Manchester United Banter Archive December 11 2013

11 Dec 2013 21:53:34
City and Arsenal get one of PSG Bayern Barca Real or Atletico Madrid that's hard

11 Dec 2013 19:31:10
Don't know how accurate this news quote is

"Chilean international Arturo Vidal could be set for a surprise January transfer window exit after having seemingly fallen out with his club Juventus. The defensive midfielder has already informed his agent that he is ready to quit after contract discussions stalled.

There had been some hope that Vidal would win a new contract at Juventus this summer having helped his side win the Serie A title last year, with Vidal one of the best players in Juve's squad over the course of the season.

Despite that, Juventus are furious that Vidal took part in both of Chile's games during the international break and the club's fans are known to also be angry with the player for making the decision to play for the national squad.

Vidal is valued at around 24 million Euros and with Manchester United manager David Moyes ready to spend big in January, the Chilean could be his top transfer priority".

With Juve now out of the CL ( I know Vidal would not be elligable ) I really hope we go all out for him. I know there are better players in the world ( not many imo) but I don't think any would give us a better boost. The only part of his game I hate is, recently I think he's been taking diving lessons from Young, apart from that would be perfect.

{Ed004's Note - He would be able to play and he signed a new contract recently? I'd go as far as 40 mill for him. A midfield of Vidal and Gundogan would be my dream midfield tbh}

If we get these 2 in January, we're back in the title race.

But the prospect of having both of them come here is quite unlikely. Madrid are supposedly interested in both, while Barcelona have been linked with Gundogan.

I hardly think any of these 2 would choose us over Arsenal and Chelsea atm, let alone Real and Barcelona.

Moyes has to prove himself and get us back in the top 4 before a player with world class caliber chooses to come to us.

He signed a contract extension until 2017 last week I think! He is an incredible player and i'd walk to Italy and carry back if Moyes signed him! I really couldn't see it though, if he became available every club in Europe would be after him.

I wouldn't be too surprised however if Marchisio could be tempted by a move in the summer, i'd walk to Italy for him and all!

Now that would be a dream, even if there is a tiny possibility, we have to put a bid in.

Gundogan and Vidal in the centre of our midfield.

I think I've just let out a little bit of sexpee.

Mick you say that but there's likely to think about playing time as the World Cup is coming up and they'd know breaking into United's midfield will be a walk in the park compared to RM or Barca or even Arsenal and Chelsea for that matter. Besides the idea of playing behind Wayne Rooney and RvP would definitely make most midfielders ears stick up. Fingers crossed we get either Vidal or Gundogan.

11 Dec 2013 14:41:09
Both Benfica and Juventus have failed to qualify for the knockout stages. Could some of their players become available in Jan?

Garay?
Matic? (player of the season in Portuguese league last season)
Marchisio?
De Ceglie? (I know Italians rarely leave their league but he's a good left back)

Pogba and Vidal won't be sold so they are out of question.

De cegile is known in Italy as one of the worst left backs in the league, he's been playing LM this season very rarely too I might add

I have a friend who is a MASSIVE Juventus fan and according to him and a lot of his mates, Marchisio is nothing more than a slightly more energetic Clevlerley.

I find it hard to believe but he hates it when Marchisio lines up, his play is very negative and mainly sideways and backwards.

Just thought I'd pass on a fans opinion.

I think Matic would be a fantastic signing. And stop Chelsea re-signing him would make it even better. Here's hoping.

11 Dec 2013 10:38:05
Hi guys, not posted in a while as I have had nothing positive to say and feel bashing our team is pointless and just gets me stressed out!

i keep seeing tht we would listen to offers from barcelona for RVP, surely this isn't true! but with the rumours tht he is indeed unhappy thought I would ask you all if u could shed any light on this. thanks in advance.

{Ed007's Note - Don't believe the story he is unhappy.}

11 Dec 2013 09:32:34
Good win and a better performance once the substitutes came on. Young is a disgrace, let's hope that's the last time we see him! I am also developing a problem with Kagawa, he doesn't seem to offer much or do much. If we could cash in on him right now or give him back to Dortmund in a p/ex deal I would do so. He is ineffective on the left and won't get many games in the hole so he is a waste and is not needed in my opinion.

But what if rooney decides not to renew his contract?

Then we are "Fresh!" out of ideas.

11 Dec 2013 13:52:24
The major issue we have is that Both Rooney and RVP want to play up top. This problem is compounded by the facyt that these are our only 2 world class outfield players and they can't really play anywhere else and be fully effective. if we play 2 up top then this leaves the team completly un balanced and exposed in Midfield against most sides. If we play 2 up top we need to play 3 in the middle and 1 in the hole thus sacraficing our wingers a 4312 formation best suits the squad we have the personelle to carry this off. ddg, raf, smalling evans/vidic Evra. jones clev carrick. Kagawa / Januzai. rooney rvp. swap jones and clev for gundogan herrera and evra for Baines we would be a match for anyone IMO

Once rvp or rooney decide to leave we can move to a more fluid 433 with just 1 up top

Strebor83

Then we're up faeces creek, mate.
IMO, Kagawa has already decided he wants to leave, even being offered a fulltime number 10 position won't be enough to convince him to stay.

Just my opinion/hunch, but the man does not seem as if he's enjoyed his time at OT whatsoever. His performances, even at number 10, have been patchy at best and with the whole Twitter campaign thing, I think his head has been turned.

Moyes isn't a huge fan of him either, for me. So if Rooney wants out we need a new number 10 if we want to go forward with a player of that type.

This may be why we are looking at Sneijder. If Rooney leaves then of course I would want Kagawa to stay. But if Rooney stays then having Kagawa is pointless, he is good enough to play but he is occupying a position where he currently isn't good enough for.

I have this horrible feeling tht if both go he'll put fellaini in there! thn we really will be a rich mans everton

Straight swap, Rooney for Mata, job done :-)

CTR
You ARE joking? . Chelsea won't sell Mata to DM. They don't sell anybody to the so called top teams . Mourinho sends his guys to teams out of the top 4 each season to score against his rivals . United don't quite come into that category YET .

11 Dec 2013 06:04:15
Why no one is including Antonio Valencia in their get out list?
Most of the times he blindingly puts crosses and wastes many good opportunities I think RVP is a victim of his poor service, RVP's face shows how he is disappointed with Valencia.
If Young is only 40% of a world class player, Valencia is 70%.

Valencia offers a tactical advantage. He tracks back, can play at right back, and always puts a decent shift in. He's also very loyal.

He should in no way shape or form be one of the starters every week, but having him as a squad player is not such a bad thing

I'd have Valencia as a squad player but Young can go now. I can honestly say he is the only United player I have ever truly hated. He is nowhere near 40% of a world class player, he would be lucky to be 40% of a pub league player. Absolute, utter dog sh*t.

For me, I would sell Nani & Young and I would buy one top left player. I would sell Anderson and buy a top midfielder and I would sell both Fabio and let Evra leave and buy Baines/Moreno. Add a CB when Ferdinand retires and I think we look okay. Add Powell to the mix and we are good to go. For me we are still three top players away from where we need to be.

From the current squad we could argue that as many or more than 10 players should go and that is a large number.

Looking at the starting 11 last night 4 should go from that.

I would sell the following:

Evra
Ferdinand
Anderson
Giggs
Nani
Young
Fletcher
Macheda
Büttner
Bebe

I would prefer to keep fabio instead of Büttner and give him an opportunity in the hope that he reaches the same level as raf.

Syd do you really think only 3 players.

we need a lb and cm first and foremost, but added to this I would say we need a cb, another cm and a left/right sided player.

I would love us to go all spanish with most of those too and get moreno, herrera/koke, pedro. hehe However how many of those players would leave their current teams and spain to join us?

I think over the next season or two Zaha will improve and mature up and hopefully take the RW position off Valencia as he clearly has more skill going forward just awful with his defensive duties and losing the ball in the first place.

Syd,

In an ideal world, that's exactly what we should do.

Sell Fletcher? That's disgraceful talk. The lad may never kick another ball for us but he will always have a place at the club. He has always given his best for us since he was a teenager, and we will continue to stand by him as he battles his illness.

Spot on, Danny. Now they're words I never thought I'd hear myself say :)

12 Dec 2013 13:22:31
Sell him no, support until he decides to hang up the boots then yes. He will be looked after by the club

11 Dec 2013 01:50:34
I've been taking a serious look at our first team squad, and in all honesty we can't rage too much at Moyes at how badly we are playing I know the tactics are boring and negative, but that's exactly what Mourinho did at Chelski before he started them playing successful football. We are in serious need of at least six quality players. End of season Evra off to France, Rio and Giggs possibly Fletcher retiring. Anderson, Young, Nani and Buttner should be sold. Then I'd say we need a right back, Left back, Centre back, two Central Midfielders and an attacking midfielder. Then we should play a 4-3-2-1. Pack the midfield and let the front 3 rotate.

I agree except for the RB, we have Rafael and Varela, Valencia and Smalling can also provide cover. We definitely need a LB, a CB, at least one top quality CM and a right sided attacking player though. I think £100m ish should cover it with about £30m coming back in from sales. We have some very good youth coming through aswell like Powell, the Keanes etc. i'm not as down about the future as a lot on here, I believe our future will be very bright, if we can get quality in in the positions I have mentioned and allow the youngsters to develop further, while shipping out the dross.

I can't see us buying that many players and getting rid of that many in one transfer window.i.e. summer

Saw an interesting and great interview with Wenger. He believes it is very difficult to try and integrate more than 3 major signings into any team in a given season and guys who buy loads of players actually suffer for it. Given that we need probably 6 players, I see us doing this over a couple of years given the financial side of things too.

I think he is very intelligent and if you look at a team like spurs, even though they bought a bunch of players they are not playing them as much as they did early season and their results have improved. I would be quite happy with 2 this winter and a couple in the summer.