensive role more so.

{Ed025's Note - dont even try to compare carrick and blind bgolo..

09 May 2015 22:06:49
I know they are great players but seeing today, if either were on the bench, blind would have played LB and one of them in midfield.
Fletcher would have done a better job than Blind today and could have been allowed to leave end of season.
He would have done a better job than Rooney too.
But it's okay, atleast LVG is removing the mediocre players slowly.
I would really like to see how he handles RVP and Blind, both who aren't in form.
Blind is a very able LB and a very decent backup in midfield. I feel he was rushed back from injury and hasn't recovered fully yet.
Desperately need to sign Carrick replacement, are Pirlo or Xabi Alonso available? Xavi ?

{Ed025's Note - do you have a thing for old people rohan?...the dressing room would smell of stale urine and digestive biscuits..

09 May 2015 22:48:02
There is no Comparison Ed ;)

{Ed025's Note - im glad you think so mate..

10 May 2015 11:44:25
Valencia is a poor excuse for a footballer. He has no brain, never does anything creative, woeful positioning, can't cross a ball and his left foot is simply for standing. If it was up to me he would have been gone a few years ago.

{Ed025's Note - im suspecting your not a big fan of his ozzy.. :)

09 May 2015 20:10:17
Tough tough game 3 vital points, a bit of character and UCL almost secured a good day all in all.

09 May 2015 19:56:54
1. David De Gea - how on earth did he palm that point blank shot away? Incredible performance once again. Without him it would be a second year out of the champions league.

2. It was that spell of pressure from Palace that opened things up for us later on. If we can play with more pace in the front three, it would be nice to see us play a little more direct at times. Under LVG, it seems to be possess first and attack second. Under Sir Alex, we were willing to trade attacks more often, in the belief that our quality would make the difference in goals.

3. How hard is it to play a one-two? Mata and Herrera get it, and Herrera and Falcao had a nice one-two for Herrera's volley at the end, but that's it. Surely an area we can improve in that area. Movement, fluidity, pulling defenders around - all of that is lacking, and is much of what separates us from the top sides in Europe.

4. Credit to Ashley Young for changing the game. He grew more dangerous as the game went on, facing up his defender, mixing up his attacks, going left for Mata, then right for Fellaini's winner. He is a changed man this year, and you could see it in his demeanor for the full 90 today.

5. THREE POINTS .

09 May 2015 22:40:46
maybe the quality of the pitch on the one two passes Zidaniel. hard to trust in the measure of the pass

and yeah Ashleys done really well pleased for him. He was getting calls from the crowd to fall to the ground, boos for his diving days. He responded really well.

09 May 2015 19:51:13
Finally Valencia did it!
He put a cross with his left foot in the final few seconds of first half against Crystal palace.
His left foot lost its virginity!
Actually I am posting this second time.

09 May 2015 19:36:41
Grateful for the points but is anyone in Europe really scared of us?

09 May 2015 19:49:37
Don't know why I expected to come on here and see anything positive. We will have a lot of different players next season, we are going to be in the champions league so let's just bloody enjoy it, I can't wait till August already.

09 May 2015 20:10:58
Not yet but with the right additions and a good pre season why not?

09 May 2015 22:41:02
I honestly hope Chelsea win tomorrow so we can put this season to bed and concentrate on a good pre season, bedding in New players and getting a good start.
as tough as it has been to watch at times this season the bottom line has to be champions league and it seems that we have almost done that.

From the position we finished in last season and the fact that we could not keep hold of the ball for more than 10 seconds I think there are many positives this season sprinkled with a few negatives. All in all we are getting stronger and the only way is up if you look at the scousers they genuinely have something to gripe and moan about us . not so much I think next season will be amazing.

09 May 2015 19:27:51
Well that has taken some pressure off at least. Hopefully we can play our last two games with a bit of ambition now.

Good work by DDG again. Another hard game to watch, we are just so cautious.

09 May 2015 19:59:02
Only if Liverpool do not get a win or the pressure will be on for the arsenal game. It would be nice going into that game knowing we have secured 4th place so that the players can relax and hopefully put on a show

09 May 2015 20:12:22
Too cautious, I agree. Almost across the line now.

09 May 2015 19:06:08
I hope Beast isn't watching.

09 May 2015 18:05:52
I wonder if Mr Moyes would sell us Inigo Martinez from what i have seen of him he is quite a classy centre back

09 May 2015 18:30:04
Thierry Henry giving an analysis on sly sports as to whether it was a penalty or not! How would he know?

09 May 2015 18:35:35
Being a handball, he'd know plenty

09 May 2015 17:21:57
With Utd having to capture Depay earlier than they wanted due to PSG interest would this mean that they will turn their attention back to DiMaria as they are most certainly in the market for a winger?

{Ed004's Note - Hopefully not. I still think Di Maria can come good here and we wouldn't get anywhere close to the money we paid for him. There is still Griezmann}

09 May 2015 18:18:07
Griezman and bale will both be much better than ADM.

09 May 2015 13:33:54
French press reporting Lacazette intrest i hope so look a good player and a different type of striker than what we have.

09 May 2015 14:27:04
Can't see him leaving this year. If we go for a striker it will be Cavani

{Ed004's Note - I do not expect Manutd to sign him, however, if the fee is around 25 million it would be a very good deal. Would be a big step forward, as it would be two players bought for under 50 million with over 50 goals between them}

09 May 2015 17:03:30
Ed002 has said that we aren't interested a while ago, I wonder if that has changed? Next Henry for me.

09 May 2015 13:07:41
The more I watch James McCarthy the more I like him surely one of the most underrated in the league.

09 May 2015 13:12:26
Would agree Dean. He is a player I have always rated.

{Ed025's Note - hes quality jmb, works his socks off every game mate..

09 May 2015 13:18:53
He would nonchalantly stroll into our team atm and if were looking at having 2 quality players for every position then imo we should definitely have a look at him.

{Ed025's Note - not for sale deano mate..

09 May 2015 13:25:58
Great worker on the pitch never stops

09 May 2015 13:29:42
Everyone is for sale ed ;)

{Ed025's Note - true deano...except everton players.. :)

09 May 2015 13:46:08
Hahahahaha fair enough ed

09 May 2015 10:01:39
Now then guys and girls. Been following you guys for around 3 years now. Great site that l visit on a regular well daily basis infact. Message to Ed02 if l may. I've not used the search engine nor have l seen him been mentioned but could you allude us to any push from our camp for Bernard Mensah

{Ed002's Note - Why not use the search engine?}

09 May 2015 11:25:41
Welcome mate. I grew up in Lonsight, went to Crowcroft Park Primary School. Drove through it recently and it's changed quite a lot since I move on 30 years ago. If you've been reading for a few years you should know not to use phrases like "I've not used the search engine but". Lol

09 May 2015 11:45:01
Hey 1st post and I've already been ushered away by Ed02. That's cool. Your right AJH Longsight has changed a lot over the last 30 years especially the demographic make up. Suppose it goes hand in hand with the fast paced world we now live in.
PS I went to Stanley Grove P.S lol

09 May 2015 09:13:36
Before we signed ADM I must have seen him play about 10 times, he never really stood out for me especially in the world cup. So I admit I'm no expert on his form for Real. But I'm starting to get the feeling I'm not alone in this because everytime somebody tries to be football expert they say one thing "he was motm in the cl final". I remember cleverly having a stormer in the charity shield against city but doesn't mean f all because we all know how that one ended. The media and pundits all seemed shocked at how much we paid and that also fuels my doubt because they have seen him play more than me and obviously have a better insight. I watched him closely in the world cup because I had him in my dream team and I wasn't very impressed either. Is ADM just another Nani? Would prefer people who actually offer good information to respond and please don't mention the cl final! Ha

09 May 2015 09:25:54
Like you Clarity I wasn't an avid watcher of La Liga, but I had ADM in my dream teams the past few times (he was always pretty cheap for some reason, hmm!), yet he gets nominal points. I'd say I'd watched him 20-25 times prior to signing.

I have only seen him play very well a couple of times. Similar to Cavani as well.

I think people seriously underestimated the fact that opponents have Bale, Ronaldo, Benzema to worry about when playing Madrid so ADM was often seen as the lesser evil to worry about. With Argentina they obviously have similar quality that give him freedom.

We were crying out for a player that could run at defenders and open up space for our other players, however his use of the ball is beyond atrocious. I remember the Switzerland game in the WC where he scored the winner despite having one of the worst performances I have ever seen any player at any standard have.

We had our pants pulled down with the fee no question about it. He does have an X factor that we desperately need, but we just don't see it often enough and frankly he is more of a liability than an asset. The changing of position doesn't help, but then he was a winger for a long time, then shone in CM for a while for Madrid, so the change in position worked ok for him then! We are too quick to make excuses. I just think PL teams figured him out after watching him closely for a few games, a bit like what happened to Januzaj and even Hernandez.

If his name was Balotelli he would have been sold already!

09 May 2015 09:39:58
Ha thanks Beast glad its not just me, being relatively cheap in the dream team is exactly why i picked him i thought cheap and starts for argentina no brainer.

09 May 2015 10:22:36
Both claim not to have watched him in the Spanish league which is where he played almost 90% of his matches. Expert opinions none the less.

09 May 2015 10:34:01
ADM is one of those players who can be amazing and appalling in the same game. He has the ability to do the sublime but in trying that every time he gets on the ball there is a 50/50 chance he will pull it off.

If you watch his highlights video he looks like the best player in the world, But those videos don't show the poor tracking back, the easily being pushed off the ball or the poor decisions he makes.

He is one of those players every top team needs in their side, a player who can win you a tough game in a moment by doing something out of the ordinary. But for most of that game he will be a passenger. He needs 10 top players around him to do all the things he doesn't do well, which will give him the platform to win the game with an individual bit of skill.

I think over the last 4/5 years he is either the top or second highest assister in Europe, you can't do that without being a good player, he just lacks the consistency to play that well over 90 mins.

With the team still needing a fair bit of rebuilding he was the wrong player last summer. But if we bring in the right players this summer and ADM stays and finds a settled position then he could be the difference in the big games next season.

09 May 2015 10:35:08
If we get the fee back we paid for him it should go down in the history books as the best piece of business done ever. Hopefully there is something to the Bayern and PSG rumours.

09 May 2015 10:42:49
Imightbesomeone - I said I wasn't an avid watcher, not that I didn't watch him at Madrid, I don't comment if I don't know enough.

The scouts and people that signed him are meant to be experts, how did that work out?

09 May 2015 10:46:51
Shappy I know what your saying mate. He does have that little piece of Magic in him but so far he has been pretty appalling for us and I am worried that if he sits on the bench again next season his value will plummet even more. I think Depay will outshine him tenfold next season personally.

In the PL no team can afford to have a half arsed player in their team, nobody. His body language is poor and he has already gave an interview in which he said 'who knows what the future holds' when asked about Paris. We need better from our star man no matter who he is.

Let's not forget we are taking about the MOST Expensive signing not only for Man Utd but in English football HISTORY here.

09 May 2015 10:53:39
IMBS must have missed the line "I am no expert on his form for real" or maybe didn't read the word no in the sentence

09 May 2015 11:00:31
Great points again Shappy got to say your posts are always consistently top quality. Thanks for a great reply.

09 May 2015 11:27:13
I've watched him quite a few times in recent years and I'm not a fan. I grimaced when we bought him, especially for so much money. I hate all the slagging off players get on here but I fear he will not be a success.

09 May 2015 11:37:42
He does gave a touch of Nani about him I.e. Poor decision making at times. But he is a big step up from Nani in terms of what he can deliver on form. He seems to have by far his best season in his last one at Real and unfortunately we ended up massively overpaying, partly down to that I imagine. I'm happy to see if he can improve next season because he's capable of terrorising defences (which we have lacked) but obviously if we could get Bale and make only a smallish loss on Di Maria i'd be more than happy. Otherwise let's see what he can do next season.

09 May 2015 11:44:07
Same here AJH - (although I don't mind the slagging so much, in fact it has been more than deserved the past couple of years).

The ADM deal looked even worse because of Sanchez as well.

09 May 2015 12:01:18
When he played his best stuff for us early in the season he played on the left of a midfield diamond , last season he played left of a midfield three for Real and was outstanding .
For me that's by far where he's best , as it gives him the opportunity to run at teams from a bit deeper and open up the game for others .
If we can't find a way of playing him there we should try and get as much of the money we paid for him back and move him on .

09 May 2015 13:17:53
Few too many Fantasy Football fans me thinks.

09 May 2015 14:05:31
Good discussion, guys. I know Clarity was quoting my comment supporting ADM. By the time I wake up here in the US, you all have usually moved on to another debate!

Many valid points about how poor Di Maria has played. I have been shocked at how often he is not on the same wavelength as his teammates. And the way he has gone down so easily looking for fouls is embarrassing. I think the comparisons with Nani are fair - infuriating one moment, a game winner the next. That is why naturally he will divide our opinion of him.

I have defended him, just on the grounds of knowing what he is capable for us. I hope he can regain his form. And finally, his own decision this summer of staying or going, if it comes to that, will tell us a lot about his character. Fellaini, for example, deserves a lot of credit for proving himself this year.

09 May 2015 18:08:45
Not just you Z iv seen lots say it recently your comment was just the straw that broke the camels back. Nothing personal pal.

09 May 2015 00:11:42
Hi eds,
Seen reports an English club has made a bid of over 30m euro for kondogbia, is it true? And if so which club?
Regards,

{Ed002's Note - Try the European pages.}