Manchester United Banter Archive May 02 2015

02 May 2015 20:55:28
Whilst the team is built around Rooney this team cannot evolve. Too many players moved around to accommodate a player that really doesn't have a position he excels in. We need to buy a player who poses a serious goal threat and what we don't need is to have to lose a midfield player to accommodate for Rooney as a knock on effect

02 May 2015 21:11:08
Been saying it ages, he is a good striker but he isn't good elsewhere.

02 May 2015 21:12:25
if rooney was injured today we would of been just as bad.
watching the game today the team didn't look to be built around rooney to me

{Ed004's Note - I agree with Clarity tbh. It wasn't solely Rooneys fault today. That would be unfair on him. However, I don't think he would get into any of Europe's top teams. I reckon he should be back up to RVP but only if LvG feels than Van Persie can get back to his very best form. If we didn't have big improvements to make in defence and midfield I would have wanted a striker this summer}

02 May 2015 22:18:42
I would honestly one day like to see Aguero, Costa, Lewandowski, Persie, Benzema etc play CM. Shock horror, double standards when it comes to Wayne. Clarity, did you ever think about LVG being a bit of a numpty to keep playing him in midfield? Ohh I forgot you are a fan boi. Taking potshots at a player for not setting the world on fire while playing for a position that's anything but his primary one. Fickle fans at their best. May be you should figure out how our learned manager has no Plan B when the opposition sits back and defends?

Deeps.

{Ed004's Note - I would also prefer to see all them playing as a striker ahead of Rooney. I honestly do not think he is a world class striker anymore. Which is a shame. However, I think we will have to do with him and RVP up top next season.}

02 May 2015 23:31:38
I am a huge fan of Rooney, but at this point in his career, he is not a world class #9 or #10. Three of our biggest names - Rooney, Van Persie, Falcao - all play the same position. LVG tried Rooney behind the other two with the diamond midfield, but it did not work, mainly due to their lack of pace. Rooney is also not dynamic enough as a center mid. His passing creativity is limited, he opts for the big switch to the right far too often. He has some great qualities - his work rate, finishing, arriving in the box - but when it comes down to it, he is a striker.

02 May 2015 23:33:08
I'm hardly Rooney's biggest fan, but the team isn't being built around him. The team is being built around a philosophy of possession football. This works well if you have top class passers in the middle and threatening players cutting in from the wing. The fact of the matter is that Carrick was the real focal point when we were playing well. Without him we have no base for our attacks, and just don't move the ball quickly enough.

Part of this is due to lack of depth in the squad, and players not performing. But big questions need to be asked when the big tactical move at halftime is to put Fellaini up top and hope he knocks it down to RVP or Rooney. Our performance in the second half was pathetic. No clear shape or clear idea how to break down an average side. How RVP stayed on (as a midfielder?) for the full 90 is beyond me. It was obvious to everyone that Mata should have been moved central and another winger brought on to give us some real width on the right to stretch them, but that would have been a bit too simple.

03 May 2015 00:02:09
Ed004 rvp should have gone last season when he through his toys out of the pram once a great player but not any more rooney as well fergie in his younger days would have booted them both out the door that is what we need now

{Ed004's Note - I agree that both should have been replaced by now. However, I think we have other priorities to address this summer and we haven't been linked to many strikers. I am also struggling to think what striker would suit our current formation. RVP in his prime would and there were signs today that he could regain some (probably not all) of his previous form. He looked very sharp first half and even in the second half he was the only one looking to play directly through the middle (his pass to Mata was brilliant)}

02 May 2015 23:49:45
Although I don't for one second feel the result today was Rooney's fault. I agree that he is not the answer to the riddle of how do yo rebuild this Manchester United side. Sir Alex in his final season saw fit to drop Rooney in our biggest game of the season as he felt other players in the squad would provide more.

Rooney isn't and never will be a top class central midfielder, he can against certain teams play effectively there. He is best suited to being played as a striker, but the dilemma here is he isn't world class anymore. Whether that is because he has been shifted from pillar to post throughout his career which has stopped him hitting the heights expected of him is another matter altogether.

But ask yourself this would you play Rooney as a midfielder ahead of Schweinsteiger, Thiago, Alonso, Modric, Kroos, Xavi, Carrick, Busquets or Vidal? No because there are soooo many better midfielders out there than how Rooney can play in midfield.

Would you play Rooney as a striker ahead of the likes of Lewandowski, Cavani, Benzema, Suarez, Costa or Aguero? Probably not as they are better and more consistent strikers than him.

Would you play Rooney as a winger ahead of the likes of Ronaldo, Bale, Hazard ect, again no.

He is good in many positions but a master of none. And that is the problem, when you build your team around a player who does not excel in any position then you can hardly expect your team to excel.

Rooney needs to either move on or accept a role as chief substitute, The guy who can come on and cover for anyone but wouldn't start ahead of them most weeks.

Rooney has been a great player for our club and will still likely be the all time leading goalscorer, you can't manage that if your a bad player. But he is 30 next season and is no longer world class in any position, if we want to be a world class team then we need to have world class players in every position. And that just isn't Wayne anymore. Time for us to move on.

{Ed004's Note - Top, top post. Agreed with every part of your argument. Gonna have to make sure Bond reads this. I reckon Rooney will be safe for one more season. We have too many positions that need strengthened this summer and I can't think of any top strikers available. I reckon it should be RVP and Rooney competing for one striker position next season with Rooney covering other positions if there are injuries. We should learn from the mistakes liverpool are making with Gerrard}

02 May 2015 23:49:45
Although I don't for one second feel the result today was Rooney's fault. I agree that he is not the answer to the riddle of how do yo rebuild this Manchester United side. Sir Alex in his final season saw fit to drop Rooney in our biggest game of the season as he felt other players in the squad would provide more.

Rooney isn't and never will be a top class central midfielder, he can against certain teams play effectively there. He is best suited to being played as a striker, but the dilemma here is he isn't world class anymore. Whether that is because he has been shifted from pillar to post throughout his career which has stopped him hitting the heights expected of him is another matter altogether.

But ask yourself this would you play Rooney as a midfielder ahead of Schweinsteiger, Thiago, Alonso, Modric, Kroos, Xavi, Carrick, Busquets or Vidal? No because there are soooo many better midfielders out there than how Rooney can play in midfield.

Would you play Rooney as a striker ahead of the likes of Lewandowski, Cavani, Benzema, Suarez, Costa or Aguero? Probably not as they are better and more consistent strikers than him.

Would you play Rooney as a winger ahead of the likes of Ronaldo, Bale, Hazard ect, again no.

He is good in many positions but a master of none. And that is the problem, when you build your team around a player who does not excel in any position then you can hardly expect your team to excel.

Rooney needs to either move on or accept a role as chief substitute, The guy who can come on and cover for anyone but wouldn't start ahead of them most weeks.

Rooney has been a great player for our club and will still likely be the all time leading goalscorer, you can't manage that if your a bad player. But he is 30 next season and is no longer world class in any position, if we want to be a world class team then we need to have world class players in every position. And that just isn't Wayne anymore. Time for us to move on.

03 May 2015 00:29:34
Deeps does this make you a "fan boi" of rooney? And whos taking pot shots? I never onced blamed rooney for anything so calm your little self down sonshine. I stated the evolution of the team is being held back because rooneys place is cemented on, does he pick himself deeps? Another empty headed response from the anti LVG brigade *yawns* no plan B? Did he not bring on 2 attacking players for 2 defenders? Were positions not adjusted? The FACT of the matter is there is zero goal threat it doesn't take a genius to figure it out. Your complaints about rooney playing in CM is for the exact reasons i am stating he will not leave him out of the team and other more suited players get moved around or dropped to accommodate. When was rooneys last goal? Spurs! he's played CF since maybe Sunderland I think, not exactly set the world alight "in position" either.

03 May 2015 00:40:01
Spot on Shappy exactly what I was saying but in a lot less words ha brilliant detail there mate

03 May 2015 00:48:05
Agree shappy great player yes he andvan persie but a younger fergie with there antics would have booted them both out the door and we would haveto rebuild I just hope van gaal dose not keep van persie on sentiment he needs to be ruthless at theend of the season

03 May 2015 05:43:24
Ya right! May be there was some white text somewhere in there your post Clarity. You clearly blamed Rooney and the team being built around him. So don't contradict yourself by saying "I never for once . ". By the way it is Carrick's absence more than anything else that is hurting us. We had to change our formation to accommodate Persie and a blind man and his dog can tell you who has been a better striker this season. But I presume you have a soft one for Persie considering you love LVG. Wayne ain't world class in midfield, that is true, but he had done enough to keep his position as a forward. By the way "yawn" , "sunshine" etc, very smart banter. Are you LVG by any chance? He looks empty headed to me when the going gets tough you know.

Deeps.

03 May 2015 07:36:27
It was our midfield with carrick that papered over the cracks with mata,hererra and fellaini doing well in the scoring dept. Now with carrick gone and rooney in midfield, we're clueless.
I would rather have a youngster play midfield than rooney.

{Ed025's Note - hes still your best player IMBS, im sure some will disagree mate but when he does,nt perform neither do united..

03 May 2015 07:49:05
Hypothetical solution Lukaku gets sold to Wolfsburg and they buy Rooney!

{Ed025's Note - or everton swap lukaku for rooney and also receive £10m?, good for both clubs UR..

03 May 2015 07:54:04
Has he? 4 goals in 12 games. Had Falcao played every game this season he'd have doubled Rooneys tally without penalties instead of getting the odd game when we have makeshift team out. Rooney and RVP are a joke they're on the same money as Ronaldo and Messi .

03 May 2015 09:12:20
i don't think carrick is our best player ED25. But he is a vital cog without whom the machine stops working. Much like xavi wasnt barca's best player at any point but was the vital cog.

{Ed025's Note - very true IMBS, wazza is your best player mate..

03 May 2015 13:23:08
Deeps

If you wasnt so sensitive about criticism of rooney u would see my post is more negative towards LVG as he is the one who insists on picking him regardless.

02 May 2015 20:08:54
Both Chelsea and Everton we looked brilliant for the first 30 minutes. They then figured us out (or scored) and we didn't know what to do, basically any team that stops attacking and camps will believe they can either draw or beat us, justifiably.

Even the penalty didn't come from a clear cut chance and Myhil was only seriously tested once aside from that.

RVP did look sharp today, but again we could have Pele upfront and it wouldn't matter. It's all too safe safe safe and has been all season.

Win, Lose or Draw - I just don't want to be more entertained by You've Been Framed whilst my team are playing, (Mrs watching on TV in background).

I look forward all week to these 90mins and when i see what I have for 30 of the 35 league games there is a serious problem. Throw in the cup games which were seriously bad and I just can't wait for this season to be over.

Hopefully LVG will get the Klop!

02 May 2015 20:32:32
I don't think anyone saw these results coming after the run we had against Spurs, Liv and City.

80% possession is of no use if you don't do anything with the ball. I agree we have stopped taking risks.

I had pointed out that we have stopped taking shots from outside the box and although there were few shots from outside the box we have by and large stopped shooting from distance and I think that is because LvG thinks that it might lead to loss of possession. But that is the only option when you lack penetration.


As you said we all look forward to these 90 mins and then end of getting disappointed. I will never support sacking a manager in his 1st season but every time I see LvG stuck to the seat when we are trailing I just feel like taking a horn speaker and yelling right in his ear.

02 May 2015 20:34:37
I don't think sacking the manager will happen, simply because the players seem to like working under LVG. Also, sacking the manager will basically put us back to square one: The players have to learn a new system and way of playing all over again. The team needs better more experienced players. It is a simple as that IMO.

I do fear that the faction within the club who might want to see the back of LVG will become vocal again.

I just hope we can get it together and beat Palace. A win for Chelsea against the dippers next week - plus a slip from spurs - will secure us 4th place if we beat Palace. So it isn't that bad, although it feels pretty bad now.

02 May 2015 20:39:15
Beast,

Do you not think it's just another challenge LVG has to get through? At the start it was all about giving the players more confidence, work on ball retention and make them feel like they can win again, teams were coming to old Trafford believing they could win after last seasons shambles.

Now teams are coming to old Trafford thinking they can get men behind the ball and we struggle to break them down, it is a different issue and one that took fergie a while to master as you have to play slightly differently. We look better against the top teams because they don't just defend but we struggle to break teams down as we have not really been used to teams doing that to us until recently. West brom came for a 0-0 draw and got a 1-0 win, it was not good enough but you could see where the issues were and what needed fixing.

You are calling for lvg to be sacked again, it's a little embarrassing.

02 May 2015 21:31:43
Of course its a challenge GDS2, but he keeps making the same decisions.

I am not embarrassed to be calling for him to be moved on. I thought things had clicked, but the past 3 games have been back to the same old routine. Slow, rigid and hoping for a goal rather than taking a game by the scruff of the neck.

The pace we played at first half against Liverpool feels like a lifetime ago!

When/if he figures out how to actually attack at pace and have men forward to receive the ball rather than 5 midfielders in a line passing it side to side and backwards - no doubt there will be another problem for him to solve. The guy simply isn't good enough to manage a team like us, he is too stuck in his ways and is too proud to change things as it shows he made a mistake.

It's perfectly fair to say that I think the job is beyond him and he isn't learning from mistakes - he simply doesn't want to adapt because he doesn't think he should have to.

02 May 2015 21:32:37
I think Klop would be a far better alternative who is potentially available, that is also why it makes good sense to sack him this summer.

02 May 2015 21:35:31
Gds you say it took fergie a while as not lvg been around as long as fergie

02 May 2015 22:18:32
I never thought i'd say it and i I've read many posts by you and shook my head, but beast you've been right all along in my view.
Carrick has papered over so many cracks while he was back its unreal.

02 May 2015 22:40:21
Dazw, not in the premier league mate. Suppose can make your argument to slag off LVG suit though. Beast was right all along because we lost a game we should have won, of course he was.

02 May 2015 23:00:03
To be fair, GDS, we have lost three games we probably should not have lost, but we lost them nevertheless. Now, the pressure has been cranked up 10 fold because of today result.

The worst thing is, I can't see us winning unless Carrick is back in the side. We look so unbalanced at the moment because of his absence; and that is worrying. But worst of all, we don't look like scoring. We never created any clear cut opening today. We had a lot of half chances and their keeper pulled off a couple of top saves, but we never really had them on the back foot at anytime.

I don't care how we get over the line now. We just need to get over it and put this season behind us.

02 May 2015 23:06:20
Gds not trying to make a point as you say just saying he has been around as long as fergie and no matter what league with his experiance should have a plan b and were did I slag him off you are just making it to suit your argument with beast

03 May 2015 00:10:38
Oh and gds we lost three on the spin not one and how we are playing we might not get fourth as everybody said in a poor league

03 May 2015 02:30:35
Pretty sure we will still get 4th, the overreaction to a defeat on here is crazy.

03 May 2015 10:21:37
That would be defeated in 3 games (in a row) which puts the pressure right back on us, what if our next 3 games turn out to be just like the last 3.
It ain't an over-reaction, its a reality.

02 May 2015 19:43:56
Havent posted in a while, but still read every day more or less.

The last few games have been a blip in my opinion. But still. if you can't handle and beat a team that parks the bus, you aren't world class. We were looking great til these last few games. Chelsea, I'll take it. Title winners, narrow loss. Everton? Fluke. Struggling, but they somehow smashed us. WBA? No chance. I'm not having that. We dominated the game and lost at home to relegation material, unacceptable.

Loook at how Bayern, Barca, Real deal with relegation fodder. We need to sort our heads out and be able to beat these lower level teams or we're screwed. I think we'll do Hull over but this is typical modern United - making the task a lot harder than it should be.

02 May 2015 19:53:00
I agree mate. We always do it the hard way; but on this occasion, we are making it extra hard.

02 May 2015 19:55:39
Agree with all that. We played well against Chelsea and were unlucky, Everton was a bit bizarre all round but today we looked short of ideas. I wonder how much the philosophy is impacting us, nobody seems prepared to take a player on so we simply pass continually with little penetration. I realise that if we had scored the penalty or RVP had put a chance away it could have been different but today was reminiscent of so many earlier games.

I do wonder about LVG, we need to support our Manager but listening to him is very frustrating. It might be a language thing but then again it might not be.

02 May 2015 17:50:34
Those who doubt RVP, with him in the side in 20 mins we've had more shots than in last 2 games combined, making runs in behind, yes he's had injuries but he's the best striker we got.

02 May 2015 18:13:41
He looks relatively sharp, how would people feel about Rooney and mata swapping positions? Think it might suit Rooney a bit more

02 May 2015 18:22:52
He is making runs behind defenders and no one has seen him. Can Smalling pass forwards????? Can Smalling pass forwards? Is there an award for the number of crossfield passes? Could Ray Wilkins be our first summer signing? Where has the passion gone? Yes they are parking a fleet of buses but if we want to compete in Europe we are gong to need a way through. Very poor and no one willing to pass through them. Feel sorry for RvP.

02 May 2015 18:42:43
Yeah so many runs nobody willing to make a risky pass for. RVP having to come deep now as he's not getting found.
I'd stick young left back, blind holding mid, Herrera pushed up, Rooney where fellaini is and di Maria on

02 May 2015 19:23:13
1 trick pony team at the minute, no clue how to adapt

02 May 2015 19:27:40
had a good chance from 12 yards

02 May 2015 19:27:52
Valencia literally couldn't cross an X, and slows attacks every time he gets the ball. Cannot wait to get a new Right back

02 May 2015 19:34:02
Its very simple. We're good against teams that will attack us. We have no clue what to do when a team parks the bus. Oh my god, we're a less entertaining version of arsenal.

02 May 2015 19:43:50
It wasn't just Valencia today, there was so much that could have been done differently. It's like watching the same performance from earlier in the season with all of the ball because we only pass it sideways with no pace.

Young is the most predictable footballer I've ever seen. I know there are times this season where it looks like he's made big strides but there's only so many times a left winger can pretend to go down the line and cut back onto his right foot before he gets found out.

The lack of creativity is quite scary considering the reputation of some of the players we have. Mata, Rooney, RVP, Herrera and Di Maria. They are all thought of as technical players but we couldn't muster a really good chance against a poor side. Di Maria looked like he'd struggle in a Sunday League team today.

Fellaini is great to have as a different option but when you have 80% of the ball, surely everyone would prefer a player like Mata to play in an advanced CM role rather than him? Then you can put someone else out wide who would run at Lescott since he's not a proper left back?

Either way there's no hiding that we still have a lot of catching up to do to become one of the best sides in Europe.

02 May 2015 19:44:01
Jred all the best players have missed penalties. If RVP wasn't on that pitch I doubt we'd have had a shot. Even I the ball he's more intelligent and thinking quicker, you can see off the ball making runs nobody had the desire to make. The problem is we're just not creative enough and don't really have a plan b. Mourinho has found us out for all the rest. Sit on us, let us have the ball and you'll get a chance to score. We need tu be better than that. Can't keep saying of we dominated the ball and it was a bad day at the office got to look at our deficiencies and address them cz we will get slaughtered in Europe. That's not me being on a downer just being a realist.

02 May 2015 19:44:18
Summed it up perfectly imightbesomeone.

02 May 2015 19:55:30
welsh
i said last week falcao made run after run but nobody played the ball forward or took a chance and took a bit of stick.
rvp had 3 chances , missed them all.
also had a pen

02 May 2015 19:58:36
I thought RVP was more interested and effective than a lot today. Yes he missed a penalty but his effort was excellent and but for the goalie he would have had at least a couple.

02 May 2015 20:02:33
Yeah you did, and nobody will make that pass. Tbf Falcao has had his opportunities. Granted RVP missed a pen but his chances weren't sitters. My point was originally that without RVP we've not even been shooting, at least he has a go. The real issue lies in the lack of enough diverse creativity. 15 passes to end up back where you started then a long ball to fellaini isn't good enough. When we play with a bit of pace we create but it seems to have been lost.

02 May 2015 16:43:22
Have to say expected RVP to start today but was hoping not. Rooney going to play Cdm again?? I am worried that Van Gaal just fell on to the team/ formation because of injuries.

02 May 2015 16:46:11
Is Shaw out injured again?

02 May 2015 16:56:35
I hate Rooney playing in midfield, Young & Mata have been very poor the past 2 games yet ADM doesn't play again! He must be on his way.

Disappointed with the team sheet, but I have been before and we blitzed Spurs and City.

02 May 2015 17:11:15
Agree beast.
Hopefully get game won early and Perreira gets a run.
Although still points to be won feel pretty safe now for 4th so nothing to lose with bit experimenting, maybe even try McNair in there. Looks comfortable on ball.

02 May 2015 17:17:37
Shaw has been advised to rest for a few months to allow his body to fully recover from his recent injuries. As much as I don't like the idea of Rooney in midfield, Blind was far worse than him last weekend. I think it's obvious that we're still badly in need of a few more quality midfield players, especially with Carrick coming to end of his career. In fairness di Maria has done nothing to regain his starting position. Young and Mata have been ineffective for the last two games, but di Maria was even worse when he came on. A £60m player who doesn't seem that bothered about sitting on the bench, he'll be off at the first opportunity he gets.

02 May 2015 17:25:14
so because adm isn't starting he must be going?

maybe the fact he isn't playing as good as the competition on the pitch is why he isn't starting

{Ed025's Note - but for the price paid spb he should be!, he has proved in the past that he is a world class talent, and if he is not performing better than players like young then there is something badly wrong mate (disrespect to young)..

02 May 2015 18:30:10
Young is so predictable as is mata. We get the ball and just pass it backwards. Young may have had a good couple of games but he's pretty poor

02 May 2015 18:57:05
Like LVG Trumours.

02 May 2015 19:27:02
Think it's plain to see why di maria didn't start after watching that

02 May 2015 19:37:16
Fair point RedAndy. Just at home against WBA you expect your major star to start and find form. Coming on for 20mins is never going to bring back the confidence.

He should be sold anyway.

02 May 2015 19:50:39
When young came on as a sub a few times earlier in the season he changed the game and was probably the best player on the pitch, he just deserves to start so much more than di maria

02 May 2015 15:49:12
watching Everton VS Villa. Hard to believe we lost to them team 3-0 last week. Absolute rubbish they have been.

02 May 2015 16:17:52
I was just thinking the same thing

02 May 2015 14:45:44
Just getting away from united,What about this fight tonight,mayweather v pacman,pity it didn't happen 5 years ago,it will be hard to beat mayweather,I'd like to see the pacman win

02 May 2015 15:32:23
Mayweather is in the hardest fight of his career tonight but is IMO still the best pound for pound fighter that ever graced the ring, he is hard to hit, very skilful and a clever boxer. Pacman is probably the only guy in the world who could beat him, he is hard as nails and quick too.
I have a feeling Pac will win it simply because I think Mayweather hasn't looked confident of late.
Its going to be a war and I hope it goes the distance.

02 May 2015 16:23:55
You said it mayweather is very hard to hit,47 wins out of 47,26 ko,I hope it goes the distance and it's woth staying up for!

02 May 2015 17:06:21
Love me boxing and hate Mayweather. But have to admit one of the best boxers of all time. Unbelievably intelligent and skilled boxer, looks like he is half a second ahead of anyone and knows exactly what is going to happen next.

Reads fighters better then any fighter in history and slowly works out how to beat them, added to that his boxing technique is as close to perfect as it gets.

Imagine he will win via late stoppage but saying that have bet on a first round KO by pac-man! Heart over head all day!

02 May 2015 17:09:01
Sorry leahy

I was disagreeing to HERBIE's post. FMJ is not the best fighter pound for pound. Yes he has a great record but who would not when he has had choice of who he boxes and when etc. PAC man has won a title in 8 weight division compared to FMJ 5 division and Pac has own fighter of the year 3 times to FMJ 2

Compare the fights PAC man and FMJ have bought fought and PAC man wins by a mile. The only fight FMJ bettered PAC man on was Marquez. If you look at oscar dela Hoya fights you will see PAC man ( Moving up 3 weights to 147) destroyed him where FMJ went the distance.

Then sugar Mosley almost KO FMJ in the 2nd only for FMJ to literally lock on to his arm to stop him punching his lights out so he could recover.

Pac man however battered Mosley and had him on his backside twice. And Ricky Hatton admitted PAC was the better fighter.

The only fight FMJ was better was Marquez but he knew how to fight PAC after 4 fights.

So PAC is the better fighter period

03 May 2015 06:46:44
Mayweather was just way to clever for Pacman, good job well done Floyd.

{Ed025's Note - bored the pants off me herbie..

02 May 2015 10:26:04
All this talk of 4 or 5 new players is exciting but will it actually work? We signed 6 last year but Shaw, Falcao and ADM haven't played much. Integrating 5 players into a team (50% of outfield players) is a lot in 1 go. I'd love some big signings but too many and we're back to tying different formations and groupings whilst we find the best 11 and structure.

It will be a nice problem to have I guess but if we want to challenge next year, 5 new 1st team players is perhaps too many.

However, Shaw looks much fitter and is showing his potential so I see him as a regular. I've been really impressed with McNair every time he has played (would prefer him in midfield) and hopefully we will have a lot fewer injuries. I think a RB, a CM and a CH will suffice with possibly a winger thrown in. Even 4 is still a lot to throw in together.

02 May 2015 11:27:49
A pre season with the team would be the best option even if we sign 4-5 players. They would have 2 months to bed in. It makes it easier if wesign players with PL experience. Clyne, Ings are already familiar with the premier league.

02 May 2015 12:05:02
As Rohanarora8 says, we should have a far more productive pre-season this year and, possibly more importantly, I'm sure the entire team will be much better prepared in terms of mind-set after a relatively positive end to this season. I'm sure that the job of integrating new signings this summer will be a less complicated task than last year. That's the way I'm hoping it'll turn out anyway! :-)

02 May 2015 12:09:12
We need the players imo, but we will struggle with the integration. It's a catch 22.

I suppose getting it right is what the manager is paid so handsomely for. He didn't do a great job last summer (there were mitigating factors granted), he needs to do much better this summer. He has done well getting good performances from our lesser players, but that doesn't win you titles, it's getting the best from the Elite players we have that he needs to work on.

If the players we signed last summer were available this summer, how much would you expect to pay to get them? I think half the amount we forked out at most.

02 May 2015 12:16:57
I think 3 first team players is the maximum a team should go for over a summer. Anymore unbalances the team. That's not to say you can't sign three starters and add strength in depth with two or three squad signings

02 May 2015 16:13:09
Beast. Lesser players don't win titles? How about SAF's last title or maybe the class of 92? They were lesser players who won't win titles, eh Hansen?
The only 'Elite' player LvG needs to work on is Di Maria as Falcao won't be there. As regards the players we bought and what they are worth, forget it. Its done, can't be changed and we have to move on, you included.

02 May 2015 01:33:26
Hey eds/all
How is everybody?hope all is good.ed002 i'm really gladyour still about and i hope you stay as i'm 1 of the many true united fans who loves what you and the other eds do for us so thank you.just wondering do you still expect united to sign depay?all this talk in the press i don't know what to believe.have we lost out to rodgers with depay?this talk of bale won't go away either.whats your info on gundogan?thanks as always ed002/eds

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02 May 2015 06:38:20
Quality bond. Being a Glasweigan I think a bottle of MD, Frosty jake or Bucky would suffice!