Manchester United Banter Archive January 03 2015

 

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03 Jan 2015 20:34:23
Hi Guys,

I've just posted my first article on the Football news and views page.

The article is entitled; David De Gea - The best in the world?

Go on over and take a long, if you could leave some comments too that'll be greatly appreciated, have a lovely evening and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Believable1 Unbelievable0

03 Jan 2015 21:17:37
Gd post moon buddy enjoyed the read, I personally would like to see a write up on the top center backs in Europe, in our league many claim Kompany to be worldclass although I personally think differently, to the extreme that I don't really rate the guy much tbh.

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Good work Moon, also read your blog, top notch.

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I appreciate the replies and feedback guys! :).

Chris,

That'll most likely end up being a long blog post, and for the next few weeks I'm a little swamped with work, but I'll start it at some point this week.

Perhaps looking at;
star names
Young up and coming defenders
Under-rated defenders

Just for you, I'll let you know a little about Kompany now haha.

In comparison to Vlaar and Reid (two players I want United to sign in January).

14/15 Season.

This season Vincent Kompany has made one defensive error which has led to a goal whereas Vlaar and Reid have made 0 errors.

Kompany has won 16/43 (37%) tackles, Vlaar has won 7/12 (58%) and Reid was won 22/47 (47%).

Kompany has won 17/31 Headers (55%), Vlaar has won 13/27 (48%) and Reid has won 58/87 (67%).

Kompany makes 6 defensive actions on average per game, as opposed to Vlaar who makes 9 and Reid who makes 13.

13/14

Kompany had made 3 defensive errors leading to goals, Vlaar had made one and Reid had made 0.

Kompany had won 46/92 tackles (50%), Vlaar had won 55/84 (65%) and Reid 19/36 (53%)

Kompany had won 32/44 headers (73%), Vlaar had won 45/74 (61%) and Reid 47/84 (56%)

Kompany had made 8 defensive actions on average per game, as opposed to Vlaar 10 and Reid also 10.

Obviously, I think Vincent Kompany is a terrific defender, however compared to a 'bad' defender in Vlaar and an 'average' defender in Reid he doesn't stack up brilliantly.

I hope this helps your case man!

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04 Jan 2015 00:21:17
Cheers boss, in a way it highlights my thinking he is slightly over rated because of the city players he plays the leader and caregiver role well.

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Moon

Interesting read, thanks.

One area that might have been worth examining was the Germans decisiveness. Neuer is noted for his decisiveness and ability to almost act like a sweeper. Whilst the stats show much about crosses I don't believe DDG is as decisive as Neuer in dominating his area and coming out. Also DDG doesn't command his defenders like Schmeichel so how is his communication? Neuer is communicating with German defenders in his natural tongue where DDG isnt. Perhaps you might have considered the weight height ratios of both? Only suggestions but a good first read.

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04 Jan 2015 11:27:01
Interesting article. Would you revisit de gea at the end of the season and compare him to courtois? His big domestic rival as that would be an interesting read as well.

I agree with the ed, a lot of the right back options don't impress me so I'm slowly coming round on Coleman. I think we will be in the market though. Valencia makes a fine short term stopgap but has to play wingback with 3 cbs. Rafael could play in both systems but is just too injury prone. Coleman offers reliability and versatility.

Centrebacks, again there seems a paucity of contenders. Vlaar I just don't rate, and far too injury prone. Miranda had one good season and is just the latest faddy name. And I'm sorry but I don't share everyone else's manlove for hummels.

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Red Man -

an extensive analysis involving factors as you've mentioned is something I plan to do in the future, covering the points you've mentioned.

But thanks for the suggestions and I'll definitely look at where I can include them in future :).

MrE -

my plan for the end of the season is to create some kind of analysis to look at best goalkeepers, best defenders, etc. and ultimately create a statistically sound 'team of the season'

The right back issue is something I plan to address next and I'm already planning both my next article and blog post (I feel a lot of the United stuff should be posted here). so keep an eye out for that!

As for the defenders, Vlaar has a quite serious issue with his Calf which needs to be addressed, however he does continue to play when he shouldn't to his credit.

Miranda barely had one good season, a good central defender but he's by no means a player we should be targeting as a first choice defender.

Hummels, I believe most have woken up to the fact that although he's a brilliant defender in a system that suits him (much like Mertesacker), he will not suited to a high pressing, high line game.

The offside trap is used a lot in England and i'm not sure how Hummels would cope with it due to not just his lack of pace but lack of mobility in general.

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03 Jan 2015 20:32:24
{Ed001's Note - We have posted a new article entitled, David De Gea - The best in the world?

Believable0 Unbelievable0

03 Jan 2015 21:20:15
Top idea ed01/33 getting moon involved I always find his poposts very good read.

Are u still accepting blog posts on individual sites? Or are u looking to this route more now?

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Cheers Chris, I really appreciate that.

I've always wanted to write about either football or NFL from a tactical/statistical point of view :).

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{Ed004's Note - Are you planning to do individual player analysis regularly Moon?}

I want to try and get at least 1(ish) done a week, doesn't have to be specifically related to United but obviously this is where I spend my time on these sites.

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{Ed004's Note - Sounds good. I know you covered it briefly in your main blog post (compared to the DDG and Neuer comparisons) just interested to hear your thoughts on the right back situation. Seems LvG doesn't rate Rafael according to the papers and I reckon coleman and clyne will be mentioned a lot over the next month. I can't think of any European alternatives, the Dortmund right back is always injured, Alves being too big a risk due to motivation and age, Van der Weil being a poor player IMO. Or are we giving it too much thought and Valencia and Rafael good enough to be out options. Rafael when fit is a very good player and Valencia is a solid understudy}

03 Jan 2015 17:30:09
Regarding the conversation below, as a result of injuries, the players on the pitch have largely been the same ones as we had last year, so it is not surprising we do not exhibit the qualities we all want to see. A slow methodical player is not going to develop lightening speed. Experience and mentality take time to develop.

Lucky or not, compared to last year, we have beaten Arsenal at the Emirates, Liverpool at home, narrowly been beaten by City, beaten Everton, and done all but beat Spurs at WHL. The team is playing with more grit and determination, and the camaraderie that was so sadly lacking last season, seems to have returned. That constitutes an improvement, and lays the essential groundwork for growth.

Financial pressures mean the priority this year is to get back into the Champions League. It is not playing pretty football. That can come later, whether under LVG's leadership or not. But, in the meantime, pining for the MUFC we used to be is just sentimental nostalgia - an illusion created by 26 years under a single manager. That Man Utd is gone. The state of the sport is totally different too. It's not some kind of fantasy football we're playing, where players are simply available just because you press a button on a computer.

It's time to move on. Get over it. Rome wasn't built in a day. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear etc.

Believable9 Unbelievable0

And you can't polish a turd!! lol

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Absolutely spot on shawthing.

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Some one said it a few weeks ago if you take the freak Leicester City result out of it, United hands down would have the best defensive record in terms of goals conceded in the league. If you weigh this up with the 3 big players we lost last summer, the nightmare with the injuries we have had and the constant shuffling at the back you got to appreciate how far we have come.

I for one am pretty happy with how well our team have done so far and with a bit of strengthening and a few less injuries a few of our draws will turn into wins and put us easily fighting for the premiership title next year.

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Correct manu2. I believe i said that at the time. And i still think one cb and a rb wukk see us look more assured.

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03 Jan 2015 16:50:20
Hi eds, found my post under 'my recent posts '. It appears they are going to the banter page and not the rumours page where I wanted them to go. Anyways thanks for your replies. While I'm posting a quick question. could ilkay gundogan end up at old Trafford this window?

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{Ed002's Note - They may be on the Other page.

What about gundogan ed? Is he an option?

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{Ed002's Note - He has not been playing well so is available. I cannot see why MU would want him.}

03 Jan 2015 16:17:43
Kagawa went to Dortmund, Juventus wanted Nani & Hernandez. Perfect opportunities to sort out one of their awesome CB's - opportunity missed.
The Beast""
Dear mr beast
"First thing you would have done is buy a centreback"
Ngiak has been dormant for a long time
And noticed your rise in prominence here
At first glance the impression was if good inside knowledge of at least the pulse of the club
Increasingly a juvenile impatience and lack of a comprehension of what happened the last 2 years has come to the fore
A team aged
A team lacking talent
Still dreaming of the past "ferdie of qpr v that of ours?" Quote you?
A team totally lost in direction and team ethic
Lost in confidence
Cliques. And primadonnas
And a new coach to take over after the biggest tournament in the world
Hmmm yes lucky
Yes lotsa new purchases
But it's not fantasy football or FIFA soccer dear sir
Here. Take our want away underperforming useless primadonnas and give me your best centreback
Just like that sir?
Gan

Believable7 Unbelievable4

You miss the key point Ngiak - +a lot of money which talks! We are throwing money around like confetti, yet fail to fill the gaping hole that got even wider with the departures of Ferdinand & Vidic.

It is beyond belief that we have not signed any quality CB, considering the overwhelming evidence of our weakness in that key area. There are far better than Jones, Smalling & Evans available. We gambled and lost.

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Not posted in a while, but have been a constant reader. Got to say beast everyone is open to there own opinion on here but we've heard your same negative opinion far too many times now. As for the centre back situation I agree it's a big problem which the club have tried and failed to rectify, but what would you rather do wait for the one we want or waste more money on crap?
On the performance of the team I agree they don't look good at times but at least we can see LVG is trying to change our style to a more possession based game which will come good hopefully. We're getting the results for top 4 at the moment and that's what we need after last year, and we're refusing to be beaten which is a good thing.
We all want to see great exciting football but one step at a time after last year, from some of the posts I've read people would love to see great football every week and happily finish seventh again by the sounds of it.
The results are the most important thing this year.

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Agree with you beast, we have one of the best goalkeepers now so we need to put 2 top cb in front of him, sooner rather than later.

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Beast, I'm not going to give you any !more grief because you seem to attract plenty already. But I have to challenge you here. Can you show me any proof that you, or ANY poster on here said, at any point, before last summer's transfer window that our main priority was CB?
I totally agree that it is a position that needs sorting. We all wanted a Hummel's or varane last year, granted. Martins India and even Vlaar were also mentioned quite regularly. But I think I am correct in saying that midfield was seen as the !ain priority by just about everyone.
I may be splitting hairs a little, but I don't think anyone envisaged our CB being quite as awful as they have been. These are professional footballers who seem to have lost the very basic skills required to do their jobs. And I am sorry, but neither Vidic or Ferdinand would in any way shape or form be the answer. Both are well past their best and are finished at the top level. And Evra, although once a 'warrior' has attracted nothing but criticism on here for the last 3 years.
We need to strengthen our defence, no question, but if the players we already have could perform to a standard anywhere near that of which they are all quite capable, then we would be in a much better position. Whatever you think of the manager, once those players walk out onto the pitch, he cannot, and should not, be held responsible for pathetic individual performances and schoolboy mistakes. I am quite sure that had he have had the opportunity the drop some of those underperforming half wits, he would have. Unfortunately, a ridiculous amount of injuries has meant that has not been possible. Whether or not LvG is in any way responsible for some of those injuries, I do not know. And that is a whole different conversation.

Mr.Penguin, good to see you back my feathered friend. :)

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03 Jan 2015 18:49:01
Beast your comprehension of the transfer market is a little childish.

Imagine if last summers transfer window went like this, We spend a long time chasing Hummels only for him to move to Real Madrid, we then go for Varane but he chooses Chelsea because he was clearly second choice, Godin decides he wants to stay at Atlectico, so we end up signing Vlaar for 20m on deadline day because we're desperate and everyone else has turned us down.

Would you be happy with that?

Cast your mind back just a little further than remember Fabregas didn't want to leave Barca, Kroos then chose Real, the Herrera deal was too complicated so we settled for Fellaini. A decent player but not one significantly better than the ones we had.

Signing players isn't like popping down to Tesco and picking them off the shelves.

Yes we signed several players this summer but let's have a look at those transfers.

Real were actively trying to sell Di Maria, and we were the highest bidders, mostly because PSG weren't allowed to bid remember.

We had a whole year to work out the Herrera deal, and ultimately just paid his buy out clause fee.

Blind and Shaw were bought from clubs that have good academies but always end up selling their best players.

Rojo was signed from a similar type club as Ajax and Southampton but even then we still had to meet a buy out clause to force through a deal.

Then Falcao was signed on a loan deal from a club who were desperate to get him off the wage bill and we were the only club prepared to take a gamble on him.

So two deals we forced through via buy out clauses, two we were just willing to pay more than anyone else for them but the selling club were willing to sell.
One deal was a gamble loan deal which no one else was prepared to take. Blind was the only deal were we didn't pay over the odds and we didn't have to use a buy out clause for.

All our deals were for players either the selling club wanted to sell or players we were able to get via a clause. But you have to accept not all clubs are willing to sell us their best players and they don't all have clauses we can use to get a deal done.

Sometimes you just have to accept no means no.

We spoke to Dortmund apparently and was told they wouldn't entertain the idea of selling Hummels last summer, but maybe in a years time. So if Hummels really is the man LvG has set his heart on then how would you feel if he then went and signed some average CB and the following summer lose out on Hummels to a rival club?

Last summer we spent over 150m and closed 6 deals while also managing to move several players on, that was great work done by the club and about as much as we could have asked for. At some point the club have to make a decision on whether to keep pursuing a target which has little chance of coming off or to focus their attention on deals that have a good chance of being completed.

we all complained that the club dragged their feet the previous summer having only signed Fellaini, now you complain that the club didn't sign the players you wanted? Have i missed something here, i am assuming you sent Mr Woodward and Mr van Gaal the list of targets they should pursue? As if you didn't then you really have no grounds to complain that they didn't sign them.

I'm assuming your quite young as your demeanour is that of a petulant child who has been told he can't have his way. In the real world we just suck it up and do our best, everyone at the club is doing that despite the huge injury list and all the other complications we are having to deal with.

I can't remember you complaining about our style of play during Sir Alex's final season with us, although i suppose it's easier to accept when were winning.

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Betty - I suppose had we known LVG was going to play 3CB's which most people think is wrong, then there would have been more of a clamour for it - I don't have any evidence I'm afraid. The squad needed and needs a lot of work granted, but not bringing in a CB was crazy and we are paying for it now big style. Whether it was identified or not we aren't the ones being paid millions of pounds to pre-empt problems.

Shappy - What does my age have to do with any of this mate?

My name is appearing a lot because people are taking the time to challenge my views and I then respond to them when I can. It doesn't help when people grab certain quotes taking them out of context as it just means the whole point I am making gets lost banging on about one specific aspect.

My main problem in terms of this branch is that if having ball playing CB's was part of LVG's plan he should have sorted that out first. If we don't have control at the back then we get the performances we are seeing, lack of options going forward, poor/rushed service and a lot of side to side and backwards passing.

I understand that transfers are not a simple process, however we are talking about the problems and strengths of our team. My stating that we have the funds to buy virtually any CB is a point of view and pretty fair considering football is a business just as much as it is a sport now.

£60m on ADM or £45m (dare I guess that would be enough) on Hummel's. At the moment it would have been wiser for the CB, but LVG didn't have that luxury, he did have the knowledge that our CB's are not up to the job and he didn't do enough to handle that in the time he had in my eyes.

You see everything I say above could lead into numerous areas: Should we target Hummels, was ADM a waste of money, is it LVG's plan to stick with 3 at the back, is he only doing it because of xyz. All it takes is for one person to jump on one of these and it starts another round of me having to explain my thinking, its like a bloody evil bacteria mutating.

You will be thinking, "We don't need Hummels" for example, as you have said this recently. I disagree, but we definitely shouldn't be too picky as we are limited by the strength of our defence. I want to see our attack unleashed, it is being held back horribly.

Also Herrera needs to play when fit!

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03 Jan 2015 19:27:39
I enjoyed that ngiak.

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Wow shappy do you think if we send in our lists they will take them on board?

If so I want Laporte & Varane as our new cb pairing. Gundogan & Pogba to partner Herrera in mid-field and reus to play up front with di Maria and falco/rooney. I will get writing and stick it in the post monday

Thanks

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Great to see the penguin back!

Rojo will prove to be an excellent signing at centre back, if we stick with three at the back then Rojo, Smalling and Jones will be strong once they get a run together.

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We are definately improving, but anyone who thinks we played fantasy football in fergies last couple of years in charge is deluded

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04 Jan 2015 12:19:07
Bit harsh that Shappy and unnecessarily personal in my view, although I happen to think you are correct in your analysis.

I'm glad we haven't panicked and brought in second rate centre backs; it's clear now we already have enough.

I'm happy we've had the chance to work this out though. The young centre halves we already have are being given a chance and they've been found wanting.

I think Evans has to go but maybe Jones, Smalling & McNair are young enough to improve sufficiently but none of them are currently good enough to be first choice players.

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03 Jan 2015 13:53:21
@Red Man and Beast

Having read your discussion about LVG and center backs I would have to agree with Red Man, that the lack of a top experienced center back at the club isn't LVG's fault but of the situation in the summer and a lot of other factors. We tried hard to sign Hummels but Dortmund put up the "not for sale" barrier and clearly missed out on Benatia to Bayern. Its never as simple as just put up money on the table and you can buy whoever you want.

The club is still targeting the likes of Hummels, Godin, Miranda and i am sure the issue will be addressed in the next couple of windows.

My issue with Van Gaal isn't the center back situation though. Its the formation, tactics, the style of play, the management during the games, the wrong substitutions. Its the same boring, slow passing style of play. The same over-reliance on hopeful crossing into the box, the lack of quick interplays through the center, playing Fellaini instead of Herrera etc. The center backs still haven't learned how to bring the ball out and just kick it up the pitch, we lose the first header, are always second to the knockdown and have to face another wave of attack. With the three at the back, that never allows us to settle into a consistent control of the game where we create chances and is hit and miss, with the strikers having to fight for scraps.

We keep the ball, but do nothing with it. I struggle to find more than 2-3 clear opportunities created every game. Even LVG has said we have been lucky in a few games. The football hasn't changed at all from last season, and that is what worries me, even after having spent so much. Especially, without Di Maria, we are painful to watch.

Van Gaal has been incredibly lucky that De Gea is having the season of his life, or we would have been in a far worse position.

Also, i fear that LVG is looking at the 3 at the back formation as a long term option beyond this year, interest in Coleman who is better suited as a wing back than a traditional right back, indicates that to me. As a Manchester United fan, i just cannot accept this style of play. When I think of what excites me about United, its the Best, Kanchelskis, Ronaldo, Giggs, Beckhams stretching teams out wide and tearing full backs to shreds, its the quick inter change of play from one side to another which we used to do so effortlessly and its the goals scored, unreal energy and plummeting of the opposition in the last 10-15 minutes of the game. All of that is missing in this side.

He has us in a respectable position in the table, and the wolves won't be out until that changes, but we could be easily so much better with this squad. What standards do we have at United? "Oh he has better results than Moyes and we are third with scrappy wins, so its ok." or "We should be playing quick attacking football and looking to be fighting for the title with a manager in the calibre of Sir Alex, Jose, Ancelotti etc."?

If its the latter, then we are not doing well at all.

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REDFAITH,

We have lost a lot in the last 2 years in terms of confidence, very important players ( Giggs, Vidic, Ferdie, Scholes and Evra).

We had a huge loss in confidence over the last year, players falling out and players not playing to their full ability. We also haf players thwt were simply not good enough for us.

Van Gaal has to start the process all over again we he has done to a good standard thus far.

So it will take time, we need to start learning how to walk again before we start running.

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Redfaith - Aside from you disagreeing with me on the CB situation, I agree with everything else you have said and have also been saying similar things.

This is not the Man Utd I know and love, the CB factor is a side issue which has been debated a lot on here, but has a massive impact on the way our team play, which would solve a lot of the straightforward problems we face. LVG's failure to correct previous wrongs was an oversight, even keeping a dodgy Rio would have meant we could attack better imo.

3rd place is more by luck than design, both in our own performances and the performances of our typical rivals for CL places.

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The problems with the team don't lie with van Gaal. For too long we have bought poorly, failed to address glaring weaknesses in the squad, and failed to recognise that the best teams these days are geared toward hitting the opposition quickly on the break.

The question is if van Gaal is the right man to change these things around. Last season Moyes proved that he wasn't: he slowed our play down even more, focused on old fashioned working the ball to the by-line and whipping it in, and spent £60m on two players who lack any pace. Van Gaal, on the other hand, has invested in players that offer pace and mobility: Shaw, Herrera, Rojo and especially Di Maria can all help to move the ball quickly up the pitch. Player wise, we have started moving in the right direction, but we have a long way to go.

The problem, however, is that van Gaal doesn't seem that keen to play with pace and speed. The 3-5-2/5-3-2 is designed to keep possession and reduce defensive risks. But it almost completely blunts our attack. I don't think anyone can look at our attacking players and think that the amount of chances we are creating in most games is acceptable. There have been a few games in which the system worked, but it's a system that is predictable and easy to combat. So if van Gaal wants to stick to this formation, he simply isn't the right man.

The question is: when our injuries clear up and we get to bring in a few more players, does he plan on changing the formation? Personally I think that he has made some major mistakes: marginalising Herrera who could be key to speeding up our midfield play, for example. I want to believe that he isn't so stubborn, but his track record indicates that he will stick to his guns and the likes of Chelsea and City will pull even further ahead.

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Danny

I agree with quite a few things you say. Keeping possession is worthless if you are not creating much.

City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Swansea, Spurs also have high stats for possession but city/chelsea/arsenal are a lot more creative upfront and seem to attack in numbers. When I watch chelsea and city or even arsenal in games where they have a lot of possession they seem to be creating a lot of chances and you know a goal is coming, with us I sometimes can't see where the goal is coming from and it is worrying.

What makes it even more puzzling is we have Falcao, Rooney, RVP, Mata up front and you would think we should be creating loads with these guys.

Whist our possession stats are high, they are deceiving as we create very little and have almost become the set piece specialist.

The other thing about 352 that is quite flawed is when we are under pressure and trying to defend a lead we are unable to keep any possession, which is quite odd as it is supposedly designed for that and our CB'S just kick it anywhere upfield and have teams come at us wave after wave.

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A key problem with retaining possession as games go on is that Carrick is getting older he struggles to find space, Rooney is not a midfielder, Mata is easy to pick up if we don't have advanced possession and RVP is very static. So it leaves a lack of options, especially without ADM or Herrera playing. The defenders are uncomfortable on the ball and this is confounded with the lack of options they have as games get to the later stages.

This is why I don't see progress, nominal chance creation and players doing jobs they won't be doing in a few months if LVG has any sense.

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I think all the points mentioned would be valid if it wasn't for the fact that we have never been in a position to have the the quick mobile players fit and available to pick.
I go back to the first half against Leicester when when we had Di Maria, Blind and Herrera in CM, and we moved the ball very quickly with quality and purpose. Unfortunately, the understanding that that trio of players had hasn't had the chance to blossom, so we have had to use players like Felliani, Carrick and Rooney in CM, who do not offer the same mobility, speed, energy and flair that that the latter trio offer. And, that to my mind anyway, has to be taken into account. Yet, with all that said, in a number of recent games, we have played so very good football. I mean, some of you mention about chances created, but against Spurs last week, we created a hat-full of well crafted chances, but were unable to put them in the back of the net.

The quality of football; the organisation of the team; the mental toughness and general fighting spirit of the team, are on another level compared to last season. We're a lot harder to be now, hence why we are unbeaten in 10. All of that can be attributed to the manager and his staff, who have basically had to chop and change on a constant basis in order to mitigate the loss of key players in key areas.

We need new defenders. That is clear for all to see. Until our defence is of a higher quality, we won't see the best off our attacking talent. It is really as simple as that. That is why the manager, IMO, has used the three at the back for the majority of the season: it offers more defensive cover. That and the fact that we have had no fullback fit for the last few months.

This season was always going to be about getting the side back in the CL. That is ultimately why LVG was brought in.

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Danby, nice to see a post that , though critical, of LvG, does actually have some depth and reasoning to it. Though I have been trying to defend him, I do accept he has made mistakes. I don't think anyone would disagree with much of what you said. It just goes to show that you can be critical, but in a reasoned, constructive way. It doesn't have to be an aimless, pointless rant.

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(continued from last post)

But I believe that the style of play will also improve once we sort the defence out and settle all the new players in.

Having a fit Di Maria back in the side will inject that much needed pace back into our play when he returns.

I for one believe that the manager will prove to be a big success at the club, and could stay beyond his current three year contract.

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When 2 players like vidic and Ferdinand leave a top club like united you simply have to replace them with 2 top players, that's the spine of the team gone, I'm no top class manager but no way would I trust smalling, Evans or jones to take over from those 2.and rojo is not the answer he needs a bit of time, all I can see coming in January is vlaar, can he plug a hole until the end of the season who knows.

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Leahy

The issue is that they should have been replaced 2 years ago. The damage had already been done when Moyes moved in. He failed to address it so LVG is left holding the baby. I'm sure the CB situation will be fully resolved by the summer.

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A top class manager would have not simply held the baby, he would have insisted it grow up or bring in an adult! LVG's lack of action is just as bad as SAF's poor judgement toward the end.

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Beast

"A top class manager would have not simply held the baby. LVG's lack of action is just as bad as SAF's poor judgement toward the end"

LvG has not even had a full transfer window yet you accuse him of a lack of action! You do know that transfers need to be set up, they need the selling club to agree to actually sell a player, the player needs to agree to it? Of course LvG could have bought someone who just was not as good as what we have, but then no doubt you would accuse him of a lack of judgement! Obviously he can't win.

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Lvg knew who was coming in last summer, I'm sure he was put in the picture

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Red Man - How many players did he sign though? Not enough priority was given to a position which ultimately affects the whole way we play and basically nullifies our trump card - awesome attackers. Watching us this season you would think we have a poor forward line, its all interconnected and by making this mistake we have wasted a great opportunity to go for the title.

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Beast

If the standard of player required to play at centre back for us was not available last summer what did you expect LvG to do? Buy an inferior player? Or go with what he had until the standard of player needed might be available?

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03 Jan 2015 12:17:17
I agree with Beast yes an experience quality cetre back would made a massive difference, 99% of ppsters called it here and I'm sure van gaal wouldve aswell, for some reason we couldn't get that CB in.We came into the season with a lot of uncertainty within the club and no champs league.
Rojo had been bought for the lcb position and though he hasn't convinced everyone I'm confinced he'll make it at united, I'm sure when the market makes that CB available we need we'll pounce and pay what we need for that quality.looking at the movement of cb in the summer we'll see luiz moved for 50mill I almost fainted when I heard that news.So patience is the game I'm sure the club will adress the issue.

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03 Jan 2015 08:55:35
Just a quick question for Moon, I was wondering if you would like to write for our football-news-views.co.uk site? I mean the posts that you were doing for here anyway go on there and be linked here. Only that site is being added to news aggregators and so it will give them a wider audience for you, if you wish?

If so, is it ok to contact you via the email you gave when you signed up for your account? I didn't want to just contact you through that without asking first, as that is really just for contacting people if they win a comp. We don't want to annoy people by sending unsolicited emails out!

If you posted on there, we can give you access to the page that allows you more options regarding the look of your posts, so you can add pictures etc, straight away. We haven't got that set up properly for this site yet.

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03 Jan 2015 11:43:45
Hey ed,

That sounds great! Send me an email :)

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{Ed001's Note - ok mate I will get Ed033 to send you the details.}