Manchester United Banter Archive April 24 2015

24 Apr 2015 20:55:04
With Gundogan looking to be certain to join, can you see Dortmund letting go of Hummels as well, i know he's been mentioned lots of times here before but will the Gundogan situation change anything with him?

24 Apr 2015 21:35:10
I was having a chat with a mate, and I began to wonder, did we go to Dortmund for Hummels and come away with Gundogan? Like with the Cantona scenario.

{Ed004's Note - Or maybe we have come away with both ;)}

24 Apr 2015 21:52:23
Good point haha! What are your thoughts 004?

{Ed004's Note - Not sure what to think anymore. Nothing is 100% yet both clubs still denying it according to different reports. However if Gundogan and Hummels return to how they played in 12/13 they will instantly improve us.}

24 Apr 2015 21:56:34
did they ever find the cause of his back injury that put him out for so long?

would be nice if anyone coukd shed some light on the injury ie has it fully healed etc

24 Apr 2015 14:31:45
Ed why was the Depay thread removes on the rumours page?

{Ed002's Note - No idea.}

24 Apr 2015 16:51:39
I was wondering same!

24 Apr 2015 14:38:19
According to sly sports footballing (lol) expert Paul Merson, there is nothing between United and Everton's first teams.

Just wanted to know what you guys think about that comment? I personally think the guy needs to change his medication. ;)

24 Apr 2015 18:17:29
I think that a omen that we are winning.

24 Apr 2015 18:48:06
Think he's fallen off the wagon again. He must be pi@@ed to make a comment like that. Maybe he's got a big bet on Everton and he's trying to convince himself he's bet on the right team?

24 Apr 2015 11:05:01
Its been an interesting season and looks likely to be an interesting summer too. What I find interesting is that we have been linked to some players to the extent that it seems almost a forgone conclusion that they will sign, players such as Hummels, Clyne and Depay are never more than 24 hours away from a fresh link to our club. Which I think makes sense as we clearly need a RB, a CB and a pacy direct forward option. We have also been linked to several strikers such as Cavani, Ings, Dybaba, Benteke and Lewandowski, and again with the current form of Falcao and RvP it makes sense to look at a further striking option.

But the one that interests me most in the link to a midfielder, we have previously been linked to Vidal, and Strootman, but recently those links have faded, Gundogan seems to be the one atm. But if I'm honest it seems odd that we are chasing a big name established midfielder at all, Carrick and Blind will likely rotate in the deep lying midfield birth next season with a replacement for Carrick looking more likely next summer rather than this one, and with Fellaini, Mata, Rooney, Di Maria and Januzaj all able to play as the most advanced midfielder then it appears we are well stocked there. The area of midfield that seems the most need for reinforcement is that box to box role that Ander Herrera has fulfilled so well recently as beyond him we have maybe Rooney who could play such a role, but that has limited his impact.

It is that all round midfielder who links the play and is as useful in a defensive situation as he is an offensive. In this respect the links to players such as Vidal, Strootman and Gundogan make sense. But if we have Ander playing so well do we really need another top level player to come in? surely a potential world class player who could rotate with Herrera is a better option, also considering we will likely have to spend 75-85m on a RB, CB and winger then that blows a significant hole in our budget meaning we are limited as we will still have two positions the manager wants to bring players in for(CM and ST).

So considering the expense and the questionable injury history of the likes of Vidal, Strootman and Gundogan I've some up with a list of players who could do as good a job but would be cheaper and maybe better suited to a squad role with huge potential to improve.

First up is Marco Verratti, now I know i said cheaper and he won't be but to miss of a player of his quality off a list potential targets would be foolish to the extreme. In a year or twos time he will be one of the worlds premier midfielders, he is excellent both defending in his box and creating and controlling the tempo outside of it. So he is someone who if available we should really push for.

Next up is Andre Gomes, he has had a great season for Valencia and if they miss out on a UCL place to Sevilla then they may have to consider letting him go. He is developing into an excellent box to box midfielder, he has a great work rate which is only surpassed by his technical quality, he has massively developed his reading of the game which is helping him in the defensive area of his game.

Now we have a name I've mentioned recently, Granit Xhaka. This guy is a work horse, he covers every blade of grass and is tenacious in the tackle but still has the quality of passing to hurt teams going forward.

Mateo Kovacic is a player who was raved about a couple of seasons ago but seems to have disappeared, this i think is more down to the way his team have dropped of the face of the earth in footballing terms over the last two years. This season has probably seen him play his best football and yet his name has gone completely unmentioned, it just goes to show how fickle football is and how everyone is screaming for the next big thing and 20 year olds who were the next big thing as an 18yo have been cast aside in favour of the new flavour of the month. But as such maybe we can use this fall from grace at Inter to entice one of their best young players away.

Jordy Clasie is a pit bull of a player, and his style would be well suited to the premier league, he wouldn't cost the earth and he can cover all of the midfield positions. The only thing against him is he isn't a big name and he is Dutch so no doubt he would fall foul of the same curse that befell Darren Fletcher in the early part of his career where people stated he only got game time because he shares the same nationality as the manager. Clasie is ready for a step up and the premier league looks like the best fit for him.

I've now got three young guys who imo could become top top players in a few years time, First off Youri Tielemans. This lad has it all and despite being 17 years olds looks a seasoned pro already, could he make the step up from the Jupiter league to the premier league? based on talent alone yes, but work rate and mentality are just as important to young players succeeding as talent is, fortunately Youri seems to have his head screwed on and along with the Belgian players in the squad hopefully settling wouldn't be such a problem.
Then we move onto Adrien Rabiot, now I just said how mentality is just as important as talent is in fulfilling potential and that is the only thing that threatens to hold Rabiot back, he needs the right manager to keep him on the straight and narrow, maybe LvG's strict but fair style could be the making of a player such as Rabiot.
Finally is a player I have really enjoyed watching this season when i've seen him, Morgan Sanson. He plays the game with such fizz and flare, happy to scrap for the ball and press but in a second just turns on a pivot and plays a beautiful pass opening up a team at a time they thought they had a measure of control. The speed at which he can change the direction of play is at times breathtaking. He is without doubt the one young midfielder I have seen this season I have been most impressed with. Now I need to make sure I don't get ahead of myself, he is far from the finished product. His passing choices are sometimes a little over ambitious which leads to him giving the ball away unnecessarily a little too often. But that imo is something LvG could educate him on and help him become one of the best midfielders of the next 10 years.

So there are plenty of othe options out there, Verratti would obviously be my first choice but with him unlikely to be available then Andre Gomes, Granit Xhaka, Morgan Sanson or Youri Tielemans would all be excellent options.

{Ed002's Note - If Marco Verratti were available there would be plenty of clubs interested, not least Juventus and he remains open to a move there. PSG will be prepared to let him and Cavani go to Juventus as part of a deal for Pogba but Juve want to control the transfer. Real Madrid will push if it looks like he is going to be available.

Valencia's Andre Gomes has been watched recently by representatives of Bayern Munich, Manchester United and by Vicente Fernandez on behalf of Chelsea. However, the asking price would need to pretty much halve to make any transfer possible.

Xhaka has recently signed a new long-term contract and won't be moving this summer.

Montpellier were to have to work hard to keep Morgan Sanson from the clutches of West Ham United, Milan and Newcastle, all of which have a declared interest, but he will now be out injured until autumn.

Tielemans has attracted interest from Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Arsenal, Juventus, Napoli and Marseille. Chelsea have actively been speaking with his club very recently but would need to send him on loan for, I imagine, two years or more. Atletico have been speaking with Anderlecct and the player likes the idea of a move to Madrid. I am sure the deal can be finalised.

Feyenoord's Clasie remains a target for Southampton and Porto. Interest from others, including Newcastle and Hull, seems to have waned.

Even though he has very recently extended his contract, Inter are willing to sell Kovacic and have spoken with Arsenal, Liverpool and Hertha Berlin. Nikky Vuskan has said there has not been any approach to him from any club at this time and that whilst Inter may be willing to sell the player, Kovacic wants to stay at the club.

Juventus, Arsenal and Chelsea enquired about Rabiot in 2013 and PSG were not keen to sell. Chelsea and Arsenal both enquired again in the summer of 2014 but would see him as one for the future - and neither will commit to the guarantee of first team football that was being requested by the player. Rabiot has been bleating about not being in the first team at PSG and a move to Arsenal or Chelsea would not resolve that in the short term. However, Arsenal, Spurs, Newcastle and Manchester City have had him watched and Spurs were keen on taking him on a loan to buy deal in January. Although previously backing away due to the request for a guarantee of playing time, talks are again happening with Juventus. Spurs has to be a contender still and Arsenal may rekindle their interest.}

24 Apr 2015 12:08:51
Shappy are those your choices or ones you believe the club will be intrested in? Looks like a random list of players to me.

24 Apr 2015 12:32:30
NO. Shappy is knows his Football!

24 Apr 2015 12:28:20
Thanks Ed002, your input is insightful and appreciated as always. So the club only have an interest in Gomes out of those players, obviously you have stated that the club is interested in Gundogan as well. Are you aware of any other midfielders the club has a serious or declared interest in at the moment. Thanks again.

Juan, these are players I think will have a bright future in the game and players I think the club maybe should be considering. As to whether they are currently under consideration you'll have to direct your question to either a Mr Ed Woodward or Mr Louis van Gaal?

{Ed002's Note - Vidal is due to be sold in the summer and I suspect there is still interest. Nainggolan might, if his complex ownership can be completely resolved, be an option (and the ownership issues are far clearer than they were). Strootman has been injured for a while and whilst he remains a target there may be too much of a risk with his injury issues to make a move for him. Carvalho remains a player that both Arsenal and Manchester United are interested in and his situation remains the same. He is for sale, but the asking price would need to come down to make any move possible. De Jong may be considered as an alternative.

M: Interest in Gundogan seems to have been rekindled as he is still delaying signing a new contract. Pogba will be outrageously expensive and there is strong interest from elsewhere. Pjanic was a Moyes target and I suspect interest has gone. Transfer fee and wages are very high. Khedira has been of interest but a move seems unlikely. Matuidi is a player the club has considered but he has no interest in leaving PSG. Interest in Viktor Fischer will have gone completely.

24 Apr 2015 13:17:07
Shappy, good post. I can't help but feel though that signing Gundogan is like signing two players. He is equally good at sitting deep and recycling the ball/dictating play as he is at being a bit more box2box. I would suggest that Gundogan seems most likely at this stage, and it would be no great surprise to see us move for De Jong on a free as he is a player that is useful in particular types of games. I think that, at least for next season, Herrera and Fellaini will stay as the most advanced of the 3 midfielders whilst Carrick, Blind or Gundogan starts as the deep lying playmaker. Blind is also left back back up and has had his injury problems, same with Carrick - remember we will have up to 20 more games next season to play.

Gundogan would be a definite signing for me, De Jong a distinct possibly depending on wage and his expectation of when he will play. But in games where we could get bullied in the middle, De Jong would be ideal sitting at the base of a 3 with Herrera ahead.

24 Apr 2015 14:01:36
i was a big fan of gundogan but he doesn't look the same player since his injury, would be a risk imo.
on a plus side we don't seem to be linked to strootman any more with is good news

24 Apr 2015 15:13:25
I agree with jred, Gundogan has been touted around for a reason, he is not the player he once was.

24 Apr 2015 15:21:30
Jred - Gundogan has actually had many good games since he returned from injury and has not had any trouble with his injury since. I'd take a punt on him.

24 Apr 2015 15:33:42
juan
he has been no where near the player he was prior to his injury .

24 Apr 2015 15:58:36
Shappy, what do you think of Josuha Guilavogui, Daniele Baselli and Vincent Pajot.

24 Apr 2015 19:05:47
Triple swoop on the saints for me. Wanyama, Schneiderlin and Clyne.

Send Nani, Hernandez and £35mil the other way.

24 Apr 2015 19:22:55
Good call Beast, I could go with that.

24 Apr 2015 10:39:17
Just wondering if the signing of Depay (if he signs) means the end for Januzaj or will he go out on loan?
I personally think that we will keep him and Di Maria will be the one to leave.
I don't think LVG want's to get rid of Di Maria, i think the player himself might decide he's had enough due to his problems off the field which would be a shame.
I still think that we need that one world class midfielder and a top centre back and another forward if Falcao and Hernandez leave which we are led to believe.
We just need to make sure that we cement that Champions League place, even though we are playing well I still have this niggling doubt at the back of my mind that something still might go wrong. I hope I am wrong.

24 Apr 2015 11:07:52
I can't for one second see Di Maria leaving. I think he has the strength of character to prove himself, he grew up as a Man Utd fan and now he is our number 7. He will be much improved after a full pre-season and he can put the traumatic year behind him. Next year I think we will see Di Maria starting on the left and Mata/Depay on the right. A pacey, intelligent and threatening attack.

24 Apr 2015 11:11:19
Apparently LvG has told Januzaj not to worry and to get his head down, bulk up and concentrate on next season. So I don't think Depay signing would be the end of Januzaj, Depay is a different type of player to Januzaj anyway, I've always felt Januzaj has reminded me of a young Kaka where as Depay has more in common with a young Ronaldo. I'm not saying either will become as good as Kaka and Ronaldo but if they could you'd want both in your team. I could see Januzaj being moulded to play in the position that Fellaini is playing in as the most advanced on the midfield three rather than wider of the front three.

24 Apr 2015 11:11:27
And as for Januzaj. We should have enough games to share around for everyone, but he may benefit more from going out on loan to a team in the Europa League. I have said Southampton before but the relationship between LVG and Koeman will not happen. But, maybe a team like Aston Villa if they make Europa League through their FA Cup run might be a good choice for guaranteed first team football.

{Ed002's Note - Januzaj interests PSV on a loan to buy deal.}

24 Apr 2015 12:07:46
Fresh when did Di Maria become a United fan growing up? You hear something new everyday on this site.

24 Apr 2015 12:15:51
Januzaj needs to concentrate on putting the ball in the box, passing to a red shirt, and not losing possession as much. Once he has mastered those particular skills then we can ponder where he fits in to a Manchester United starting eleven.

24 Apr 2015 12:19:31
wow jmb u just are on a shooting down session this week ain't ya.

Kinda funny really.

24 Apr 2015 12:34:34
Just asking the questions Chris, just asking the questions!

24 Apr 2015 14:14:13
Read it somewhere a while ago. And I personally see Januzaj's role being central, not as winger going forwards. Like Shappy said, a Kaka type player who could take Fellaini's position in the team as an attacking midfielder. As it stands though I think Fellaini stays in the team next season and rightfully so based on his performances.

24 Apr 2015 14:46:25
Ed002 are United looking to let Januzaj go on loan or sell permanently?

I think he could have a bright future with us, as long as he keeps his head down.

{Ed002's Note - I really don't know - and what the kid wants will matter.}

24 Apr 2015 19:08:00
I'd get rid of Januzaj - He had a few good games benefiting from the "nobody knows me" or the Macheda rule and that's it.

He has looked half decent at times, but he won't get enough games for us to develop and he has a greedy lazy streak to him, but lacks the class of a young Ronaldo to get away with it.

I see him as the future David Bentley.

24 Apr 2015 21:44:33
Some people are far too quick to write people off. Adnan is young and has bags of talent, would be disappointed if he left even if Depay signs.

24 Apr 2015 07:17:46
Some exciting names linked with us for next year which hopefully means we can push on and challenge. But dear God, this morning sees us linked with Snidjer again. Will this story never die?

24 Apr 2015 10:04:48
Is it true he is only 30? I feel like we have been linked with him since 1992!

24 Apr 2015 10:56:12
I think he would be a perfect fit for us.

He is exactly what we need!

24 Apr 2015 12:43:49
In reckon that Sneegdar, Stoatman and Velllarr are exactly what we need.

24 Apr 2015 05:00:18
Interesting seeing David Moyes come out and say that Felliani has been much better this year due to a better standard of player around him such as Herrera, Blind, Di Maria and Mata eventually getting a full season under his belt. I have to say I agree with him whole heartedly. I think Felliani has proven even his biggest sceptics wrong and he is a player who can affect games both big and small. He will be a key player for us for the next few years no matter who the gaffer may be in my opinion.

24 Apr 2015 07:19:07
I think DM is looking for excuses. Fair play to Fellaini for knuckling down and becoming a real asset this year, but I think the move too United can be daunting for a lot of players.

24 Apr 2015 09:17:27
Fellaini's been much better this season due to playing in his best position .
He's done a good job and will be a good squad player in years to come , however if we sign the players we need in the summer I don't see him being as much of a regular as he is now

24 Apr 2015 10:09:17
Why can't you see him as being a regular Bilko? Even if we sign certain players this summer I can't think of anyone who on form can influence a game the way Felliani can at the moment. As much as I hate to admit it I am a big fan of Yaya Toure and I was of the belief he is the most influential CM in the world but Felliani made him look less than average. He has been our best player this season behind De Gea.

24 Apr 2015 10:52:21
Because we're not going to continue to use that tactic every game as we have been , especially if we sign Depay , Di Maria comes good and we buy another top midfielder .
It's a tactic we will use against certain teams or if we need to change things during a game , but I'd be surprised if he's playing every week next season .
But that's just my opinion and the lad has done well for us and I hope he continues to do so in future

24 Apr 2015 11:02:23
I think Moyes is looking to make himself look better or more competent, its what all managers do when the have failed.

Fellaini has been great and will stay but for me I,d be looking for someone with a bit more guile and technical ability to compete with him and Herrera for 2 starting births in midfield, with Carrick holding behind them. Blind to cover Carrick and maybe Vidal, Herrera and Fellaini to fight it out for the 2 more progressive CM spots?

24 Apr 2015 11:19:29
We need to have the option to play aerial balls otherwise we become one dimensional and easier to defend against. Yes we would all like to see us play through teams but without the option of having someone you can play the ball up to in the teams will just press us and limit the space. You can't press a player like Fellaini as you won't win the ball, you need to drop off him and win it after he has brought it down but that opens up space for players such as Mata Rooney and Herrera to play in. We need pace in behind as well which Depay could offer if he came in. Good teams can use one tactic to hurt you but great ones have several strings to their bow making it almost impossible to defend against. We have players who can play through teams, we need height and pace so we can out muscle and out run them. If Fellaini is to be dropped then someone else with similar height will need to come in to replace him.

24 Apr 2015 11:21:01
That's all if's and but's Bilko but the only stone cold fact is that Felliani is playing out his skin at the moment and is nailed onto the time sheet every week. I hope you are correct as I am not a fan of playing long ball or long diagonal pass more often than not but that remains to be seen in the months ahead.