Manchester United Banter Archive May 29 2018

29 May 2018 19:30:37
Anyone listen to the MEN podcast today? 3 journos sat round the table Ciaran Kelly said talks with Alderwield are a month old now and fairly positive. also all in for a left back but cash may dictate right back needs to wait . however the 3 interesting points for me were :

Fred : comment was made that Pep rates him very highly, different sort of player to what we are used to with JM which was encouraging as he is definately a ball winning, pass playing thinker who will dictate play . let's see.

Coach McKenna : Went in very "sgt major like " was the term used when he first came. very much tough love my way or the highway . won a lot of respect from the players then eased off and impressed all around him with how he built team spirit with good football.

Carrick-works a lot with the midfielders and the whole squad looking to him as being the link between Jose and them. very popular apparently.

{Ed004's Note - It appears the right back signing is going to be Dalot. Never seen him play or heard of him so if we have any Portuguese watchers feel free to comment. I would be very happy if we could nail down Alderwereld, Sandro and Fred. It would easily take us up a few notches. Very positive news in regards to the coaching staff}

29 May 2018 19:52:08
With dalot being relatively young, looks like mourinho wants to keep valencia as first choice but having someone to put some pressure on his position and then take over in a couple of seasons.

Would have thought fosu mensah could fill that role though ed004?

29 May 2018 19:54:33
That is some good news. Sort the full backs mf and a cb. We probabbly don't even need anyone else if we can get the other players firing.

The only position we will struggle with is the striker.

29 May 2018 20:25:11
Do you think tfm is a future rb? . I think he could well have a future at cm.

29 May 2018 20:23:29
DSG - I listened to the podcast while I was working, I wasnt giving it 100% attention when one of the journos said TFM / Tuanzebe might struggle for game time next season - the general consensus was Shaw/ Blind/ darmian out but that leaves a lot of defenders and in Midfield FRED + 1 other coming in doesn't leave much opportunity in midfield for either of them so maybe both out on loan.

29 May 2018 17:18:22
Bale.

The guy's class, in his prime, effective anywhere across the front three, good attitude and is premiership proven. What's the debate? Played on the right he won't be stunting the development of any of our young players. Yes, he has had injuries, but nothing to suggest he still wouldn't feature to a large degree throughout the season. I think the pros far outweigh the cons. Anyway, its a gamble I'm happy to take with someone else's money 😁.

29 May 2018 17:59:13
The debate seems to be his fitness yet he said him self he's been fit fully since he had that 6 week lay off.

His class can play on the right which we are in dire need of someone with bales class to play there.

It's a no brainer.

If we want to go to the next level he has to be someone we go for.

29 May 2018 18:11:31
spot on Nou if he is available we must go in for him. Phenomenal player and it is time he came back to the premier league.

29 May 2018 23:34:09
Agree boy too good a player to turn down. Would improve our first 11 no end.

29 May 2018 23:59:21
Agreed, but if Real are asking for ridiculous money, then we have to be prepared to walk away.
Bale on the right, Neymar on the left. We won't need defenders.

29 May 2018 23:41:31
he would be a great signing stevie.

29 May 2018 13:26:16
Remember the days when we would sign a player and the Liverpool fans would go nuts that we are moving further ahead of them and their board/ manager was wasting time and signing the wrong players.

And we would just laugh at them, I miss those days.

29 May 2018 13:42:27
Agree Shappy.
We should not give them the opportunity to show us the mirror. We focus on our own targets and get on with our path and proceed toward our own objectives.
No need for panic and whining. What will be will be.

29 May 2018 13:51:44
Shappy,

Like when we signed Sanchez you mean or they sold their best player to Barcelona (twice)?

They signed a player before us in the window, who cares?

29 May 2018 14:01:38
Yes i remember when we signed pogba, zlatan, bailly and micky in one window and liverpool fans were up in arms about our ambition. We finished 6th, they came 4th.

Also when we signed lukaku, matic, lindelof and alexis in one season. They made a champions league final, we got knocked out in the round of 16.

We shouldn't be focusing on what other clubs are doing because we are more than capable of shooting ourselves in the foot.

29 May 2018 14:52:19
I remember when I used to be able to look at the Liverpool team and say, "I'd probably take one of your players to improve Utd" and virtually every one of our squad would strengthen them. Nowadays, well not quite so much, despite them constantly losing their best players, almost the opposite.

I see the transfer/ football plan from Pep, Poch, Klopp - I don't see Jose's plan yet, I'm hoping to this summer or it will be more of the same.

29 May 2018 15:02:06
Poch,? He is replacing good players with average, recent signings by Spurs have been poor.

29 May 2018 15:13:07
I disagree mate, but even so - the players he is signing you can see where they fit and where they are needed.

Moura and Aurier are big gambles but reasonable fees and pedigree. Sanchez is going to be great and Llorente was a clever backup signing.

Just to be clear, I can see the idea, the rationale behind the signing, how they will fit the system/ style - they aren't worldbeaters but they fit. Ours seem a random mix needing different types of players, almost like an International team picking players on form who don't know one anothers game.

29 May 2018 15:50:23
Poch has been using the same players for 2/ 3 seasons, only recent signing that has played regularly is Sanchez, replacing Toby who I think is one of the best CB in epl.
Forget Sergej and Moura, there few others like Wimmer, and N'Koudou who have been average.

On Utd I think we have some good players, but like you say we don't play like a team, we lack cohesion.

29 May 2018 15:51:58
If your comparing pics maze then I'm clearly better looking than you and more mentally stable considering the recreational activities. Not to mention I can juggle a potato, golf ball and tennis ball a lot more than you can with both feet.

29 May 2018 16:20:26
Let’s get this right. Poch’s record in the transfer market is very average. Aurier is a liability, Moura adds nothing, Trippier is a huge downgrade on Walker, and Janssen and Llorente are massive flops. He also bought Sissoko and Lamela who are terrible.

Sanchez at the back is a good signing, but at the expense of Alderweireld! I’d be very worried if he came to us and was given a cheque book.

Jose has bought a whole new spine in the team which was needed in Bailly, Pog, Matic and Lukaku and all have been pretty decent. Lindelof will come good as he’s only 22. Sanchez is a class act and will work it out, and Zlatan was good for us for a season.

I am a critic of Jose and the style of footbal we play but let’s not just criticise him blindly. Most of his transfers have improved our team. Poch has been a disaster in the market.

29 May 2018 16:40:35
It's all Jose fault.

29 May 2018 17:34:19
Poch has had many flops, but my point is you know why those players were signed. You can understand the logic, like a great deal of transfers they didn't all work out. I'm not saying he is great in the market, I'm saying there is logic!

He signed Trippier, Alderweirald, Sanchez, Wanyama - all four are solid good signings for very little money comparitively.

Aurier and Moura still a lot to prove, but too soon to tell. Llorente clever deal.

The rest have been flops, but relatively inexpensive flops asside from Sissoko - they made sense to me. Only one that is really ropey is Aurier, but he is like a wild horse that if tamed could be fantastic. Sissoko was the lemon, but he did look formidable for Newcastle at times and they'll recoup a fair chunk if moved on.

29 May 2018 17:39:58
Couldn’t agree more Eric. Sorry beast but I think you are wrong regarding Poch on his ability in the transfer market. He has replaced technically talented players with athletes and work horses. The only half decent signing is Sanchez and his positional awareness is shocking. He is lucky he is so quick so he can make up for his mistakes.

On the whole, I think Jose has bought pretty well. Where he is failing is getting the most out of the players and getting them to play as a unit. We are awful to watch but if he can get more out of the players we will be challenging comfortably. Pep has done great in the market and bought the right players for his system. But he has been given a brand new defence. Klopp has made some good signings but others are misses. The grass is not always greener.

29 May 2018 18:55:53
I read that poch had a net spend of 19 mil since 2014 . Working on a fraction of the salary of teams like United, city etc .
With spurs having to pay for a new stadium, I think he is doing great with limited resources compared to the teams around him .

29 May 2018 18:59:49
Should also say it's not only the manager that is responsible for buying players.

29 May 2018 19:22:44
Beast,

I understand where you are coming from in regards to Poch and I agree. While his signings haven’t been great, they were signed for his “plan” with Spurs inability to spend big in mind.

I’m a José fan but I also think we need to see his image still within his signings. Someone mentioned the other day that we don’t always need to have big name signings, but some that could come in and do the job they’re asked to do within Jose’s “plan”.

Saying that, we had players like O’Shea who wasn’t a world beater but did a job that a Fergie needed him to do and that worked. This is what I believe you mean when you want to see a plan, and if it is I agree with you mate.

29 May 2018 11:43:45
Ladies, gents and all other creatures frolicking through this page, Maze would like to extend congratulations to the club and you as a supporter for the passion shown to finish 2nd in the league this season.

Yes the 400k a week superstar $anchez couldn’t help snatch the title, the superstar benchwarmer Pogba couldn’t put Sevilla down and Rom ‘my first touch is as criminal as eating crackers without caviar’ just couldn’t get United over the line.

That being said the huge success of the special since coming to United is incomparable so it may be time to rename the SAF stand the Jose stand. So in good faith lads I implore you to grab a drink and celebrate the new accepted standard at Manchester United, in the words of the great Alan Jackson “it’s 5 o’clock somewhere”.

29 May 2018 11:46:56
I remember when you were called JMB.

29 May 2018 11:46:59
Well hello maze you little Ray of sunshine 😃.

29 May 2018 11:51:57
Yes well done Maze, great end of season post. Post of the year. Congrats, high five, 🖑, *yawn*.

29 May 2018 11:56:01
RR since your memory is so good you will remember Maze states Salah and KDB were top signings, comparing the latter to Paul Scholes. Hindsight or foresight? Probably the latter.

Deano, Maze is a man of the people. Happy to spread cheer to all. Hope all has been well.

29 May 2018 12:00:36
Supa, Maze can see by your photo you are looking as well as ever. Thank you greatly for your contributory comments.

29 May 2018 13:45:47
Danny welcomes you back ‘The Maze’. However, he worries that like your penal namesake that you’ve been largely irrelevant since the end of the 90s, and have known to be full of shit.

29 May 2018 13:53:02
KDB is nothing like Scholes what you been smoking?

29 May 2018 14:01:03
He has ginger hair and plays football, what more do you want?

29 May 2018 14:49:39
well yeh true.

29 May 2018 16:28:27
Mancman welcomes the return of the Maze. We are a broad church and we all support United so plenty of room for The Maze and their alter egos. How are you all Maze?

29 May 2018 19:57:31
Danny 1st in class yet again A* 😁

And I for one am glad the maze has returned makes a change to read a post that makes me smile nowadays .

29 May 2018 20:47:40
Oh no! I've already got a headache.

29 May 2018 09:41:29
Wonder what you folks think about the Bale situation.
I baulk at the astronomical amount required for the transfer. Much as I think Bale would add great strength to our team obviously, I just feel the amount could be spent more wisely buying 2-5 more players.
Imagine if he joins us and plays 20 games and got injured and spends 2/ 3 of the season recuperating, what would be said if Jose's purchase? I sincerely would love him to join us and lead the attack and tear the competition but a cautious and logical part of me is saying "hold your horses".
Views please Eds and fellow posters?

29 May 2018 09:56:04
If he plays 20 games. He will probably help us win 15 of those.

29 May 2018 10:36:37
The figures in the press are just numbers plucked from the air. No one is going to pay a 200m transfer fee for a players who has been injured and not first choice for his team.

However, his wages aren't likely to drop, so the 135m over 5 years is probably relatively accurate. It means blowing our wages structure for someone who is as likely to be injured as hi is fit.

I think Bale when fit and on form is a top top player. I just don't think he is likely to be fit often enough to justify the cost.

29 May 2018 11:45:33
Our wage structure? Please explain? United do not have a wage structure. Wouldn’t be a Surprise if Alexis was on more $$$ that GB.

29 May 2018 12:24:30
If Bales reported wages are accurate and the same for Sanchez then Bale will be on around 25% more than our highest earner. You can't increase the wage of your highest earner by that much an not expect others to demand more money as well. Pogba, Lukaku, DDG. Then suddenly your out goings in terms of wages have spiralled out of control.

Some will say it already has, and it's hard to argue with that. But digging the hole deeper has never been a great strategy to get out of the hole.

29 May 2018 12:46:00
So what are the reported wages of each player? Wages at the club are already out of control.

29 May 2018 13:15:25
The money to get Bale would be crazy. I can’t help but feel we are falling into the same trap as city did when they first got their money. Remember when they offered crazy money for Kaka.

The irony is city and Liverpool are now making purchases based on a game plan and appear to be buying well. If rumours are to be believed Liverpool are close to getting Fekir. I must say a midfield oh Keita, Fabinho and Fekir looks good on paper. All they need is a keeper and a CB and they will have significantly improved their squad.

I personally believe in terms of balance their squad is better than ours and here is food for thought, put Degea in their goal and they would have gone close to winning the league and would have won the champions league. Put Karius and Mignolet in our goal and we would not have finished in the top half. I know it’s not that simple, but anybody that says Liverpool and spurs will not be a threat next season are dillusional.

If we put alll our eggs in one basket (bale) and ignore the fact that we need a Fred, a Savic and a better DM, a RB, a LB, a CB
, a RW and a back up striker we will struggle to finish in the top 4 next season.
The likes of Jones, Smalling, Darmian, Blind, Fellaini, Herrera and dare I say it Mata need to be moved on. I know I will get accused of wanting new toys, but that is not it. Jones and Smalling have had more than enough chances to shine and have not. Darmian is not suited to the prem, blind has been tidy, but is too slow. Herrera is a player I really like, but without a proper RW to scare the other team and attract player there by creating space for Herrera to exploit he is being wasted as a man marker. Fellaini has had his moment, has scored goals, but is not creative enough or quick enough over the ground. Mata is great as a human being and as a creator. He needs to be played as a 10, but is being wasted as RW. He is to slow, too weak and never a RW. He is everything you would want in a player, talented, intelligent, works hard, never complains, but he is being criminally wasted on the RW.

Ed Woodward, I know big names keep united in the headlines which helps secure tractor deals, but come on winning things would also keep us in the headlines.

{Ed004's Note - Tbf if we signed Bale and Fred I think it would be pretty clear what our first choice front 6 would be. It seems that Jose has started to play 433 a lot more near the end of the season. I think he realises that'll be the best way to get the best out of Pogba and Sanchez. I'm still doubting whether I want us to sign Bale but whatever happens we need to sort out that right hand side of the pitch. One point I'd like to make is I don't think we need to upgrade our DM. Well certainly not for the upcoming season. Matic was possibly our player of the season last year. I think if you surround him in a midfield with mobile players (Fred, Herrera, Pogba, McTominay etc) it gives him the platform to excel. I love Mata but wouldn't be devastated to see him leave. We have come across slow and ponderous at times this season so I'm all for signing quick and mobile players to improve upon this}

29 May 2018 13:23:05
500k for Sanchez, 650k for Bale. There are rumours that Sanchez's wages have raised a few eyebrows amoungst the players and unsettled some. Fellaini was asking for 175k supposedly to stay. Which compared to how Sanchez has performed since he signed makes Fellaini's wage demands a bit of a bargain to be honest.

But that is the problem. Woodward seems happy to chuck wages at certain players if it means the club have signed someone he can use to bring in another sponsorship deal.

I don't think this will end well.

29 May 2018 13:31:08
Dont get into fanances. Just taste the mango don't worry about what tree its been picked from.

29 May 2018 13:44:53
Shappy it seems reports that are circulating online have Sanchez’s wage at 505k and Bales at 350k. Taking into account Sanchez signed without a huge fee attached and that this deal was peak player transfer inflation in a winter window combined with the fact the there were others in for his services such as City, it says to Maze he is likely on a higher wage.

Of course we will never know for sure. The wage structure at United is already flawed as has been alluded to above due to the size and scope of pay levels.

{Ed004's Note - I thought that Sanchez on 500k a week contract was a myth and hugely exaggerated. He's the only player I've seen sign on fee, potential bonuses and other clauses all added up together to get a weekly figure at. Not surprised they are doing it. Sure even today the mirror has Bale costing us over 300 million as their front page cover with Fabinho signing in small at the top only consisting of his transfer fee. Its almost as if he's playing for free}

29 May 2018 13:48:55
Singh trust me when I tell you there are many types of mangoes with different prices and sweetness. It doesn’t mean that the sweetest and best are the most expensive. Alfonso mangoes are not the most expensive managers in India but definitely good and sweet 😉🤣.

29 May 2018 14:41:05
Lolllll 666. I love alfonsoes they definitely are one of the best.

29 May 2018 14:50:34
Singh, finances shouldn't be an issue to fans, but to say they don't effect the club would be wrong.

I want what is best for our club, and that often means finding the right balance between investment and sensibility. Signing players have direct effects on our current players, and our future ability to sign players.

The "it's not my money" mentality is very shortsighted and wrong.

All the money the club receives in some way comes from the fans.

Whether that is directly in the form of paying to watch the team or buy merchandise. Or indirectly by maintaining a large fan base which the club exploits to bring in sponsorship deals. Without the fans investing their time and money into the club it would cease to exist.

A wise investment in terms of players is one who will have the biggest impact on the pitch. They improve results, they improve style and they make fans want to watch and want to buy the merchandise.

Big name signings only work if they perform on the pitch. If not then they are an expensive waste of money.

Since Sir Alex retired how many of our big name signings have honestly worked out?

Mata club record signing.
Schweinsteiger.
Di Maria.
Falcao.
Zlatan.
Pogba.
Lukaku.
Sanchez.

That's 8 players in 5 years, only four are still at the club. Mata is a squad player, there are question marks over Pogba, many questioned Lukaku until the final third of the season, and the best we can say about Sanchez is he should kick on next season. Although there are no guarantees.

So it's fair to say we haven't had much success, most of these signings were made as statements rather that what the team really needed.

Is Bale what we really need? Another statement signing who'll likely never live up to his billing. A player who heavily relies on pace, who has struggled with injuries in a far less intense league, signed on high wages and is unlikely to stay fit for much more than half a season at best.

Magic was our best signing last season, and Bailly the year before. Not fancy names, but good players with the attributes the team needs.

29 May 2018 16:00:04
I get what you mean Shappy. I would rather keep Martial and get the guys firing but hey we haven't got control over these things so if Mourinho thinks he can make use of Bale for half a season then so be it.

I doubt it we will go for him to be fair as we have other issues to deal with first.

29 May 2018 20:36:25
Shappy, I don't think any of those are comparable to Bale, all for different reasons, including not wanting to be here, LVG's 'style' of play, end of careers, attitude, no premiership experience etc.

29 May 2018 00:35:08
The Sun 'newspaper' couldn't make it more obvious that they've got something against Sterling, actually turning into a joke, feel for the lad.

29 May 2018 08:12:40
I’m all for freedom of speech but they should be charged with making society more stupid!

Footballer gets tattoo to honour dead father - not even news. They really are scum bags.

29 May 2018 10:40:17
They have a huge vendetta against Sterling, it is embarrassing.

29 May 2018 12:32:07
Agree GDS the treatment of sterling is disgraceful. And yet when harry Kane is bantered all the press and the FA are in uproar. Serious lack of equality here.