Manchester United Banter Archive August 13 2014

13 Aug 2014 23:12:06
I know it's unlickly but I'd love it if we made a move for Dani Alves, it's clear barcelona are looking for a new RB which indicates there looking to offload him. There's not many better who could play the RWB position and could even help rafael fill some of his potential.

I agree, but I thought he was PSG bound or was there deal scuppered by wages or something? Would be a welcome addition and would improve our team.

I don't rate Alves, rather have one of our youngsters given a go than bringing him in. Had a very poor world cup and hasn't looked comfortable on the ball for a long time.

13 Aug 2014 21:47:24
I don't get why people on here are so bothered about how much we pay for players? The bottom line is, as a squad we have deteriorated ever since we lost Ronaldo and Tevez, the midfield has been non existent since the days of Keane and Scholes. And the back 4 has been depleted. I for one now couldn't give a $h!t what we pay for players as long as we get the right ones in the right positions who will improve us. We pay enough to watch united season in season out, I think spending on the squad isn't much to ask. I'd rather over pay than line the Glazers pocket! People moaning about Di Maria are rediculous. He's above and away miles better than what we have in his position.

All this about Vidal for me is rubbish! I give us a 5% chance to sign him, if we were going to I think we would have. We need CB yet missed out on Garay and De Vrij, two who wether we were interested or not, would improve us.

For me, If we don't sign anyone else, we won't make top 4 simple as that
And I'm not holding my breath.

Vidal the best midfielder in the world, it will be hard to nab him from Juventus but we are trying very hard and we have more then 5 percent chance of signing him.

Stand - It's a very dangerous road if you continuously over pay for players, Fellaini, Mata, Herrera, Shaw we have paid more than what most people would have expected for those players. We may have money to burn now, but in 2 years who knows. Clubs like Juve see if Di Maria has been signed for £50mil then Vidal is much better so they expect we will pay £60-£70mil for him. Look at PSG with CB's, they spent a fortune on Silva, then another fortune on an inexperienced CB in Marquinos (spelling), and then an even bigger one for Luiz.

They really want Di Maria but are now saying he is too much. I dare say had they not spent so much on Luiz they would have had the money to spend it on Di Maria.

So it is very concerning if we splash so much money on Di Maria, who frankly I don't rate more than a £20mil-£25mil signing and we don't necessarily require a player like him. We need a CM a CB and a CB/LB cover player. Those three alone will cost close to £100mil if they are to be at the required standard.

Agree su. I think it is about time start walking the walk instead of Woodward just talking the talk.
Huge will sell Vidal in a second if we offered the right money. Same goes for di Maria and Real.
Problem is we need strengthening in the back, midfield and wings and nothing is happening. If we stay as we are, then top4 is not going to be likely.

14 Aug 2014 11:12:17
Beast, not necessarily always paying over the odds, but this season is vital! Fergi has to take to if the blame for this. We've gone from 3 Champions league finals in 4 years to finishing last season in 7th, the squad has been allowed to deteriorate. Allowing the likes of Vidic and rio to else without sufficient cover bought in is criminal! If we miss out on champions league football again, it will cost us big time. Sponsors etc pull the plug. The financial ratifications are huge, so over spending this summer , although we may pay over the odds , in the long run we may be better off. Like I said for me no signing , we don't finish top 4. Liverpool finished 2nd yet has signed 8 players for over £100m. Arsenal have improved with 4. Chelsea narrowly missed out and go sign Fabregas, Costa etc for over £100m, they're not finished yet either, City have Kompany at the back yet still blow £30m on Mangala. Yet we sign 2 players and are weak in so many positions! It's worrying

Stand - I agree completely. Our only crossed wire here is DI Maria. I am well up for spending big on the right players and we have let our competitors dominate for far too long. But paying £50mil for a player like Di Maria is not what we need, it is just the same as us buying Fellaini last year in terms of requirement and suitability.

If we buy Di Maria then one of our 3 stars doesn't play, so we are robbing Peter to pay Paul and doing so down £50mil and £200k in wages a week, (ish). Spend whatever it takes to buy Vidal and a CB like Benatia or Hummels, then be sensible with the squad player purchases otherwise we end up paying £20mil+ for players that play 15 games a season and who aren't good enough when back in CL.

We need to get the cheque book out pronto, but not for players like Di Maria, he is not even a £30mil player.

13 Aug 2014 19:09:50
If you have a choice, would you pay 30 mn for Alexis Sanchez or 50 mn for di Maria. Sanchez is an year younger too.

30mil for Sanchez or just 5mil for Di Maria - I'd still go for Sanchez. PSG think he is over priced that says it all.

Different circumstances, we're more desperate than arsenal and we have more money, we also need a left footed winger. However £50m+ for di Maria is ridiculous, £35m max for me.

Sanchez or Reus preferably but Di maria can cover siff positions and is a top player if he continues the form of last few years.

I don't see why there's a need to even ask this question; firstly because the answer's an obvious one and more importantly because Sanchez is now an Arsenal player.

That's like asking if you could watch a champions league final or a badminton match which would you choose

Sanchez, by all accounts made it crystal clear he wanted to be in London. In terms of price, why does it vex people so much? This is not my or your money we are spending but the clubs that otherwise might go to the owners in dividends or even pay off the debt giving those owners more asset value. Di Maria if we want him, is worth what Madrid want. Yes we may negotiate, that's the game to be played. Yet, It is rich the moaning coming from our fans when our club set and took a world record fee for Ronaldo from Madrid. I think DiMaria is a top player with searing pace that will make a difference to our team. It is the right level of quality, the price is the accountants problem. If LvG has identified DiMaria then I am delighted that a decisive management decision has been taken, let's support that.

Price matters because if we spunk our budget on one player it means we can't sign another (potentially)!

We also get raped by every other club like City were and Liverpool are being. £50MIL for Di Maria may mean we can't buy Vidal & Benatia. It also probably lifts the asking price by £10mil as we continually get our pants pulled down.

Great Post Redman we sometimes act as know more then the manager but if the manager has decided on Di Maria then so be it.

Beast

As a club we haven't gone out on a limb to heavily invest on players for years. Whilst others have invested heavily in their teams we have paid debts down etc. Heavy investment is needed and I would rather see the club borrow money to invest in the team this summer, to speculate on players LvG wants, than improve the owners asset value. This should be about who we need and go and get them, yes negotiate, yes play for the best deal but make the money available. Without the team we won't get the sponsors cash, it's time to invest in quality and I won't moan if it is DiMaria one bit. DiMaria, Hummels and Vidal would be good perhaps with Rojo as well. I wouldn't be happy if we say oh no we won't spend and go bargain hunting. Get top players, then watch the competition sweat on what we might do. Woodward is good with numbers, let him arrange the overdraft and let LvG have what he wants, hopefully it is the top players not bargain basement

As a club we would be better off paying 45 million each fro di Maria and vidal and closing this window than signing average players like fergie did in his last 5 to 7 years because he just refused to see where the game was going.

What is hazard worth today?

14 Aug 2014 11:34:54
Red Man & GCU - I agree completely that we need to invest in players as we have been shopping in the wrong market for years. The problem is the Phil Jones's of the world would cost £25mil-£30mil (just like Shaw & Herrera) now rather than £15mil when we bought him. What has Phil Jones done, Nani, Anderson, etc?

Where are Sneijder and Moura now, players we would have forked out a fortune for and have gone backwards fast? Yes Hazard has been a success, but I don't think it was money with him it was him preferring Chelsea, for every Hazard there is a Disaster, haha.

It's a massive gamble to spend £40mil+ on hit and miss talent for positions we don't necessarily need.

Vidal & Hummels/Benatia break the bank, £60mil & 40mil respectively and we have world class players in positions we need and pretty much guaranteed performances. £50mil on Di Maria, may limit us being able to buy Vidal and a quality CB, he is also over rated and could be a flop just as easily as he could be a success (wages as well are a joke for Di Maria according to Ed002). He gives the ball away just as much as Nani does and it means one of Mata, Rooney & RVP don't play in their preferred positions if at all.

Blast the cash but not on big risks and to the detriment of future better acquisitions.

13 Aug 2014 18:52:22
Javi Garcia to Zenit.


Could Witsel be available now?

13 Aug 2014 17:34:01
To brighten things up, luke shaw is out for 4 weeks.

A lot of injuries at the moment, but I still think we will win on Saturday.

Hopefully, we can bring in a few players in the coming weeks.

Hence the reason Reece James started last night I guess. I think he did a good job. Young RWB, James LWB? Really could do with Valencia returning from injury.

I've not been paying attention to pre season friendlies but is Rafael injured to? I read the reports that LVG wants to move him on but would've thought if he's fit he'd be on the right and Young on the left.

I watched James last night, nowhere near PL material YET.
Young at LWB but Valencia is out too, isn't he?

Do we even have a RWB? I don't think we do!

We've left ourselves in a disgraceful knot before the first ball has been kicked.

3 CBs, a LB without PL experience filling in as a CB.

Out of 4 possible WB's, ONE is fit.

TWO of our four strikers are injured.

Here we go again. A makeshift team being expected to perform miracles.

13 Aug 2014 19:06:55
Red_sky all optimistic and thinking about the positives as always.

GDS blinded by misguided optimism, as always.

Please tell me what exactly can we take as positive, here?

Starting the first game of the new season with one new signing is still a step up from last season!

13 Aug 2014 21:11:02
There are plenty of positives but if you only ever look at the negatives that's all you will ever see. Hopefully there will be a couple more signings obviously but we have had a great pre season, have a tough, experienced no nonsense new manager and have 2 excellent new signings. Why doom and gloom before a ball has been kicked?

13 Aug 2014 21:29:40
Red_sky,

If you have watched any pre season and have seen no positives then there is pretty much no point. Herrera, Blackett, a manager a million times better than last season, ashley young looking like a different player, januzaj coming back, Rooney looking fit and ready, van persie to come back, Fellaini looking good last night and hopefully a new lease of life.

Young at left wing back would be fine, he did brilliantly there in America, assuming Valencia or Rafael aren't going to be out for too long.

There are a lot of positives mate , some people don't just see new signings as the only positives and even if we did, we have 2 more (60 million worth ) than this stage last season.

Great Post Gds.

I Ctually agree that I think we are in a better position. Mainly due to the manager though. Yes we have brought in 2 players. Both of whom I think will be excellent for us.

But! We have lost Vidic, Ferdinand and Evra. And 1 of the 2 players we have signed is now out for a month.

I'm happier than I was but will be disappointed if we don't add 2 or more quality additions before the window shuts.

13 Aug 2014 22:44:48
Ted,

It's not all positives and of course there are some negatives but to say there are no positives at all is an absolute joke of a comment from red_sky.

GDS

I've watched the majority of pre-season.

We're playing better football but there's still a lack of penetration through the middle and we still don't have the game-changer we've needed for years.

Blackett looks good, looking forward to seeing more of him. James, doesn't convince me so far but time to improve.

My point is, we're significantly weaker at the back in terms of experience and numbers. Still have the potential to be bullied in midfield. And still have the same underperforming, ordinary wingers outside of Januzaj.

We also don't have the personnel to play LVG's preferred formation for the first few games.

We've horribly mismanaged our summer yet again, unless we add 2-3 more top quality players before the window closes.

GDS

Also, could you please list what you consider to be negatives at this stage?

I never see you criticise the club whatsoever. And there is plenty to criticise, if you're being honest.

If we signed di maria would people let rvp go as part of the vidal deal .
I know it not going to happen

Of course not, that would leave us with no world-class striker.

Probably - if it was the only way.

Don't you class wayne rooney as world class, syd?

Foolish idea jred.

I think I would be tempted.
Vidal would sort the midfield out and di maria would give us the pace up front .
Rvp is 31 with a poor injury record and next summer will only have a year left on his contract .

13 Aug 2014 18:07:53
Rooney is not world class

If we signed Di Maria and sold RvP we wouldn't be any stronger. It makes no sense at all.

Di Maria will play as a winger (like LvG described him as). In a 343 as a RWB, in a 433 as a winger.

That was we get to play Mata, Di Maria, Van Persie & Rooney all in one attack.

I'd rather throw them €40 Hernandez nani Anderson

Why sell our best st?

Syd
I said if we got di maria and then used rvp in the vidal deal.
So we would have di maria and vidal imo that would make us stronger .
It would also allow lvg to set united up more like the dutch team.
It would sort out midfield and give us pace up front

Why get rid of a world class playee to acquire another, it is called a squad game no one is going to play every single game bar few.

A good original post designed to provoke debate turns into a Rooney debate. Shock horror.

Personally I think the squad would be more balanced if Di Maria and Vidal were swapped for RVP, but I'd rather be greedy and swap them for Nani, Anderson, Fellaini and Hernandez - never happen though. ;-)

Jred, I see your point, but why not just give them Hernandez and cash? LvG has told him he's not in his plans.

Syd
It was a chance to discuss something different

Not at all Jred, you have had 2-3 threads about RvP going in the last few hours. About Di Maria as a striker (him and Rooney) leaving RvP where? You clearly think (bizarrely) that because Rooney is captain and we are interested in Di Maria, that Van Persie must be leaving. Adding 2 & 2 and getting 58. Don't beat around the bush, if you think this is what's going to happen then say it. We all can see by your last few threads that you expect this to happen. Put your neck on the line :)

You put your neck on the line when you said RM won't sign James Rodriguez. You put your neck on the line when you said Moyes won't be sacked. You put your neck on the line when you said LvG wants to keep Hernandez. You put your neck on the line when you said Zaha will be the 4th striker. Why not just say that you think in the next 2.5 weeks that RvP will be sold and replaced by Di Maria. Instead of beating around the bush with these odd thread questions.

It's all fun and games, I have been wrong loads of times, but it's fun to put your neck on the line :)

Ben80, there's a chance we could sign Di Maria and Vidal and finally see the likes of Anderson and Nani leave. Seeing an attacking seven of Shaw, Vidal, Herrera, Rooney, Mata, Van Persie & Di Maria would be great to watch. Squad players like Young, Valencia, Carrick, Fletcher, Welbeck, Kagawa, Adnan, Wilson. would be an excellent first XI and an excellent squad.

Syd
my previous
04 Aug 2014
I don't see why lvg would want to get rid of hernandez . However hernadez may want to move

11 Aug 2014 11:06:55
If hernandez leaves will zaha be 4th choice striker


04 Jul 2014
The james to madrid rumours don't make a lot of sense to me, don't really see him playing in a midfield 3

Syd
I would be amazed if we sold rvp what other post are you talking about.

On rodriguez I said his signing didn't make a lot of sense to me and it doesn't . I don't think they need to spend 60 mill on him when they have isco, but that's madrid.
I thought moyes would of got an other year.

Cant remember saying lvg wants to keep hernandez, I think I asked the question why would he want to sell.

On zaha I posted " will he be our 4th striker "

So just to cover.
1 . Madrid signing james didn't make a lot of sense to me
2. Why would lvg want to sell hernandez.
3 . Will zaha be our 4th striker .

All post to start a debate or gauge other peoples opinions .
I don't try to tell people they are right or wrong or pretend i'm itk or preach what will or will not happen .
I just like to talk about football.

Wow, easy there Jred, it's all a bit of fun :-)

12 Aug 2014 20:39:07
Hi ed. Just wondering you said a bid is expected for vidal but nothing is really happened and I know you keep answering simalar questions but not this particualar one. first time posting on this site . love it. so will there be a bid. thanks wilfred

{Ed002's Note - A bid was made - I told you that.}

13 Aug 2014 19:02:47
Ed002 has confirmed the bid on four or five occasions now and yet people keep asking if a bid was made. It's no wondered he/she gets fed up with us!

What I don't get is why nobody has asked the outcome of the bid yet. Is it still being considered? Are negotiations ongoing? These might be useful questions to ask, perhaps.

Lol, Red7 that is a dangerous route to go to we have been told exactly what Vidal needs to do to move to us and now it is upto Vidal to force the issue a little bit.

14 Aug 2014 06:06:39
Singh - Notice how I didn't actually ask the question myself. I know better than to incur the wrath of Ed002!

13 Aug 2014 16:45:27
Hi Guys

I'm going to Old Trafford on Saturday and I can't wait.My only slight issue is that I might be watching a very under strength United side.I personally expect to see at least a couple of new signings before 1st of September but not in time for Saturday.I'm hoping that a few of the lads that sat out last night may be fit.RvP may even make the bench.
That said whatever side LvG puts out will surely play with more skill and passion than any team Moyes sent out.I fully expect us to beat Swansea and get the season off to a good start.
Roll on Saturday

13 Aug 2014 13:54:02
rojo has been fined by club and dropped from first team affairs for foreseeable future and will train on own. Sporting will not be bullied by other clubs or player in attempts to force sell a player important to the club. surposidly taking legal advice in to rojo contract at the club to stop him leaving cheap!? not sure what they mean by that. also surposidly southampton have made offer for him but no where near what sporting want for the player.

Surely there's no going back for Rojo now. He will leave Sporting I reckon.

Sporting are apparently not happy with the structure of the deal, they want all the money upfront so we will just have to wait for Woodward to agree to that. It's only £16 odd million.

Do we really want a player who throws a hissy-fit to get what he wants? What happens if he's a hit with us and RM come knocking?

From what I have read he has a buy out figure in his contract. Yes Liverpool showed with Suarez that this is not always worth the paper it is written on, but surely so long as a club meet this fee which I understand we have then we are not trying to get him on the cheap!
Offer them £25m + Nani + Anderson (who I am sure would would both look good in the portugese league) for Rojo and Carvallho!
Would solve a number of issues with one deal. and yes Ed's I know this is not how deals are done, but I wish it was!

The problem is, Sporting only own 25% of the player and therefore will only get a small percentage of any potential sale. So that probably explains why the player felt he needed to try to force the move through.

Redseven, don't worry, Madrid won't come knockin', he's gubbins.

Sporting only own 25% of the player if reports are true

Brad - If only it worked that way.

I think claiming that Rojo has had a hissy fit is a little bit unreasonable.
He has asked for a transfer and in doing so will waiver his signing on bonus thus meaning that Sporting Lisbon are likely to get a better deal.
For any player who is at at a club like Sporting Lisbon andinterest from one of the big clubs in europe is registered then there is of course a feeling of not wanting to miss out the oppurtunity to move on.
Like us Rojo is human and is likely to at least double his wages by coming to Utd so why would you not want to push this deal through.
I am more annoyed with the players who will not ask for a transfer even though they definitely want the move to take place, as is the case with most transfers today. The players says very little and provides diplomatic answers to questions on such topics so that if the deal goes through they get their bonus and if it does't they are not hammered by the fans from the team that they wanted to leave.
If Rojo joins Utd and is a massive hit and Real Madrid come along and want to pay £30M+ then I don't see the problem. Like Rooney he can be offered a better deal if that is in the interests of the club or they can take the money, make on their investment and purchase a replacement. In reality how many players have actually wanted to leave Man Utd over the past 10 years. Only a few and most of which are because they did not get on with the manager which means in reality they are a potential bad apple in the changing room and need to be moved on.
I actually salute Rojo in being honest and asking for a transfer. He is looking at the bigger picture and not getting caught up in a transfer circus. If the reports of Vidal wanting to join Utd are true and that he has verbally agreed the details of a potential contract then this could possibly all be over if he stated to Juve that he wanted to leave.

Hoggy - Sporting were willing to take a chance on him after a very poor spell in Russia. Instead of repaying their faith in him he's bolting at the first chance. That doesn't seem very professional to me.

I don't so much take issue with him wanting to leave; but refusing to train? That's almost as bad as RVP feigning injury last season because he didn't like David Moyes!

13 Aug 2014 17:32:39
Well said,Hoggy

Rojo wanted to leave in jan after a spanish club bid for him. he was told he as needed for the rest of the season nd after world club he was free to leave if a sum came in that matched sportings valueation of him. he is frustrated that the club are not accepting bid from him and wants a move to utd. the club own 25% of the player rest owned by representives of the player. that's why sporting are holding back for larger fee but expect player to force move out of sporting in next few days.

Redseven -Agree totally that if a player refuses to train then that is uprofessional and wrong.
However I read this morning hat Sporing had banned Rojo training with the squad and made hm train on his own.
So which is true, we probably won't find out!

Hope that if Utd do sign Rojo then the club owns the player outright. This 3rd party ownership i.e. Tevez, is a joke.

Hoggy - I hadn't read that - but if it is the case then I retract my original comment.

Third party ownership is not allowed in the Premier League and so there's no risk of us partially owning the player. If we sign him, he will be our player.

13 Aug 2014 13:50:33
wow real madrid want 65m for di maria!? psg agreed person details with palyer but wouldn't pay the fee madrid wanted. he's a good player but serioursly utd can't pay that for him. yes he'd do a good job but not a 65m good if that makes sense. to many options avalible for a lot less money. let's hope what ever irwin ment last night isn't utd payin 65m for him.

So they want more for him than they paid for James Rodriguez?

If they value him so highly then why buy James to replace him?

Personally If we were to spend that much on Di Maria then what the hell is the hold up with spending 45m on Vidal?

Agreed Shappy, this tightness with money will only hurt us in the long run. We have to cough up now for Vidal, for Di Maria and seemingly for Rojo or we won't get them. Him coming out and saying that we have a bottomless pit was so stupid.

They want the money to sign Falcao. If we're seriously considering spending that much on Di Maria we should move for Reus instead. He's cost half that.

I'm sure James Rodriguez cost £71m and they want £52m for Di Maria. €65m I think curtr_9 is talking about.

I'm not convinced that Real Madrid will be better with James and without Di Maria. Seems that Ancelotti was forced into lining up with James, the new galactico darling. Wonderful talent, no doubt, but I think a midfield of Di Maria, Kroos, and Modric would have been better. Modric already looks like he has been playing with Kroos for a decade. What a player.
As far as Di Maria goes, hopefully their loss will be our gain.

I am convinced if Di Marea does move it will be for less than £50m. Madrid are playing hard ball as they don't need to sell and the manager does not actually appear to want to sell.
Therefore, marketforces dictate that his price is artificially high and was probably set because of money bags PSG and hoping that Ed Woodwards claim of wanting to break the transer record for Man Utd is true.
I think Van Gaal wants him with an eye on the future system and maybe thinks this is the only year we are likely to get him so willing to buy and then develop the system as the year goes on. He has one eye on the now and one on the future.

Shappy agree with totally . Obviously transfers are not that straightforward but if we want to spend big (if we really can) then I would prefer to spend it on vidal rather than di Maria .

Like every club the want as much money for a player as possible, and I think madrid are no exception. even tho they have signed james for that much they will want a good return on a player that they don't have to sell they can keep and still add something to the squad.

Dimaria will be a transfer day deal. no one will pay that much for him and real need to sell

13 Aug 2014 01:35:13
Hi Eds-new to site. is there somewhere to read rules etc here? Cheers

{Ed033's Note - The rules regarding posting are: This site is for talking about manchester united. It's not for submitting negative statements about Ed002 or any other Ed or any poster. In addition, this is not a links site or a site to advertise on.

Bearing the above in mind, after you've submitted your text using one of our posting forms, it should be approved by an Ed and be posted to one of our pages.

Great,thanks Ed!

13 Aug 2014 11:54:04
Well last nights game was interesting as it showed that the players are still trying to perfect this system and how to use it to their advantage.

For me there we two problems with the team last night which made life harder for us to perform.

First, Reece James has looked very solid in his defending and with his passing, but he does lack pace. Here in lies the problem, with this formation you need pace out wide to get in behind players and to drag the opposition fullbacks out wide isolating their centre backs. This leaves you with two central defenders to mark two strikers and a No.10 as well as someone breaking from the midfield. Effectively you should always have a man over, and if you are good at keeping possession and moving the ball you should be able to open up any defence. But the wing backs need to have pace and be very attacking(thus why he prefers to use wingers as wing backs).

The second problem was Hernandez. Now Chico has been one of my favourite players as he always plays with a smile and is down right dangerous in the box. But he is not suited to possession football as his passing and hold up play just aren't good enough. Some people slate him but we have looked far more dangerous when Welbeck has played due to his pace, work rate and hold up play has brought the best out of Mata and Rooney by giving them time and space on the ball.

Last night Valencia sat deep and narrow, this will be a tactic many teams will use against us this season. It totally choked the space in front of the box and made it impossible to hit them on the counter. At that point we needed our wide players to get in behind them and draw their full backs out to the byline. That would have opened up the space for Mata and Rooney to run in the inside channels but we would still had needed a striker who would have held the ball up and to occupy the central defenders.

That is why the wing backs will be our most important players this coming season, if they play well they will open up the field and allow players like Mata, Rooney and RvP the space to tear teams apart. that's why it is my opinion that Juan Cuadrado is the most important signing we need to make this summer.

Yes Vidal is one of the best players in the world and yes a top centre back is needed but if this system is to work and we are to get the best out of Rooney Mata and RvP we need a top wing back on the right hand side to give balance and a threat down the right thus opening up the field for our best players to shine.

I agree about Reece James. He was steady enough, but he is not dangerous at all going forward. His crosses get blocked over and over. And like you said, Shappy, not enough pace.

I think last night told us the season is about to start and players had one eye on that

13 Aug 2014 10:36:41
Well, right now between the major media outlets they seem to think that we will get Vidal, Cuadrado, Di Maria, Blind and Rojo - I wonder who is wide of the mark.

13 Aug 2014 10:17:52
Throughout pre season I have been impressed the most, by 3 players:

Young:- His work ethic seems to have completely changed, whereas he used to only seem to care when he was in possession, he now chase the ball up & down the field for as long as he is on the pitch for. I used to believe that a slight breeze could push Young over, but I have been pleasantly surprised with the bit of strength he has added to his game, few more sessions in the gym and he could become the new Vida ;-) I actually found myself cheering and gleaming when he managed to floor a Valencia player! Also lastly, 2 goals vs Real Madrid from LWB. PHOAW!

Blackett: I spent the whole of last season and the season before believing that Blackett was a LB. He has been one of the best defenders on the tour and I feel he was our best player on the pitch vs Valencia. He is tall, powerful and has the eye for a tackle. LCB is the perfect position for him. I saw him and Reese James linking up down that left hand side last night and I saw a connection. There was a point vs Valencia where Blackett picked up the ball and ran forward with it, there was a split second where I thought I saw Yaya Toure. He was been outstanding and in my eyes deserves to start vs Swansea.

Rooney: The man has been electric, its great to watch and great to read about. His goals, movement, passing and general behavior has taken me back to the 2009 Rooney. I can see him having a stonking season.

As always, let me know

HarryUTD

Couldn't agree more on this one. I can see Rooney getting 30 odd goals and giving him the captaincy is great man management as it will ensure that he keeps working hard and leads by example. We will have two highly motivated center forwards on our books this season - something to be excited about. I'm amazed with the transformation of Young, he has even started to put in some good crosses and has got up and down brilliantly. Unless we get Cuadrado for the right wing back slot he is a guaranteed starter for me now. Blackett too has been great, out of him and Keane I would take Blackett as the young center back in the first team squad and I can see him either getting himself onto the bench or having a few minutes against Swansea on Saturday.

Agree on the first two but think Rooney has blown hot and cold. Fletcher's had a better pre-season IMO.

I agree with those 3, espically Blackett I'm hoping he gets a serious chance this season and believe he has a bright future with the club

I think fletcher and Herrera deserve a mention they've also had a very good pre season

Herrera has been player of pre-season for me. Slotted right in.

I thought blackett had gone backwards after his loans, but he has really impressed in every pre season game I've seen him play.

Rooney has been hot and cold during pre-season, but I like what I am seeing. He hasn't been in games much because our midfield still isn't opening up teams and our wing backs haven't been doing it enough. Hernandez didn't do him any favours either, a steward could have marked him out of the game last night.

Herrera hasn't impressed as much as people are making out, I think people are seeing some parts of games and not others. Obviously he needs time to settle and has looked technically sound, just gives the ball away a lot at the minute but to be expected as it takes time to get used to wave lengths etc. So he isn't anything to rave about yet, but there is definite quality there.

Young, Blackett and Jones for me. With Fletcher doing ok for Fletcher but still nowhere near enough to be near the starting 11.

Mata has been a bit AWOL, a bit like Sneijder was during the world cup!

Shame Welbeck got injured as he was looking very tasty and Janujaz was a breath of fresh air with his cameo last night - I hope he gets enough games.

Fresh
A month ago you where sure rooney would be on the bench as back up to rvp.

{Ed007's Note - As I remember it, J, we were in the small minority over Rooney. I remember certain people wanted him sold and were adamant that he would be? ;)

Blackett looks to have a better future at United than Michael Keane will have but the two of them looks like the could be very good cb in the future

Jred, do you also get that strong urge to quote a few of our esteemed regulars who assumed a fair few things? I personally do.

Deeps.

Deeps
If i'm honest, yes

Ed 007
Was that this summer or last summer.
New contract and club captain, enough said

{Ed007's Note - I'm delighted for him.}

13 Aug 2014 21:23:15
I'll hold my hand up. I was never adamant he would be sold, but I hoped he would be.

13 Aug 2014 07:27:44
Right now we are heavily linkedbwith 5 players.
Buy out of this we can say blind and rojo are being chased for similar role so logically only one will come.
Now I really don't understand in current system where would di maria play? So his name sounds odd in the mix. provided lvg after buying him changes to 4-3-3. Or di maria plays as robben in WC for Netherland.
Or we won't di maria at all.

Now its "vidalgate". Bigger or equilent to out world famous snijdergate and febregate. So let's see if it happens same as other two.

But things are looking good. But defence looking so inexperienced.

On a brighter note. One player has been out standing so far. we'll composed. calm on the ball. Very good in positioning. and tackeling.
We have a real gem there. He has impressed me more than Jones and smalling.

And who might that player be? The one who has impressed you?

Just hoping we can get Di Maria and Vidal over the line. Well and Rojo, we can worry about the experienced CB next summer when hopefully Hummels will be available. Just use Blackett, Rojo, Smalling, Jones, Evans & Carrick for back-up. Vidal and Di Maria would be a fantastic summer topped off.

Probably meant tyler blacket, been very steady all pre season

13 Aug 2014 12:48:35
No midfield.
I meant blakett. But in speed writing I forgot to type the name :-)

13 Aug 2014 02:15:43
It was a genuinely uninspired performance this evening. It seemed like Valencia had just come for the draw with everyone back in their own half when we had the ball. It made for a dull spectacle reminiscent of last year. Rooney celebrated his captaincy with a rather lacklustre display. Hopefully when the weekend comes around.

On the bright side, Janusaj looked good. Fellaini did too and didn't deserve the treatment. And with Shaw's energy and RVP back I think we can be pretty competitive.

I think we will be seeing this type of performance a lot this season because teams still come to OT to defend. We can't break them down easily so it's bore fest. Did their keeper make a save?

We definitely need some pace going forward and an extra runner from central midfield, otherwise it will be pretty stale.

13 Aug 2014 11:22:23
It was a friendly 4 days before the start of the season, did you expect the players to be flying into tackles and attacking like their lives depended on it?

When you say Rooney was lacklustre, he had 4 great chances to score and didn't take any of them, but I would be more worried if he had no chances to score. If we are creating chances he will score plenty and so will RVP and others.

The last 10 minutes last night when we decided to try and win the game we looked like we had a variety of ways to break them down, a few attacks through the middle (cracking pass by Adnan) and also a few attacks down the wing which with better crosses could have been taken.

Uninspiring maybe, but many positives to take away, especially compared to last year.

13 Aug 2014 00:08:44
So over the last 4 days I have seen us linked with 4 wingers on this site:

Cuadrado
Quadrado
Guadrado
Cuadrago

Do you think we will sign any of them, I doubt we need all 4.

You missed 'Coudrado'. I've been chuckling over these myself. but what chance has he got when people don't even get Januzaj, Fellaini and Herrera right ;o)

Someone called him Guardado too.

And Cuardo and Cuardao

13 Aug 2014 10:35:05
Glad it's not just me. I just wish we could be linked with a John Smith for a change.

What about snidjer :)

12 Aug 2014 23:52:39
The rumour was that Denis Irwin was on Irish Commentary tonight and said a big announcement was incoming from United regarding a new record signing.

Not true. He wasn't on commentary. He wasn't on radio. He wasn't on anything.

Once again, Twitter causes havoc.

Dennis Irwin was actually doing hospitality for my mates works vip box, and he actually told them we will be spending over £100 million this week on 4 players, wouldn't name names but he did mention that the problem one was Madrid digging there heels in with Di Maria, just passing on what I was told.

12 Aug 2014 23:14:04
Does fletcher being names vise captain all but blow the Vidal rumours out the window?

You may laugh but surly being named vise captain means your gaurenteed games and a lot off them.

As I've said before if we sign a player it will be a cb that is it

2 + 2 = 53,000