Manchester United Banter Archive August 22 2012

 

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22 Aug 2012 23:05:50
I've just been reading all the posts from today and they are all very depressing.. It was the first game of the season not the last, everyone needs to stop moaning and start supporting. We've been the most successfull epl team for the last 20 years. Everyone just calm down relax and watch how we get better and better as the season unfolds.. Don't forget we only lost on goal difference last season so it's not like we're struggling to compete..

Redjay

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22 Aug 2012 23:05:43
Whether he meant it or not Sturridge has probably played the pass of the season already. Quality ball!

Jono

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It's not a pass if he never meant it mate ;)

Sydney!

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22 Aug 2012 22:43:39
Not United related but Chelski were gifted 2 points by the blind linesman. Both Chelski and City had to come from behind at home vs Championship teams last year. There are no easy games in our league and don't take any for granted.


CRMike

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22 Aug 2012 22:39:26
someone said it earlier cleverly is like scholes an i cant agree more watched him in the euros an on monday looked very sharp i really think he could be big an he needs to be nurtured he is good now but he will be great ...........maybe one reason we seem reluctant to spend in that position.... just a tought....

CAIN

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Cleverly is doing really nice job as a pass and move player, he does help the speed of play. BUT . . .to compare him to Scholes, he has a long way to go.
Scholes has a tremendous shot from distance, great timing in his runs into the box, besides being world class technically with his touch and passing, both long and short, with so much creativity as well.
I like Cleverly, but still would love to see an athletic box-to-box MF like Witsel, Fellaini, Wanyama, Tiote. Still would love to see us get Witsel.

Zidaniel

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Cleverley needs to form a partnership with someone like Witsel. We haven't had a settled midfield for some time now.

Sydney!

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22 Aug 2012 22:18:20
First off weve shown weve got money spend this summer and im very impressed wiv our buys but our main weak link has been overlooked? We dedperatley need a rock in midfield n the only 1 we have is fletch who is not goin t cope wiv the amount of games we play? Thisvis not because we lost to everton but because we seen it last 2 seasons. We r waiting 4 carrick t come outa defence t fill that hole n whilst he's good he is not on same level as chelsea n city n barca n madrids midfielders? Its only one player who wecould get 4 25mil max? Axel witsel looks good but I think dembele wud b a great fit 4 tht role 4 us n 15mil is a gud amount 4 a needed player? Im sure we will compete coz we got a stronger squad now wiv real class but rooney needs t hit some form coz I thnk kags n rvp wilk link up realy well. United99

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22 Aug 2012 21:50:50
Is there any united players in the under 21s who could fill the gap in midfield as a ball winning midfielder. Pogba was the big hope, and he has been quoted as saying he left due to lack of opportunities of playing in the first team and he was impatient. He can enjoy sitting on the bench at juve! Why fergie hasn't solved this problem is a mystery. Maybe he hopes fletcher returns and does the business. We need a ball winner, who can break up opposition attacks. The fans can see it, why can't fergie?

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Tunnicliffe.

Caolán.

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Wtf is a "ball winner" anyway? I look at barca and as soon as they lose the ball, the whole team closes down the opposition and wins the ball back, does that make iniesta, xavi, fabregas, messi, Sanchez et al ball winners? I think the concept of a ball winner is a myth and really, it is the way you set yourself out that makes a difference....

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You need a ball winner in the EPL, La Liga is different.........

Sydney!

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22 Aug 2012 21:43:31
Gutted about not signing Hazard, we really missed out on a world class talent! His link up play with Mata was wonderful to watch, can't help but dream at what it would be like with Kagawa.

Tetrahydro

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22 Aug 2012 21:41:05
Chelsea not exactly convincing - I think the reaction to UTD's defeat a little overboard all things considered

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Dont be fooled by the highlights, they actually played some very slick football. Right back and centre forward they lack depth though

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22 Aug 2012 21:10:37
That isco of Malaga looks a real player. I know we've got alot of attackers but it wouldn't do any harm to have a young player like him.

Believable3 Unbelievable0

Wouldn't he now be cup tied for CL?

Supasub

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I saw a bit of Isco last night and thought he had a bit of class about him and is a possible replacement for Nani. Not totally sure but I don't believe the qualifiers rule them out of the main competition

Red Man

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Don't know thought you could play the qualifiers. But I may be wrong. Still a good young player though

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22 Aug 2012 20:52:19
Have seen a few people displaying a few team sheets for the weekend and would like to add my 2 cents to the mix

De Gea
Rafael - Vidic - Wooton - Evra
Toni - Kagawa- Carrick - Cleverley - Nani
RVP

Would like to see Wooton get a run out. He did well in preseason and looks like he will be ready for the step up. At home will allow him a little more leniancy as we shouldn't expect as much pressure at the back as we did against Everton.

Would also like to see the Toni/Rafael partnership reunited. Both play great with each other as very similar players when attacking and both hard workers when defending.

I would also like to see a simple bank of 3 in the middle with a bit of cover coming from Carrick and the energy and quick touches coming from Kagawa and Tom.

Nani and Evra also make a decent paternship down the left as Evra overlaps and Nani cuts in some of the time. With Buttner coming on for one of them later in the game depending on who is playing better.

Most controversially i would like to see RVP start up front instead of Rooney. RVP seems to be better suited to these players 1/2 touch style. Rooney has also loked a little 'lazy' in preseason and the Everton game and so maybe needs a kick up the arse to get him into gear.

I think this will be the line up though:

De GEa
Rafael - Vidic - Carrick - Evra
Toni - Scholes - Clevs - Kagawa
Rooney - RVP

Thoughts?

Paso

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Scholes should be used as a late sub now days as he should have been sent off after 1st yellow card made 2 missed time tackles

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22 Aug 2012 20:49:58
mcleary looks good for reading, quick, strong skill full and has a good cross.

JK92

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Hazard has been looking like a terrific player in his first two games of the season. Wish we got him.
MU93

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22 Aug 2012 20:22:41
Our situation in Centre Mid is a bit concern.
We have:
Scholes- 38 yrs( too old and the passes are 90% sideways or backwards).

Cleverly- can be a very food player but in my opinion is abit over rated.

Carrick- 30 or 31 maybe 2 more seasons ahead and he's not worlsclass.

Anderson- he's good if stays fit and loose wait(consistency is a must for him).

Fletcher- he's ill and hurts me to say it but we won't be the beast he once was.

So, what is left? I won't talk aboug the youngsters because they will not play much this year just what happened to Pogba.

The point is that we don't really have a breath taking MID and we really need to signing somebody to improve the centre.
And finally, I think that Scholes and Cleverly can't play together in the centre because they really slow our game eith their sideways and backwards passes.

Nick86

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Are you 12 or just drunk? Maybe you should re-read your posts before submitting them!

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If Scholes passes 90% sideways or backwards thats because there isn't a player further forward in space or making a run.

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No name! Is a banter. U don't agree be a bit clever and click disagree no need to be rude. First of all I'm not an English speaker cause I'm Angolan and I doy very best to write properly since I don't use any translator.

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Ignore him your English is very good.
MU93

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22 Aug 2012 19:06:59
I know Rooney is arguably our best player, but he has not played well in my eyes for the last 6-9 months (although I'm not denying what his goals have done for us). I think just to keep him on his toes and let him know there is world class competition for places in the squad, (which is what he called for) we should bench him for the game against Fulham and go with Kagawa and RVP, who i feel would be more deadly than Kagawa and Rooney.

Rooney and Evra are the two players who have had a regular place in the team week in, week out; and not so coincidentally they have both dropped their standards, so i reckon benching them will only help them, as well as the team.

I'd go with this team on Saturday:

--------------DDG------------

Rafa---Evans---Vidic---Buttner?

-----Carrick-----Cleverley-----

Valencia----Kagawa-----Young

--------------RVP-------------

Thoughts?

MelonRed

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I would like to see Rooney taken out as he seems to be getting slightly out of shape and his first touch was poor. Seemed to do him good last time he had a break, the team you posted should cause most defense's serious problems. Although this could just be the first game of the season and Rooney might just not be 100% match fit ;)

Tetrahydro

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Good post, Rooney needs to be taught that he will not automatically get a place in the starting line up. However i dont see him ever being dropped for some reason.
MU93

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22 Aug 2012 18:34:16
Everyone seems to be putting there sides out for Saturday and well, I think I'm going to join in haha.

Personally, I think we made progress on Monday and finally got our new formation into action.

I think we'll line up like this:

________________DDG________________
Raf______Evans____Vidic_______Evra___
_____________Carrick_________________
_______Cleverley___Kagawa____________
___Toni________RVP_________Rooney___

Although I would LOVE it if we lined up like:

_______________DDG_________________
__________Evans____Vidic_____________
Toni________________________Buttner__
_______________Carrick_______________
_____Cleverley__Anderson__Kagawa_____
___________Rooney__RVP_____________

I think the above formation with Smalling instead of Evans, Carrick pushed to Anderson's position and then Anderson replaced by Jones, Fletcher, Tunners or possibly Witsel would work brilliantly.

You'd have touch line width from Toni and Buttner, 'Attacking forward' Width from Cleverley and Kagawa as well as the brilliant movement from the front two.

even when we're defending we could easily push that into a 4-5-1, with Jones in the side it could even be pushed into a 5-4-1...

Just another option anyway :).

Have a good day guys!

Oh, can somebody told me where the stories about Mexes came from?

The Moon.

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Cleverly is a pumped up midget and overated im a united fan... cabaye a regular international only 26, so us tiote only 25, so is snjider, so is all the rest of the players mentioned, as a utd fan should have world class midfield.....

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Ya the blue moon...... haha...

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22 Aug 2012 17:12:34
have been watching cleverly last yr and in gb team & against everton he simply not good enuf dont no how he starts alot of the english are too much overated. united should have a top class midfield such players like, tiote, cabaye, snjider,de rossi,silva,xavi,inesta, fabregas, but av cleverly hes 23 and look how good the players are above there proven players...

Believable18 Unbelievable20

Cleverley was very good last season, very good at the Euros and played well on Monday. You are talking bobbins. Judge the player over a number of games, not one bad result.

Sydney!

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So you're basing your judgement on a season where he was a breath of fresh air to our team before he got injured, then didn't get playing time to get fit at the end of the season, and used to Olympics for some much needed match time? Makes sense lad.

RMD

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I think I'm in the wrong place if I come across posts like this with more clicks on agree than disagree...

APC

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You ever watch Xavi when he was 23? He was average. So was Iniesta. There's a thing called patience.

Tioye 1 good season does not make a great player. Ditto with Cabaye.

De Rossi plays a different position.

Sneijder has been awful the last 2 years.

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Tiote? really. I can understand the others being better but Tiote is hardly a class footballer.

If you don't think he's good enough then that's your opinion but if you're not going to support him, well there's plenty of other clubs around the world.

The Moon.

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Cleverely wasnt in the Euros Syd, you mean the olympics??

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22 Aug 2012 17:07:33
Fergie needs to realize that Rio is 33 and extremely injury prone, we need an experienced centre back to play alongside vidic. On monday night he played Valencia at right back and left Rafael on the bench.....WHY?? Is it any wonder the likes of fryers and pogba left. Paul scholes played 90 minutes, he obviously has no faith in Anderson to start tight matches away from home.. you why does he not get rid of Anderson and sign a player who will finally replace a 38 year old.. Fergie in my eyes has lost it and if he isn't careful he will leave united on a whimper!!

Believable12 Unbelievable7

He did realise Rio is 33 and injury prone, he likes Evans and is willing to let him prove himself. You have to remeber it is not the injuries but the calibre of the player you look at. Vidic isn't injury prone yet he got injured, smalling, jones and Evans are injured but are not prone.

Just because we buy a good CB doesn't mean he will play more than Rio.

Rafael had a tough summer and was probs tired. Anderson is not as good as Scholes even now that is why Scholes started.

1redarmy

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22 Aug 2012 17:04:12
Apparently we have signed Hector Herrera...have to admit I haven't really seen him play except against brazil in the olympic final...Can anyone tell me which position does he play and does he show any promise?

kdevil10

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22 Aug 2012 17:10:45
i think michael keane and wooton should get to start against fulham we need valencia to focus on attacking so keane at right back i thought he looked good pre season. full back is a major problem for us everton used that they played diagonals to fellaini all the time and he won every one pretty much. i thought cleverly played really well not much he could of done about the continous long ball to fellaini. nani should be sold i think people that liked and stick up for him are having doubts after that game. i thought van persie made so many good runs when he came on but the midfield werent used to them and did spot them they havent trained together for long in fairness. the result aint the end of the world though. we will get better and better as everybody learns each others game. rooney looked really poor though dwelt on the ball a lot kagawa would do it and kept the ball and always made the pass but rooney dwelt to long and got tackled a lot. i think we should play bebe on the left against fulham at least he likes to try and beat a full back and get in behind we were to studied in are build up and hardly took a shot on. for me against fulham we should drop nani young evra and rooney give them a wake up call if we droped them we would win in my opinion sorry this was so long just a few opinions
lineup for fulham game
degea
keane wooton vidic buttner
valencia cleverly anderson bebe
kagawa
van persie
i know alot of you will slate this team i just think some regulars need a wake up call with threats on the guaranteed starter status
snowdog trumpet

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Bebe ?
johndenton

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Bebe, LOL!

Sydney!

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Just no.

Ste-Utd

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22 Aug 2012 17:00:03
Guys how do you think Jones will be used when he's back at full fitness? I rate him really highly and would have him in a central midfield two any day. But I know there are people who prefer him defensively and those who don't rate him at all. Opinions? Cheers in advance!

Andy!

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He should be played in CDM because he isn't good enough yet to play CB, his positioning is awful and he is rash but he will be a good player in the future (2-3 seasons) i can see him doing what Kompany did, where he played CDM for a few seasons then moved into cb.

JK92

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IMO jones would be a quality defensive mid, as I've said before he's certainly strong enough to battle it out and he can make bursting forward runs as we've seen him do before, I would love to see him there if we don't sign anybody, in fact I wouldn't mind if we just gave him the chance straight up.....Rouge Diablo :)

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I think him and Cleverly could be a very good partnership in the midfield!

1993

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22 Aug 2012 16:24:53
i think for saturdays game we should play tunniclife and carrick in centre mid and if evans or rio arent fit then scott wooton for cb.

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22 Aug 2012 16:24:19
Reason for the loss at goodison park was.. man utd is not settled. major reconstruction was made into the team. so it will take atleast couple of matches to bring chemistry.. once they got it then anti-man utd will see them getting crushed.. so man utdians please have patients..
RED INDIA

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Or Everton played better ?

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Everton certainly did not play better than united, think the possession proves that, that just played super defensive stuck 9 players behind the ball and pumped the ball up to fellaini all day long......hardly a style of play in which you can say evertone outplayed us

Robbo

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22 Aug 2012 15:55:10
WHAT NOT TO DO IF YOU WIN THE LOTTERY
1/ throw 3 million pounds out of a occean linner at sea
2/put on a 3 million pound bet that any of nanis corners in a match beats the first defender
3/ buy a load of shares in manchester utd in the stock market , as a certain so called smart george soros did , just goes to show even the super rich bussiness men can be thick sometimes.............lfc

Believable6 Unbelievable7

You missed the big one "DON'T BUY LIVERPOOL" now trot along back to your fantasy site
ARB

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ONE THING THAT THEY SHOULD DEFINITELY DO.......bet on liverpool being beaten by WBA 3-0.Now,that's a sure shot path to making some money .

RED DEVIL FOR LIFE

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Put 3 million on Liverpool to finish top half.

1redarmy

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This, right here, is how far Liverpool have fallen.

G.A.G.U.S

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Or you could purchase nearly 10 percent of Andy Carroll.
Ooooo what an investment.

Supasub

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22 Aug 2012 16:00:03
Hi guys, I came over from the Liverpool page as I got sick and tired of seeing all the impatient fans whining and moaning about the opening day defeat to WBA and calling for BR's head. 1 match is insufficient to determine the effectiveness of a manager. And to be fair to us, we dominated the match but then got hit by a wonder goal against the run of play and thanks to some dodgy Dowd decisions, we were killed off by WBA.

Seeing your posts here moaning about how you guys claim your team is pathetic, poor etc is really shocking. Put things into perspective! Your defence was decimated due to injuries, Carrick and Valencia had to fill up the gaps (not their preferred positions obv), Evra is having a bad spell and you had new signings playing their first competitive match.

Obv Kagawa and RVP need time to gel with your side and it's unlikely for them to immediately hit the ground running. The team has to learn to accomodate them and they have to learn to play with the team. Yes, Kagawa has shown glimpses of class but in time, he'll become much better. I follow the Bundesliga, he was a class act at Dortmund.

As for RVP, he and Rooney obv need to learn to play together. He must learn how to play off him and vice versa (depending on what Fergie wants). Strike partnerships are forged over time, you can't expect them to click straight away! That's just unreasonable!

And with this Buttner guy possibly replacing Evra for good (I thinks he's rubbish btw, just an honest, non-biased opinion) and Fletcher returning plus maybe Witsel signing, the future looks bright this season for you guys.

The same goes for Liverpool. Yeah we lost 3-0 but we were playing under a new manager with a new style of football. Allen and Borini were making their league debuts as well. It was always going to be difficult,
with Enrique injured we had to play a RB at LB (Johnson) and a CB at RB (Kelly). And going down to 10 men early in the 2nd half makes it even harder.

If there's 1 thing common between Liverpool and Man Utd fans, is that they are very demanding and over-react to defeats. I agree that you were the better team and probably deserved to win. But it's just 1 defeat, not the end of the world. So take it on the chin and move on. Your team will gel and get stronger. No need to bitch so much about losing on the opening day. Same goes
for us.

YNWAsin16

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I do like your posts mate they are quite clear and I know bias comes into football at all levels when it is your club, but what 'dodgy Dowd decisions'?

Even Mr Hansen said the ref got almost everything right.

GDS

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To be fair Borini surprised me, he looked quite energetic and half decent. He could just be something for yous.

MPez

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22 Aug 2012 15:22:43
Tactical analysis of our 4-2-1-3 formation as adopted in the defeat to Everton.

This highlights the glaringly obvious need for more steel in the midfield which we are patently overlooking however I believe SAF is looking to someone like Jones to beef up that area.
I see Carrick as an ever-present this year, partnering Cleverly, Scholes and Jones dependent on the opposition. As this article alludes to we will move for a more combative midfielder than Cleverly in some games, i.e. a role that Jones could adopt, but in others, and particularly at home, we will want all our most skilful assets on show.

I have no issue whatsoever with moving to a 4-2-1-3 as this puts Kagawa in the 'kingmaker' role supporting 3 forwards in essence. Whether that's too attacking (can one be too attacking?) remains to be seen, however if this promotes the fluid attacking play we had when Rooney, Tevez and Ronaldo were in their prime bring it on.

My observations:
Scholes will surely play limited games for us given his defensive frailties – otherwise known as inability to tackle.
Nani looked woeful as ever against Everton and I simply can not see him continuing in the team longer term.
Valencia – accepting that he may not be at his brilliant best if being asked to undertake a more fluid interchangeable role - surely gets the nod in front of my least favourite Portugese ? Regardless he is wasted at RB though still a more preferable option than Rafael.
Carrick at centre-back is an obvious non-starter, accepting that he was only filling in at Everton due to our injury list.
Evra looks set to have a transitional season with the new Dutch LB Buttner.
Welbeck will surely give way to RVP in terms of attacking duties however he could be used on either 'wing' in a 3 prong attack supported by Kagawa

So with the above in mind and assuming some of our defenders come back sooner rather than later my preferred team would be:

De Gea
Rafael Vidic Smalling Buttner
Carrick Cleverly
Kagawa
Valencia Van Persie Rooney

Alternating with:

De Gea
Valencia Vidic Ferdinand Evra
Carrick Jones
Kagawa
Hernandez Van Persie Rooney

This utilises our key players for 1213 in most games: De Gea, Vidic, Carrick, Valencia, Kagawa, Van Persie, Rooney

Evans as defensive cover
Scholes, Giggs, Anderson as cover for the 'midfield 2'
Welbeck, Young and Nani as cover for the front 3

Doubtless there will be occasions when Kagawa is injured or needs a rest but we could still stick with the same system but using Rooney in that role with for example Valencia, Van Persie and Young in front of him. I am unsure whether Powell will be blooded in the first team this year but that's an option and Henriquez when signs would give us further firepower up front.

I expect the 'system' will put up a much better show against Fulham on Saturday and cant wait!

Halesini

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22 Aug 2012 15:15:33
so we have signed shinji kagawa , van persie , nick powell, alex buttner and henriquez. what are the chances of us signing a cm? also rumour has it we are sniffing for a cb on loan? also does ny1 know how much were paying rvp?

Believable1 Unbelievable1

The fee for RVP was 22.5m + 1.5m if we win the Premier league or Champions League in the next 4 years and I think we are paying him £220k a week.

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Add-ons would have been more than £1.5m. I do not believe the initial fee is as high as £22.5m either, I just do not buy that. His salary wouldn't be as high as £220k a week either. It will be similar to Rooney's which is around £160k a week (basic) plus mega bonuses based on the club's and player's performance. There is no way the Glazers would pay a player £220k a week (basic), let alone two players.

Sydney!

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22 Aug 2012 15:35:45
with barcelona signing alex song...

where does this leave the likes of busquets or thiago?

i wouldnt want busquets anywhere near our team, but thiago would be ideal.........

in saying that, this boy herrara seems to be the missing piece of the jigsaw ;-)

Robbo

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Alcantara is hardly what we need, he doesn't tackle at all for a start.

RedDevil19

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You might not like Busquets (sp?) but he is a good player. He wouldn't be first choice for Barca or Spain if he wasn't.
MU93

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Herrera looks like he should be playing with the oddballs at Anfield.

Sydney!

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I dont get people's criticism of busquets in his role hes a master.

marlow

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22 Aug 2012 14:56:46
Please Please Fergie sign a holding midfielder this summer, Someone who play's the Makelele, The Keane, and the Essien Role! Would Love Tiote but to be quite honest anyone who is over 6'2 and isnt scared to put a foot in would do! I'd take Wanyama personally even though i haven't seen much of him or even Mulumbu from West Brom! TomP

Believable2 Unbelievable0

So you want atleast 2 players then? As the "Keane and Essien roles" and the "Makelele role" are completely different.

TK-Red

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22 Aug 2012 13:26:49
God, so many people are hot and cold when it comes to our players.

Wayne Rooney is the centre of our team, and is up there with the best of the best. Wayne always has a very poor start to the season...why? Because he had no pre-season. In pre-season the first three games are just the warm up, and the three after are the real games which get your fitness going.

You may say, he had a good start to the season last season, and yes by all means he did, but he had an almost full pre-season. Wayne is that type of player who needs to be fully match fit and match aware to play to his best. Give him two more games and he will be back to his old usual self.

Ps. I may take note of peoples names to make them look foolish when they come on and praise Rooney for playing well.

MPez

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Mpez, Rooney also plays well when he is on a pitch with plenty of space, at Goodison Park it was far too cramped and when Everton put 11 behind the ball there was no room. United will be uncontainable at OT this weekend.

Sydney! {Ed001's Note - how can it be too cramped? Do you not know the Premier League rules Syd? This season the pitches have to be one standard size for the Prem, so every pitch, even Stoke's, is the same size.}

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He set himself a very high standard so some times gets judged a bit harshly.
he was the best young player i have ever seen and im a massive fan, but over the last 2 years while still being good I think he may of dipped under the worldclass standard.
i hope kagawa and RVP bring the best out of him.

i was looking forward to kagawa playing SS with rooney I think it would of been a great combo not sure how the RVP signing will affect it
jred

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Rooney is good but in no way is he up there with the best of the best. To be the best of the best you need to perform on every occasion. Players that are up there are Messi, Ronaldo, Iniesta and Xavi.
He hasn't been too impressive the last two seasons for me. If he doesnt impress in the next 4 or 5 games he should be rotated with either the little pea or Welbeck.
Feel free to take my name, always thought Rooney was overrated.
MU93

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Ok so you name all of these players but really look at Messi for Argentina or even against Chelsea last season. According to your definition of what makes players worldclass they should be doing it week in week out although Ronaldo is fantastic he doesn't show up for every Portugal or Madrid game. I think the competition for places and exciting players we have brought in will bring the best out of him. Also doesn't help when you get poor service remember a few seasons ago he scored a lot of headers he won't with Nani on the wing. Really the team on a whole can do a lot better playing it to Rooney with 3 defenders on him then being upset when he loses the ball is a little much.

Darren-Bermuda

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Ed001, perhaps it was the camera view then, but the Game looked very cramped on Monday. There was little space for the game to flow. Could have had something to do with 20 players crammed into the Everton half towards the end. It reminded me of the old Highbury pitch were there was limited width.

Sydney! {Ed001's Note - maybe Rooney's excess pounds made it look smaller? Only, as of this season, pitches have to be a standard size. Length:105 metres, Width: 68 metres according to the official PREMIER LEAGUE HANDBOOK Season 2012/13.}

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Erm Messi is actually playing well for Argentina right now, also he always played well for them he just couldnt get onto the score sheet which is why he was critised, whereas Rooney just sucks when playing for England. Chelsea constantly had 11 men behind the ball, nothing he can do about that.
Ronaldo has been dominating with Madrid every since he has joined them and yes he can do better for his country, at least he had a good euros.
Im not saying Rooney is crap just that hes not as good as everyone is making him out to be. Been in decline for a while.
MU93

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22 Aug 2012 13:00:48
I just wanted to ask of EVERYBODY'S opinion on who do they think will actually make it to the highest level at united, throughout the Under-21 and U-18

In my opinion there's players have an excellent chance:

Mats møller dæhli - he's a very small but very technically gifted player he rinds me a lot of modric

Adnan januzaj - I didn't see a lot of him last season because he did have some injuries but what I did see I was very impressed like dæhli he isn't the tallest of players or strongest but he has excellent feet and always seemed determined to beat his man or make a defensive splitting pass.

Tyler Blackett - Some people don't think Tyler has the potential to fill evra's once large boots but I honestly think he could turn into the best left back in the world he's a very athletic player and a very raw talent
His technical ability is not 100% there yet but he almost makes up for it by hisassive size and very fast agile player.

Ryan Tunnicliffe - I rate a lot of the youngsters at united but I rate runners the most, he's a fellow mancunian (which always helps) and the passion he puts on the pitch is one I haven't seen since Gary Neville or even Roy keane, he is very gifted Technically but maybe not as good passing or shot wise, he can run all game and has a fantastic engine.

Will Keane - despite the fact he recently suffered a bad injury I still believe he can make it at united there's not much more I can say about will than he is a goal scorer and a fantastic one at that!

Davide Petrucci - I really rate this lad and it would be frightening to see where he would be now if he didn't suffer almost 2 years out, he has one of the best passing ranges at the club and what he dosent have in pave he certainly makes up for in passing, dribbling and shooting.

I'm sure I have missed a few you haters out so if you would like to help me out please feel free, all opinions welcome
Thanks

ShaunMUFC

Believable2 Unbelievable2

Barring injury, all of the above should make it at the highest level. Perhaps not all with us though. I would say technically Daehli and Januzaj are ahead of the others, but at 17 they need a couple more years of growing yet.

Sydney!

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22 Aug 2012 12:52:25
Would just like to wish Kevin Sheedy good luck and best wishes in his fight to recover from Bowel Cancer. An absolute legend of Irish football and a superb player also.

An Dun Red Devil

Believable14 Unbelievable0

22 Aug 2012 12:43:45
Been reading reports that Hector Herrera to United is a done deal?

Believable2 Unbelievable0

22 Aug 2012 12:47:48
i hope sir alex will use the formation that napoli and juventus last season and italy used in the euros

3-5-2

De gea
smalling-rio-vidic
anto Buttner
wistel-cleverly
kawaga
RVP-Rooney

hopeful we can get wistel before the window shuts and i would put buttner in wing back rather than evra because he useless for the last two years as i put anto in the other wing back as i was thinking he could be like dani alves as he always basically a winger for barca and if we get wistel he could cover anto
Manutd4ever

Believable5 Unbelievable3

Instead of ando i would like to see a creative midfielder like eriksen playing besides cleverly and witsel or hector with buttner.

de gea
jones/smallings vidic rio/evans

witsel/hector buttner

eriksen cleverly

kagawa

rvp rooney

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To the 2nd poster.... the first team is using wing backs... it is just not very clear.... the wing backs are velencia & buttner...

witsel would not be able to do this in your team....

oxred

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22 Aug 2012 12:41:47
so far its been a good window. Two top class players in for the first eleven in kagawa and van persie, one was one of the best players in germany last season heavily involved in winning the double. And the other was top scorer in england. Both should do well once settled into the team. We look to have added some much needed and long overdue competition at left back with buttner. Admittedly a player i know nothing about but hopefully can do a job and adds to the squad improving a week point. And we've got two teenagers in with lots of potential in powell and henriquez who could become very good players. And we also shifted some dead wood. Players people on here wanted gone like tommy k and park and also the likes of de laet and james. Its not a completed job yet we still need a high energy box to box player who can tackle and we still need to ship out both berbatov and macheda and hopefully we can manage all three in the next week. But good window so far.

Believable5 Unbelievable0

22 Aug 2012 12:27:14
Right so we have got Kagawa, Powell, RVP, Buttner and Herniquez. Now we apparently want Witsel, Kaka, Herrara and Mexes.

I can see us signing a CM which will turn out to be Herrara (if that is how you spell his name). It would make sense to get Mexes on loan until January so we can give Smalling and Jones full time to recover and Mexes is probs around Evan's level so he isn't too bad. Not great though.

I think we should just look at a Mid who can play in CB but I don't know if Herrara can do that?

1redarmy

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We do not want Kaka or Mexes.

Sydney!

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Mexes has been poor for a long time like really poor laughing stock status.

Marlow

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22 Aug 2012 11:28:01
you may not be surprised that I do not think the current Manchester United team is very good. You may also not be surprised that I cannot stand J*ck McBluster. BUT he is the person who makes this relatively poor team tick, and has done for season after season.
Look at your players (on paper) against the other teams in the top 6 or 7. You do NOT come out looking very good and yet McMoan drags you up there throughforce of will.
The problem is what will you do when he goes? In view of the man's age this cannot be too far away. At that point all the other teams will look at yours and realise the emperor has no clothes. Problems await you gentlemen, I fear they may be very big problems.
I support a team that is slowly starting the climb after a very frightening descent from the top and a long bumpy ride it has been. I know what awaits you, you have my sympathy

Puzzled

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Our team stacks up very nicely thankyou, now and in the future. Fergy will leave this club in great shape, sorry to disappoint.

DodgyBanter

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Your opinion is not wanted here. Go away.

G.A.G.U.S

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Keep taking the medication if you think losing to west brom is progress.
johndenton

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So, is this the year that your climb will start as I thought it started last year, and the year before that and the year before that......

I do hate to say though, he is right and it is something that worries me.
Not so much about the players we have as it seems that Fergie is building a young side which will get better and better.
My concern is what happens if (heavens for bid) something happens at short notice which means we would prematurely loose Fergie over night.
(By that I mean he has a health problem or something like that which means he wouldn't be able to manage) He is an old man now in a very pressurised job.

It is the reason why I think we should be working towards replacing him now, bringing in a 2nd who can work this season with Fergie then take over when ever needed.
Pressure will be decreased that way, the 2nd will have time to get used to our setup, players have time to get used to him and all whilst fergie is still doing his thing.

karllap

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You're not climbing anywhere Puzzled apart from to the edge of the toilet to get flushed back down again. On paper we have a better team than most if you look at it in terms of football and not been a jealous, spiteful, scouse tw*t. Anyway thanks for giving me a little break at work to reply to your deluded post, means a lot. Enjoy mid table.

RMD

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Is this guy for real, is he Lfc fan? He has to be scouse with that comedy post. He talks about top 6,7 teams,so not Lfc then. But he also points out his team is on the rise! So he can't be Lfc. 3-0 doesn't suggest on the up.
So puzzled, I'm confused...

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You're puzzled, well so am i with a post like this
CRed

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Same old s**t 20 years on, and counting. Do you never tire of the same excuses? "you won't win it next year, this is our season". Team on the climb...the sad thing is you actually believe it! Enjoy yor fight for a Europa spot. Leave the title to the big boys.

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I have just put our players down on paper against the top 6 or 7 (City, United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, Newcastle, Everton) and in most positions we actually look extremely strong.

The only place we look weak is central midfield, and I do not think you need to tell us that we need a new player in there.

Thanks though mate.

GDS

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LOL, you are not getting better Puzzled, Liverpool are still in massive decline. I strongly believe you will finish around 10th this season.

Sydney!

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Who do you support puzzled? I am thinking maybe sheffield wednesday. I did think you were a liverpool fan but then you mentioned being on the up so cant believe its them after last few seasons. Bookedredmole

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The only one i will answer is GDS. I am staggered that you can say that you have compared your team with other sides at the top of the table(last season obviously) and that you found you were very strong?
and then to go on to suggest you are only short of a midfielder is beyond belief......

What is your address? Shady Pines (home for the bewildered)?

Puzzled

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22 Aug 2012 11:51:11
Welbeck signed a new 4 year deal!

Caolán.

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22 Aug 2012 10:18:38
Hi Eds - just wondering if there was something wrong with my post in the early hours replying to Darren in Bermuda? Doesn't seem to have made it :)

Cheers
StevieK {Ed004's Note - I don't know if it has been posted or not. Only just on and can't remember seeing it}

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Its ok, got it. Cheers.

Steviek

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22 Aug 2012 10:15:18
Welbeck signs new deal. OFFICIAL.

Believable1 Unbelievable1

22 Aug 2012 09:55:27
i think this will be the line up on saturday against fulham.(i know it's soon)

_________de gea_________
rafael__vidic__carrick__evra
___cleverley___kagawa___
valencia___rooney___young
________VanPersie_______

JK92

Believable9 Unbelievable4

Hopefully Evan's will be ready then.

1redarmy

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I think at home to fulham, unless Evans is fit enough I would make some changes to the side. Along the lines of

-----------van Persie---------------
Rooney--------------------Valencia
--------Kagawa-----cleverly--------
--------------Carrick----------------
Evra----vidic-----wooton---buttner
--------------de gea----------------

Thoughts please?

Agree2 Disagree0

Fullham would have a field day against that midfield. They're in fine scoring form so playing a cm in the centre of defence, and two attacking cms in front of him is a recipe for disaster. Fergie will be doing everything in his power to get Evans back to fitness. If he doesn't then I would be shocked if he played Kagawa in the centre of the park.

Danny Pughnited

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Spot on..my only change would be when Smalling is fit he replaces Carrick in the defense and Carrick takes Cleverley's place in the midfield.

Simmo

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If Kagawa plays there i will be upset, i feel he is better than Rooney at playing behind the striker and that SAF has once played another player out of position.
MU93

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Danny, if a CB is fit then id expect to see carrick along side kagawa.

JK92

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JK92, why exactly do you expect us to play Kagawa out of position?

Danny Pughnited

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22 Aug 2012 09:20:54
These are the questions that needed answering.
VOTE ON THESE AGAINST FULHAM.

Wootton to play CB and not Carrick.
Carrick to slot back in midfield to replace Scholes or Clev?
Rafael to play RB and not Valencia.
Valencia to play RW and not Nani.
Rooney to play LW and not Welbeck.
van Persie to play up top.
Buttner to play LB and not Evra.

YES
Scholes (but bring him on 65min)
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO (maybe try Butner against Southampton)

Believable7 Unbelievable1

NO Carrick wasnt too bad monday night most cbs would have sruggled against fellani
NO personally like to see cleverley and kagawa as a two especially at home
YES Rafael is a right back after all
YES Valencia needs to be back wide right
NO id play either young or nani their
YES v.persie up top but with rooney
NO id prob wait til our first league cup game or wigan at home, southampton away could be tricky for him to start with

vinny

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YES
Scholes shd retire..
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES (bring on evra in the 92nd minute)

Mago

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22 Aug 2012 09:04:33
I think the most frustrating thing here is not te loss against Everton as such, in 1996/97 we lost the first ame of the season 3-1 to Villa and still one the league, but more that the Everton game highlighted what alot of people have been satin the problem is all Summer. Yes the midfield was weaker because Carrick had to fill in at an already weakened CB position, but the CDM/CM/Ball winner 'vacancy' has needed filling ALL summer. Kagawa is going to be a great player, RVP will get us more goals this year, but our priority has to be the CDM. If we don't sign someone who can fill this role, I am sorry but the majority of u live on cloud 9, we will drop more points against top 6, 7 teams.
I have faith, but I am also realistic. My 3 summer signin picks at the beginning of the summer were Kagawa, RVP and Javi Martinez. If we had signed the third, would we have had the problems on Monday? No. We were tabling bids of £35 million for Lucas, Martinez would be sold for a similar amount. If Fergie can see the problem, then why hasn't he solved it yet. As I said I have faith but I am realistic.
Fingers crossed and I'll post next time I hear anything.

The much hated: PJ

Believable11 Unbelievable1

Unless we get a quality CDM WE CAN FORGET WINNING ANYTHING THIS SEASON and everyone exept MUFC knows this.Please, Please give us Roy Keane or Bryan Robson!!!

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22 Aug 2012 09:01:58
I am ready to get shot down in flames here and I am not saying we need him but I really believe that under fergie, walcott would shine...any thoughts people?

Believable6 Unbelievable12

Bang, Bang, Bang.

1redarmy

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Like nani a one in five game kinda player but his one in five aint as good as nanis so NO
Trebbs99

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22 Aug 2012 08:22:33
Is it just me but a blind man can see that the biggest problem that United have had for several seasons is a lack of a ball winner in the middle of the park. This is where money needs to be spent in my opinion.

Believable12 Unbelievable0

22 Aug 2012 10:34:54
So up until now we have signed:

- Shinji Kagawa
- Alex Buttner
- Nick Powell
- Robin van Persie
- Angelo Henriquez (more or less)

On the 5 we have spent approximatly £50 million give or take the odd penny here or there. The central midfield problem still needs to be sovled however so I do expect another midfielder to come in, and given our centre back crisis, another defender would also be incredibly useful. I personally expect (probably more hope) that we will get two more players in. One being Mexes which I was delighted to see the link with as he is just what we need at this moment of crisis. And the second being Witsel. Now, the Witsel move I don't think will happen, Dembele or Herrera look more likely at present but Witsel would be the star man for me.

If we could get Mexes on loan, then that would avoid any money being spent on a centre back. We could then throw money at Benfica and perhaps give them one of Macheda, Berbatov of Henriquez, either on loan, or part of the deal (Henriquez on loan only). That could bring the fee down by around £5 million so hopefully we'd be looking at between £20-£25 million for Witsel. This would stiffen up the midfield significantly. The signing of Witsel would drag on right to the wire though as we negotiate our price, so I wouldn't expect him to be around for the Fulham match. At best I think we will line up like this against Fulham:

____________DDG
Rafael__Mexes__Vidic__Evra
___Clevs__Carrick__Kags
___Tony____RVP____Roo

Carrick would sheild the defence better than Scholes managed against Everton, Mexes would add a great deal more solidity. RVP and Rooney will link up and we will have the threat of Rafael and Valencia back which was a key component to nearly winning the EPL last year. That team looks a massive upgrade on the Everton match. Here is hoping to Mexes coming in ASAP (or someone good at centre back).

RedDevil19

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22 Aug 2012 10:22:57
Ricardo Carcalho to QPR on loan and Nuri Sahin on loan to Arsenal..........both would have been perfect for the situation we currently find ourselves with regards to defense and midfield.......BIG BIG SIGH!!

Believable8 Unbelievable1

22 Aug 2012 10:05:57
just watching the paddy crerand show, and MPez you put you're point across really well mate, i 100% agree Nani is awful at corners, but i have got to say i really agree with paddy, we have played one game and everyones saying we need to improve midfield and this that and the other but, the most annoying thing about last night was Rooney, so slow and his first touch was a disaster.

Believable6 Unbelievable0

Cheers :)

Ps. Try and come up with a name to post with, as it helps others communicate and get to know you.

MP are my initials, and Pez was a name some of my footie team called me.

MPez

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22 Aug 2012 07:43:24
if there is to be any more signings & newcastle wud sell him surely cheick tiote wud be ideal.he's brilliant CM player & won't be bullied & excellent left footed passer of the ball.he's a ball winner & wud allow cleverly,carrick,kagawa more freedom.Think nani too greedy not a team player! any thoughts peeps :)

-Pixie-

Believable9 Unbelievable0

Excellent passer of the ball? You have been watching the wrong player.


GDS

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Tiote would be perfect for us!!
Trebbs99

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22 Aug 2012 07:42:34
I don't think our summer business is over just yet, I think it is very much dependant on other transfers. I think the mexes news has some legs, not necesarily him but maybe another option, but he would be okay for 6 months I guess. Maybe another young prospect that would not cost that much but give something to the first team picture. Hector Herrera is doing the rounds today but someone of that standard who we can develop but can come in and make a difference as something we are missing. Think the only bit of big business depends on Nani, sell him and a big signing could still happen example, Gaitan, Nani leaving would leave us short out wide and we would need a replacement

RedKnight

Believable1 Unbelievable0

22 Aug 2012 04:52:44
Is everton having small play field i.e lesser area then old traford...
RED INDIA

Believable3 Unbelievable1

All the pitches in this years premier league are standardized, so to answer your question No it should not be smaller

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22 Aug 2012 04:54:21
Don't see how man utd falls. just see how they rise.. we are manchester uniited...
RED INDIA

Believable7 Unbelievable1

22 Aug 2012 02:12:13
Could this be the lineup to face Fulham?

_____________DDG
Rafael__Carrick___Vidic___Evra
_____Cleverley___Anderson
Valencia____Rooney_____Kagawa
____________RVP

With Kagawa and Rooney alternating/swapping position throughout the match.

Rosco.

Believable7 Unbelievable1

Have a feeling young will start also RVP to be subed for chicharito Wat about buttner I think he could get a run out

CAIN

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That would be a good line up, we need energy to get the ball back and Scholes I don't think should be used while we have such defensive problems. Really hoping that we get Mexes though this week.

RedDevil19

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___________DDG
Tony___Evans__Vidic___Evra
_____Clever_____Carrick
Nani______Rooney______Kags
________Van Persie

Sydney!

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I think raf will play rb with tony rw.

i think tony only played rb against everton to give us a bit more hight at the back
jred

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22 Aug 2012 01:30:37
I've been calling out for a CM! but it just hit me that SAF has always said he won't go out and buy unless the player is worth it, he obviously knows we are weak in midfield, and there is only one of two reasons he hasn't signed one:
1. He is being priced out of signing the player, eg: Javi Martinez (40m)
2. There isn't a player who is available who he thinks can do the job we need.
Whatever happens I will trust SAF, he is the best manager in the world, and he knows what he is doing.

Jake F

Believable8 Unbelievable21

SAF has had enough windows to find a CM of quality

We have known for years that Keane left and Scholes was getting older. As the game has got faster paced with every season we have relied on Scholes who has been slowing

SAF has put us up against another deadline in a season where we will have City and Chelsea to contend with, both with better midfields than our own

No more excuses

Red Man

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We have bid for Axel Witsel. So the manager is looking. I hope his stubborn streak doesn't kick-in and we sign in every position except the midfield.

Sydney!

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Sydney

That is a concern but we had £30m plus for Moura why not plough that into Martinez? SAF may do and I was interested in Mancini saying a few clubs were in for him. There is also Real Madrid when Modric arrives. Apart from age and scouse history where does that leave 30yr old Alonso. Welcome your thoughts on that

Red Man

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I think Alonso would be a clever bit of business but would he come taking in to account his liverpool connections.
jre

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Red Man, it seems Martinez will go to Bayern, they have such a completed squad that they can go and spend £30m on a particular player. Similar to us when we bought Rio those years ago. I think Witsel is the way to go now, the manager has got the right player earmarked, just hope Benfica do not price us out of a move by asking for silly money. This is a player who was signed for around £5m last summer and within a year he has turned into a swan so to speak.

I am not convinced Alonso will be available this summer, as they have gotten rid of Sahin, but if Alonso was available I would certainly be interested. Liverpool fans would fancy their chances of getting him, but he left them in a heartbeat and they have nothing to offer him now. The player I would target if Witsel fell through is Khedira. I wasn't a big fan before the Euros, but thought he was very good at the Euros. Seems his game has improved.

Ed002 did say another team may enter the race for Witsel soon, hoping it isn't Chelsea as their Belgian pull would be a problem for us.

Sydney!

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22 Aug 2012 01:05:04
Wow an awful lot of people on here slating Rooney this week. I am pretty shocked that some people even have the nerve to speak bad of him. I am by no means giving him a free pass he does deserve his criticism but seriously when was the last time someone depended on you as much as him? He is the hope of a NATION and was heavily relied upon by United last season. Ok I'll tell you what you go to work tomorrow and tell everyone if they don't finish all their work don't worry you'll pick up the slack. When we need something extra Rooney drives the team forward don't be naive he is one of the best all round footballers on the planet. The reason he was at the corner flag tackling is probably because Evra is so poor he can't be bothered and Rooney actually gives a sh!t. Get your head out of the clouds mate with the weight he has carried since he was 18 we're lucky he hasn't gone mad. RVP being at the team will push Rooney to improve more and will make for an interesting friendly rivalry. I hope they both have a great season which I'm sure they will. Get a grip guys....

Darren-Bermuda

Believable17 Unbelievable15

I'm a policeman - Over the years, I've held peoples' hands as they've passed away in a car-crash, I've had to tell people they've lost their love ones, I've held people's insides together while waiting for an ambulance.

And I'm not alone - whether you're a member of the emergency services, or just trying to keep a roof over your family's head on minimum wage, or fighting for your country in some far-flung, God-forsaken hellhole. That's being under pressure mate, not being paid a king's ransom to kick a ball about a field.

If you're going to defend him, that's fine, I respect that. But come up with something a bit more convincing than, 'the poor lad's under pressure'.

You also say he deserves his criticism, then defend him against any. Which is it?



StevieK

Agree13 Disagree1

...and he's not even the best all-round player in England ffs! :)


StevieK

Agree3 Disagree1

I agree...many posters slating rooney...(they probably had him in their fantasy teams and he dint score/assist)...
The ones who really deserve criticism are Nani, Scholes and ofcourse/again Evra.

1) Evra should be given a break from the starting XI. Every time he gets the ball the move ends up at nothing.
He gets into the D, but when was the last time he provided an assist/decent cross. He can't defend, can't hold his ground. He has been in the first XI for a long run maybe he needs some rest, some time to reflect on his game, send him to the mountains...

Solution: Start with Alexander(or anyone else) and sub him for Old Pat.

2) Scholes 'was' a great player but playing him makes our midfield look too predictable. If you watch closely, 'the Scholes of now' has to make a silly mistake every game guaranteed. He'll assure you at least one lazy or misplaced pass, give the ball away to the opposition. He also slows the game down. Too many side-passes which are too predictable. His long rangers have vanished like berbatov..We need something fresh in the midfield..Carrick looks a much better midfielder than scholes last season..

Solution: Testimonial

3) Nani: I think utd should make the most of his age and (one-off)talents and sell him at a decent price before it gets too late. He doesn't look like a utd player to me. Too selfish, Too inconsistent and a cry-baby. Maybe he would man-up playing in Serie A.

Solution: Sell him this season or next. Heard some Russian club plans to pay 30m+ for him, provide him russian citizenship and include him in their gymnastics team for Brazil. Sell him now!

Not disappointed with last game. Everton played really well and were deserved winners. Id prefer a first game loss against a good team than a 5-0 over a promoted team to paper over the cracks...We showed some good signs when Anderson and RVP came on...Id be unhappy if Fergie starts the above 3 in the future games...


MAGO

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Well said mate

Agree2 Disagree0

Give me £200,000 a week and I'll quite happily take on that responsibility.

BARRED

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He held the club to ransom to be payed at the same level as Aguero, Messi and Ronaldo and he is no fit to lace their boots! He is paid something like 220k a week and these type of player need to be producing week-in, week-out. That is why he is heavily criticized. If he was on 80k a week (still a lovely wage) he wouldn't come in for half of the criticism.

There is no doubting he is a good footballer who had lots of potential when he was younger but he has not fulfilled that potential. If he stuck to his position as a striker he would score a lot more and make things happen, but he is all over the pitch. Even Welbeck took a leaf out of Rooney's book and went wandering all over the pitch which meant that at one point we had no strikers on the field at Everton.

I hope RVP does make he difference to Wayne and shoulder some of the burden, but until they gel and create a formidable partnership he will come in for criticism because he should be the type of player to produce when it matters and for a long time he has been the type of player to produce when he wants.

FredtheRed

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Rooney hasn't been at the top of his game for some time now. Bad touch, slow, can't beat a player. All he does is spread it wide. I love Rooney and hope he gets back to his best but wake up, he is way off the pace! +" hope of a nation", did u watch the Euros?
Boyley

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I agree with everything Steviek said. If the reports of him drinking and smoking is right, then that reflects of his performance on the pitch. a 26 year old on 250k, we deserve performance that is on par with the pay and professional conduct(Gary Neville, Paul Scholes). BTW sound of it Ferguson has already made that point post Monday's game.

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How is a testimonial the solution for Scholes? He had one less than a year ago.

TK-Red

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I am only defending him from those who think he should be sold (probably should've said that). He deserves his critics for his poor performances but how many times has he been played injured because the team needed him? How did we play without him in the team I think you'll find that he is one of our most important players along with Vidic. This was not meant to be compared to people passing away but in the build up to any International tournament it is all put on his shoulders. They base how England will do on if he plays well if he wasn't the hope of a NATION would they have even taken him knowing he would miss the first 2 games. To say he was awful at the Euros he played 2 games after playing a whole season for us. Those of you who would take the money and the spotlight couldn't do what he does simple. Its all easy to say but really what were you doing at 18? Doubt you were the most expensive teen and playing for the biggest club in the world. My post was not meant to offend anyone I know there are others out there who people rely on but from a football perspective Rooney has had the weight all on him. Don't forget Manchester United has standards and if Fergie thinks he should be moved on he will (Becks). Sorry if I wasn't clear was a little irrate people would want to sell one of our best players. Think they are the Nani lovers now turned Rooney haters.

Darren-Bermuda

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My point is Scholes has been a great great player but not anymore....he should RETIRE...

MAGO

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22 Aug 2012 00:55:03
Has anybody else noticed the posts by 'The Frenchman' on this site are deliberately being done to wind us up. I think it may be Blair mayne on a wind up, the rubbish he is spouting is pathetic.

He continuously calls the club manu despite being requested not to (thought the eds usually got involved in this) and his last two post he has slagged off Manchester and called the people who live there 'knuckle draggers'.

I can understand witty banter from a rival fan but to come on here and pretend to be a fan whilst ignoring the great history of our great club and praising the glazers for things that they just have not done is beyond a joke.

I know gagus has got involved with him a couple of times, maybe the eds can confirm the guy does not have the same ip {Ed004's Note - Ok will have to wait till Blair posts to get his Ip address}

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I don't think blah would do that tbh

Pardoe

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OP is GDS, pressed send too early!

GDS

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I pressed send too early, I didn't exactly mean it would be Blair, that was a bit of a joke, but I think it is a WUM and they generally are scousers!

GDS

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Look there's a guy who posts on our page called RedTurk who is exactly the same as the frenchman. He isn't another fan pretending, some people are just so negative its unreal. I suggest you just ignore him, and I know you were just asking a question but thats actually a little bit slanderous mate and I'd be a but pissed off if I were Blair.

KiwiRed

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'slanderous' on a banter site, cant be having that now can we!

J-RED {Ed001's Note - I think more importantly, those moaning about the Man U thing, we can no longer remove that as it was the name United were floated under! Unfortunately, that has made it an accepted name for the club for many around the world.}

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Kiwired,

Do you know what slander means? Suggesting he is posing as somebody on a forum to wind us up is hardly something he is going to be sueing me for! And I am sure he can handle it!

As I said above I did not finish my post and pressed send too early, I was not asking if it was Blair, but in general whether it was actually a guy in France or just a WUM, and it would appear he isn't from the Ed's comments below.

I was suggesting it could be Blair because (I am sure he would admit himself) he usually says things to deliberately wind us up and that is what 'The Frenchman' is doing.

GDS

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Kiwi, RedTurk speaks the truth. Sadly 99.999% of Liverpool fans believe they are on the rise, yet finishing 8th would tell us otherwise. You are still in decline.

Sydney!

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22 Aug 2012 00:41:02
a good box to box CM kevin prince boateng could get for 20-25 million is one of the best in Europe but wistel looks more likely a bad choice either

Manutd4ever

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KPB a box to box?! Why don't we just play Rooney there.

DodgyBanter

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22 Aug 2012 00:20:30
hate the way Chelsea and city fans think there to strong seeing we played a better team no offence to Southampton or wigan look at the city game Southampton lack premier league experience as does most of the player par a few and city conceded 2 goals in the 2nd half and the chelsea game a good 7mins and the rest of the game wigan could have easily comeback a took a draw and most season they are in a fight to survive to stay in the league on monday night it was always going to be tough when facing everton but with players like cleverly carrick and scholes around sideshow bob its going to be easy for him to push them over and kawaga and de gea best players plus thank god than RVP is now hopeful taking more corners than that useless nani who cant beat the first man RVP did more in than game by kicking the corner in than nani playing what 80 odd mins

and evra get a grip and play sir alex please just bench him and play the new lb buttner it will give evra a message step up or leave

Manutd4ever

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21 Aug 2012 23:45:44
With the signing of Angelo Henriquez, no doubt Man Utd will have five of the top ten strikers in the world ever. Lets hope they can get a goal between them in the next game :)

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Falcao is the best striker

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Is this a joke?

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21 Aug 2012 23:35:55
I started supporting united in 1993 and this is the worst united team i've seen in a long while. Too many old players, rio, giggs, scholes etc and not enough spirit. I hate to say it but fergie has got to go. Not only has he let city win the league, he is now just sitting back to watch them run away with it. Something has to be done and i believe the only option is to relieve him of his duties. Get moyes or wenger in i say, or as an up and coming manager di canio. Let me know your views please.
Fred 1968

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How about you concentrate on your own club that finished 8th last season?

G.A.G.U.S

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Lol long ball motes you are kidding

Pardoe

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Seriously you can not call yourself a united fan if you saying replace fergie with wenger!! obviously just a glory fan!

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Fred 1968 - I gotta admire your balls to come on here and admit you are a glory supporter, started supporting Utd in 1993. Guessing by your 'name' you were born in 1968, so where were you when we were a mediocre team, I guess you supported Liverpool then.
How dare Fergie not win the EPL every year, his record is a disgrace, not sure why we have bothered to keep him this long.
He has let City get 3pts in front of us, how will we ever get those points back over the next 8 months, I know let's call for Wenger, after all his team only finished 19pts behind us last season and he hasn't won a trophy for 7 years. Rest assured, not only has he not won a trophy for 7 years he has managed to sell Arsenal's best players to rubbish teams like Man Utd and Barcelona.
If we can't get Wenger then Moyes is the only choice, after all his team are running away with the EPL alongside City, 3pts in front of us.
Suddenly some of the gloom of Monday night is lifted by your post, nice to see you have pinpointed our problem so easily and have not had a knee jerk reaction to the defeat. My faith in my fellow Utd supporters has been renewed, thanks.

Keanooh

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Spot on G.A.G.U.S. he's a rival fan, my guess a fan. Sir Alex's record speaks for itself, not only has he brought us the holy grail that is eclipsing Liverpool's 18 titles and challanging for more, he's investing in the future with Powell, Henriquez and Buttner this window. While thinking of the present with Van Persie, (and not finished yet).
As for letting City win the title, do me a favour, it was a great race and only pipped by goal difference. how may points did we finish above the likes of Arsenal Chelsea and dare i say it LIVERPOOL who won't be challanging for a while yet, they're going to eclipse our unwanted stat of 25 yrs without a league title.
WRITE US OFF AT YOUR PERIL!!!
flyhalf(Mitch)

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Maybe we should sign some real quality players like Downing, Henderson or Carroll? Think that wud be 75mill well spent. If that doesn't work we could just dream about the past for the next 25yrs. Or convince ourselves that next year is our year.
Boyley

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Ha, I forgot Kagawa he's going to be my tip for player of the season.......
flyhalf(Mitch)

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My view is you have a below average IQ.....and I don't get people who 'start' supporting a club - did you draw up a short list back in 93?

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I was a liverpool fan as it goes but saw the light with united! It isn't a knee-jerk reaction, i thought it last season, Fergie is too old now and Man United should have someone with passion and new ideas, perhaps gary neville. Just remember, you heard it here first anyway.
Fred 1968

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21 Aug 2012 23:23:04
Come on guys, there is a lot of over reaction as always.Yes Nani is p**s poor, yes Fellaini ripped us a new one, and yes our tactics were poor. Let's remember this is the first game, we have a much changed forward line and they may not gel straight away. A good win vs Fulham and we'll be right back on track. Our strikers are too good not to score a bagful.
SB

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21 Aug 2012 23:14:57
Just some thoughts on Wayne 'the big man' Rooney.

His first touch would see him dropped from my son's under 11 team.

He dallies on the ball far too long when defenders are snapping at his heels, as if he thinks he has all the time in the world.

Work-rate is all well and good, but maybe he wouldn't have to work as hard if he didn't lose control of the ball so often, and passed to one of his own team. And he's a striker in case he forgot - he shouldn't be tackling someone at our own corner flag - what use is he back there if we win the ball back and try to break quickly?

He carried us the last few seasons after Ronny (a proper world-class talent) left, because he stood out in a pretty mediocre team(by United standards)

When was the last time you saw him genuinely take a game by the scruff of the neck, against decent opposition, change a game, or get you on the edge of your seat, as befits a player of his status and income? He likes to do the adverts with genuine world-class players, and has played his part in a lot of shameless self-promotion, but he is not the player he seems to think he is IMO.

Take away penalties and he'd be a 20+ goal a season striker. I can think of a few of them about who would cost a lot less, give you a lot more loyalty, and be able to control a football - not a lot to ask for someone on £250k a week.

I'm sorry, my judgement may be clouded by the fact that he tried to hold our great club to ransom, and I've never forgiven him for it, but I like to think I would still appreciate a player's contribution to the club nonetheless.

He needs to buck his ideas up, or maybe he just won't fulfill all the early promise. He could start by getting in decent shape - again, not a lot to ask. Lay off the beers and the cigs in pre-season would help for a start.

I know a lot of people will slate me for this. Don't get me wrong, he is a GOOD player, and I'm not advocating getting rid of him due to a knee-jerk reaction after one game, but IMO he shouldn't be considered great, or indispensable to the club by any stretch of the imagination.

I guess I don't buy into this celebrity-driven culture, where someone is considered a 'legend', just because he has a good work rate, can take a penalty, and appears in a lot of adverts. I wouldn't even mention him in the same breath as the Holy Trinity, Edwards, Cantona etc.

I'll stake my reputation ('for what it's worth' snorts the wife disdainfully in the background), that RVP, who showed more ability in 20 minutes than Rooney did in the whole game, will score more goals, and provide more assists, given the same amount of playing time.


I await the onslaught :)


StevieK

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Im trying to avoid jumping on the slating rooney bandwagen but he has declined in the last couple years still scored goals albeit but his ability has decreased imo his dribbling technique an general ball control has worsened also hes lost pace imo this could be down to the fact that he needs to lose weight i remeber when he was no8 he was alot more of an exciting player he ran at defenders more he shot from distance he jus had an unpredictabilty about him that he seems to have lost.

marlow

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Pretty much agree with every single word.
His first touch is shocking.
Don't get me wrong he's world class but maybe being dropped for a while will buck his ideas up.

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Chill out man

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Marlow

Go on, jump on mate :) Nothing like getting a good bandwagon rolling!

Only joking, no bandwagons, before I get targeted by those who believe the hype!

I do think he's a good player, I was just commenting on what I perceive to be a stalling in his development, and possible even a decline in his ability, from those days you're talking about.


StevieK

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No name - apologies, bit over-excited today. Cos I'm going to see Messrs Brown, Wren, Mounfield and Squire in a few hours!!

StevieK

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He is not world class, never was. The term is used way too often. The only world class players atm are Messi, Ronaldo, Xavi and Iniesta.
MU93

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21 Aug 2012 22:46:13
hey does anyone know what kind of a midfielder hector herrera is? is he a ball player or a box to box midfielder or some other kind? and can anyone in the know tell me if we are looking to sign him this transfer window?
G-Rav

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21 Aug 2012 20:43:27
One for the eds or syd,, how concernd do you think we should be if we don't address the cm position,, we were 100% outplayed by everton,, all the problems came from the midfield,, we are desperate for that powerhouse midfielder,, we keep hearing bout Witsal but can't see it happening,,, I hear Mvilla is available for 15mill?

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M'vila said he wants to play for Wenger at Arsenal

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21 Aug 2012 22:30:43
have to agree with the post about dawson,,think he's a fine player,a proper centre half,likes the dirty tough side of defending that a lot of defenders now a days dont seem to fancy much,,,lm

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21 Aug 2012 22:21:58
Hi Eds, just so you know I love this site, so much so that its caused arguments with my girlfriend as I'm on it every 20 minutes! But I cannot help but think that your repeated statements saying that United are not done in the transfer market are simply designed to keep people's interest so that they continue to visit your site. I'm not attempting to brand you guys liars, but being the cynical bloke I am, I couldn't help but raise this issue! I believe that United are done in the market and we will not spend anymore money, however if you TRULY believe otherwise please tell me so and tell me where you think this money will be spent. If I am by some chance right, and you are exaggerating United's further transfer plans in order to keep hits up on your site, feel free to email me your genuine thoughts, as I'd like to hear from you guys but obviously I don't expect you to post this if you feel it will harm your great site's reputation! I'm just a fan desperate to get close to the truth about his club's future.
...Sherlock... {Ed004's Note - Well Ed 2 was saying all last week he didn't think we were done in the market and we just signed a left back. Granted he didn't predict that one but I am sure most, including myself, believe that he is right in the fact we have some serious interest in Witsel. I personally have no sources but I think (for no real reason, other than that I am an optimist) we will sign a midfielder}

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21 Aug 2012 22:16:05
Does anyone think 9m is alot to pay for Michael Dawson? He will be 29 in November!

RedReg

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He would fit right in without cb,s he is always injured

Pardoe

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He is off to QPR

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21 Aug 2012 22:11:16
Well i'll I've given it time to think about last night and what the game showed. And in my opinion it showed that we haven't yet made the most important signing we need to this summer and it that we are unlikely too. I'm not talking about a midfielder i'm talking about the man who sits on Sir Alex's right hand side.

The injuries didn't help last night but it was the tactic's that lost us the game. Fellaini played very well in the gap between the midfield and the defence. But with Phil Neville and Gibson in Evertons midfield it was obvious that they weren't gonna play through the middle but over the top. The problem with a player like Fellaini is if you stand off him he brings the ball down and plays it to one of Pienaar Osman or Jelavic but if you get tight to him he turns you and is clean through. Fortunately this is a problem that is easily solved. All you have to do is get a midfielder to man mark Fellaini, they don't have to beat him in the air or even win the ball but just make life as hard as possible for him, if he isn't allowed time to bring the ball down and lay it off then his only option is to turn his marker but if that player is a midfielder then when he turns he'll turn into two centre backs blocking his path, thus you've completely neutralised the threat. And when you look at the way they were set up once you've taken Fellaini out the game then there was no one else who was gonna win them that game. Also with their attacking threat blunted it allows our attacking players to move forward without fear of being caught on the counter thus giving us more penetration and making much more likely we'll get the winning goal.

This isn't rocket science its tactic's 101. This is why Phelan needs to be moved on. In the past every year some team has come in to try and poach our assistant manager, it happened with MaClaren and Quieroz but no one want's Phelan, the fact Ole was poached ahead of him tells a story in itself.

So what should we be doing tactically?

Well first off Valencia Rafael Fabio Evra and even new signing Buttner aren't traditional Full backs, they are Wing Backs. The differance between the two is that a full back shouldn't cross the half way line and their sole job is to push players wide and stop crosses. Wing backs are expected to get forward and provide width in the attacking third as well as help defensively. Now the golden rule is you don't play Wing backs and Wingers in the same team as they are being asked to play in the same position and they leave you open in the centre of the field. And seeing as we only have Wing backs then it's a huge mistake to play with wingers at all.

Then you look at how football has changed. Apart from Valencia can anyone name a world class traditional winger? there aren't that many and finding a good one is hard. So where did they go? i'll tell you they've evolved into Wing backs, players like Dani Alves and Coentrao would of been wingers 20 years ago but now they're pushed back into more defensive roles. The players who play wide further up the pitch now are expected to cut in and pass rather than cross as crossing is likely to lose you the ball. Even if you look at the best crossers in the world they only have a success rate of around 30% which means 70% of the time they give the ball away and in an era when possession is king this is unforgivable.

So teams now tend to try and play through you rather than get around you. You just need to look at teams like Swansea and Southhampton, teams who have come up form a lower league and try and succeed in playing good football with the big boys. Teams that park the bus and hit on the counter with width are getting rarer and rarer by the season. Teams play with wide players who'll cut in and with AM's and strikers who sit deeper in the "false no.9" role. So if how teams attack you has changed then obviously you need to change how you defend.

No longer is a back four enough. With your full backs now wing backs who are expected to play further up the pitch that will mean that alot of the time you'll only have your two CB's covering. This just isn't enough, you always want at least three players at the base of your team as break away counter attacks tend to be lead by either two or three players it's vital that your not out numbered.

So you either need to play with three CB's or have a DM who'll just sit and cover with your two CB's making up the numbers. Again this is just simple tactic's.

Now with our team and the players we have available i would say it is very hard to play with out and out wingers as we only have Wing backs. Now the trick to getting the best out of a team is using tactic's that best suit your players and play to their strengths. Everton did it against us and they beat us with an infierior side(no disrespect ment). If you look at our best attacking players we have Rooney Kagawa RVP and Valencia, i haven't listed Nani as he is too inconsistant and he doesn't do too well with team play, also he needs to play as a winger and given what i've said to accomedate him as a winger would need at least two Full backs to be bought. So were left with RVP Rooney Kagawa and Valencia, Now Valencia can and should be played as a wing back and as long as we have the tactic's right he will be one of the best wing backs in the world. But the real issue is we have two strikers in a time when most teams play with one. So the trick to getting the best out of the team is finding a way to fit all these players into one team that bests suits their skills.

So i think there is two systems we could play to best suit the players we have.

First is 4-1-3-2 in a sort of diamond formation, it will reguire everyone to be very disciplined though and would reguire a real out and out DM. It'd line up like this:

_____________DDG
Valencia_Smalling_Vidic_Evra
___________New DM
______Cleverley___Anderson
____________Kagawa
_______Rooney_____RVP

Evra and Valencia would provide the width with the DM covering them when we have to defend. Kagawa would be free to roam and Anderson and Cleverley would need to be very disciplined and cover any gaps that opened up.

The other way we could play is 3-4-1-2 with the two wide players of the four being wing backs. This would be more solid and and the easier of the two formations to adapt too. We'd line up like this:

____________DDG
____Smalling_Vidic_Evans
Valencia_______________Evra
_______Carrick_Cleverley
___________Kagawa
_____Rooney_______RVP

With a back three it would allow the midfield two to be more expansive and move forward more freely, while providing width in a similar way to the first line up and allowing Rooney RVP and Kagawa to freedom to torment teams. In this line up you'd want to look for someone who could replace Carrick in a year or two, ideally they'd be a player who sits deep but has an excellent passing range, maybe someone like Strootman would be ideal.

Both theses teams would get the best out of the players we have and give out attacking players the freedom to go forward without fear as defensively we'd be solid.

I do think to have a successful team you'd need to be able to play both in which case we would need a player who can play the DM role, as when Carrick isn't in midfield we look far too light weight. So heres five players i think would do well for us is such a role.

First off we start with two we have missed out on, Claudio Yacob and Vurnon Anita, both are excellent passers while having great reading of the game, both would have been gambles but they would have been cheap enough to make them worth while gambles.

Then we have Arturo Vidal, he was the best player in Germany a couple of seasons ago, but he hasn't quite hit it off in Italy. Maybe we could prise him away from Juventus, especially as they are kean on Nani maybe some kind of player plus cash deal could be sorted.

Then there is the best the Prem has to offer in Sandro, does he feature in the plans of AVB? cause he didn't play as much as he should have under Arry.

Now i've saved the best for last, Lars Bender. Quite simply the best midfielder germany has produced since Schwienstieger and in a similar mould but better defensively. He really is that good. The only team we'd have challenge us for his signature is Bayern who are busy trying to get Martinez(who isn't on this list purely as he would cost too much).

This is the missing piece of the puzzle, if we can get one of them and sort out our awful tactic's then i'm sure we can take on the best and win, sadly i don't see it happening.


Shappy

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Shappy, well said about the 3-4-1-2 formation, it's excellent perception with the players we have got, Valencia and Buttner on the wings would be exceptional, speed on both wings would worry any defense and keep them pinned in their own half and yes we would need a CDM that could start the attacks as well as help the back three in defense. With this setup we would have an awesome attack, a good midfield with a new CDM and Kagawa and a sound defence.

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Great post shappy, i posted the same thing yesterday (about fullbacks and wingers), if you are playing attacking fullbacks then don't have wingers, one or the other.

JK92

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Well said Shappy ! I have been banging the same drum for a while !I have posted your second team quite a times lately ...
You need to play to your strengths and stop playing players out of position ....

fozzy58

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Arturo Vidal would be an amazing capture! He will be the best in his position in the future.

That post justifies how the game has changed and teams are adapting to it.

Vidal or Strootman will be better players than Witsel in the future

ALDUtd

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21 Aug 2012 22:06:42
Sorry about copy & paste, a little gunf on Herrera:
Herrera was a member of the Mexico national under-23 football team that qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics, in which they would eventually win the gold medal. Herrera was awarded Meilleur joueur as the most outstanding player of the 2012 Toulon Tournament after helping Mexico win the tournament.

Supasub

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21 Aug 2012 21:59:06
Just felt like I should express my views.

Kagawa isn't and will not develop into a scholes role. He's a different type of player all together. He doesn't have the range of passing as scholes, he is more of player that finds little pockets off space, with short 1 and 2 touch passes, and the eye for a defence splitting pass. Kagawa MUST be played in the hole between midfield and fowards.

I do however, agree with a lot of people who suggest we need some steel in the middle of the park. Its a shame De Rossi is off the market, he would be a dream to have. Fellaini is overhyped, because he scored against us last night automatically suggests to some 'fans' that we should buy him, we don't need to. Tiote has the steel, but that's about it, he's not utd quality, m'vila witsel martinez are the other obvious candidates, take your pick of which one.

Finally I heard a rumour of Dembele to Utd. He is so underated, some stats from the game v norwich showed he made 23 forward thinking passes in that match, all of which where successful. I'm just not sure if he would fit in a midfield 2 with kagawa in the hole, as much as I'd love him. At the club.

Connor.

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I would love us to buy M'Vila and he is available at a 'reasonable' price. Sadly, I thin we have finished spending for the summer.

Pip

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21 Aug 2012 21:50:54
Just seeing the daily mail an did anyone notice andos jersey spelled andesron. I think that put us right off an made us loose........... Fellaini did it .......

CAIN

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Its photoshopped mate, one of my mates (scouse) sent me a picture of it spelt wrong after the game so I did what any1 would do, rewound it, found a clip where you could see his name and took a picture. It was spelt 'ANDERSON' how it should be.

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21 Aug 2012 21:41:49
Every position that was weak last season has either been improved, or covered apart from CM, I expect a CM (box to box CM) to come in before the deadline, I would expect this to be Witsel or Herrera.

Jake F

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21 Aug 2012 21:39:20
There are two things that I really admire about the Glazers. The first is that they are in the process of delivering a business model that might well exempt ManU from the vicissitudes of the sugar-daddy economics that afflicts the premier leagues, and other leagues aswell. This has not been without pain but if it works, as it undoubledly will, then ManU could rule the roost for years to come.

The second is implicity bound up in their recognition that the center of gravity in the fan-base has shifted and that ManU is no longer the sole provincve of a bunch of knuckle-dragging locals. It is a world club.

To make the day of the real fans then we must hasten the end of the formally brilliant but now decrepit and impotwnt manager. Time to get Jose and breathe again. Viva Portuguesa!

The Frenchman

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Until you stop calling us by that name, nobody is going to take you seriously. Now chuff off.

TK-Red

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Again you are deliberately trying to wind the real fans up with your personic pathetic remarks.

If you start your post praising the glazers you know full well we are all going to rip into you and then to slag Manchester off as well, local knuckle draggers? Have you ever been to Manchester? Maybe you should support your local club instead of slagging off the very people that made this club what it is.

U keep saying we need to get rid of fergie, you are pathetic.

The more I read your posts the clearer it is that you are a scouser on a wind up, maybe the eds can clear up whether this guy really is in France? His view of my club is warped and upsetting if he is not on a wind up.

GDS {Ed004's Note - He is from the UK}

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Surprise Surprise...

GDS

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Just agreed with a GDS post. Wow that was hard to do! Lol ;)

Red Spark

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GDS you are aware that a frenchman or any nationality can live in the country right? {Ed001's Note - I would suggest that it is more likely to be a Scouser, due to signing off using one of the nicknames of a well known Scouse gangster. He was also known as the Devil, due to him making his money attacking and robbing drug dealers. To me I would say it was a wind up.}

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Red Spark,

I am a changed man, I even agreed with Kloot on the rumours page last night!

GDS

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No name,

Fully aware of this, but posts he has made further down have suggested he does not live in this country, so just wanted to check whether he was telling the truth.

GDS

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21 Aug 2012 21:34:28
Really hope Berbatov is sold in the next week, as much as I love his style and personality, but he needs to leave! For the good of himself and the club. I hate seeing just a big signing of ours sit on the bench for the whole season again!

Hopefully Van Persie wont fall down that route in 2-3 years time!

Also I did post months back that Benfica were reported to have interest in Anderson and I did mention a Player plus cash deal. Ed002 is there any chance of this happening? Or was the interest in Anderson false information?

-JakeW

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I was thinking today that perhaps Hernandez or Henriquez could go to Benfica on loan to sweeten a deal for Witsel. I have been saying for a while that I wouldn't mind seeing Anderson swapped for Witsel.

Sydney!

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I wouldnt mind seeing Anderson swapped for a tube of smarties

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21 Aug 2012 21:27:59
After what we have seen last couple of seasons with Toure/Fellani its shown up Utds lack of some physical presence in the midfield,So if the glazers was willing to put the money up for Moura then I can't see why Utd aint trying to do what other teams do to them by jumping in on the reported move by bayern for Martinez,Also with our track record of injured centre halves he can fill in there.The RVP/Rooney/Kagawa looks as will destroy teams but its the same prob we had for a few seasons do we have the midfield for big matches to dominate to create there chances

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