Manchester United Banter Archive May 21 2014

21 May 2014 22:32:59
I will probably get shot down for this, but I am going to post my view anyway.
I am, and always have been a big fan of Ryan Giggs. He is a club legend, and we will all be forever greatful for everything he has given to, and done for our great club.
However, I am not sure the club are doing the right thing if they are grooming Giggs to take over from LvG in three years time. It seems to me, especially with the failed appointment of David Moyes, that the club want to try to continue the Fergie era, but without the great man at the helm. I think Moyes was appointed because he was the closest thing out there to clone of SAF. During his time at United, Moyes started to change things quite a bit and failed.We as fans expected instant success, and the players didn't like the changes. When he was sacked, Giggs took over and reverted right back to SAF ways and personnel.
In my opinion, United have stagnated over the last 4or 5 years, while others have moved forwards. I think the appointment of van Gaal is a good one. But I really hope he takes the club forwards, and in a different direction to that of which the club was previously going. We all know the phrase about a new broom sweeping clean, and I genuinely hope that happens with the new manager. We need a new and dynamic outlook at United. One that will take us forwards, and back to the summit of English, and European football. LVG could well be the man to set us on our way, but he will need to "sweep us clean" of all those ageing players who we all know need replacing, and get younger, more talented players in.
I have nothing against Giggs at all, but I just hope that if van Gaal can set us on our way to something new, with a more modern approach, that in 3 years time all that work is not un done by one of SAF most loyal and trusted servants .

I agree with a lot of that.
the club needs a change and a modernization of our football

Great post Betty, spot on .

Van Gaal should be there for at least a couple of seasons and for me Giggs should get no guarantees about the job.
If he's serious about wanting to be Utd manager he should stop living off his (rightful) legend as a player and get out there and work somewhere else to get some managerial experience, perhaps after a season working with Van Gaal

Great post. Spot on.

Like it or not, change is needed.

Good post. I agree with it all except the bit about us all knowing the phrase about a new broom sweeping clean. I had not heard that one before, but I hope it's apt.

I'm one of few who apparently believe someone's accomplishments as a player are not in any way indicators of their coaching abilities, therefore should not factor into their " CVs " when they are being considered for a job.

I would honestly rather give the job to Meulensteen/ Solskjaer than Giggs because they have more experience.

I just do not understand what Giggs has that Neville/ Scholes/ even beckham do not. I'm pretty sure it's not intellect since Giggs isn't really an educated individual, nor does he strike you as a smart individual ( in the way Lampard and Mata do ).

We need more than a mascot on the sidelines telling players " I want to see crosses, I want to see shots, I want to see tackles, I want to see pace, the Manchester United way " and actually come up with a tactical approach to the game. A manager is more than just a motivator.

If Giggs is being groomed to take over the job, than I believe that is the absolute worst idea the Glazers could come up with. They did not become billionaires by making decisions based on sentiment and choosing under-qualified individuals for certain jobs to please people.

Giggs should never get the job unless he proves himself on the world stage from a managerial point of view. Solkjaer is doing it, Hughes tried and failed, Bruce tried and failed, Keane tried and failed, Blanc arguably succeeded.

Fact is, I'd love one of our old boys to be our manager one day, but not until they are fully proven. If not, then just give the job to Fred The Red ( or Zee, where is the little bugger though? ) and hope for the best.

When Sir Matt stepped down he promoted one of his ex players that knew the 'United way', Wilf McGuiness, and it was a total failure. Wilf was too young, and couldn't get the needed respect from the players, Best etc. in the end United abandoned their thinking and begun the search for the right man. This didn't happen until Sir Alex arrived.
I agree in part with Betty because of this but I do think Giggs is more integrated in United than Wilf, and he is being groomed where Wilf wasn't. Maybe 3 years will be enough to teach him, and who knows, we might have LvG for longer than that!

Mick1, I agree with most of that except when you say its the worst idea the Glazers could come up with. I'm not defending those parasites in any way, but I genuinely believe that they don't interfere with football matters too much. They are business men, end of. I firmly believe that they let the management run the football side of things, and take their advice on footballing decisions. You can point to the fact that they did interfere by sacking David Moyes, but that was a decision that had to be made for business reasons as well as footballing ones.
I would expect that SAF, as well as Bobby Charlton and some other still have a huge influence on the way the football side of things are being run, and are advising the Glazers and the "suits" accordingly.
That is why I hope that LvG comes in and makes important changes that the club need. If he is only here for 3 seasons to steady the ship and help groom Giggs to take over, then we could be back to square one in 3 years time. Giggs is a legend, but he is a student of SAF, and I think would try to carry on the Ferguson way, because that is all he has ever known for 23 or so years.
In my opinion, we need to move away from that. As a business, we are in better shape than ever. But on the pitch, I feel we need a complete change of direction. Not only in personnel, but the whole structure. All the talk of transfers and big name signings is justified. But how have we got in such a bad situation? Some will point to lack of investment. But money has been mage available under the Glazers. maybe not as much as could have been, but we have had, and spent money. The problem is, in my view, the money has been spent badly. SAF bought several wingers in recent years, while failing to sign a midfielder since 2007. Is that lack od investment , or bad decision making? I would say the later.
Another thing that need a shake up is our scouting system. I know we can't sign all the best young talent, but look at the young players who have been available, at home and abroad over the last few years. Our scouting system had been abysmal, and needs to improve drastically.
Going back to the original point, the club need a change of direction. New ways, and new ideas, as well as o lot of new personnel. Grooming someone (Giggs) who has already been here for 23 odd years, to become our new manager in 3 years time does not fill me with confidence that we are willing to make those changes.
I guess time will tell.

21 May 2014 22:05:15
Seen this on the Liverpool page and I'd like to see if we can do it a bit different.

What does everyone do (student, work etc) where are u from and tell us something interesting about yourself

I'm an air conditioning engineer by trade but work as an estimator for a big ventilation company, living in salford and I have represented Great Britain at free style wrestling, being ranked junior British number 1 about ten years ago

International Porn Star (retired)

{Ed007's Note - Stars of the gay scene do seem to have a short shelf-life.}

I'm a 6th year medical student in Montpellier, France. I was born in Miami and have Lebano-Russian heritage.

I was the 2nd best Muay Thai boxer in the state in my age group ( 2007 ).

I'm 32 and a recruitment manger. No links to the club. But grew up sitting next to Peter Watkins, Maurice Watkins son, spent the best week of my life at 13 at carrington on trial.

Born in withington hospital grew up during our renaissance but bought into the history of the club in a massive way.

May I just say while I can thanks to the Ed's for their insight especially those in the know but also all the regular posters on here. Syd jred et all. I check in daily. I appreciate all your insights, when I can I contribute, more on younger player as I'm an mutv subscriber so see the youth games.

Congratulation to Demetria Mitchell btw for being part of the successful u17 championship.

Really looking forward to hopefully seeing Janko, rothwell, Pearson Wilson, Keane and pereira over the coming years. These guys seem the most likely to come through soon, but our u18 team has some really good players as well coming through.

I will if people are interested try and post updates as to how our young players are progressing.

Thanks Ed's all the regular posters, and hopefully speak soon.

Red Bear

{Ed007's Note - You're welcome to post about anything you want RB.}

I'm a 17 year old student, I played football until the age off 15 and then had to make a choice between it and rugby and well I chose rugby. Since then I've had knee surgery twice (so maybe the wrong decision lol)

{Ed007's Note - Rugby is a sport played by men with odd shaped balls.}

23, Final Year Business Student in Cork Ireland.

Coached an U12 Group of kids for a year to the top of their table and semi finals of a cup competition, I felt like SAF during this year lol

I'ma 33 year old (I think) Elementary School teacher in Seoul. Originally from Chorlton (also born in Withington Hopsital.)
My old man was a bouncer at Fridays in the 1990's and through that got pally with some of the players, especially Paul Parker. Through that we got invited into the Old Trafford Players Lounge when I was about 8 and all I did was eat a full plate of Fondant Fancies, much to my dad's rage.

28 year old final year literature and history student in good old Manchester here.

Ngiak is the intelligent penguin friend of gan and is on his 4th decade of support of Manchester United
gan is Asian who looks after humans in institutions and in a sterile field
gan conveys ngiak's messages
gan

30, Software analyst in Chennai, India

Gotta go where the work is, Bond :)

Born in withington hospital in 1974 and lived in Chorlton most of my life. I'm a 39 year old sales rep for virginmedia.
Played football for Manchester Boys in same side as Nicky Butt and whilst doing so played against a loud mouth midget called Gary Neville! Went on to play for Altrincham and Bury Res a few times but cider and curry cut short my career along with a nasty injury called lazyitis!
Also played cricket for Lancs in same team as Neville but realised cricket was boring to play and stopped playing!

19 year old business enterprise student, initially for Hartlepool in the north east, already ran my own profitable import business

I am 28 year old. I do programming, hacking and web development and design for living.

I play as a defensive midfielder in our local club. I am not fast but heavily built, have broken ribs of 4 opposition players. :)

21 year old office based estimator born in Middlesbrough, currently enjoying a packet of skips at dinner!

I feel really old reading these posts! :(

34 student trying something new so to say currently studying law in wexford

21 May 2014 21:35:48
Ok guys totally off topic but just a debate I was having with my mate and thought i'd ask here,

U have a free kick last kick of the game, its 25-30 yards out who would u want to take it? Beckham, Ronaldo or juniniho (ex lyon)

For me i'd want Beckham my mate said juniniho(spelling lol)

Id probably go for Becks, there wasnt many that can bend the ball like he did. Ronaldo would come close second

Becks, his technique from dead ball was worldclass.
Fans do not realize his perfect techniques takes years of lots of.hours daily striking the ball. Only the Brazilans( few) had as good as technique from dead balls as becks.

I would go Beckham in that range, Juninho if further out, those two clearly before Ronaldo, pct wise.

21 May 2014 22:52:39
Depends on whether its central or out wide, whether its on the right or left as that will limit the shooting angle of the player depending on whether they are right or left footed.

It would also depend on who's in goal and how they set up to defend such free kicks, whether they have a man on one or both posts, how they set up their wall and how they position themselves.

Statistically I think you'll find Juninho has the best conversion rate of free kicks out of the three. Ronaldo is better if the free kick is more central and Beckham if it is slightly wider due to his ability to bend the ball will open up a larger propotion of the goal where as Juninho and Ronaldo's much more straighter kicking style limits the area they can shoot at if the free kick is from a wider angle.

I hope that clears that up. Lol.

Junihno p further out as suggested but I'd plump for Pirlo close in.

I can't be bothered to look it up but I'm pretty sure Juninho had a stupidly good record from free kicks. Juninho, Beckham, Ronaldo for me.

How about Shunsuke Nakamura. he hit a great dead ball.

{Ed007's Note - An absolute wonderful talent was wee Naka, he was probably the last player Celtic had who could have held his own in any team. I was going to put a video up but they all show a certain goal and I wouldn't want to upset you guys, so what about this one:

Dont no what there conversion rates are like but for every one ronald smashes in the top bin he clouts 10 in to the wall and 10 on the fat lass in the stands lap. beckham all day for me.

Juninho had the best striking rate, and scored more freekicks than Beckham and Ronaldo.

If it was up to me, it all depends on the opposition really. Beckham and Juninho would be ahead of Ronaldo, no doubt about that.

When it comes to comparing Juninho and Beckham's techniques, their difference in style is noticeable. Juninho had more power, and could score from pretty much any distance, while Beckham whipped it in with deadlier accuracy.

What Beckham had that Juninho did not ( at least not on the same level ) was a significantly higher assist number from dead balls. His service was unrivaled in modern football imo.

So if we were playing West-Ham/ Stoke/ any team with a bunch of huge players, it's unlikely Beckham's delivery would have made much of a difference, but Juninho is more likely to score. Against Barcelona/ Arsenal/ any " smaller " set of players, I'd have Beckham take it. He could either score or whip it on someone's head.

Of course there are other variables, such as the size of the keeper ( Juninho against a bigger keeper who might come to collect deliveries ), the size of our men in the box ( the tallet they are, the more Beckham could inflict damage ).

Ronaldo on the other hand is nowhere near as capable a creator as Beckham from freekicks, nor as good as Juninho from direct free kicks. I believe Beckham has a higher conversion rate from freekicks when compared to Ronaldo, who can score stunners just not consistently enough

Ed007 I was thinking about that vid as well. that is an unbelievable free kick. even in my dreams I don't think I could do that. I always wondered if he could have made it in the epl. I did hope united would try to sign him. he was class whenever I saw him.

21 May 2014 20:39:33
Do you think LVG might bring in Veltman
Or maybe dare I say Vlaar!!

I was chatting to a good friend of mine who is a Villa fan and apparently there have been some local murmuring that LVG could go for Vlaar. Villa didn't get a full season from him as he was blighted by injury, so its hard to believe there is any traction to this.

Please can we stop with the assumption that LVG will be signing a lot of Dutch players? Did Moyes fill our squad with Scots or Mourinho sign Portuguese for Chelsea? I don't think so.

He may target Strootman because they are friends and Robben because he's one of the best wide men in the world. Aside from that I'd be surprised if we sign any Dutch players.

But Moyes did look to players from his previous role. LVG targeting Dutch Internationals is no different to Moyes signing Fellaini and going for Baines.

I don't care where players come from as long as they are good enough.

21 May 2014 20:31:51
if the interest in jordy clasie is to be TRUE, we are in for for a SUPER summer, just add Shaw, Depay, inigo martinez or martins indi, Kroos and strootman we are well on our way to being back in game!

21 May 2014 17:03:10
hey guys,

I just had a question, there's been reports on the internet that giggs blocked the thiago move.

Really interesting as why would he be convinced with fellaini and not thiago.

Do you guys believe the report or is it just lazy journalism.

People will believe what u want to.
People like giggs so this can't be true

Not his decisicion to make at the time Moyes didn't want and well woodward wasnt strong enough to have forced a deal through

Hmmm, very true Jred I personally don't believe it at all. its strange that people even publish rub. ish like this on the internet.

So it was Giggs after all who messed up last summers transfers not the ex manager and Giggs wanted Fellaini! Really, do people seriously want to believe that?
1) Giggs was by all accounts about to leave because his opinion wasn't valued by the ex manager and didn't have any say in anything yet suddenly he had the ear and influence on the then manager on key transfers?
2) If the ex manager made the decisions based on an inexperienced coaches recommendation then it highlights how week he was in terms of decision making when SAF had lined up Thuago

This sounds more like an attempt to undermine Giggs in his new role already and I don't buy it. I would add that my understanding was that it was indeed the ex managers decisions.

Singh
Ive no idea, its in a few papers as well.
But everyone likes giggs so they won't believe it but if it had been moyes for example, it would of been a different story

A) Why did Giggs have the power to block any deal.

B) Why would Giggs want Fellaini and Not Thiago?

It just doesn't sound right to me, if it is them I am shocked, but seems hard to believe.

It's reported in one of the fanzines that it was going to be on radio tonight. Giggs said he wasn't a united player and Phil Neville agreed. He implied that he wouldn't live and bleed united so wasn't a united player . So the transfer was pulled when about to arrange medical .

Anyone who believes this story on thiago most likely still believes in santa clause. what a load of nonsense!

{Ed007's Note - Is a santa clause like a buy-out clause?}

I can't believe Giggs would have been the final arbiter on that decision, and if he was then even more reason why Moyes was the wrong person for the job, because it was his responsibility.

To be honest IF this is true, then it shows what a mess last summer was. Frankly the idea that a novice coach was dictating transfer policy is outrageous, how weak do people actually think Moyes was to defer judgement on important transfers?

It's nonsense of course but one things for sure, nothing along those lines will be happening with Van Gaal

What a complete load of swollocks. If there is even the slightest bit of truth in this story, then we are in a far worse situation than we all thought.

The fanzine was just stating that someone on the radio was going to claim it happened didn't confirm the claim I was just stating where it came from .

21 May 2014 17:22:44
It's funny like Fabregas I feel I personally know Garay so long have they been a part of the United and now alas he goes into the footballing wilderness by signing for Zenit

Like losing an old friend all over again

He was a SAF target mate. I don't think Moyes fancied him and LvG doesn't if reports are true.

Not sure why any top player would want to play in Russia. Especially non-European players'.

{Ed002's Note - What is wrong with Russia then?}

Saw somewhere LVG doesn't fancy Carvalho either

If you have ever been there, you will no that the weather is cold enough to freeze your nutz off.

It's quite hot in the summer but the fact they pay big wages might have a lot to do with it.

21 May 2014 21:05:27
Big wages, hot women, what's not to like as a footballer?

21 May 2014 21:15:49
Ed02 half the pitches in the russian league are worst than a teenagers face

21 May 2014 16:45:50
Fresh. but you say Robben would be a good idea? Similar age would want similar wages and bayern would want 15 million plus which for a player with little to no resale value is quite frankly not good business sense. He is plagued with injuries and is known for spitting his dummy out.

Sounds an awful lot like RVP - and people on here are saying he deserves to be our next captain!

{Ed007's Note - Touche....

£15 million is a big difference to the £40 million that Toure would command. And I couldn't envisage him doing that under LVG, there is too much respect there. He would be of great benefit to nurture Januzaj and Depay if we sign him.

Would yaya really cost 40 mill.

Fresh how do you know Robben would be a good mentor to Januzaj? Or are you just presuming so? Considering he's known very much for having a bad attitude, he's not the type you want teaching a youngster. Just because he's a good player with a lot of skill doesn't mean he can teach.

He'll want a hefty wage and want to play often which will dramatically limit the chances for our youngsters, why on earth do you see it as a good idea?

We need to be winning now not in 3 years time. Win first focus on building up the youth second, we have been to pre-occupied penny pinching and gambling with talent when we have no recent success at grooming it.

Janujaz is nowhere near Robben's ability yet, and we need world class players now.

Beast
how about we bought the real deal and got worldclass players in the prime rather than on the cheap on there way down .

Jred. Yaya and Roben have had each had their best seasons to date - so could it not be argued that they are in their prime?

Agree with red7. Robben and Yaya are both in their prime now and would be great signings. Sincerely doubt we'll get either though.

Robben had yaya both had good seasons as did gerrard and alonso all are past there prime .
Still good players

21 May 2014 16:25:27
Just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on Giggs supposedly being the one to veto the deal for Thiago last summer? I know there were a lot of ins and outs to the whole situation but journalist Ian McGarry on BBC 5 Live reckons that Giggs was the one who convinced everyone that he was 'not a united player'.

Pretty weird if you ask me, he's miles above anything we already have and even weirder considering we signed Fellaini

If indeed it was Giggs who said "No" to Thiago and "Yes" to Fellaini, he will need more than 3 years to step up to the managers post.

I really hope that isn't true. I like Giggsy, and want him to be our future manager; but if he is coming out with that kind of crap, I will have to evaluate my position.

Thiago is a top draw player.

Its weird with Giggs. He never said much as a player in the media, all most people know is that he was a great player and played for us all his career - why does that mean he will be a good manager Personally I can't see it, he doesn't seem intelligent enough for me but the club look like they are laying the foundations. People often assume quiet people are considered people, maybe they are just quiet because they aren't sure what to say or do? I'm not convinced.

Why would Giggs want Fellaini and not Thiago? Moyes was manager, he clearly wanted Fellaini and if reports are true, thought Thiago was too lightweight for the EPL.

I don't believe a single bit of it, also i'm sure Thiago chose BM over MU himself, Pep talked him into the BM move did he not?

I doubt very much Giggs had any say what so ever who we bought or didn't buy last year.

I just went and listened to it, and it sounds like complete BS to me lol.

Firstly, why reveal such information now? And the way he said it, was as if he was sitting there at this so called meeting himself. He read it out in such a fashion that it makes you believe that he knows exactly what Giggs & Moyes said word for word, along with the reaction of Phil Neville who 'sort of nodded his head'. Sounds like something he thought of the night before.

Maybe moyes is starting to tell people some of the things that went on?

Utter nonsense IMO. How is Thiago not a MU player, yet Fellaini is? Fellaini couldn't be less of a MU player. Moyes wanted Cesc and put all of his eggs into the Cesc basket. Dithered on Thiago, dithered on Herrera and ended up with Fellaini. I don't blame the summer entirely on Moyes, but he isn't called dithering Dave for nothing.

21 May 2014 15:28:15
Sydney
The kono.deal was agreed with Liverpool, nothing to do with price. The owner never wanted to sell and.wouldnt allow the transfer to go through.

Yeah, nothing to do with money. Good one. Liverpool were penny pinching, it's what American owners do :(

21 May 2014 14:27:53
As I'm bored I thought I'd add to this weeks marmite topic: Arjen Robben.

The Case For:

Already knows the manager and his methods.
Links well with van Persie for the national team.
Brings in much needed experience after the loss of several senior player.
Good player for januzaj to learn off (lets face it the alternative is Young. )
Top class player at his peak.
Has premier league experience.

The Case Against.

Is 31 so is only a short term fix.
Fee would be high and we have bigger priorities for big money in defence and midfield.
Could block first team chances for younger players.

I can see the arguments for and against. Personally i'd take him if the fee was sensible and he was the only signing over 26. But as the fee would be high i'd look elsewhere

He's 31 next year.

I would prefer a Reus, but if the price was reasonable and Reus wasn't available, then I would go for it.

He would be good for two or three years. I am also not surprised to see us linked with Konoplyanka. Robben + one of Konoplyanka or Depay would represent good signings to me.

I would go for Depay he plays wide left which is the position we need not wide right, he young and full of potential

I think our wide options would be brilliant if we had Robben as the elder statesman and Depay / Januzaj the other options. Very pacey, direct, skillful and plenty of potential for goals.

I think strengthening on the wings should be our top priority - or at the very least up there with the other areas. Carrick, Cleverley and Fellaini are on a par with Nani, Young and Valencia. The same could be said of Jones, Smalling and Evans.

The fact of the matter is; all three areas are way below the standard required to compete on all fronts.

21 May 2014 12:50:23
Hi Eds,

This is all pure speculation that I've been putting together in my head, wishful thinking I'd say.

But with Yaya Toure being "unsettled" is there any chance in hell that we would make a cheeky move for him, we would get a few years from him at his prime and I think he would solve a lot of our midfield issues whilst we bring up some younger players.

It would take a lot of money and we could probably spend it better elsewhere but it would be a real statement of intent.

Thanks for all you do Eds and answering these crazy questions

{Ed007's Note - No.}

Yaya is a great player but I can't see City selling to us.

Thanks for pulling me back down to Earth Bond!

{Ed007's Note - Don't mention it buddy, we aim to please :)

Bearing in mind the reason he might want to leave city, would we really want somebody like that at our club? It is pathetic, and of course we wouldn't even consider a bid.

If you mean the birthday cake? that is just a excuse don't think he is that bothered over that, just feel its time to go back to barca and perform, to make up for not doing much when he was at barca and he was over looked think it is a ego thing and he just wants to go back to barca retire and play his best football

21 May 2014 12:14:55
I saw a few posts on building for the future. This is LVG's last job, and he has about 3 years left. Would he really sacrifice his personal ambitions just to build for the future? His quotes say otherwise. Imo he will go for players who will be up for it now and maybe a few for the future depending on availability. Its the guys last job and i'm sure he'd want to go out on a high

3 year contract doesn't mean much. I wouldn't be surprised if he does well that the deal is extended, just depends on performance and how ready Giggs is.

If he intends to retire in 3 years then I would imagine legacy issues will come into it, but a 3 year plan focussing on a few older heads (Robben) isn't a bad idea, as we need to get back to the top quick and waiting for youth or unproven to step up could be too much of a gamble. A short term fix with half an eye on up and coming is sensible. In 3 years Janujaz, Powell, DDG, Smalling, Jones, Rafael, Shaw will all be solid and hopefully better, we can then get back to adding a couple of young players and a couple of big signings each season, rather than constant overhauls. Obviously over young talent like Lawrence, Wilson etc will benefit from training with world class talent.

I disagree, most of the targets we are linked with are younger. We are loosing a lot of experience in the dressing room so he may want one or two older heads in there. We are linked with Depay, him and Januzaj will be on the wings for years. In the middle Kroos (24), Jordy Clasie (22). The centre backs we are linked with are also of a decent age personally I am not too worried about him loading the squad with 30 somethings as the board wouldn't allow it as they will have a clear strategy (you would think).

Beast,
Coming from the horses mouth, he said it was either united/spurs or retirement. So I don't expect him to hang around more than 3 years.
However it would be a bonus if he builds for the future as well or buys players who would be ready in a year or two at max, like Clasie.

Its not just up to lvg though is it.
It would look like the club have decided to buy shaw and kroos not lvg. Would the club want to blow top cash on 30 + year old players with no chance of a sell on and knowing they would then have to shell out more cash in a couple of years to replace them.

It would seem the club look like spending a large amount of cash this summer I am sure the plan will be to spend it with an eye on building fir the future.

Jred, I don't think we see ourselves as a selling club and if we want success but the right player is old then the selling on fee shouldn't be an issue that comes in to it.

Fresh
If you think a business like united isn't run with that in mind your nuts maybe not a rule but it will be an issue.
Also a player at 25 for 30 mill is much better deal than a 30 year old for 20.
Its not a game its real life.

Disney - LET Evra leave? I would have thought there would have been 50 or 60 thousand of you willing to drive him to his next destination

21 May 2014 10:29:05
Here's a question for everyone, who would you rather have upfront Dimitar Berbatov or a fully fit Louis Saha? For me is have to say Saha as he offered a lot more! You're thoughts guys?

Saha was unplayable at his best.

Are we in the twilight zone?

Saha all day long, he could have been better than Cole if it weren't for the injuries. Berbatov is too slow for a Utd team, although he is undoubtedly amazing with the ball, just not enough pace or movement.

Definitely King Louis. If only he wasn't injured all the time.

A fully fit Berbatov :)

Saha by a country mile. A fully fit Saha could've been one of the very best. Just a shame about his knees.

21 May 2014 09:37:35
Internet going mad with the rumours of Kroos and Fabregas transfer developments, I am very sceptical about either coming in.
However, if we were able to get both in would you guys be happy with that or do you think we would still be lacking that physical midfielder in the Strootman/Vidal mould?

I would be more than happy

If we sign those two I don't think it's essential, because our ball retention will be 10 times better than it is now. We have Fellaini to break things up in the big games, so I would spend on a CB and 2 wingers if we nail those 2 on (Shaw coming of course).

I would go for Vidal and Strootman instead of Kroos and Fab. Vidal is more dynamic and Strootman has more power.

I think Vidal and Strootman would offer a similar midfield duo to Viera and Petit back in the day. Now if that could be replicated we would be on our way to reasserting ourselves back at the top where we belong.

Just depends if he wants ball retention or counter attack. Happy with either duo to be honest.

20 May 2014 23:44:18
Anyone wanting to know more about Van Gaals tactics go to nsoccer.org search Van Gaal, even I can understand that