Manchester United Banter Archive June 27 2014

27 Jun 2014 21:13:13
Following the signings of Herrera and Shaw this site seems to be back to how it used to be a couple of seasons ago. Fans filled with optimism, speculating which players we could go for but actually have a genuine hope of signing as opposed to the way I and many others have felt in the last couple of seasons where we are linked with everyone but almost knew nothing would come of it.

Off the back of this I believe the next signing needs to be a CB. I feel we could cope better without another CM or winger as opposed to signing one of them and not a CB. How does everyone else feel about this?

Yeah I definitely agree that another CB is probably our most pressing need at the moment. The likes of Jones, Evans, and Smalling all struggle with injuries and I have a hard time seeing them as adequate depth for the position.

27 Jun 2014 23:43:51
For me at least one possibly two wingers is as imperative as any other hole we have to fill in our squad to give more attacking threat that doesn't come from midfield from Mata/Herrera. Added to the fact that Nani and Young are out of chances to impress surely and Giggs has retired, which people seem to forget about
So it has to be one younger winger and another more established one that needs to come in. For the younger one Memphis Depay is the obvious choice for obvious reasons a real talent with shades of CR7. We also need a more experienced one which is the usual names Robben/Sanchez/Di Maria one of those also HAS to come in for me to offer a bit of experience and put an arm around the shoulder of Depay/Januzaj (providing they're both here of course)

27 Jun 2014 23:52:44
Agree.
CB then another CM
and then a winger in that order.

28 Jun 2014 07:19:35
I don't understand peoples feelings a Winger is needed over a CB. We have so many attacking players already. For me the CB is clearly the most important pos'n to secure. I think Jones has the potential to be one hell of a player, But right now neither Smalling, Evans or Jones are strong enough. As stated a million times all 3 were pretty injury prone last season.

A cb, cm, then a winger for me.
Id go all out and really push for mats hummels, arturo vidal, and memphis depay.

We have quite a few players we could possibly use as part of any deal which could come in handy. Or sell on to generate extra funds that it may take to get the deals done.

27 Jun 2014 18:26:14
Edd 004 if your about, what are your views on the shaw and Herrera deals. Personally I'm very excited and over the moon. Sorry if this has been covered

{Ed004's Note - I very happy. I would probably expect one more signing this window and that would be a cb. Ideally we would fix are whole team at once and get another cb, cm and winger but that might cost too much and Ed 2 reckons it'll take 3 windows for our transition to be over}

I personally think we will sign another midfielder, and a winger. Then dependant on pre season a centre back.

Think Eds spot on: all we really NEED this window is an experienced CB who can command the defence and bring the best out of Jones, Evans, Smalling (and Keane). I think it will be Vermaelon; Hummels would be ideal but presumably he'd want CL football - though offer Kagawa to tempt BD? Maybe also De Vrij, who was Feyenord captain at an early age and seems a natural leader.

All other positions adequately covered with either existing players, youngsters to come in or players that can be converted to another position.

Think Strootman is nailed on for January so, before then, imagine LVG will experiment with partners for Herrera from the existing squad (CLev, Fell, Ando, Carr, Roon, Pereira, Powell, Pearson, Fletch)

If we do get another MF, won't be Vidal, who wants CL football and Juve don't want to let go; would be more like Carvalho or, more likely, De Jong to keep us ticking over until a better player can be signed in a forthcoming window.

Wallace. We need a winger or two as much as we need a CB. I rate Smalling, Jones and Evans a lot more highly than I do Young, Nani and Valencia.

Red7. But are we actually going to play wingers? LvG teams seem to get all their real width from the full backs. With 3 in midfield (Mata, Herrera & Fellani/Carrick) and two of Rooney, Januzaj, Welbeck (& nani?) either side on RvP I'm not sure we'll play genuine wingers next year.

Prof Frink

We need centre backs, can not win football matches when you gifting goals. We can get away with what we have on the wings for anther year.

Sorry redseven, but would you trust Smalling, Jones or Evans against the top forwards in the league? They need an experienced/dominating CB alongside them, as they had Vidic when he was fit and on form. Jones will undoubtedly become a top CB if he stays injury free but, until then, he's not the commanding CB we desperately need. More than wingers. As the Prof says, the wing backs will do most of the attacking down the flanks.

I think our needs in order of preference should be CB, CM, Winger. I would love to see these addressed this summer with quality buys followed by some young possibly Dutch squad players to develop along with our youngsters.
Realistically we may have to accept less this year and as the Ed's say grow over a couple of windows.
Maybe there is scope for Evra to actually play further forward this year and Nani to show his true potential. maybe!

I would say our needs in order of preference are CMx2, WM, CB.

I highly rate all of Smalling, Evans and Jones. People seem to forget that Evans has been our best CB for almost 3 years now. With Riio and Vidic gon yes an experienced CB would be handy but not a neccessity imo.

Also with the signing of herrera with have addressed a number of problems in the centre but we are still short on top quality. Carrick has been below par for about 18 months, Cleverley has regressed, Fellaini hasn't done anything so far to suggest he fits in there, Rooney is average in midfield, Fletcher hasn't looked the same since coming back, Powell looks better further forward, Pearson and Perreira need maybe another year, and Ando is Ando.

Overall with the two signings we will look like a different and much better team but we aren't favourites for top 3 imo.

Looking forward to being proven wrong :)

28 Jun 2014 02:37:04
I actually think that both Jones, Smalling and Evans (if stay fit) can do more than a decent job just by getting more convidence. The whole team didn't have that all last season and will only get better when knowing what to do and beliving in the system provided. i'm not saying we don't need a nother cb, but if wd don't they can also do the job, when the midfield is going to do a lot better work. I believe its so much into convidence.

Ed004. I would expect more than 1 more signing. I think we could see Sanchez or di maria come in as well as a cb. But we don't no. I think there could be some exciting shocks to come,

{Ed004's Note - Hope you're right}

27 Jun 2014 14:57:18
Ed do you know if the Stefan De Vrij rumours that we have agreed a fee are true? Cheers in advance

27 Jun 2014 12:54:23
Question for eds if around, what is the plan this upcoming season for Angelo Henriquez?

{Ed002's Note - I don't know.}

27 Jun 2014 16:57:18
With Us Liverpool Chelsea strenghtening and City being what they are can you see Arsenal Everton and Tottenham falling behind in terms of obvious quality and Champions League and League hopes

Paddy long time for the window to shut down mate.

I'd be very surprised if Arsenal don't strengthen too - they will be very competitive. They were extremely unlucky with injuries last year, losing key players for long periods, in particular Walcott who seemed to be coming of age. My prediction: the top 4 will be Chelsea, City, Arsenal and United, not necessarily in that order. United will be top of the table 10 games in. Liverpool will not replicate last season when everything came together very nicely, especially if they lose Suarez - which is effectively already the case for the first 3 months of the season. Neither Everton nor Spurs will have enough depth to maintain a strong challenge and hack it through the Europa Cup.

I am in two minds about Mourinho and Chelsea and what they will achieve next year. On paper they look great as usual, but is Mourinho too negative? Has the game moved on tactically since he enjoyed his greatest successes?

27 Jun 2014 17:43:19
Clubs u mentioned will all strengththen too mate

27 Jun 2014 18:51:21
Every team will try and strengthen there is no doubt about that, but I see us having a small advantage not having to focus on European matches this year. this should hopefully allow LVG and his staff more time on the training ground to implement his system, and like peashooter said, some of these clubs will struggle with depth come mid-to-end of season imo

As united fan of over 35 years, hate to admit it, but classy responses to Suarez on Liverpool banter page.

27 Jun 2014 20:08:23
What else can they say Wallace

Hes vermin, I wouldn't read to much into there condemnation of him, I can't imagine how many posts ain't getting through. Ed01 has his work cut out that's for sure!

{Ed001's Note - to be fair, I have not had to delete anything, not regarding Suarez anyway. There have been a few defending him, but not had to cut anything other than one guy who was using multiple accounts to cause issues, some as a United fan and some as a Liverpool fan. Other than that, I have not had to cut anything, surprisingly.}

27 Jun 2014 16:29:25
Seems that Lallana is off to Liverpool for (reported?) £25m. That's a lot of money for a team losing money like Liverpool, unless they know there is money coming in. Maybe putting 2 and 5 together and getting 74, but Luis Suarez to Spain seems likely now. Oh, how he will be missed!

Balague reckons Barcelona for between £56m-£64m (€70m-€80m) although Barcelona want to get the price down. Pedro or Sanchez could be chucked into a deal if either wanted the move, although he believes (like the editor) that Juventus are strong faves for Sanchez.

It does seem like the purse strings at Liverpool have suddenly loosened. I am just guessing, but is Shaqiri a like for like for Suarez? Lallana will probably play left. Sturridge upfront and Sterling hole? Where does that leave Coutinho or any other attacking signing?

From a liverpool fan:
Betty u clearly need to stop getting your hopes up of liverpool just sliding down the table next season. We were not doing too badly when Suarez was banned were we? Actually our win percentage is higher with him not playing, so clearly anyone suggesting Liverpool are a one man team are way off the mark. Suarez was allowed to shine because the team was built around him, we played to his strengths. Sanchez seems to be the first choice replacement for Suarez, and can be as good a player as he wants if the team's built around him. He would get the opportunity under Rodgers that he never got at Barca.

27 Jun 2014 17:43:03
Liverpool fan.

In 4 comps next year, it's a squad game mate

Squad game or not none of Sturridge, Shaqiri, Lallana, Sterling, Coutinho etc are going to want to sit on the bench. Lambert will be happy to sit on the bench. As will Borini and Aspas, possibly Coutinho at a push, but none of the others will and it would leave no space for a Sanchez.

I think Shaqiri is an alternative to Sanchez. If that is the case, is Lallana and Shaqiri better than Coutinho and Suarez? I think not. What do you Liverpool lads think?

Sydney you sicken me, what do you think you're doing discussing Liverpool with scousers on a United forum, take this to the Liverpool page immediately.

Syd mate
Lalanna.and.shaqiri are two top players. Is anyone better than Suarez? Apart from messi.and.ronaldo.no but if we get sanchez included.in the barca deal i.will be very happy.
Not one.liverpool fan or mate wants Suarez at our club anymore mate. I really want him gone. He.has done a lot of.things that most fans are unaware of'
P.s.Herrera is an excellent player. Will look forward to seeing.him in the PL next season

27 Jun 2014 18:01:29
Sanchez played over 50 games for Barcelona last season, you seem to think he is second fiddle.

Al, I know Liverpool fans have a crush on Sanchez, but it's MU who have bid for him. Still think he could end up at Liverpool, but surely Shaqiri is seen as an alternative to Sanchez to replace Suarez?

Sydney balague has said thãt sanchez.hasoffers from juve and liverpool. I really don't know where the lad will end up. I know juve are his first choice but Sanchez could end.up anywhere syd.
Shaquiri its a tough one. Edd001 had said a possible four of sturridge up front, lalanna in the middle and.shaqiri and sanchez out wide. Liverpool IMO are keeping their options open. Soo many variables, things change in a moment. But the sooner suarez goes the sooner we can move on.

Indian Buzzer,
You seem to have misinterpreted my post. When I said "oh, how he will be missed", I meant by the population in general, not by LFC. The sooner that buck-toothed rodent leaves these shores the better. Suarez is a very talented footballer, but as a sportsman and human being, he is a vile individual.
As for hoping LFC slide down the league next season, I honestly couldn't care less. My sole interest lies in MUFC. If I had wanted to wind up some scousers, I would have posted on the Liverpool page. To me, LFC are irrelevant. I don't need to hope you "slide down the table". You will achieve al on your own.
If you think the potential loss of Suarez will not make LFC a significantly weeker team, you are kidding yourselves. You had a very good season last time round, and deserve all the plaudits you received, but Luis Suarez was the main reason behind that. It does not matter who you sign to replace him, you will be worse off without him.
Like I said, I have no interest in LFC. But seeing as you enjoy the United page so much, I will do a "Sydney!" and make some predictions for LFC next season.

1. You will score less league goals next season.
2. You will win less league games next season.
3. You will amass less league points next season.
4. You will finish behind City and Chelsea next season.
5. You will also finish behind United next season.
6. Taking into account 4 and 5, you will not qualify for UCL the following season, unless you win it next year.
7. That ain't happening either.

On a more positive note, despite still not winning a trophy, Brendan Rogers will still have the brightest, whitest teeth in English football :)

Betty
This will happen, this.wont happen etc
Pitiful.post, no.knowledge, nodepth, no common.sense.
Ahh, Sums up the majority of your posts

Al, Sterling will not be happy to be a supersub. Then what about Coutinho? Of course it's a squad game, I understand that, but do you think Van Persie or Rooney would be happy to sit on the bench? I genuinely believe it's Shaqiri or Sanchez, not both. I think that was the initial plan anyway. I am sure BR wouldn't turn down Sanchez if Shaqiri was already signed, but I am sure it's Lallana & Shaqiri or Lallana & Sanchez or Lallana & Markovic that's the plan. We will see I guess.

From winning the league to our abysmal season last season under Moyes, there was a 49 point swing between MU and Liverpool. I don't expect it to swing back next season, I suspect it will be somewhere in the middle. MU will not be bending over and taking it up the arse from the likes of Chelsea, City & Liverpool next season. This will be a much stronger and confident MU under LvG. Liverpool will unlikely be able repeat what they did last season. More games to play equals more injuries and injuries to key players will not just weaken the side, it will affect the side mentally. Liverpool were very lucky last season with injuries. Sterling when introduced in December went the entire rest of the season without an injury. Gerrard remained injury-free all season. Suarez after missing the first six games didn't get an injury all season. That will not be the case next season as more games will affect the fitness levels producing injuries. It's inevitable. Another thing is 'expectation', Liverpool fans will be expecting a similar season next season. The players will be feeling pressure all season, not just the last five games when they realised they could win the league. MU will not struggle with injuries next season due to not having to play 2-3 times in one week. I am not saying Liverpool will be poor next season (they won't), I am not saying MU will be amazing next season (we won't), I think it will be somewhere in between. A much closer contest.

Big Al, if you don't like the banter why are you here? No knowledge, depth or common sense? What part of my post is lacking knowledge?
Suarez is a very good footballer who you will struggle to replace. There are maybe 3 or 4 footballers in the world at the moment who could replace him. Is that an outrageous opinion? I don't think so, especially considering that most Liverpool fans were hailing him as the best player in the world last season ( and probably rightly so )
I don't think my admittedly light-heated prediction are that outrageous either. If you actually look at it, all it amounts to is that I don't think LFC will do as well next season as they did last season. Again, not beyond the realms of possibility is it?
So go on, tell me what part of my post is so ridiculous.

Id have to agree with what you said syd, shaquiri or Sanchez.etc and the league. Be an interesting transfer Window because asiit stands' liverpool and united are doing good business in the market. Chelsea with costa and fabregas? No i'm not soo sure they will be a force atall. i'm surfing back to the Liverpool page.
One united fan that can strike a knowledgeable post to a rival.

28 Jun 2014 09:50:52
Think it will be interesting and a lot closer between the two. Will know more at the end of the transfer window, but think city will buy a top CB and that was their only major weakness + city have bought a quality cm to replace lampard and a striker that looks BPL built so think 1st is between them.
Then it is liverpool, arsenal, united. As I said depends on transfers but are problem wasn't scoring goals it was conceding and options off the bench. We could lose Suarez which would be a major lose but with Lallana, Can, & Lambert looking done then potentially Sanchez, Shaqiri and hopefully a CB & LB will be a much stronger team. Albeit we won't have a proven world class player but have sterling coutinho and sturridge who should improve their goal tally from last season and new signings to add goals (between Sanchez if possible & Lambert would expect to cover Suarez' 30 goals) and be more solid. As for game time continuo went periods without starting and if we get Shapiri as mentioned 4 competitions means would rest players allowing game time for everyone.
Genuinely interested in MUs season, first two signings look like players you need. LVG has a great reputation but interesting to see how this rubs off on players and think he has a lot of problems to address. Great keeper and striker, but mata is IMO the man to play behind RVP so don't know where that leaves Rooney. Good player but on too much money to be able to sell and showed for England that he can't play left. Maybe a more fluid three behind RVP but just don't still think would be better to replace Rooney and I can't think how you'd get rid if him, januzzi is a good prospect but need a winger just hope it's not kono as he is attainable cheap and looks a great player. Good start on the midfield but think you need a proper DM then would be alright with cover (carrick, Fellini, & cleverly - not united standard but alright cover). Need 1 maybe 2 CBs, rate smalling but not starting 11 ready and jones is a good player but needs to nail a single position or think he will never develop. Rafeal occassionally has a good game but can't defend and has the odd shocker so a new RB as well. Then getting the time to gel!
Though so far signings are looking good, had posters saying Vidal, Reus, hummels etc but don't think they were realistic. But as Herrera & Shaw show there are quality young players that will srengthen your squad just have to look outside the top teams.

27 Jun 2014 15:42:02
For people who think there is still hope for Nani, I really don't think so.


He was one of the worst players for Portugal imo. He is by far one of the worst decision making winger I have seen.

To be fair MB, he did get starman for Portugal the other night and was their best player in the previous game.

I can't believe we're still having this conversation. The player is stealing a living playing for our club. He joined in 2007 and people are still taking about potential. Gimme a break!

Thanks for that groundbreaking piece of knowledge. In terms of his performances for Portugal what can you expect realistically, he hasn't played all year and for good reason. He is erratic to be kind and frankly not the brightest, you can see the singular thought behind his eyes bouncing around like a ball in a pin ball machine.

Nani for his own sake should move on to pastures new and salvage his career potentially in Italy where the pace of football might suit him

He hasn't had much game time to be fair, but he really hasn't fulfilled his potential. We will have to see if LVG sees anything in him.

Nani is an aspiring singer and entertainer, so maybe a new career in entertainment awaits?
I can just see him on TV, uttering those immortal words:
"Tonight Matthew, I'm going to be Michael Jackson" :)

Nani wants putting down. Its like having the fastest greyhound in the country but when it gets to the bends it turns round

Get shot of this joker, not fit to wear the shirt

27 Jun 2014 19:32:51
Simple fact of the matter is Nani has brilliance but not consistency, there are plenty of players out there that we could bring in who have both brilliance and consistency.

A little pencil mustache and a fedora and he would be kid Creole. Maybe Anderson and Bebe could be his coconut s :)

Nani could be as skill full as Ronaldo but is just like that kid who had everything but didn't want it

He was awful and is awful end of - hopefully

27 Jun 2014 14:26:38
Afternoon Guys,

Well it has been an exciting 24 hours and I don't believe we have seen our ''biggest'' signing yet! I see a lot of people are saying that £30Million is a lot for an 18 year old which I agree with and people's argument is that is we get 10 years out of him it's good business but I would like to try an put some perspective on the price.

In 1994, Sutton moved for a record deal of £5Million and this price set the benchmark, 1995 Cole moves to United for £7Million and Collymore to Liverpool for £8.5Million and then 1996 Shearer moved to Newcastle for £15Million. These prices became the benchmark of what players were judged against.

In today's market, unfortunately it seems to be £30Million is what the benchmark is for top players and young, promising English players with the ''World Class'' players and shall we say marketable players in the £50/60/70/80 Million bracket. I don't agree with this however, I think these are the prices we are now looking at because Footballers are ''assets'' to clubs so you are no longer paying just for there footballing ability alone and clubs will weigh up what potential value they could get if they were to keep hold of them and selling them on later on or what shirt sales they would get if they were to stay.

Anyway, I fully expect in 10 years time, £30Million will be seen as the equivalent to £10Million in todays money and as far as United are concerned, I am delighted so far, Van Gaal is already doing better then Moyes and he's not even properly started yet! All jokes aside, I hope Moyes is successful at Galatasaray. Here's to, hopefully, another exciting month us.

27 Jun 2014 13:20:45
So Shaw has signed! Next please Ed.

27 Jun 2014 13:02:30
With Portugal out, expect the Carvalho rumours to heat up now. I hope we bid for him.

Wouldn't it be ironic that our midfield next year could be carvallho, Harera, Mata. The Moyes master plan In action.
ShoW's he had a vision, whether he could fulfill the vision is debatable

27 Jun 2014 14:43:01
As much vision as a boiled egg

Brad, if you cannot get the best out of the current players, then it would have filtered down into the new players. It was best all round to replace Moyes with a proven winner. I think they have gotten everything right so far.

Moyes made a real effort for both Herrera and Shaw. For that at least we should acknowledge Moyes.

He has also cost the club some £400m in lost value.

Vermalen left centre back and de Vrij or Jonea for the right. Both can cover full backs which is an added bonus. Quite like either Vidal or Khedira, but maybe we get by and wait until Strootman is fit. A big name wouldn't go a miss though.

27 Jun 2014 11:07:32
various sites reporting that Shaw has just completed his medical.

27 Jun 2014 10:55:53
We've got two players now nearly we can't stop now ifwe want to be world beaters again

27 Jun 2014 09:54:25
with Herrera signing and almost done deal for Shaw where would everyone like to go next?

personally I still think we need a tank in the middle and a cb.
if we ended the window with Herrera, Shaw, Vidal and Hummels I would be ecstatic!

Vidal bid and then CB which might be hummels next and finally a left winger if we can move one or 2 wingers on.

27 Jun 2014 11:48:04
Vidal vermaelen sanchez

27 Jun 2014 12:01:50
Them four would be Ideal, but I still think we will need a new winger. Any of Greizmann/ Robben/ Sanchez/ Reus or something along them lines and we are right back in it. Fingers crossed, but nonetheless, great start

27 Jun 2014 06:54:29
Lots of people saying we need a centre-back, but surely we need two? Him else is brilliant, but I'd like either Dejan Lovren or Stefan De Vrij alongside him. Otherwise who will play at centre-back?

No we only need one centre back unless we are going to sell someone. We have Jones, Smalling, Evans and now Michael Keane as CB's.
Evans is experienced he has basically partnered either Vidic or Ferdinand for the last 3 seasons as one or other has always been injured.
Jones and Smalling have played in and out of the first team for over 2 seasons so they have to be given a chance.
Keane is an England under 21 international who as been on loan at championship clubs several times. so he has to be given a chance or moved on. Potentially Keane could be the best of the lot as he is mobile, good in the air and is also extrmely comfortable with the ball at his feet its just a case of whether he can do that in the PL.

27 Jun 2014 00:00:31
What is the story with Fellaini? Is he going to be sold again. Will he play next season? Will he maybe play higher up the pitch next season like he did for everton?

You need to ask LVG.