Manchester United Banter Archive July 21 2014

21 Jul 2014 21:26:30
Is the hummels deal done, I saw that it had be confirmed on some news papers?

21 Jul 2014 21:27:14
Does anybody think Little Als 'banter' has something to do with what his club are doing?

Liverpool came 2nd in the league right? (that's sort of winning it I guess) so they're now a MUCH bigger club than us. Congratulations Liverpool.

Poor ol' United suffered their worst EPL season ever and find themselves finishing 7th. (might as well join the championship now? eh.)

yet when the season has closed, all has been said and done, and the transfers come out to play, what do we find? we find the mighty Liverpool showing the world that they're still a selling club, so not only do they sell the SUPERSTAR, mr. Liverpool, King Kenny back from the grave mr SUAREZZZZZ!

but they also find themselves battling it out for players like; Ben Davies, Diame, Lambert, Lallana (who isn't that bad, but he's not great), Bertrand, Remy, etc.

while poor ol' little club United on the other hand have started clearing out players who were on their last legs (rio, Vidic and Evra), we've starting selling off the deadwood (Bebe, Anderson? Nani? Young? - maybe next)

not to mention we've started buying some top draw talent. the best LB in the EPL last year Luke Shaw, (don't forget I'm a spaniard) We've signed Herrera who will be a top player, not a great player, but a Ramires type player, gets the job done, well respected but not lusted after.

Then, not only that but we're looking at world class players like Hummels, Vidal, Di Maria, etc. and we seem to be making progess in signing them which is brilliant.

AND We've signed a worldie of a manager, known the world over for being a ruthless, successful S.O.B, the Sensei behind Jose Mourinho and Josep Guardiola, we've signed the one, the only VAN GAAL!

So, to recap;

Liverpool;
positives:
Finish 2nd (1st in their eyes), best club in the world again.

Negatives:
Selling their best player, signing pathetic, dross replacements, looking at 'average' at best players like Bertrand and will most likely have a return to form and finish 8th.

Also, let's not forget that now EVERBODY knows how little brenda plays, so the element of surprise is now gone. DUN DUN DUNNNN!

Manchester United:

Positives:
Signed Herrera, Signed Shaw, sold ageing players and some deadwood, looking at REALISTICALLY signing Vidal, Hummels, etc. Being linked with world class talent like Cavani and Kroos.

Signed a top draw manager, who inspired and TAUGHT the current best managers in the world (Guardiola and Mourinho)

Still proving to be a big club.

Negatives:

Finished 7th.

Have a nice week everybody.

P.S THE MOON IS BACK IN ORBIT BABY!

21 Jul 2014 22:06:58
I love the post. Might have been worth Waiting til Hummels and Vidal were in United Shirts though lol

La Luna, great to have you back, I adore this post

21 Jul 2014 23:04:58
Nice one #Moon, I am a big LVG supporter I have been on a load of courses he has coached and spoken at, I've seen him at real close quarters and he is a master coach he will improve any player who cares to listen, he will cause offence occasionally and he will upset some people but that is his way. if you buy in to him and are loyal to him you will thrive if you step outta line or don't carry out instruction you will be out It will be a bumpy ride so hang on tight but we will be winning trophies before long I have no doubt and if we do sign vidal and humells and a pacey dribbler cuadrado robben reus di maria we will win the league IMO
With those signings and our new coach I think everybody will have the fear factor playing us again and rightly so.

Iv been waiting for a while to see if anyone would comment on your post. Seems not all manu fans are as confident as you. Use have just bought a couple of whipper snappers and have been linked with everyone as usual. But that's it. YNWA

I can't believe you even took the time to write a post about a liverpool fan, I have 0 interest in anything liverpool fans say to be honest and I find it extremely odd that a liverpool fan would even bother coming to this page. I wouldn't dream of going on there page not even to wind people up,id rather banter man city fans and just ignore bitter liverpool fans who seem more worried about what we are doing than what there doing them selves. they can sing there 5 times and there king kenny songs all they want but its man utd 20 liverpool 18 and they just can not get over it and we will never ever be caught by them, not in my lifetime anyway.

Jrobbm - We're in for them though, we haven't necessarily got to sign them, we're showing we're a big club with a big club mentality.

Anon - Thanks man! It's good to be posting again, there's no reason why I haven't, I guess I was tired of the same ol' debates.

Ken, Completely agree man, I like to think of myself as a bit of a tactician and a football coach, in fact I'm considering heading to the states next July to coach High school (and perhaps higher).

LVG is a genius of a man, his mentality is simple, we can do things the easy and have a great relationship or you can think you're in charge and know better than me, in which case I'll be your worse nightmare.

Eds, How are you all doing?

Stretfordender, you'll never catch our five, that's why United still fear Liverpool, even after 26 years you're still in our shadow.

22 Jul 2014 07:01:51
Mcronald your last generation said that about 18 mate

Scientists now believe that Liverpool fans hold the key to time travel. They seem to have an uncanny ability to live in the past.

Were the biggest club in the country and the most successful too so why would we fear you? admittedly I was slightly worried last year in all honesty but that was until - steve gerrard gerrard, he slipped on his fu***** ass, he gave it to demba ba, steve gerrard. hehe. owen 1 gerrard 0

21 Jul 2014 18:18:17
Woodward's interview yesterday suggests we can expect a real game-changer of a signing this summer. All signs point towards Vidal, but the club and many journos deny we're interested.

Now, considering how badly we need a player like Vidal, it'd be ridiculous if we weren't interested and personally I think we're just keeping quiet. but, I was just thinking.

If we are in fact not interested, who the hell ARE we targeting for that position?!

I literally can't think of any other world-class CM player available. And Vidal is available, at the right price, IMO.

Especially with Carrick out, we're in dire need of someone there.

Considering how badly we need him? I don't think we do. We need wingers and cb's a lot more than we need another box to box midfielder. A cdm, perhaps.

Still hope we sign Vidal though. The best in the world at what he does.

Sorry Red Seven but I've got to take issue with that. Are you out of your mind?

Not only do we need Vidal but we also need a more defensively minded play maker AND another quality box to box player.

Dont you get it? We have NO midfielders good enough to warrent pulling on the shirt apart from herrera.

Redseven how could you possibly say we don't need vidal. To be fair we rather not get any wingers this year and get Vidal and a world class cb like hummels if its possible.

22 Jul 2014 10:48:48
Ed002 earlier said that a bid for Vidal from us was imminent. I think that would suggest we ARE interested.

No vidal no title it's that simple

21 Jul 2014 18:36:44
Goodbye Patrice

After 9 years you have chosen to see out the twilight of your career somewhere else. Your passion, commitment, bravery, and character always shone through. Age has started to catch up with you but I will always remember you for the warrior and leader you have been. A credit to our shirt, good luck my friend.

A great pro who I had the pleasure of meeting and got his autograph.

A top professional and a gentleman. I hope he has a successful time at Juve.

21 Jul 2014 17:41:51
Still a lot of talk regarding hummels, but I believe the only way this could possibly happen is if kagawa goes the other way.

I think you're wrong and I wouldn't be bothered if you was right.

If a player wants a move then it will often happen. And it seems that Hummels is open a move.

If a player wants a move then it will often happen. And it seems that Hummels is open a move.

Kagawa would love to move from our bench to dortmund's bench behind mhtiriyan.

Heard you the first time fresh :)

21 Jul 2014 16:58:00
Touch of class from Evra in his letter! Been a bit of a liability these last couple of seasons but can never fault his heart and commitment to the club and his obvious love for the badge. Best lb back in the world from 2008-2011

21 Jul 2014 16:27:40
If united buy.hummels will they play deep or buy another CB with pace? Hummels is slow and.vulnerable outside.the box

Al, I think you have been listening too much to the bitters on your page. If Brendan had even a glimpse of a chance of signing Hummels, he would drop Lovren in an heartbeat. But there is no chance.

Ha Messi beats him for pace in World cup Final and now everyone thinks he is slow even though Loew had them playing way too high a line. they guy is class and will prove that should we get him

That'll be why Hummels looked so vulnerable playing next to Per 'Usain Bolt' Mertersacker then will it?

Sydney, you have to be reasonable. LVG doesn't have Rodgers' vision about centrebacks. Apparently he cries himself to sleep muttering "If only we had Coates. "

21 Jul 2014 18:11:27
Unlike Lovren's blistering pace, of course.

If people actually watched the germans, they were never fully opposed by a top side. There was.lots of space in behind but no team were.good enough to play through their midfield. I say it how it is syd without any influence. Hummels is one of the very best inside the box. Outside it he doesn't have great pace and is vulnerable outside it IMO. I will let United fans judge

21 Jul 2014 18:55:19
Most bitter post of the summer?

Big A

Don't worry about us we will try and offer better competition this year. I am sure you guys will be gunning to win the league if gerrard can stay on his feet.

21 Jul 2014 19:53:17
Ding ding ding well done AL u win today for the most bitter post from a Liverpool fan!

United are looking to sign a World Cup winning cb, who, despite being less than 100% fit, helped keep a clean sheet in the final for 120 minutes. But because he wasn't fast enough to keep pace with one of the most nimble players in the world, he's a poor signing. A champion for club and country with vast experience at the top level, but he's a bit of a risk.

Whereas, Liverpool are trumping up over £20m for a mid table defender, who helped Croatia ship 6 goals (2 more than Germany did in the entire tournament) in their 3 group games. Liverpool have lost Suarez, and are unable to entice top class players to replace him. So when United get linked with the type of players who aren't interested in Scousland, the only response is to pretend they're not really good based on one game at the WC.

That's the whole point Big Al it is up to us to judge as united fans! That's if the rumours in a Spanish newspaper about a German joining an English club are true!

Al is one of the good ones to be fair, far less bias than most pool fans, but I think he has been swayed slightly by other pool fans today. All summer Al has been asking the editor about Hummels. A lot of Liverpool fans have, the moment we are heavily linked to him, he becomes average :)

Danny

Perfectly put, my thoughts exactly. A World Cup winning centre half who a lot of us wanted last year anyway. So looking forward to seeing Liverpool fall away this year

I don't believe its bitter. Its my judgement. I have said herrera is a terrific player thãt I would have liked pool to get. I have said to my own liverpool mates I would have scholes ahead of Gerrard every day of the week because of his quailties a midfielder and bias relations. Bitter? I believe yous don't like what I said simply. I praised him but he does have weaknesses outside the. box. Watch him carefully at United next season if he's there. Its a part of his game he needs to improve. You donot need to have great pace to be a great CB.

GCU quailty

21 Jul 2014 21:23:29
Big Al take note - Danny just gave an excellent example of "saying it like it is" whereas you fell flat on your face :)

Sydney there are no good Liverpool fans.

Carloto, true, just some better than others :)

In fairness, Big Al has a point about Hummels not being the quickest CB; although, that said, his distribution and general passing ability from the back is the best around, IMO, and is probably the reason the boss wants him.

Sam, I agree, at pressing up into midfield from defence and his ability on the ball, he is a better option than Martinez IMO. I will be over the moon with Vidal & Hummels, I hope we can agree the deals.

21 Jul 2014 15:53:48
According to the MEN Mr Woodwoody has left the tour. With the 'watch this space' speech yesterday hopefully something happens this time!

Also, all the best to mad Paddy at Juve. Very good player and a true United warrior.

He left last years tour too for " urgent transfer business" that never happened so don't get too excited!

21 Jul 2014 16:01:44
I hope he is using a different travel company to the one he used when he left Oz last year and arrived on September 2nd!

Wish Evra all the best, he had his criticism on here but he is one player who knew what representing United was all about, true club legend.

21 Jul 2014 16:05:14
He left Australia this time last year and we are still waiting for the player he went to sign!

Not been his best for a while but what a player when he was. Going back to when we won the champions league Evra rio and vidic were arguably the best in the world it's a shame to think they've all gone. The thing that will stand out most is the passion and love he has for the club.

21 Jul 2014 15:40:42
on mutv, juve have signed evra

20 Jul 2014 15:38:27
Eds any truth in the rumour Arsenal had a 30m euro bid rejected for Carvalho?

{Ed002's Note - Try the Arsenal page.}

21 Jul 2014 14:35:52
Ed002, how was your trip to Devon? I was in Paignton for the weekend. Anywhere near you?

{Ed002's Note - I was in Totnes - a good trip.}

002, I drove through Totnes yesterday. I occasionally visit Totnes as there's one pub at the top that sell a cider called "Devon Blush". I literally drink them down like they are Ribena. But did it once on an empty stomach and I was p1ssed by 1pm. I like the way they dress in Totnes, they have their own dress code, it's a very hippy look.

{Ed002's Note - It is.}

22 Jul 2014 10:39:16
Nice part of the country Syd / Ed002.
Totnes is very unique, .even have there own currency!
Better half is from Brixham so many a trip down that way.

20 Jul 2014 18:49:45
Hi Eds. Just wondering if there is any truth in reports that Arsenal have made a bid for Carvalho? Apparently they've offered €30m and Sporting would be willing to deal at somewhere around that figure.

Do we maintain an interest or is he viewed as an alternative to Vidal?

{Ed002's Note - Try the Arsenal page.}

Ed any truth in Arsenal had a £24m bid rejected for William Carvalho?


{Ed001's Note - I am told it was an enquiry and that no bid has been placed yet, nor rejected.}

21 Jul 2014 11:56:05
Hey I don't want to jynx this but I think we are getting closer to hummels according to reports any truth to this guys?

21 Jul 2014 11:38:50
Why is the Hummels fee being speculated about so low? Is his contract low or sonething?

Cheers

He still has three years left on his contract.

The fee does seem very low and he has a deal till 2017. Maybe one of our players is going the other way?

Because the info is coming from Barcelona and everyone they want to buy, their value seems to start off very low.

21 Jul 2014 09:58:15
Got chance to watch Woodwards interview in full last night (rather than reading quotes, much easier to judge a comment if you can tell in what context it was said)

I thought he came across extremely well, he obviously has his head screwed on and has great business sense. I liked his comment about people not saying hello to him and just asking 'Are we signing xxxx?'. It shows what pressure he is under but he seems to be handing it very well.

His comments on transfers were not needed unless we do have some deals in the pipeline. Al season tickets are sold so we won't see the doom-mongers on here saying that is the only reason for his comments. I am sure they will come up with some other reason though!

I suggest people like Ash.The.1 watch the interview with an open mind rather than with the misguided opinion that Woodward doesn't know what he is doing. He said 'people aren't interested in 99% of what I do, they just want to know about transfers' and I think that sums up a lot of peoples view of him. If we do sign the players we are all hoping for this summer then I think Woodward will have done a great job and if people blamed Woodward for a bad summer last year, they would have to say well done if we have a good summer this year.

Can't wait until the pre season starts on Thursday (even if I do have to wake up at 4am to watch it!), nothing like that feeling of watching a United game, and I am optimistic (I know, not like me!) for the new season.

So he only spends 1% of his time working on transfers? Perhaps if he spent less time trying to line up an official roof-tile sponsor in the far east and a little more on transfers he wouldn't need to go on television to defend his performance?

Given what he said we are now buying every player under the sun if you believe the papers.

Best regards,

21 Jul 2014 11:54:42
I'm not sure the 99% was meant to be taken literally, Jesus some people never fail to amuse me.

What we have long suspected is finally official. Woodward spends more of his time defecating than he does trying to secure transfers.

He can talk as much as he wants, let's hope he will back it up with the world class signings we are desperate for.

Danny/nomid

To be fair, we have signed mata, shaw and herrera since jan and most people would have never thought that was possible and have been negative nellies here.

I am confident there are 2 more major signings and one squad player type signing that will be made prior to the start of the season.

We are going to be lot better than last year as long as we get a couple of CB.

He is a self publicising k--b. Seemed ok him keeping quiet but he couldn't help himself trying to look important staying " watch this space" then I thought if your so busy behind the scenes why are sodding off to USA

21 Jul 2014 09:52:54
I am interested in the start LvG has made as a leader. I have only read transcripts of his first press conference and press released information as I am abroad at the moment. However some pertinent points stood out.
Firstly, dismissing transfer talk. LvG knew he was going away with his squad imminently when he said that and had previously identified unity in the squad as vital. Therefore saying he wanted time to assess his players was important for bonding with them in the short term. He played that well and I would expect arrivals at the timing LvG wants. I doubt it would take him long when he sees them to identify what we need but it is the unity as he had with Holland that came first.
Secondly, attention to detail, I heard he wants the same grass at the training ground as at OT, quite right and I would expect he wants it the same length with pitch dimensions the same. Also we play in stadiums not open fields so rightly again cut out the cross winds. The training is interesting, it sounds like they will spend more time at the training ground than ever before, training will likely be more serious and tactical which can only be a good thing.

Thirdly I was interested to see us giving trials to several outstanding young 15 year olds. LvG will build a first team but will want a strong youth for the club to build on in years after he has gone.

Lastly, he came in and seems to instantly know what he wants, that will come over to the players as well. Whether he succeeds will probably depend on the next players coming in yet I think we now can see the leadership traits he has.

Precisely, you cannot join a club saying that you need 5/6 new players. How would that make the players feel at a time when they should be bonding with the manager and each other before the new season. It's pretty obvious MU will continue to work hard behind the scenes and what he did was nip it in the bud. What he said stops any more questions from the media. Moyes struggled with this kind of thing and dug himself all kinds of holes.

That is the mistake Moyes made. In his first press conference he said that we need 5 or 6 world class players to compete in Europe.

So it was all to fool the players and make them feel better.
I would imagine the players are fully aware of what the squad needs and are desperate for us to improve the squad.
People need to forget what is said to the media etc.
If someone says something positive it must be true, if its not positive it must be false.

Woody says we will sign a few so everyone shouts " I told you so " if he had said we maybe won't the same people would of said " what else could he say "
Its just media BS and if you think the players pay any attention to it you must be nuts .
All the fans know we need to sign a few so i'm sure the players do regardless of what moyes or lvg say.
Infact I would say that the players are more ITK than some of the experts on this site

21 Jul 2014 06:32:26
It is reported that arsenal is in negotiations with sporting for carvalho and they have been asked to pay 24m.
Now I really finds it funny.
If united wants him then its 34 m and other wants him its 24?
Don't understand what to believe?
But if Woodward said budget is not a concern then loosing out on varvalho will be a mistake.
We have both carrick and fletcher almost at end so having carvalho this window along with Herrera and Vidal will only add more quality.
United really need to act faster.

Rodio the gossip I read just stated they have to pay 24million up front now but implied the cost would be more than that in total. I would assume its probably the same price quoted to everyone if they have done such thing.

21 Jul 2014 09:12:43
Reread the artical, it says they will have to pay a minimum of 24m upfront. That could just mean the way the payments are set out, it could be you have to pay 24m this summer then further installments of 5m for the next two summers making it a total of 34m. Or it could be perfornane related.

Radio,
24 million is the upfront payment. Overall fee is same regardless of bidding club.

We better sign him or we will regret it big time! he is a beast!

I think it's 24million upfront, I don't think most clubs buy all cash upfront for anyone ( especially not us )
I think I'm right in saying that.

21 Jul 2014 14:29:21
Listen to Ed002 not the papers/ online reports, Lisbon won't budge on the buyout clause which is 37m.

It really depends on whether Van Gaal rates him. The deep lying mid in his philosophy is there to initiate attacks as well as break up play and is Carvalho's passing good enough for that?

I read on the arsenal page one of the Edds said they required but haven't bid yet