Manchester United Banter Archive March 23 2014

23 Mar 2014 20:28:35
If anybody is watching the classico, Di Maria putting on a master class in terms how to play as a left winger.

Funny Ronaldo having a very poor game and being quite selfish.

Di Maria is sh*ep mate. Far better and cheaper players out there that wouldn't see us as a step down as I feel him and contreao (sp) would see us.

Also far too flimsy for his league IMO

Watching el Classico really put into perspective how much we need to improve to be able to compete at that level.

And that is why Lionel Messi is still the best player in the world IMO. Simply class and turns up when it matters.

Deeps.

Ultimately Messi's hattrick was two penalties and a tap in against a team with 10 men who I think did well.

Anyone who watched the game could see that none of the big players performed on the night. Bale was non existent, Ronaldo the same apart from his goal and Neymar was just terrible. Messi scored a hat trick, two penalties and assisted the other, yes it was a crucial contribution, but generally he was quiet and did not have a great game any more so than Ronaldo.

I always have to laugh when Messi scores in a big game how he is suddenly better than Ronaldo again and the usual "Messi masterclass" headlines come out. It's embarrassing. Benzema scored twice, does that make him better than Ronaldo as well? Give me peace.

People will always have their opinions on who is better, I personally edge towards Ronaldo due to him being more complete and able to play in any team, something I don't believe Messi could do as effectively.

That said, I believe we should just enjoy both of these players playing at the same time, they are the two greatest ever to play football.

Messi played a lot better than Ronaldo. Bale had a terrible game and Ronaldo had very little influence on the game.

Neymar ruined a pretty good game by proving what an overrated diving little tw. t he is.

Shahram

You better be careful, lest people call you embarrasing for having an opinion that is pro Messi on this forum. Even with a post that says IMO, people seem to latch onto it and force their opinions onto you.

Messi was a lot better and his "big game" record is better than Ronnie's. That is a fact and that IMO makes him better.

Deeps.

23 Mar 2014 18:12:14
I have just done some research on Carvalho and I didn't realise that he is also a good CB. If we signed him it would enable us to sign a more expensive, experienced CB and keep Michael Keane at the club. There is also Fellaini and Carrick who can fill in in emergency. Just a thought. It saves us having to buy two CB's.

Very good point, we need that versatility. A bit like Alex Song.

23 Mar 2014 13:03:16
Here is a question, Do we need Toni Kroos? Or would signing him be detrimental in the longer term?

We already have a player who is very similar to Kroos in terms of passing, vision and shooting, albeit somewhat less experienced. Nick Powell.

I don't doubt that Kroos would improve the team in the short term, but would he be loyal if a Barcelona or Madrid came calling? Would him being in the team stifle Powell's development?

Would the potential £80+ million outlay over a 5 year contract be better spent improving the back 4?

What are your thoughts?

My personal view is I would like to see a new lb, rb, cb, box to box midfielder and a wide man signed. My must have players would be reuse and Vidal and I would like to see lingered and Powell coming into the squad from the reserves at a minimum.

Kroos is a proven world class talent. Whilst Powell has very good potential originally he was an attacker rather than a midfield player, so to hang your hat on him is a high risk option.

I think the real question is whether Kroos really wants to play for us and Moyes. I see he has been allegedly quoted on social media as saying "in the semi final of course" basically saying we are no opposition. Not a good quote about a team you are really thinking of joining is it?

Hi Redman, don't believe the Kroos dissing Utd stuff. It's not true, he was correcting an earlier entry where he said the up coming quarter final games would be tough. Hence the semi finals of course post.

I don't disagree that Kroos is world class right now, but how do you balance the teams needs now with developing players. Ignore your youth at your peril. Look at the Pogba and fryers situation.

You need to be able to give your youth enough games to keep them happy and letting them develop whilst using your experienced players to maintain league position. It's a tough ask. I am glad I don't need to do it. I would hate to see Powell getting disheartened and want to leave to get first team football.

Barca lost thiago due to lack of games. Cesc was frustrated last season and could have left if thiago had not. Part of Kroos frustration is lack of regular football as well as lack of wages compared to some team mates.

Comparing one of the best midfielders in the world to nick powell is like comparing crystal champagne to lambrini and quite laughable in my opinion. you can't start comparing a man who is performing to the absolute highest level possible and against top class opposition in the champions league to a man who has ripped up league 2 with crewe and had a good season in the championhip with wigan.

@Red Man: When he said that he was correcting himself after saying "A very interesting lot for us! We should measure Man United not on the current situation of the table in England. We need two top games to get into the quarter finals"

He then corrected that to "In the semi finals of course"

In response to the OP, he is someone who long term would vastly improve the side. If there is a chance then we should sign him, no question.

Thanks for the update on the comment puts it in a different light

I hope Kroos is not just using us to leverage a salary increase

Buggy, nick Powell is a very good prospect, but kroos is a world class midfielder. He played arsenal off the pitch on his own during their recent encounter.
If there is any chance we can get him, then we've got to pay whatever it takes.

Kroos would be agreat signing! Powell could become a good player for us but he's got to work hard I think he has got more competition with mata kagawa and Rooney

Kroos is a bonafide German international playing at the highest level whilst powel is playing championship football. Not sure how they relate to each other mate.

I have high hopes for the kid but totally different players.

Red Man, don't you just hate it when the truth cuts the feet out from under you? ;)

StevieK

Let's see whether Kroos really wants to come here or whether he is trying to improve his situation like Cesc did. Happy to find there was more to it and at least I am not in denial.

Whether he does or doesn't is irrelevant to the main point you were trying to make in your original post though.

Not the first time the facts have got in the way either, is it?

Do we really need Kroos?

What a stupid question!

StevieK

As I have said before when you get personal it means you have lost the argument

Not personal, fella. But if you're going to adopt a strong stance on something, and shout it from the rooftops repeatedly, then you have to expect to get pulled when you mess up. Or perhaps you just want us all to roll over and swallow everything you say.

Being desperate enough to use misquotes and tabloid rumours to back up your points could also be seen as losing the argument.

23 Mar 2014 11:42:36
Good Morning Guys

What do people think about an offer for Lukaku.Chelsea seem to be keen on selling and he might give us another attacking option.

I think they would be looking to sell him aboard first.

Lukaku has already said he only wants to play for a team in the champions league, I can see him going to Dortmund or even to PSG in part of a deal to bring Cavani to Chelsea

23 Mar 2014 08:32:36
First off let me say I think Januzaj is a tremendously gifted player and we are lucky to have him, but is playing him at the expense of kagawa part of the reason for our lack of pace and predictability.

Two of our best performances of the season, olympiacos and west ham and no januzaj. I personally think he lacks the pace to play on the wing, although thanks to his technique he delivers a wonderful cross, unlike young.

He needs to play through the middle, but with Mata, Kagawa
And Rooney in there it is hard to see how he will get a chance. Don't get me wrong I think januzaj is a wonderful talent, I just think him playing on the wing is part of the reason we lack pace. This season we have played too many players out of position (carrick yesterday not included, what a performance).

Let's hope we have turned a corner. And with nani on the road to recovery and RVP out for the season maybe januzaj, mata and kagawa will be able to show us what they can do if played in the right position.

Januzaj ain't pacey? are we watching the same player? I agree he rarely uses pace to go past players, but that may come as he ages and learns, I also agree he hasn't got (which I think is what you mean) the extreme acceleration of Ronaldo or Griezmann type player. Actually if you watch Janu's work ethic I see him as a world star at CM in the future.

Grund, I have no problem with Januzaj's work ethic, technique or potential, but I don't think he should be playing wide. It is my personal belief that wide men should either have electric pace or be a bag of tricks, preferably both. I was actually referring to the speed of passing and getting the ball moving forward.

His vision and technique would be better served through the middle, albeit he needs to fill out a bit to make sure he is not outmuscled in the middle of the park.

We need to stop playing square pegs in round holes. Please let's try playing players in their right position for a few games and see where that takes us.

Just to reiterate, I think Januzaj is a gem, it's just he is not being played in the right position.

I don't think he will be strong enough ever for our CM, he is a poor man's Alex Oxlade Chamberlain for me. I think he needs to be a roaming winger but playing with Evra is not helping him on the left. He is too weak at the minute, he doesn't offer enough yet for me. Personally I would loan him to Swansea or Newcastle next season.

"poor man's Alex Oxlade Chamberlain"

REALLY?

Huggy76 and beast what the hell have you guys been taking, Januzaj is best played as a left winger and is already better than the Ox he will go on to be a great player capable of playing a number of positions even cm as he can tackle and pass I have watched him for years in the youth and he has always been a stand out left winger or sometimes of the main striker a poor mans ox please what ever you guys are on its strong lol

For the Centre of Midfield he is a poor mans Ox at the moment, he isn't as quick and certainly isn't as strong. let's be totally honest about Janujaz performances, he has had a couple of quality performances, against Sunderland was one in particular, but 75% of games he has gone missing completely. I don't blame him as the support isn't great and he is obviously very young, plus the majority of the team have performed just as poorly so it's hard to judge him when the team is playing so bad, but he needs to develop a lot and do we have room in our team for a player to develop at the minute, just one passenger and we will get punished now?

I like his potential, but he hasn't done much yet and we have a horrible habit of not developing players to their full in my opinion.

I agree, Beast. For me it would be Mata, Rooney and Kagawa/Welbeck behind RVP every time, with Adnan being used sparingly.

I've no doubt he's going to be a top talent, but I don't think we should be overly relying on him too much just yet.