Manchester United Banter Archive November 12 2013

12 Nov 2013 16:49:28
Given the results at the weekend and the comments from Rooney, it will be interesting to see if we have now gained some momentum and confidence. I guess the international break has not come at the best time for us - the team looked fired up and ready for the challenge let's hope this is still the case after the break.

It's amazing how players can look so different from game to game. A couple of good wins and I think we will see much more consistency. I also loved mot days story about Gundogan and Reus in a cash plus Kagawa deal. It works for me.

I would even throw Hernandez in the deal to soften things up. They need a good striker after Lewandowski leaves and Chicharito would be a good option to have either on the bench or in the starting 11.

12 Nov 2013 15:43:23
Further down the page REDFAITH was talking about how coaches have influence on players and what countries they come. I totally agree with this, becasue you are more likely to listen to someone with the same upbringing our lifestyle culture as yourself.
I also found it interesting that you mentioned that Moyes is a keen follower of German Football, and I know there is a few fans on the site who talk about certain German players they would like, such as Hummels, Rues, Sweinsteiger, Lahm, Draxler, so on. However, I don't think United have ever signed a German player?
There was Zieler the goalkeeper and Markus Neumayr who captained the reserves to the treble, but I have never seen a German player in the first team squad.
There is some fantastic German players out there, some who will certainly improve are starting line-up, who I am sure are available. But why do you think we stay away from German players?

My guess would be based on two things. Firstly would be that not a lot of Germans like leaving their own country and have a preference to play from their home nation (with a few exceptions obviously) and secondly because of the difference in footballing culture between the English and German game. I reckon ozil has fit into arsenal so well because the philosophy that Wenger has employed is mainly focused on the development of the continental player, whereas SAF had an incredible ability to develop English based players. Purely an opinion and I'm open to input from others! :)

Red devil, I disagree about that.

How many english players have played over seas. Not many. Because in England young players grow up wanting to play for one of the big teams, and there are so many quality teams in England that a player does not need to move to play with world class players.

Same goes for German players. Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Schalke and of course Bayern Munich have been great teams historically and german players would rather play for those clubs rather than moving their whole families to a new country and a new league in which they might not adapt.

Therefore, few German players good enough to play for us, or any big team for that matter, have moved outside of Germany. In the last 5 years, only klose who was getting older, along with Ozil and Khedira have moved outside of Germany, and imo, would get back in a heartbeat if the likes of Bayern wanted them.

Fair play mate I respect that :)

Meterscaker, holtby, podolski, shurrie:)

12 Nov 2013 14:36:15
Very interesting stat here I think: in the 29 EPL games that Smalling has played in, he has won 26 and has only ever lost 1!

Chris Smalling will be the best centre half in the World, and I will continue to say this. He was fantastic at the weekend. I think his natural position is centre half and there's no changing that.
I think its different for Jones, We will all say his natural and best position is centre half. However, I think its a waste to be honest. Someone of his ability should be in Midfield, driving the team forward like a Roy Keane. We should be working on his touch and passing, whle he is being deployed inmidfield.He already has the strength, physique and defensive ability.
Smalling and Evans should be the future CB pairing with Jones as the enforcer in the middle. Hewas brilliant at breaking down Arsenal's play on Sunday, while makng some bambiesque drives forward, he just needed a bit more composure.

He started when we lost to City this year. So we have won every other game he has started?

That was games at Old Trafford still an impressive record none the less

Agree about jones in cm will get more out of him. Smalling I have said in the past gets caught out of position at rb but last few weeks topped I with the game against arsenal he's been class but cb is his position and can see hi really kicking on now

Smalling (will be) the best center half in the world. ermmm i'm not to sure about that Fresh. I think that the old red blinkers need to come off.
He's a decent player but that's going way over the top.

13 Nov 2013 11:50:28
Simmo, Fresh might be going alittle over the top but Smalling does have all the attributes to be the best CB in the world. He has more pace than most CBs, he has the hight and the strength, has good technique and is suprisingly mobile for someone his size. All he needs to do is improve his concentration and learn positioning abit more. But those are things that come with experiance. He has been unlucky that he has been injuried for the best part of two years which have disrupted his progress. If he fullfils his potential he might not be the best CB in the world but he'll easily be in the top ten.

As for Jones he is a tricky one. He's got abit too much about his game to play in a restricted CB type role but he hasn't got the technical abilities to play as one of a two man midfield at the highest level.

I would be tempted to build the team around him. I'd play him infront of the CB duo and behind the midfield two in what in past times would be considered the sweeper role. That would allow the full backs to push forward with Jones covering in behind them if we get caught on the counter. It means we could push high up the pitch and allow the width to come from our full backs. While also allowing to play a front two.

Shaps
A sweeper plays behind the cbs I think what your talking about is a similar role to what busquets use to play for barce.
I think Jones will be a top class cb, smalling imo is behind where he should be he is prob behind Evans and Jones in the United squad and is a long way behind hummels and subotic who are only 12 month older

12 Nov 2013 12:15:47
Moving on from the hard working performance against arsenal!

Our next 2 games are really important
Southampton have arsenal
man city have spurs

We have Cardiff and then spurs if we can get 6 points with 4 minimum we should be happy

Felliani needs a run of games I think until we see the better of him he looked decent in cl and yh only 8 minutes against arsenal he was energetic.

This squad of ours was always going to and still will take time under such big backroom changes but what stands out is the commitment of the players rvp rooney evra vidic there all big egos who worked extremely hard
and look 100% commited