Manchester United Banter Archive February 22 2015

22 Feb 2015 18:47:12
Bjorn Engels? Has this guy been looked at? Another talented centre back from Belgium! He's again only 20 and shows much promise? Ok he's young, but with time and patience, he could be our next rock in defence? You look at Chelsea and Zouma, in a few years first starter along with courtois? Same with us Engels and de gea? I tell you what, just let me replace Woodward at OT!

22 Feb 2015 16:56:50
Personally I don't mind the odd loss as we are peppering the goal and their goalkeeper was man of the match. Oh wait. we only had 3 shots on goal against Swansea.

I find that whatever formation LVG sets out we are ponderous on the ball, have few shots on target and look like were cannot defend against even the most pedestrian of attacks.

I love United but if it had not been for de Gea playing out of his skin at times we would be in 7th or 8th place.

22 Feb 2015 14:51:35
I can't believe the amount of people here slating Daley Blind here. Yes he does lack pace, but he is neat and tidy in possession also does does not tend to dwell on the ball, distributing the ball quicker. He might not have the passing ability of Michael Carrick, but he does keep things moving quicker. Some posters here act like he would be quicker if he crawled, its ridiculous. Daley Blind is such an intelligent player which covers up for his lack of pace and in my opinion what we payed for him is a steal. With another box to box type midfielder and herrera, I think we would have an ideal mid-field combination.
And he has shown that he can bag some vital goals for us. I'm not saying that Daley Blind is the best player in his position, but he is definitely better than what most people give him credit for and he is definitely not average. Did I mention his versatility? :p

22 Feb 2015 15:55:18
I posted something very similar to this the other day. Underrated player. If they don't have pace, power, flair or can't dribble then a lot of people think they're not good.

22 Feb 2015 16:13:29
I haven't noticed too many people slating him to be fair. He is doing well, but he is no more than a squad player for me. His attributes are suited to this type of style and frankly he would get nowhere near City or Chelsea's first team. So if criticising him is saying that we need better if we are to compete with the best, then I am guilty of that. He has done well though, better than any of our other signings.

22 Feb 2015 16:37:30
He's done ok, but I would question whether he'd get into any other midfield in the top 7 or 8. Midfield has been our big problem for a while and whilst he is a decent player he is no replacement for Scholes or Keano. United shouldn't really be aiming any lower than that.

22 Feb 2015 17:30:36
I think Blind can turn out to be a really important player for us. If we sign a box to box mid-fielder, then I think our midfield would look strong with Herrera and Blind in there.

22 Feb 2015 19:07:01
I disagree with you when you say he wouldn't get in any top 8 midfield, every team has a player exactly like him. Lucas, Allen, Ramires, mikel, Milner, fernando, mason, bentaleb are all similar players, they are essential to the balance lvg often bangs on about, the only problem we have is we don't have another deep lying midfielder to pair him who carries the ball forward and drives the team forward with him. This is why we play sidewards and look stagnant in possession.

22 Feb 2015 14:43:23
People say we are playing badly and grinding out results but that's utter nonsense. If you look at the results of our last 10 games over the past 2 months.

Aston Villa 1-1 Man Utd
Man Utd 3-1 Newcastle
Tottenham 0-0 Man Utd
Stoke 1-1 Man Utd
Man Utd 0-1 Southampton
QPR 0-2 Man Utd
Man Utd 3-1 Leicester
West Ham 1-1 Man Utd
Man Utd 3-1 Burnley
Swansea 2-1 Man Utd

Thats 16 out of a possible 30 points without really playing any of the top teams bar Southampton and Tottenham. This is mid table form and if results continue in the same vein it may be Europa next season.

While I was happy to see the line up and the formation I felt the team lacked penetration. Ball possession counts as nothing if you can't use it. While Herrera's goal showed we can play decent stuff I feel that we invite to much pressure on ourselves and the lack of a real experienced head at the back is costing us through simple mistakes.

The thing about ball possession if done correctly, is it tires out the opposition and is meant to create space in the latter stages of the game, this will only happen if the ball is played at pace and pass distance is varied.What we seen yesterday and in many other matches is that our players are struggling to pass accurately at pace.

RVP left yesterday on crutches, hopefully its not a long injury but at the same time maybe it will allow our team to play different as recently I feel he has been offering very little going forward.

22 Feb 2015 16:02:55
Great post and puts down on paper what some of us 'negative' posters are saying!

Not having RVP may be a blessing in disguise for the team and Falcao, could Rooney and Falcao work? I think this is Falcao's potential last chance.

22 Feb 2015 16:38:29
Hallelujah finally some sense. 16 out of 30 works out to 60 to 62 points over a season.

That ain't going to get you top 4 and for those who seem to get all giddy because we beat Burnley, Leicester and Newcastle at home one away win at QPR, think again before you stsrat hailing LVG as Cesar.

22 Feb 2015 18:14:52
It's no surprise Rvp left on crutches as I think he started on them

22 Feb 2015 12:26:27
How can people already want to get rid of Di Maria or even drop him? He's easily been our most influential player bagging 8 assists and creating the most key passers. Even yesterday he didn't have a great game but still got an assist and had more key passes than anyone else. He offers something completely different to anyone in our team which is his pace, his ability to beat a man so easily and he offers so much to our counter attack which we haven't really had for a good few years now.

I will admit he hasn't played to his full potential but he's still contributed the most IMO, and considering its a new league, new language, joined a team lacking in confidence ( joined after our Swansea defeat) and joined a team with a new manager who's new to the league IMO it's understanable he's not been his best for the whole season. Also he got injured and has been played out of position a number of times so that also doesn't help!

People can say look at Sanchez, he's adapted so quickly why hasn't di Maria. Well he joined a team with good confidence: won the fa cup and also beat mancity in the community shield, he joined a team with a manager who had been with them for 10+ years and knows the league the best. No wonder sanchez has had a great season with all these benefits compared to di Maria.

Is DI Maria worth 60 million? Considering how amazing he was last season I think he is close to that and I don't really care tbh. We have the money and to get the best you have to pay a good amount. Could that money have been spent elsewhere? Probably but we needed a winger who could beat a man and have a good final ball and we purchased one.

Anyways all I'm saying is that get off his back cause even though this hasn't been a great season he's been our most influential and there's a lot more players ahead of him who should be getting a lot more stick than him aka rvp falcao mata . Anyways rant over and here's hoping for a liverpool win or draw
:(

22 Feb 2015 13:29:19
My worry is that he started like he had played last season, which was natural and showed he could settle very well. BUT then the LVG effect kicks in and we get what we are seeing. All of our naturally gifted players look poor, whereas as our workhorse type players look ok. Rojo, Blind, Fellaini and sometimes Valencia, look far better than RVP, Falcao, Mata, Rooney, Januzaj & ADM.

So if LVG is to stay in charge we should get rid of our flare players and replace them with the players that don't rely on their natural God given talents. It would be a sad state of affairs, but our manager needs robots, or more tactically mindful players. Players like Cleverley would look better under LVG I'm sure, but that isn't what we want. We obviously want our world class talent to demonstrate that talent but our system and ethos stifles that.

22 Feb 2015 13:39:35
I don't want to drop him, but i do expect more than he has shown since he came back from injury. His heart just doesn't seem to be in it.

My pet peeve is RVP, but then I don't think we ever should have bought him. We needed creative players not another forward. We had Rooney, Welbeck and Chicahrito all of whom paid dearly for that purchase, coupled with the failure to replace Scholes, Giggs, and Keane with like quality. It was short term thinking - but when you're a 70 yr old manager in search of number 20, you don't really need to think about the long term do you? That's the next guy's problem.

Geez. sorry if I'm being a bit aggressive atm! There was something about yesterday's loss that really upset me.

22 Feb 2015 13:42:17
Forgot Young as well sorry. Our utility players are the stars of this season, which is why we are where we are performance wise. How many of these players would get into our rivals starting 11 sums it up for me?

22 Feb 2015 13:42:20
Beast, I think LVG would have got a lot more of last seasons team becasue the team were laden with work horse type players.

The more I think about it, the more I wonder why LVG didn't bring in De Jong and other players of that ilk. They would have worked better in his current set up.

The irony is, the current team has the player make-up to be a Fergie team. He would work wonders with the players we have at the club now.

22 Feb 2015 13:56:00
I too am surprised that out flair players are doing badly under LVG. LVG needs to become more open to attractive play, but I suppose we do need to ensure that we grind out a top 4 finish. It's a balancing act.

22 Feb 2015 14:13:27
Great point Sam. I said recently LVG would have done worse than Moyes, but the players we had last season did suit this LVG style of player more, so it isn't as cut and dry for me now.

However I think with CL to juggle and some older players that gave Moyes grief (I think) they would have been even more reluctant to change their way of play for LVG and there might have been fireworks. One reason I think there isn't so much internal problems in the public is because Rooney & RVP have been brought off in my view (our two players with stock or ego to speak out), we lack characters in the team, not sure how well Evra, Rio, Vidic, Giggs would have taken to LVG's ideas last season - Falcao & Herrera are the obvious ones where there looks to be a problem for me, but they haven't built up enough power in the dressing room yet.

Its all ifs, buts and maybes, but interesting point you make.

Rooney actually said we created a lot of chances yesterday - he has sold his soul for this captaincy, but in fairness I am pleased he isn't bitching in public, you never know he may have been brainwashed into thinking we are actually doing well, wouldn't strike me as being too difficult a thing to do!

22 Feb 2015 14:18:15
Di Maria is a game changer, even when he is off his game, he is still very dangerous.

22 Feb 2015 14:46:22
I think some of you are again trying to place the blame, in my view unfairly, solely at the feet of the manager. I have asked this question before : "why do so many skilful and technically gifted players fail to live up to expectation at Old Trafford?"
In recent years the likes of Ronaldo and Giggs have, and I am sure you can all think of a few others. But the list of those who haven't lived up to expectation is far longer.
Admittedly it is still too early to judge Falcao and DiMaria, but the list of " disappointments" is huge.
Mata, Kagawa, Anderson, Nani, Berbatov, Forlan are just a few.
In my view, is it a case of justifiably blaming the manager, or accepting that many of these players are not suited mentally or physically to English football?
We all keep compering our current situation the the SAF era, and understandably so. But Fergie's teams were built on solid foundations of strong defenses, hard work and passion and commitment. Now, LvG seems to be getting slated for wanting the same, though playing a different style of football.
I have to admit, I do get fed up with all the slagging off of the manager. I can totally understand where GDS2 was coming from. I think he, like myself, doesn't necessarily think that LvG is the perfect manager for United. But I think we are both of the opinion that all that is wrong with put team is not down solely to the manager.
Some of you seem to have the whole thing sussed. You know all the problems, and have all the solutions.
Personally, I think there are far more deep rooted problems at Old Trafford than just the manager. Sure, he must take some of the blame. But to blame him for such a dramatic fall from grace is both wrong, and unfair.

22 Feb 2015 15:25:34
You are right Betty, it isn't all the managers fault of course. It wasn't all Moyes fault either, so the same treatment should be afforded.

Players are to blame as well, but even players like Rooney, RVP & Mata who have pedigrees in the PL are not delivering consistently. I know Rooney has been doing a job for the team, but his performance yesterday was typical of how he has played for over 12 months now (since his contract).

The manager picks the team, the system and is the representative of the footballing aspects of the club. None of us are privy to the inner workings, (what is Giggs exact role and the guy next to him for example?), but from our limited knowledge of what we see and what is said by the manager he is inviting the agro and it should be on his doorstep.

Many of us do criticise the players as well as the manager, its just LVG comes up a lot because he is the person ultimately responsible, maybe not totally to blame but certainly a major factor for me.

22 Feb 2015 15:28:16
Betty
I said the same last year and got slated.
We have spend another 150mil since then and have imo a much better team

22 Feb 2015 15:29:27
I for one support the manager and hope he is given time to develop his style of play, but right now, it isn't working.
With so much at stake, I personally think he should revert back to what has worked; and IMO, we should go back to playing with three CB's and wing-backs. We looked more balanced and better defensively organised as opposed to the diamond formation. The players looked like they were getting to grips with it, and were producing consistent results.

22 Feb 2015 16:17:49
It's really amazing how different people see the same game in different ways. I watched the game here in the US yesterday and, maybe I was influenced by the glowing review of the commentators, but I thought Rooney was excellent yesterday. The formation was appropriate for the match but some key players didn't show up, and the defence, stripped to a back 4 showed its limitations.

LVG clearly is the mark of the Beast to some. He can do no right. I don't think anyone thinks he's necessarily the best manager for our club, but a balanced view would surely accept that the players need to accept a large proportion of the blame. The manager doesn't kick the ball.

22 Feb 2015 16:50:39
Jred

Last year it was all DM fault mate, After he banned chips and made the players get fitter it affected players moral. This year it is the direction of the wind, the players, the team bus driver, that lousy mascot and everything else but LVG.

Shawthing

He is beyond salvage in my opinion and there are midlevel premiere league managers, who would get a lot more points out of this squad than he is getting. If you are going to be an arrogant sob and talk the talk you better walk the walk my friend. Very hard to like a manger with zero humility and sh. t results to go with it.

What I think you are yet to grasp is his brand of football does not cut it in the PL but he serves up the same dros every week and seems unable to learn from it. How many times has he said we are not creating chances and scoring, you might think he would by now figure out something better. It is a unfortunate thing to say but the RVP injury might actually force him to put a first 11 out that actually will produce some decent football.

22 Feb 2015 17:01:55
The funny thing is he actually said that we created a lot yesterday and simply "forgot" to score, hmmm!

22 Feb 2015 18:43:05
Beast,
I agree with the majority of your above post. I disagree with your point of Rojo being simply a 'workhorse'a player. I feel like he has no major flaws in his play. He is fast, strong good in the tackle and doesn't get bullied like our other cbs. I think he would form a great partnership with a leader like Hummels next to him to help him with his positioning.
On ADM. the reason he was so successful for Madrid was because the front 3s movement was so fluent. The interchanging left loads of space for him to run into and with RVP and Felli as part of our front 3 it leaves him no room to operate.

22 Feb 2015 23:39:11
There are lots of things about LVG i don't care for, so please don't see me as an apologist for him. He is way too aloof. I agree with those who think he needs to get up and direct from the coach's box when things aren't going well. He needs to show some passion, because that's what players need to win.

I can't speak to his tactics, except to say that it doesn't seem to matter what formation we play, we still pretty much suck. So my conclusion is that that's not the problem. Which leaves the players, which is a combination of their abilities and their application. LVG is clearly failing to motivate them. Is he blinding them with his intellect? If so, that's a problem because this is the EPL not Mastermind. Every team is going to fight you every week.

So, yes, I accept LVG needs to accept some blame, and win or lose he's the one who is ultimately responsible, but my point is that yesterday certain highly paid key players did not show up and they need to take their share of the blame too. They're making 10m a year, more than most of the supporters will make in 5 lifetimes, they need to show some pride.

Finally, in the highly likely event we fail to qualify for the Champions League, or even the Europa, and if a resurgent Arsenal knocks us out of the FA Cup, will we be looking for a new manager this summer? And if so, will we not risk the continuation of this cycle we're now in, where no one can imprint a style of play on the club?

23 Feb 2015 06:47:40
Shawthing

Sometimes it is better not to continue with something that will take years to undo and cut the odd early.

Ultimately, he is selecting players and he is responsible for how we perform on the pitch.

I believe we good to excellent players and he is not getting even 75% of their best with his approach to the game. They are clearly instructed to play a certain way and to me it seems like they take the easy option of not taking any risks and meaningless possession that yields nothing. I also think the movement of the players is quite poor and that is purely a coaching issue from the training grounds.

22 Feb 2015 11:17:53
To be fair we never should have lost that game yesterday, we played better than we have been, but we are still slow and predictable with the ball !! ADM I'm sorry is not stepping up too the mark, I really am wondering does he want to even be at the club anymore, he seems disinterested, and nowhere near a 60 million pound player. He has regressed since the start of the season . And RVP now needs too b benched because he simply is not good enough anymore . The manager needs to step up to the plate and do what he's paid to do and make tough decisions, which means benching his underperforming big stars . I think Herrera played well again yesterday, why the hell he spent so long on the bench is still a mystery to me, he could've had a lot more games under his belt and be even more settled and better still by now . I think a right back is needed, I think a bit of steel in the middle is also necessary, and of course a CB, now i haven't BN calling for LVG to get the boot, but i don't think he's the man to take us forward in afraid, and if someone more suitable comes along then we should go get him and replace LVG, because i don't think we're even going to make top 4 watching us these days . LVG needs to start playing players on merit not on their price tag or because of favoritism or he could find himself out of a job by the summer, his stubbornness could just be his undoing :-

23 Feb 2015 06:53:55
I agree we should have not lost and the result is not a fair reflection of the game. Having said that we also don't create much and can't say we should have won.

We should put teams like this to bed earlier and having all this possession with very little created only allows them to hang around and score the odd goal. How we responded afterwards was terrible and Whilst Fellaini has come through in a few games this year, we never had anything against them in the air,

22 Feb 2015 10:26:18
So the debate rumbles on, is it the players fault or the Managers fault. Several players are out of rom but it is the Manager who keeps on picking them.

I thought we were better yesterday I n terms of our overall play but I can't get comfortable its Fellaini at the tip. 1 up front with Rooney at the tip, or Rooney up front with Mata at the tip might help us create more chances.

I don't think we are a million miles away from clicking. We have good players going forward and just need to find that magic formula.

And Shawthing, you may disagree with a poster but you don't have to stoop to name calling. Pathetic wimp? Completely unnecessary

22 Feb 2015 10:53:26
Its a bit of both

22 Feb 2015 11:27:23
Did i stoop to name calling? I don't remember doing so. If so, I apologize.

22 Feb 2015 11:36:33
Looking back, are you referring to the "pathetic wimp" comment? That was directed at Di Maria if, as jred asserted, his generally poor form is attributable to LVG's criticism. I stand by that comment. A highly paid professional rises above such trivial things and proves the critics wrong, and doesn't go into a sulk. Di Maria had ample opportunities yesterday to take advantage of the space he had on the left, and failed abysmally. His corner taking was once again atrocious. I just don't see how that's the manager's responsibility, and if it is it's emblematic of the nanny state we're in.

22 Feb 2015 12:24:42
Shaw
I have explained my point further down the page

22 Feb 2015 12:32:33
The problem yesterday, as it was in the two games prior to it, is that our lack of width makes us slow and predictable. If we have three of Rooney, RVP, Fellaini, Mata and Falcao as the front three players, this means that our attacking focal points are all playing centrally. In addition, because Di Maria, Herrera and Januzaj are being asked to play in the centre, all our width is coming from the full backs. This means that when we move the ball forward, we have to look backwards or sideways for any width. In turn, this means that the opposition defence isn't being stretched and they can contain our attack simply by tightly marking in the central areas. Then if we need a goal to get back in the game, our primary means is to lump the ball up to Fellaini in the hop that he knocks it down to the other players clustered around the centre of the box.

Whenever we have played with wingers we have looked faster, more threatening and more balanced. We don't need to play with wingers because it's the United way or the Fergie way or anything like that. We need to play with wingers or wide forwards because without width we are toothless and predictable. This season just seems like a constant battle to get van Gaal to accept that certain ways of playing are just far more effective in the EPL.

22 Feb 2015 13:26:27
Danny, I thought we had quite good width yesterday, we just didn't do anything with it. Plenty space was created on the left in particular where Shaw and Di Maria were dominant for the whole first half. As I've said further down, it's my belief that had Di Maria exhibited the quality one would expect from a 60m man, we would have scored a couple more goals, or at least had some very good chances. The right hand side was less proficient simply because McNair was isolated, with Herrera drifting more to the middle.

Just playing with wingers isn't going to cut it if the final ball is crap. I can't help thinking of that game last season when we had 100 crosses or something. What width does is create space in the centre, allowing the creative players the space to do their thing. With skillful wide players there is no aimless crossing, only passing that just happens to come from a wide position. Do we have anyone who is of that quality?

22 Feb 2015 14:27:06
I have to agree with Danny on this one. We are not set up right. We get space out wide only on a switch. Sometimes Di Maria or Shaw got space to run with the ball, but the defense was still deep enough to handle the crosses.
Also, with our three players furthest forward - RVP, Rooney, and Fellaini - all playing centrally, we not only lacked widith, as Danny said, but they were also poor in not making any runs behind the defense. Whenever Fellaini, received, EVERY other player waited for a back pass. No one ran beyond Fellaini for a flick on, or a quick layoff and through ball.

22 Feb 2015 14:30:03
There's a difference between ineffective and effective wing play.

Poor wing play is primarily about working it down the line and crossing it in. This is what a lot of lower league teams do because they think that if they play the percentages and cross it in enough times, they're bound to score. We played that way last season, at times, and it was woeful.

Good wing play is about having attacking wide players who can either go down the line or cut inside, preferably with pace. Because the wide players are encouraged to drive forward into the box, the opposition cannot simply set up to defend against crosses. This form of wing play is designed to stretch the defence, meaning that there is more space in the centre for forwards and midfielders to create and score. Think of how Real or Chelsea play.

At the moment all our attacks are aimed toward flooding the central areas, be it trying to pass through the middle, work the full backs into a crossing position or hit it long into the forwards. Opposition defences can see this and know that if they set up to defend centrally, they can comfortably cope with everything we throw at them. This is why even weak teams like Cambridge and Preston have contained us for long periods. When we play with width players like Rooney, RVP and Falcao have more space. Defenders can't double up and they have more opportunity to lose their markers. Yesterday was indicative of the limitations of the diamond. When we go behind the only strategy is to hit it high and hit it long because we lack the wide players to run at the opposition with speed and drag defenders away from the middle. Every single time this season when we have played with genuine wingers, we have looked a million times better.

22 Feb 2015 15:10:18
Danby, I take your point about good/bad wing play in theory. But at the end of the day, good wing play is simply about creating chances for the forwards. Arguably the most effective wide player in the EPL era was David Backham simply because of the quality of his crosses and the n7mner of chances he created. Of course, it is all 'horses for courses' and what works for one team may not suit another.
But taking yesterdays game as an example, we got plenty of good possession in wide areas, and simply did nothing with it.
Do you think that vanGaal actually tells DiMaria that if he is in a good crossing position with forwards in good areas, not to cross it?

22 Feb 2015 08:03:01
I'm thinking of writing this and posting to lvg before I leave Portugal today. Requirements :
Right back who can actually defend and attack and stay injury free (clubs or Coleman).
Centre back, a dominating experienced one who can tackle and not get intimidated by the likes of average players like gomis and benteke (geray).
Defensive midfielder who can actually defend! Can tackle and cover the ground quickly unlike Blind who should be used as backup (naingollan).
Central midfielder who can dominate, create, tackle, shoot, pass (pogba).
Winger who can actually go past players and whose heart is into our club unlike ADM (depay).
Centre forward to replace rvp and falcao, a player who will chase lost causes, run across defenders, work hard to find spaces, shoot with accuracy (Dybala).
I'm quite happy to offload rvp, nani, ADM, Jones and Evans. That should bring in a few pennies and balance the books a little.

22 Feb 2015 10:16:05
Have a good trip to Portugal and i will make sure we get started on that list. Good list BTW b

22 Feb 2015 10:20:18
Agree with all of that Nomid, its amazing we have spent so much have such a high wage bill and still have so many obvious deficiencies.

22 Feb 2015 11:14:27
Who's to say dybala wouldn't be another falcao? And why has the Roma midfielder all of a sudden become a worldy? Same with Depay, yeah he looks the best player in Holland at them minute but so did blind last year. The only midfielder we need is someone like pogba I agree, the only strikers we need is someone like cavani, benzema or lewandowski but I agree with garay as him and rojo may form a decent partnership.
It's a different manager we need, an attacking one!

22 Feb 2015 12:10:22
Diego, Dybala has ten times the amount of pace of Falcao and is magical with the ball at his feet like Aguero. Also Nainggolan has been one of Roma's best and most consistent performers this season, if you take time to watch him you'd see he's a solid player and has something our team's been severely lacking for a while now.

22 Feb 2015 12:38:17
I think we should sign Kane if we can. Vidal for CM, Bale for LW, Hummels for CB - and play Rafael.

22 Feb 2015 13:29:15
Come on Beast, you know Spurs will charge us an arm and a leg for one of their better players.

If we are going to be in the market for a young striker I think Dybala looks the most talented.

I agree Vidal would still be my ideal choice for CM, Nainggolan if Vidal is still too expensive/risky. Gundogan would also be a good option but after spending almost a year out I don't know if we'd still be interested.

Either Hummels, Garay or Otamendi for me. Also I would sign a RB as Rafa seems to be always picking up injuries although I rate him I'd sign Clyne.

22 Feb 2015 13:59:42
Oswald

So why was nobody mentioning these players last season? I'm sorry but falcao was the best in the world up until about 5 moths ago, just because a striker is fast doesn't mean there the best in the world otherwise we would of kept welbeck and chicharito, imagine how fast a front 3 of Wilson, welbeck and chicharito would be?

22 Feb 2015 14:32:46
As of today, I will go with:
CB - Garay and Kongolo as a prospect
RB - Coleman, Clyne, Walker, or else Alves
CM - Pogba hopefully, or Vidal, and Gundogan
W - Depay (is Reus even possible?)
CF - Lewandowski

RVP needs to move on this summer.

22 Feb 2015 15:15:30
Diego, a lot of players make a break through and rise to prominence quickly. These two players have both played consistently well for the past six months which has put them in the limelight. Was anyone talking about Bale the season before he had that very prolific season with Spurs?

Falcao still is one of the best but you've been watching him, he's struggling to adapt to the PL or fit into the team which may be partly due to injury so is it really worth spending £43m on him?!

Also when did I say the fastest strikers are the best? I proposed Dybala as a great signing because A) we're lacking pace in our attack and B) he'd cost half as much as the likes of Cavani, Benzema, Falcao or Lewandowski and could easily become just as good. I don't think you've watched him much? It's easy to see he has a lot more to his game than both Welbeck and Chicharito.

Why splash the cash on a big name when you could buy a younger, cheaper alternative who could be just as influential? As we've seen this season our two big name signings (ADM and Falcao) have hardly been our best!

22 Feb 2015 16:43:30
Oswald

Dybala has 14 goals this season, so why not go for Charlie Austin instead, u kno proven in the premier league etc? I tell u now the cost to sign dybala would be just as much as any other, this is Palermo were talking about, they took about £100 million for pastore and cavani. I understand your theory of why not take a cheaper prospect but for me we need a top class goal scorer, I agree with falcao he's not worth the punt but what I'm saying is dybala is just as much risk, in a way everybody is. We could have aguero and suarez up top but in this system where we hardly create a chance then it won't work anyway

22 Feb 2015 19:38:20
Thanks gcu. Interesting lists from the different posters.
Diego, cavani went from Napoli to PSG. Also watch naingollan in action and you'll see he's exactly what we're missing.

22 Feb 2015 20:45:20
Sorry I stand corrected cavani did go from Napoli (he was at Palermo originally) I understand where people are coming from it's just I think dybala is a big risk as he won't come cheaply either

22 Feb 2015 01:02:10
Firstly I would like to point out we did play a little better today and unfortunately the result didn't go our way. That being said the amount of possession to chance creation ratio we have is unbelievably bad. We are sluggish in possession, predicable to defend against and down right sloppy on the ball.

They're are players in our team who are still getting into the first eleven purely on reputation. RVP and Di Maria (he has not turned up this season at all) being the biggest culprits but also Rooney. If Rooney plays up top then yes he should be in the side on merit but as a CM or No.10 he shouldn't be. I feel for Rooney because he has most definitely been a casualty of war in LVG's revolution. Finally, I think we have to push Wayne up top and play through Mata as a No.10 until the end of the season.

Again I have to say I was impressed by Herrera who was always trying his best to up the tempo. Young Shaw looked dependable and Blind had a good game but with him dictating the tempo we are lethargic. In all seriousness out of all the top 4 contenders we have by far the most difficult fixtures in the months ahead and I feel we needed to outfox Gary Monk's side tonight to keep one step ahead.

It is pivotal that even if we drop out of the top 4 this weekend with the Saints still to play and the Gunners smashing their way into third, that we do not lose focus mentally. A consecutive poor result against Sunderland or Newcastle be that draws or loses could start a cataclysmic chain reaction of bad results with Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool, a relegation threatened Villa, City and Chelsea ahead.

LVG has to stand up and lead this team of below par superstars or we will slip big time down this slippery slope which is the Premier League.

22 Feb 2015 10:24:57
I think we have 3 games to save CL. LVG is not going to change things overnight as its clear he doesn't change much from game to game, this 4/4/2 is really 3/5/2. I have been saying it all season, but keeping the manager is delaying the inevitably, we need to be decisive or pay the price. Have Giggs or even SAF step in now until the end of the season, they will tone down the tactical aspects which are hampering our progress. Sure we may lose against City or Chelsea, but we will smash teams like Swansea who were for the taking yesterday. I actually worry about Sunderland at home, which is ridiculous.

If we don't act now then it is a toss of a coin if we get CL. Then would you trust the manager in the summer to buy well and sort out the problems in time for next season? I wouldn't.

22 Feb 2015 11:16:18
Beast could I use this post on my Facebook account please? A lot of my friends are blinded by van Gaal and think u have a good point

22 Feb 2015 12:38:47
My pleasure Diego, thanks.