Manchester United Banter Archive January 03 2019

03 Jan 2019 22:01:42
Strange feeling tonight, rooting for City with all the passion I have watching United. Now hope they can save my summer and stop Liverpool winning the league.

04 Jan 2019 07:42:49
Our hope vs their endless dream.

{Ed025's Note - i have a feeling it wont be an endless dream come may mate..

03 Jan 2019 15:19:51
Good win last night, slightly worrying first half but we remained patient even through a good 15 minute second half spell for Newcastle where earlier this season they may well have scored.

Everybody is saying the players need a rest and I couldn't agree more after 4 games in 12 days.

Reading next and for me this too is an important game for OGS. It's a perfect game to rest players against a struggling Reading team (although a lot of their lost games have been by the odd goal, they're averaging more than a goal per game and haven't conceded as many as some teams much higher up the Championship) .

I think the starting lineup will tell us a lot about OGS, is he confident to go with a youthful XI with one eye on Spurs. Or does he look at the FA Cup as winnable and his best chance of a trophy in what could be a short stint in his dream job?

Either way I'd like to see Chong started on the right hand side with Sanchez given the start he needs.

03 Jan 2019 16:42:27
I think you’ll see Rom and Sanchez get some much needed minutes for sure.

03 Jan 2019 23:52:18
Well if Pereira doesn't start against Reading then the writing is on the wall for him.

03 Jan 2019 14:48:54
For the folks wondering about the "clauses (excluding Santa), this is it as per the legendary ed2


Ed002's Note - Perhaps a reminder about transfer related clauses would be apt. This is a horribly complex area not least because they are written under individual national laws. They cause a great deal of misunderstanding with football supporters and the media alike.

The "buy out clause" is legally binding between a club and a player. The "buy out" is effectively what it says - a means for the player to buy himself out of the contract. As an example, if a player wishes to buy himself out of a contract, he pays the applicable FA (on behalf of the club) the amount of the "buy out" clause effectively becoming a free agent. The problem is that in most cases a player would need to obtain that money from the buying club - and this is fraught with issues regarding "tapping up" and, of course, taxation (as it can be seen as income for the player and would therefore be subject to income tax) .

There was a test case about the taxation issue in Spain about five years ago which is why they have an exception. All players in Spain and Portugal have a release clause that allows the player to buy himself out of his contract without tax implications. This was to address a ruling from around 30 years ago allowing players a way out of their contracts. It works differently in Iberia to elsewhere as the tax implications do not make such clauses viable. All players in Iberia must have a figure set and agreed with the club. So "buy out" clauses are very rare. Related to this is the Webster Ruling but I don't intend to go in to that now.

A "release clause" is far more common in that it gives a figure that the club would accept for the sale of a player to another club - but it is not legally binding except where both parties (clubs) are in the same country (for the sake of argument I should say that football Spain and Portugal count as the same country as do England and Wales) for legal purposes.

These are normally unreasonably high figures (Messi at Barcelona for example) introduced to act as a deterrent for hostile bids - and even then the club could easily block a move. However, if a club in the same country does agree to match a release clause then the selling club would be obliged to ask the player if he is interested - there is no obligation on the player to make a move. For interested clubs outside of the country, the selling club may use it as a guide but are under obligation to accept a bid and may demand a higher figure.

There is then the becoming popular "termination clause" which is binding between the player and the club and if met would see an offer from anywhere accepted and the player given the opportunity to make a call on a move. This overcomes the issues associated with "buy out" clauses as the money would be paid by one club to another and about the legal proximity of the buying side.

03 Jan 2019 13:17:28
Well. This has been a much nicer place to be lately 😁.

03 Jan 2019 13:39:58
Feels like the old man united again Stevie. The real test is against the other big boys but it’s been really enjoyable. The club, the fans and the players are all united in the first time in ages. Long may it continue.

03 Jan 2019 13:47:17
Even jred and Ken seemed to have called an uneasy truce 😁.

03 Jan 2019 13:58:44
Even if we lose (may or may not) to top 5 teams playing the way we are playing right now i would be more than happy, attacking vibe is back at Old Trafford and everyone is happy.

Now we just need to get balance of the team right, get a right sided attacker preferably a left footed player, a Solid CB and another CM so that we can give Matic and co a bit of rest during a busy season.

Fred's signings was a big facade and he needs to start from basics on how to control the ball first, Pereira is another midfielder who is unable to have an impact, i am still not sure of his primary position as a player.

03 Jan 2019 14:30:24
Honestly i'd sell or release Pereira.

Also think we need a right footed player on the right. Someone who can cross first time without having to cut in.

Agree we need cover for matic but i'd like to see fosu-mensah given a try in pre season.

Valencia should be nowhere the team for awhile.

We need a commanding presence alongside lindelof. The other 4 are all injury prone or error prone or both and honestly i'd sell at least 3 if not all 4 of them.

03 Jan 2019 14:56:50
Pereira needs game time to get match sharp. Only then can we really judge him.

Fellaini Valancia, Rojo Jones and Smalling and possibly Young need to go (Young is a decent Rwb, lbw backup) .

Matic will probably be sold in 18 months time.

Perhaps we will see 2-3 players leave this transfer window and some more in the summer.

I'd love it, if we signed Koulibaly this January.

03 Jan 2019 15:25:07
I will absolutely love to see duo of F. deJong and De ligt signed as this will cover 2 critical positions for a longer period of time, but then this is just Wishful thinking.

Can someone confirm if Godin has refused to sign a new contract?

03 Jan 2019 06:55:45
Professional performance last night but a slow first half with a lack of the pace and urgency we have seen recently. Stepped up in the second half and it’s clear to m pie that the 2 key players right now are Pogba and Rashford, both of whom appear free to be the players they are. The defence remains worrying but a clean sheet and a good of plus 11 in the last 4 games can’t be sniffed at.

Newcastle set up deep and packed their back line looking to use pace to break. Once we scored, they opened up and we should have had at least a clue more as the spaces opened up. I think against the better teams we will come under more pressure but we will also have more space to attack into so I’m really interested to see how we do against Spurs.

There remain some positions to be strengthened but what we seem to have right now is great spirit, enjoyment, and players who are having a good time. People say it has been against poor teams, but we lost to Brighton, and drew with Southampton and Palace, that’s 7 points we lost that we would usually expect to pick up. If we can keep rolling over everyone outside the top 6 there we will make the top 4 by the end of the season, Chelsea’s result last night showed that.

03 Jan 2019 09:42:35
I think part of the slow start last night can be attributed to playing 4 games in 12 days. we have had several injuries and its tough to rotate when you've just got a losing team winning, you don't want to lose momentum.

Hopefully we see a much changed line-up against Reading, resting many key players ahead of the Spurs game. With a new manager and every player chomping at the bit to prove themselves rotating against a Championship side should be fairly safe. We have players like Lukaku, Sanchez and Fred who need games. Andreas Pereira will want to prove himself also.

Give players such as Rashford, Pogba, Matic, Herrera, Lindelof, Shaw and Lingard a rest. Maybe even draft in one or two from the academy.

03 Jan 2019 10:08:18
I agree with you Shappy. Maybe rest DdG as well. Could however argue that Lingz was rested for the newcastle game so he could start.
Another reason for a slow start could be both Mata and Valencia playing the right flank.

03 Jan 2019 10:54:49
Playing Valencia and Mata on the right side changed the whole dynamic of the team.

It enabled Newcastle more mobility to cover Martial on the left and still be safe in the knowledge that the right was covered as it was not such a big concern. That is why having the right players for a system and not the best individual players is a must. Mata has a better footballing brain and technique than Lingard, but Lingard offers pace and directness that opens up spaces for others. The same with the fullbacks overlapping. It gives the wide players on that side the option of playing in the fullback down the line or cutting in, into the space that is then opened up by the overlap.

03 Jan 2019 00:31:06
Another great 3 points and finally a clean sheet. Rafa’s sides are notoriously hard to break down at home and we did well against a well drilled, albeit poor team.

Thought lindelof was phenomenal again. Really grown into a fantastic player. He reads the game so well and has great poise on the ball. Still doubts about him physically but he coped brilliantly with Rondon who can be a real handful. Jones is a liability and we cannot have him starting against spurs. Shaw worked hard but Valencia was extremely poor. We were very left side heavy in our attacks with Valencia not providing anything going forward. We have played our best football with our full backs pushed high up the pitch. His days are numbered and it’s time to trust Dalot more with making that spot his own. I do feel we may need to purchase a rb in the summer to compete with Dalot.

Herrera was tireless today. I can’t remember the amount of times I saw won possession back. He may not be the most talented but he sets the tempo of the team. He has also released matic further forward which is very surprising. Matic again was decent. Looks a great player with more options ahead of him. Pogba did some nice things and worked hard. Looks much better further forward.

Thought martial was very poor. Not an easy game and he seemed to be doubled up on by the Newcastle players. He will have better days and I’m not too worried. Mata again I thought struggled. He wasn’t helped by the lack of width provided by Valencia. Wouldn’t mind see him play the silva role in a midfield three instead of perhaps Herrera against the smaller teams. His guild and vision could be a treat with runners further forward. Rashford brilliant again. Lovely finish for the goal. Looks like he’s been doing some work with ole.

Chuffed for Lukaku getting another goal again. Looks much trimmer and more agile. Interesting to see him playing quite a bit of the right. Could be interesting to see him in a fluid front three. Was very excited to see sanchez back. Looked sharp and made a nice pass for rashford’s goal. Excited to see him get a start against reading as I think he could thrive in this current setup.

4 wins on the bounce is great. I am so excited to watch united at the moment. I’m itching for the next game and it’s so nice to feel this ways again. Let’s not get carried away and the real test is next week vs spurs. We cannot he so open at the back with the quality they possess going forward. I would like to see sanchez for mata and young for Valencia in that game. Need to win this game if we want a sniff of top 4. It is very much on.

03 Jan 2019 01:22:12
Lindelof was stand out for me again. I think with our defencise frailties it's refreshing to see someone performing this well. I think he always had the ability he just needed a bit of confidence which I feel he didn't always get from Jose.

Martial I felt was a bit isolated today. I think it was difficult for him to make a massive impact with Newcastles style of play.

03 Jan 2019 07:47:38
Nice sum up.
I must say, i do not think Mata can play the Silva role in the midfield 3. Unlike Silva, Mata get dispossessed of the ball easier. And he can hardly win balls back the way hererra does it.

03 Jan 2019 08:45:56
Agree with everything but Sanchez looked a bit rusty, he would perform better with game time though.

Also we need Lingard in this team to give some edge on the other side.

Next season i won't mind having Tuanzebe (Guy is doing great in a more physical league) and Lindelof as our Primary CB pairing.

03 Jan 2019 10:09:52
Pity about Tuanzebe's injury. Hope he has a solid return.