Manchester United Banter Archive May 18 2015

 

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18 May 2015 23:34:21
Long time reader. First time posting.
Firstly, I would like to thank everyone here for their wishes and kind words to the people of Nepal. We need all the love right now.
I would like to put my two cents into some matters being discussed.
I think Di Maria has put in a decent shift, with a good number of assists despite injuries and the trauma of home invasion. He is erratic at times which he has also been in the past. I think he will improve himself considerable next year.
Depay could possibly be our best signing ever provided we give him ample time to gel in. which I don't think would be too long. Excellent footwork and great shots from almost anywhere. His confidence gives him an added incentive.
De Gea could possibly be leaving. I would wish him all the best and who can resist going back home? and you have Real Madrid there? Its time to use common sense to understand that its totally normal if he moved on. Yes, we have given him priceless support during a dire hour. He also also saved us innumerable times and thanks to him we have made top four, out only agenda for this season. With some good central midfielders and hard defenders, if we can sign them, we might less of a goalkeeper magic to save our results time and again. Hoping for a cracking summer ahead.
Finally, watching Gerrard's farewell. I thought to myself is Pele retiring? anyone can be fooled by the festivity surrounding it. Liverpool fans make me laugh. Great player for them, I admit it, but he is no winner.

Believable5 Unbelievable1

18 May 2015 22:56:12
Do not n know about the rest but if de gea is to leave my dissapointment would be that he came to us as a talented keeper who after a bad season the club stood by him helped him to become what he is now he could easily put pen to paper for a couple of years and say to madrid pay the going rate to a club that stood by me and helped me to become one of the best in the world

Believable1 Unbelievable1

18 May 2015 23:20:21
reports suggest MU have upped their offer to DDG, other reports suggest we are trying to sign Bale as well as negotiating a DDG sale. Bale is a good player who had found consistency in his final season at Spurs, so we know he could do a job in the EPL. I'd prefer Ronaldo who is much better than Bale, but Bale is an improvement on what we currently have. He would inject some much needed pace with Depay. So let's wait and see what happens. 433 with Bale and Depay either side, ADM and Herrera in midfield supported by a defensive mid could work well.

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19 May 2015 00:51:41
I think I'd take a 25 year old bale over a 30 year old ronaldo, I'm not debating the quality ronaldo has in just thinking long term.

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19 May 2015 14:12:51
Agreed Syd, although despite being Ronaldo's biggest fan I would take Bale right now. He is more of a team player and I actually think Ronaldo's ego and need to match Messi and his goals is having a detrimental effect on Madrid.

Agree with everything else though, but for that to happen we need a very good defensive midfielder.

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19 May 2015 14:43:05
I'd probably take Bale over Ronaldo too, no doubting Ronaldo is the better player now and will be for the next couple of seasons but Bale could be a future Ballon d'or winner if he leaves the circus that is Real Madrid. I always have the feeling if Ronaldo came back it could cause unrest in the dressing room if things don't go his way, there'd be incredible pressure for him to deliver although I don't think that'd bother him too much.

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18 May 2015 20:39:58
I think we should stay away from paying £20m-£30m for potential quality, Invest that money in our own youth ( to build loyalty), or double it and pay for ready made superstars (like the top teams tend to do).

We are falling into a trap of spending big money to then hope the players fulfil their potential, by which point their agents are wanting a big pay day (for themselves and their player), or the player themselves want a fresh challenge.

Obviously we have the current DDG problem, but this will happen consistently. We will spend a couple of years under-strength whilst the potential super star learns the fine arts that will take them to the next level, by which point the clubs that have a different methodology to ours will come in and pay the cash - either sounding them out early so contracts aren't signed or simply paying big money for the finished article, meanwhile we start again.

If Nani had turned into the next Ronaldo I have no doubt he would be playing for Barcelona or Madrid now, if Januzaj fulfils his potential he will be playing for a European team because he is fed up of Manchester or whatever.

A culmination of boredom, agents, selfishness and lack of loyalty means that this policy of spending mega money on potential stars will hurt us a lot more than it benefits us.

Players like Wilson should be loyal, but I am confident that if Shaw meets expectations he will be gone by the age of 25. The game has moved on now, we are turning into a feeder club.

Believable3 Unbelievable11

18 May 2015 21:07:40
Calm down, there's no reason to find a negative about everything! Just because De Gea is probably leaving doesn't mean every single potentially world class player will do the same.

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18 May 2015 21:37:00
That's nonsense again beast. How are we a feeder club? Because dea gea is most likely going to Madrid where all his family lives?

If we would constantly go out and buy ready made superstars we would have not produced the likes of the class of 92, and players like welbeck, Wilson, Blackett etc would not have had a chance to play.

Take Chelsea as an example they keep winning the youth cup yet haven't brought a player through their ranks since john terry.

And other than Ronaldo how many players have we sold that were just becoming a superstar?

You mention we should splash the cash for already made superstars yet how many times has di Maria's price tag been questioned? Also questioned by yourself?

You mention Shaw, but didn't he allegedly turn down Chelsea for ourselves. so what makes you think he will be gone when he's 25? Not many English players go play abroad anyway so I can't accept that.

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18 May 2015 21:41:40
It might be different if we had the weather that they have in Spain

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18 May 2015 21:41:52
Bit harsh Beast. I get that some foreign players might not stay but domestic ones will. To call us a feeder club is ludicrous, as and when we get back to winning ways things will change. I see Shaw being here for many many years and if Januzaj progresses and cements a place, I see him being here for years too.

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18 May 2015 21:55:27
So we shouldn't spend money on potential because it's a no win situation? Either the players fails or he becomes so good he wants to go to Madrid? I honestly don't know what to say to this.

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18 May 2015 22:10:46
Didn't you just make this exact same point a few postings ago?

Obviously if we can develop talent more cheaply through great scouting and youth development we should, but there's no guarantee that even the young ones will stay any more. Pogba?

But to conclude we shouldn't even attempt to bring in the best young talent is going to far. It may be a completely acceptable business plan to bring in a young player, get the best out of them, and then maybe sell them on, recouping at least a good portion of the transfer fee, if not making a profit. They will probably still end up being less expensive than an older established star who may command higher wages, and have little to no resale value.

It may be disappointing that the 15 year veteran is a thing of the past. If that's so then we need to adapt to that reality. It's not something we did well in the latter SAF days. We held on to too many players for too long, as great as they were, leaving us with an aging squad, a serious midfield talent deficiency, and younger players who were never able to bed into the team for lack of playing time. Even more worrying is overpaying players who do not play to expectations, rewarding the likes of Nani with new contracts.

This is not to say the club should not do whatever it can to negotiate and renegotiate contracts in a timely manner lessening the potential of losing ones talent at a less than market price.

In some respects I wish we could be a better feeder club than we are. The EPL is littered with the modest talent to have emerged from our youth ranks. How many top talents have we produced? Do you see any in our team? Anywhere else?

There are many parts of the club in need of renewal and reinvigoration. On thing we do not need to do is cut ourselves off from top young talent because they might move on in the future. If they do, you just replace them.

In the end the issue is coming up with a winning strategy. As long as the club can afford it why would you worry? If we're winning the EPL and challenging in Europe, top players will want to play for us, despite having to live in Manchester rather than London, Barcelona, Madrid or Paris. To think otherwise is defeatism.

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18 May 2015 22:14:36
Unbelievable!

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18 May 2015 22:15:40
Haha incredible. Januzaj is a player of our youth academy? We didn't go out and spend millions on him. If he fulfils his potential a moves to another side then the point you're trying to make hasn't got a leg to stand on mate.

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18 May 2015 22:16:26
I think we should only bother with young players who can see the Stretford end from their bedroom window, anyone else is just going to leave us for Madrid.

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18 May 2015 22:22:35
Just my view.

You use Chelsea as an example as to what's wrong, they just won the league with ease!

We should bring through our own youth or buy ready made superstars, occasionally we get it wrong (ADM) but on the whole it is much safer than splashing big money on potential.

Spend £5m-£10m sure, but £20-£30m is a massive gamble and then the very realistic chance they will want to move just as they reach peak (for whatever reason, but a lot will be agents).

How many young prospects do we see Bayern, Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea or City buy - who do we want to compete with?

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18 May 2015 22:23:51
I'd say buying Ronaldo for 12 million then selling for circa 85 million is quite a good bit of business. Look at what has happened with Cleverly. We have brought him through and he will leave for nothing. It doesn't make a great deal of difference. The one thing that needs to be tied up in knots a bit are players contracts purely from a value/business point of view regardless of wether they are homegrown or not. Football is now like any other business at the present time. There is no loyalty now from consumers/customers. The exact same thing can be said about most players. Players are now a conscious product and they know it. It's a job and you might just be fortunate enough to be playing for a club you love or if not at least they are paying you well.

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18 May 2015 22:25:57
There's only two clubs that DDG would leave us for. Real Madrid or Barcelona. He's Spanish and the biggest club in Spain, arguably the world wants him as their number one, which will lead to him being Spain's number one. It's hardly surprising he's considering it.

Many of us suspected this would happen eventually, but me myself thought he'd replace Valdes at Barcelona.

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18 May 2015 22:30:10
De Gea has been very good this season, but if we build correctly this summer and complete our transition like intended, then as long as we get a half decent keeper, we will be fine. I would like to see us go for Lloris. He's similar to DDG, even Cech could play on into his late 30's. He reminds me of VdS.

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18 May 2015 22:30:48
You know what I can see that logic behind his post. I think the scouts should be instructed to find players that have the potential to become very good but not so good that we might lose them to Madrid.

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18 May 2015 22:46:50
Syd am not having that we are the biggest club in the world the only thing different is the weather that's all

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18 May 2015 23:03:35
So, Beast, are you saying that had Hazard come to us rather than Chelsea, it would have been a mistake, just because one day he might have wanted to move on? Even if De Gea leaves, do you think it was a mistake to sign him in the first place?

Good business is good business, and bad is bad. You simply can't specify in advance a specific amount of money. It's the quality you acquire within the context of team development and requirements that's important.

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18 May 2015 23:22:29
Dazw, the climate is a massive factor to most players. Especially their wives :)

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19 May 2015 00:22:44
Beast,

I usually like you and I understand where you come from a lot of the time but this post is an absolute joke, I have no words to even argue with it. Read it back yourself, it looks like somebody trying to troll the page. Feeder club lol.

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19 May 2015 09:28:59
I am saying we are becoming a feeder club without realising it and we need to be careful. The problem with these posts is that even if I am right it will take a while to be proven correct and when that happens its a negative so it will be discarded.

I have no problem spending up to £10m on speculative signings, that ultimately is what the scouts should be looking at anyone can see Hazard, Kane, etc and think they are class. The Rafael's etc are the ones we should be going for. The trouble is if we spend £20m-£30m on a 20 year old, there is every chance they are not yet ready for first team football, so we spend time getting them there only for their loyalty not to be with us, so they don't sign new contracts and they get picked up cheaply in their prime by competitors. Agents have so much power now it isn't the same as 1992.

I say sign 26-29 year olds, who are already in their prime. There is so much money in the game now that sell on value isn't as important for the elite clubs - to be the best you need to have the best.

There are examples both ways of course. I have no doubt that if we had signed Hazard when we bid for him that he would be being signed by PSG, Munich or Madrid this summer, homesick etc.

If Januzaj played for Anderlecht last season we would have brought him for £25m - waste. In 4 years time if Depay fulfils his potential do you think he will be playing for us, or winding his contract down for a dream move to Barcelona etc?

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19 May 2015 09:34:53
I just read Sterling not signing new deal. Ibe will be next in a couple of years (probably Coutinho as well), they lost Suarez, Torres, Mascherano, Alonso just as they were reaching their peak. The same thing has been happening to other clubs for ages, but we are slipping into that Liverpool bracket, that is what concerns me when we invest so much and the player not being the finished article.

We need to spend big money on potential when we are back at number 1, not when we are mucking it out with the also rans.

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19 May 2015 10:06:45
So what you are saying without giving any credit for it is that we have got a great prospect in Januzaj for free, which is what the scouts should be doing?

If Hazard was 'homesick' surely it is unlikely he would go to Spain, more likely Belgium?

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19 May 2015 10:19:52
A feeder club??? Beast what are you smoking? That post at the top was some of the worse nonsense I have ever read on this page.

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19 May 2015 10:24:54
I used etc GDS2, Homesick, dream club, new challenge, more money, agent pressure, family pressure, hates the North, hates a team mate, hates the manager, win trophies etc etc etc. If I have to explain everything in details GDS2 I would be here all day. Surely you would know that I know Hazard is Belgian and there are no big clubs in Belgium, pointless nit picking.

It seems to make any controversial point the person making it has to write "War & Peace" to simply justify having the thought otherwise it gets torn to bits by pedants.

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19 May 2015 11:45:34
It seems like you have more 'controversial points' to make than most mate, not saying that is necessarily a bad thing, but it does make you seem like you are just deliberately being controversial to provoke a reaction so that you can then get all defensive.

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19 May 2015 12:37:54
I very rarely get defensive GDS2. I try to have something interesting to say rather than just copy and pasting from the papers. I like to think outside the box, this page is all about reactions, thinking about angles you may not have considered before. I know that's what I enjoy about it, I often read with one mind-set and leave with it slightly altered and hopefully improved/better educated.

I know this latest view isn't exactly popular, but maybe a few people will think I have a point - why are we taking massive gambles for 2-3 years down the road when we need World Class talent now and can afford it?

Anything can happen with young players as we have seen, the growing power of agents is making youth investment especially at the £30m mark a ludicrous gamble in my eyes.

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19 May 2015 13:07:58
not many players stop at a club for a long period of time , these days .

you need a mixture of youth and experience ,home grown and foreign , potential , established .
you can't just sign a "certain type" of player.

some transfers work some dont

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18 May 2015 19:43:11
Wouldn't it be nice if we got Lacazette in this summer. To add to the Depay signing. For too long now we've seen these young rising stars slip through our fingers and go to the likes of Real.

Believable4 Unbelievable0

19 May 2015 08:52:06
I don't see it happening, I doubt he will leave Lyon.

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18 May 2015 18:31:44
So Some thoughts on Nainggolan having tea fixed my eyes on him for the entire 90 mins. Firstly, he isn't a defensive midfielder, against Udinese he was playing on the right of a midfield 3, with De Rossi sitting. However be spent probably more time on the left (at set pieces, restarts he would line up on the right).

His distribution was high tempo, he played some acute angle passes, the odd Hollywood speculator but all in all his distribution was effective and tidy.

Defensively he played like a pit bull - tracked back and committed the odd rash challenge, will definitely be worth a few cards a season. However his timing was generally very good.

His movement was at times a little sluggish but with his work rate you can forgive him. He showed his range by scoring a goal and setting one up, as Van Gaal would say a 60m midfielder.

I think he is on par with Gundagon (pre injury) and Vidal (pre injury) - all three of them can play across a midfield three and three can play a sitting role. I'd say Vidal is the most comfortable in the position Big Fella currently occupies.

For me the only thing that Nainggolan has against him is Roma's price tag, and the fact he is close to 28 already. Vidal and Gundagon would come cheaper for different reasons Ed002 has already divulged.

On a separate note, the football was actually pretty terrible, if I were a player I'd avoid Serie A like the plague. De Rossi was also very strong, Terry Butcher head wound et al.

Believable3 Unbelievable1

18 May 2015 18:59:18
Does anybody else agree that we should stay away from Spanish players as because if they end up being a great player they want to head home to madrid or barca

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18 May 2015 19:09:37
100% - plus any players that support Chelsea or Munich.

I would also carry out due diligence on their wives or girlfriends, because any that don't want to move, or seem to rule the roost will present problems at some point.

There is too much money and upheaval involved now to just ignore the personal life.

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18 May 2015 20:42:49
He just turned 27. Other than that would give us the aggression and bite in midfield that can stop us from being overrun. Him Carrick and Herrera would be outstanding for big away games and European games.

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18 May 2015 20:43:09
Roma have been hit pretty hard by FFP, and according to reports both Pjanic and Nainggolan will be available at the right price (probably £40M+ for Pjanic and £25M+ for Nainggolan).

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18 May 2015 21:21:37
Beast ,
Maybe we should get MI6 involved in our transfer dealings ?

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18 May 2015 21:59:42
Haha last month he was 26 and we would be saying perfect age for a midfielder of that ilk. Some people have a habit of adding a few years to a players we are linked to

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18 May 2015 22:34:11
Absolutely,Beast! Perhaps we should look at orphans. Maybe raid a seminary?

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18 May 2015 23:33:16
I would consider it an honour to carry out "due diligence" on the girlfriends and wives. Where do I sign up beast?

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19 May 2015 01:51:18
Beast, I chuckled at your post thinking you were joking. Imagine how silly I felt when I realised you were actually being serious.

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18 May 2015 17:55:08
What's everyone's thought on the Goal of the season nominations?

Dimaria - Leicester
Herrera - Youevil
Mata. - Liverpool
Rooney - Villa

Personal I think Di'Maria, they way he got the ball out from under him and the way he got the ball to dip was world class

Believable4 Unbelievable1

18 May 2015 19:48:44
Mata for me, especially considering the opposition.

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18 May 2015 16:39:56
Anyone notice the ads at the top of the page that reads transfer Madrid is ed002 subliminally posting to us?!

Believable1 Unbelievable1

18 May 2015 22:37:30
Google control the ads you see based on your searches and online habits. Mine is full of Asian women. Funny enough, when I check on my Gfs laptop it's also Asian women. Maybe we should have talk

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19 May 2015 03:36:35
I get the same ones Borntoit. Unfortunately my wee lad looks at this site all the time, and ends up asking me awkward questions about their presence on my page.

I explain it off innocently enough, but always with the proviso, that, even so, mummy doesn't need to know.

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19 May 2015 06:31:40
The thing is if you regularly use the internet you just don't see them anymore. I was showing something to my uncle (who would never uses a computer) the other day online and it was only after he left I realized there was some provocative ads all over the page and he must of been thinking what the hell is going on here.

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{Ed001's Note - which ones are you referring to? I will get them blocked. I don't see them when I look at the pages.}

19 May 2015 17:32:59
Sorry Ed it was on another site should have made that clear

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{Ed001's Note - ohhhh cheers, just glad to know they aren't on here.}

18 May 2015 16:23:29
Having a look through our season in general and asking the question could we have finished where we did without splashing that £150million in the summer? Looking at how the season panned out it seems that the players we brought in were very much outshone by those already within the walls at OT prior to the summer of 2014.

Di Maria (£60million) has done very little. Yes he has a few assists to his name but generally he has caused us more problems with his sloppy play and at times it felt like we have had ten men on the pitch with him seemingly disinterested. Did he really make a massive difference to our campaign? No. The next superstar, Falcao (potentially £20million in fee and wages) has been downright rancid this season. Hasn't looked sharp from the get go and now it looks like he has blew his chance at a permanent deal. Very expensive loan for a sporadic squad player. Could we have got by this year without him? Yes.

Shaw (£30million) has spent most of the season on the sidelines and yes he may be one for the future but could we have got through this campaign without him? Most definitely. Marcos Rojo (£16million) looks like a decent player at times but was he really a huge improvement on what we already had in defence? I don't think so. Could the players that we had do the job he did for us this season? For sure.

Daley Blind (£18million) was one of the better signings this summer. I don't think he is or will be top of the class but he has had some steady performances for us this year. As Carrick has had his injury problems this year it made sense to sign this type of player, but could we have got top four without Daley Blind? I think we could of. Ander Herrera (£29million) has been a huge plus for us this season. I thought he was overpriced when we signed him but the lad is doing all he can to pay us back on the pitch. He is the only signing of the lot who I think has made a massive difference to our season.

With players like DDG, Smalling, Felliani, Young and Rooney among others spearheading us to the CL places this year I have to say I think we may have wasted a grand amount of cash last summer. In hindsight that money could have and should have been used better. When you analyse last summers window it does make you worry about how this years kitty will be spent and if we will just be spending for the sake of spending.

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18 May 2015 17:00:03
That lad is going to be a star for united and worth every penny compared to others

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18 May 2015 17:11:32
Without blind rojo and shaw the injuries we've had this season we wouldn't be in the top 4 so I think your wrong on them rojo I feel has been ok and is better than our other defenders (except smalling) blind is massively important when carrick isn't fit we need a holding midfielder and he's done ok much better than dropping Rooney in midfield. And shaw is still out best lb and needs some rest and a good preseason to kick on.

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18 May 2015 17:15:46
It's really only a waste in hindsight, before the season people were more than happy with our transfer business I think.

There are plenty of things I'm sure we would all liked done differently if we could seen the future.

We got top 4 competed for top 3/2 that's par for the course for the season imo. Next year I and I'm sure everyone else will expect better. We are not arsenal we don't celebrate just making up the numbers but I'm content with the finish.

Could it of been better? Yes! Could it of been worse YES! U couldn't find a pundit in the land that thought we would make the top 4 pre spurs at home and now the common consensus is we will kick on. Let's next season really get behind the lads and not give knee jerk reactions every game.

Good post though.

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18 May 2015 17:26:12
herrera has been a top player for a few years now .
di maria is a top player and i'm sure will kick on next season .
same goes for shaw will be a top player in the years to come

blind and rojo i'm not so sure about to be honest

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18 May 2015 17:36:39
Will Shaw be another DDG though, so even he could be a waste?

We spend 2-3 years getting him to World Class, then the old "1 year left on his contract, boyhood fan of Chelsea" reports start appearing, Chelsea then need to replace Azpi, I can see it now - £5m loss for us and twice the player he is now signing for another rival.

I like the idea of perfecting potential, but I see little point in spending £20m-£30m on a gamble that even if it pays off (Big "IF") will ultimately benefit our rivals more in the long run. Much rather focus on developing our own youth or buying ready made world class. We are turning into a feeder club and paying a hell of a lot in money and fielding weaker teams whilst they develop.

DDG to Madrid is really annoying me, but unless prospects are from miserable/gloomy places and support Wycombe as kids we aren't standing a chance of keeping them once we have got them to the level it seems, even then we would struggle.

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18 May 2015 17:37:38
JMB - I posted another one saying I agreed with everything but it came up "error". Good post.

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{Ed001's Note - it just said error?}

18 May 2015 19:01:02
Yes Ed, I wrote a long post, pressed "reply" as normal and below the box (just above reply) it said "Error" in red, I copy and pasted it several times but it just wouldn't post, repeating the error message. So I gave up came back a bit later and it let me post the 2 above. Haven't had it happen before and I obviously post a lot, so just one of those things I suppose. Will let you know if it crops up again mate.

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{Ed033's Note - Thanks for the feedback. i think if you can't post then a page refresh is the next step to take and then try and post again. If you don't refresh or click on another page and then back again, as nothing has changed, you'll continue to get the same error probably.

18 May 2015 19:31:15
Beast, are you really suggesting we shouldn't buy young top talent because they may choose to leave us in 3 or 4 years time? That we've become Southampton, a feeder club for the giants? Are you willing us into mediocrity?

We have some negatives, it's true. Manchester does not offer the climate, the relative anonymity or perhaps the cultural diversity of London, Paris, Barcelona or Madrid, but that doesn't mean United cannot be one of the preferred destinations for talent. Certainly no less so than City. It will come down to money, manager and momentum.

You should audition for Colin Firth's role if they ever do a United based version of Fever Pitch!!

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18 May 2015 22:33:35
Didn't Blind sign for something like £11m-£13m?

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18 May 2015 15:58:30
Evening folks. The season is just about over and the objective was to get back into the champions league and if we navigate a tricky qualifier, then that's job done. The season has been a very weird one. We've played some quality football at times but mostly it's been all masterbation with no happy ending.

Even though Young and Valencia have been effective down the flanks all year, their crossing has been woeful. Gone are the days of a Beckham or Kanchelskis picking out a player in the box, it's all hit and hope stuff. If United want to push on next year then the likes of Young and Toni shouldn't be first team regulars. If we can get Di Maria firing and Depay hits the ground running we could terrify defences.

Which brings me to Falcao. I genuinely felt for the guy this season. He just couldn't find his form. That was down to him not being sharp and our failure to create chances for him. I'd love him to stay (not the 40 odd million reported) another loan deal would be ideal. The majority of top clubs will be in the market for a striker and I for one think Falcao could still do a job.

As for LvG, it's mission accomplished. Top 4 achieved. I know people will give the "we're Manchester United" speech. But after last years diabolical season and the exodus of a few senior players and the integration of a lot of new signings, we've just about navigated the tricky waters this season. Herrera, Blind, Rojo and Di Maria all have a year under their belt.

We've seen this Year with Jose how crucial the second season is. LvG needs to identify his targets and be relentless to get them in ASAP. Next year has the potential to be a humdinger.

Although the football at times this year has been pedestrian and somewhat boring. If we can shore up the defence and bolster the midfield and get our explosive wingers on song, we'll be an entirely different animal.

As for De Gea, if he doesn't sign a contract I'd still keep him here for the year. Madrid will probably low ball us and let the transfer drag out all summer, I'd keep him! Casillas being booed means he'll more than likely be on his way so they'd have no choice but to sign another keeper and Dave doesn't get the move he wants. He owes us another few years with the club and supporters standing by him.

All in all iv been pleased. We're a few astute signings away from being genuine title challengers and Hopefully a return to the Champions League.

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18 May 2015 17:09:36
I have to disagree about Young's crossing, in particular when he cuts in and uses his right foot. It's led to a number of opportunities and goals from which Fellaini in particular has benefitted. And yesterday he bamboozled Bellerin and it was his byline left footed cross which led to Herrera's goal. Young has been one of the year's bright spots, a complete turnaround from the beleaguered injury prone player of the previous two seasons. So much of our attacking success has come from the left. Valencia is a different story, though hats off to the guy for adapting to a new position and giving it his all: he's a total professional who has given 100% throughout the season.

As for De Gea, one can only hope he will honour United by signing his new contract, while insisting there's a buyout clause, thereby forcing RM to pay the right amount of money. That would then give us some leverage in negotiating for Bale, if that's genuinely our intent.

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18 May 2015 13:48:11
Gunna try and avoid De Gea talk as it seems to be a massive talking point, and rightly so.

I'd like to talk about Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Possible Defensive replacements.

Smalling: LvG gave him the captains arm band yesterday and i thought it was a sign of what's to come. Smalling will be kept in summer and used next season, even if we buy 2 defenders. Smalling has all the qualities to become a great center back and is possibly England's best at the moment (Terry retired, i'm talking about the International team). He is 6'4" and strong, and what's best about him is he has the pace to keep up with most strikers. I read a article the other day asking James Wilson who is the fastest United player and he replied Smalling. I can really see him blossoming into our new captain after Rooney and if he stays fit then we are possibly looking at an perfect replacement for Rio.

Phil Jones: Personally since both Smalling and Jones came to the club, i always believed Jones would turn out the better player. But time recently have made me completely change my mind and i'm even considering whether it would be a good idea to sell him. He charges about and can't seem to stay on his feet. He's 5'11" which isn't tall enough to be a dominant CB so he has to have some technical ability to his game if he wants to succeed, a lot like Puyol used to. I really can't see Jones developing technically so i don't see him becoming any good. Although on a side note. That header he did at Giroud's feet yesterday, although comical, was a brave and inspired piece of defending. Yes i know he created the problem himself but the throw your head at someone who you think is going to shoot's foot is heroic. If Terry had done it, everyone would be begging him to come out of retirement and all over his testicles.

Possible replacements:

Hummels - Slow, as so many people are quick to point out, but quality. With Smalling covering Hummels can flourish in the PL.

Otamendi - Don't know a lot about him to be honest but from what i've heard he is quick and tactical but not very good in the air. Smalling could cover aerially i suppose.

Varane - Speed demon, great tackler, but not the finished article and i feel we need a finished world class CB to compete for the title next year.

Garay - Bit of a tank on all fronts from what I've seen. Only problem being LvG like a defender who can Bomb forward with confidence and i don't think Garay has the capabilities for this, but probably the cheapest option out of them all.

Van Dijk - Fast, young, strong but only proven in the Scottish League. He does look like the best defender in Scotland, but is that saying much? I can't remeber if any CB's have transferred from Scotland to here and i don't know how they did but i have a feeling he would struggle adapting.

All in all i would opt for Hummels, obviously because he is a world cup winner and the best out of all the options. Second choice being Garay and 3rd chocie Van Dijk.

Love ya'll :O)

Believable3 Unbelievable0

18 May 2015 14:28:14
I like Van Dijk. But, although I think he has potential to grow in stature, I'm not sure if he'll be hard enough for the EPL, and I could see him flopping.

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18 May 2015 14:32:35
Smalling and Hummels cold be a good partnership. As far as Jones, did anyone notice his tackle on Giroud on the sideline? He uses his right foot, and it is a bad habit that will cost us penalties if not corrected. Great point about his diving header. Sums it up really for who he is, brave but too error prone.

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18 May 2015 15:30:44
I feel you're emphasizing too much on speed Harry, although it may be a bonus it is pretty low down on the list of attributes needed to be a great CB.

Out of that list I'd like Hummels the most followed by Garay then Otamendi. I'm no expert but it seems like an ideal move for all parties. Hummels and Smalling would be a good partnership, if we get in a proper RB and Shaw stays fit and plays week in week out we will have a very strong back four.

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18 May 2015 15:58:32
Part of me would like Otamendi and Garay. When Rojo then started at Lb you would then besides Zabaleta have 3 of the 1st choice Argentina back four. Also Garay as well as being good on the ball is lethal in the air from set pieces and chips in with a few goals a year from corners etc. We should have got him in when we got the chance previously.

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18 May 2015 18:09:57
Otamendi is outstanding in the air haha, wherever you read that, it was nonsense.

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18 May 2015 19:35:41
Danny , its difficult to get a laugh around here these days. Only just logged on , but I saw the innuendo straight away. Shame nobody else did!!

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18 May 2015 21:02:53
I guess people just haven't see a lot of Dijk

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18 May 2015 22:28:43
The question is Danny, does Ronnie know of any young belgians that like a solid Dijk positioned behind them?

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18 May 2015 11:07:31
DDG has been brilliant for last 2 years but has not yet been made Spain's #1 yet. Despite being their best GK.
Maybe he feels moving back to Spain with RM will enable him to cement #1 spit for Spain. We don't know what happens when players meet up for international games. The Spain manager/ people around could be influencing his decision. If you played in Spain you'd be #1.

If he goes I wish him all the best. Although replacing him will be very tough.

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18 May 2015 13:48:53
Just because you are the best doesn't mean it is that easy to dislodge who is there at the moment. I think De Gea would be Spanish number 1 shortly whether he is playing at Madrid or at United.

As has been said in public, I think it is pretty obvious the reason why he wants to leave, his girlfriend wants him to be in Spain, he has the opportunity to go there, but he is happy himself at United, it is a tricky decision and whichever he chooses good luck to him as you say.

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18 May 2015 16:20:24
New girlfriend required. Lol

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18 May 2015 10:56:32
Question for the Eds or anyone. In the pre qualifying round(s) for the CL, for the away goals rule apply?

Believable0 Unbelievable0

18 May 2015 13:55:40
Best to ask arsenal fans. They will know for sure. I think it does apply.

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18 May 2015 00:17:57
Do we actually have a chance to sign bale this summer?looks like falcao waved his goodbyes.we are in for a very interesting window i think

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18 May 2015 00:39:04
Possibly in a deal seeing ddg join madrid.

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18 May 2015 04:29:17
I think ddg will stay

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18 May 2015 08:49:46
What makes you think that GCU? I thought everything yesterday pointed towards him leaving unfortunately.

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18 May 2015 09:17:25
Gcu, when the girlfriend says she wants him at Madrid, then he will go there. We stand no chance of keeping him unless we can get him a Mancunian girlfriend!!

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18 May 2015 09:20:21
Why GCU? Yesterday imo he looked embarrassed at the whole situation walking around the pitch clapping the fans, can't see him staying.

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18 May 2015 18:50:08
I could sort him out with some very accommodating girls from Newton Heath.

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19 May 2015 01:53:40
Cman, I wonder if Ken's son guessed your occupation correctly?

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18 May 2015 00:06:00
I had hoped ddg would stay but this looks unlikely and if he really wanted to stay he'd of signed the contract. The club knew he could possibly leave hence signing Valdes. Honestly ddg has been head and shoulders our best player this season and the part he played in us making the top 4 was massive. If we are to be considered a force again we need to keep our best players and stand up to Madrid who i loathe if truth be told. They have shit fans and considering the players they have bought have only one league title in the last seven odd years.

If ddg has made u his mind the club have to make the deal one that enables us to get bale. I look at bale and it's plain to see he ain't happy in madrid. Bale in the premier league i have no doubt would flourish again and be one of the best players in the league. We need to show real that they can't dictate every detail.

Valdes as no 1? I really am 50/50 on this. Good keeper not great although we are unlikely to get a keeper as good as dave. Lloris would be expensive especially dealing with levy. I think the best outcome would be make Valdes first choice and sign a young keeper with potential who would then get time to grow and learn from Victor.

The clyne link has gone quiet now and looks like he might stay at southampton. If rafael is to leave we need a right back of quality.

We need a centre back. My personal choice would be garay or varane. I think both are unlikely and it will probably be otamendi or hummels.

The centre of midfield needs one possibly two players. I like gundogan as long term replacement for carrick. Pogba would be a great signing but the price is too much for one player. Players like vidal/nainggolan/koke could be good options also.

Depay should be signed this week. Really think we have a great player with him. Look forward to watching him next season.

Falcao is on his way and it's been unfortunate that it hasn't worked for him but the injury has slowed him down and he isn't suited to the premier league. I personally think Rvp might need to be moved on too as he is not he player he was and we could at least get a decent fee. I would like to see a striker signed with pace like lacazette.

With good signings we could challenge next season. I do hope next year we will finish teams and get a second goal when we are on top. The possession is great but you have to be ruthless with it.

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{Ed004's Note - I would agree with everything you have said but if you were to conclude it how likely is it that we will sign a gk replacement, rb, cb, CDM, cm, winger and striker on top of Depay who has already been signed. Surely that is too much change for one window? I agree though that with DDG going we need to get Bale as part of the deal.}

18 May 2015 00:35:23
I agree too many signings is is disruptive. Possibly four arrivals along with depay. rb,cb,cm,fw.

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{Ed004's Note - that would be much more likely}

18 May 2015 00:46:21
I like Rafael but his injury record is poor. If we are not to sign clyne or alves i don't know who will be the incoming right back. General talk regarding the other positions leads to hummels,bale and gundogan. I think if ddg joins madrid bale is a cert to join utd. Odds are tumbling day by day he's now evs to join us.

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18 May 2015 08:07:41
I get what you are saying, but if you get them in early and with good man management it can work. Did Chelsea not sign chec, carvalho, Ferreira, Tiago , robben, Kezman, drogba in the summer of 2004 and go on to win the league and league cup.

I know it's a risk, but I think if we want to challenge on all fronts its the minimum we need.

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18 May 2015 08:34:30
Cannot understand why so many people want to invest a massive chunk of our transfer budget to sign bale. yes he is a good player but we all ready have 4 out and out wide men in ADM, young janujaz and now depay, why do we want to sign a 5th? Nor do i see bale playing behind a front an either as we already have options in that area. We all know what areas need strengthening so let us focus on that not on signing a 'galactico'that we don't really need. If we want to have some form of swap deal with RM involving DDG let us try and get varane or even benzama who at least play in areas that we need to address.

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18 May 2015 09:15:15
The more players signed now the better. The way LVG sets his teams out it only takes one weak link to disrupt the whole system. The quicker he can have them all integrated and on the same hymn sheet the better, buying 3 players here, 4 players there will mean we are always in a position where we have passengers until they understand his methods.

The bulk of it should have been done, so this summer is crucial. He knows who he needs and who will not be good enough now, so now is the time (it is the 3 window rebuild after all isn't it?).

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18 May 2015 09:29:24
Agree on some of the choices. I too prefer garay, otimendi or verane to Hummels.
Re centre midfield, for me the choice is clear, pogba, naingolan or Vidal. Anything less than that and we're settling in for second best.
Not sure what's happened to the clyne deal but we need a proper right back with a good playing record.
Up front, both rvp and falcao have to go and replacement has to come in preferably with pace and a good goal to chance ratio, I think Kane will be immense at United.
And I for one don't think ADM will improve next year, he's too slight, can't beat a player and his crossing is not the best. If we have a chance to offload him and get Bale, then we should jump at it.
Re ddg, I am sure he'll go, and to be honest goodbye is the word, United bought him, the fans stood by him during his shakey start and as soon as Madrid come, he wants to pack his bags. Couple of bad mistakes in goal for Madrid and all the fans will be on his back. Sometimes, the grass isn't greener on the other side, £200k a week contract should have made it clear how much United value him, but if he wants to go to Madrid to be abused every time he makes a mistake then goodbye and thank you for what you've done here Dave and good luck, cause you're going to need it!

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18 May 2015 10:11:33
Totally agree with everything Nomidfield.

DDG has had 2 very good seasons - I personally think Madrid will eat him up. It will be hard just walking down the street with the Athletico connection. Athletico fans will think he is Judas and the pressure will build, which will lead to mistakes being made and then his own fans will jump on him first chance they get, because although he is their player he was always an Athletico boy and frankly if they can do it to Cassillas they can do it to anybody.

I think we are being too soft on here regarding DDG - I could understand if he wanted to go back to Athletico, but this is basically saying I am that desperate to leave I will do anything even join an arch rival to my boyhood team - and this to the club that stuck by him during that atrocious first season and have offered him the earth. We have shown we value him and more importantly need him to get out of this also ran position, yet he dumps us the first chance he gets.

If he goes to Real Madrid then it says a lot about him as a person. If you miss home then go back to Athletico.

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18 May 2015 11:19:13
Think your being a bit unfair really. The lads from Madrid, his family and friends are there. His girlfriend too. He's a Spanish lad used to a warm climate. All these things nearly always mean young players bought to the UK will move back at some point. Can we really blame him for that? Plus let's be realistic here in that Madrid offer him something we cannot in the next few years which is a Champions League medal too. There's on another level to us right now. If he's ambitious why wouldn't he go? I personally don't blame him

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18 May 2015 12:04:19
Right now in Manchester it's 8 degrees and it's been raining all morning.

In Madrid its 26 degrees and mostly sunny.

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18 May 2015 13:52:51
Much rather train or play in 8 degree heat than 35+. He is a footballer first and foremost.

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18 May 2015 16:35:14
Agree beast. Much better to play in lower temps than hot weather. I've been in Portugal for the last three weeks and playing football in this weather is not easy.
SU and Andrew, re being homesick etc,these are professional footballers who are being paid ridiculous amounts of money to play for the biggest clubs in the world. The fans adore them. They are pampered like no other human beings. So to be in Manchester for a few years of their lives shouldn't be a big hardship!!!

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18 May 2015 18:09:31
How much of their season is actually spent playing or training, though? That's an awful lot of time left over to sit in their house and look out the window at the pishing rain. It shouldn't matter, but it does.

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18 May 2015 19:08:07
Nobody said it's a case of him being homesick. He clearly isn't homesick in being able to perform the way he has. It's a case of once trainings out the way, if he were in Spain he could spend time with his girlfriend or family etc, rather than staring out the windows at the pissing down rain. It's not like he's been here 12 months then had enough. He's clearly getting pressure of his family to leave. As you just said, he's a footballer first and foremost and where is he likely to be more successful in the coming years? Madrid.

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