Manchester United Banter Archive April 05 2015

05 Apr 2015 21:05:27
Just reading an article about Daley Blind with the following comments:
- reads the game well
- Defends the space and spots the danger rather than needing to make big hit tackles
- solid when in holding midfield with a good eye for a forward pass
- Lacking in pace but makes up by being a yard ahead of attackers in the head.
- good at keeping the flow of the game going for the team.
- Very underrated by everyone but his team mates
The whole article just could have been written about Carrick.now I am not saying he is as good as Carrick yet but he could be developed into the next Carrick for when he departs. Players like this factor greatly in LVG team set ups

05 Apr 2015 21:34:40
I always saw Blind as a very similar player to Carrick in the sense that he might not be the most athletic but he's a very smart player and positionally very good with a nice range of passing. Added that he's somewhat of a utility man which is incredibly valuable for the squad as a whole. I think his best position will be the role Carrick now plays. Great signing in my opinion and I'm very pleased with how he's done in his first season.

05 Apr 2015 21:45:38
Best word to describe him for me as a player is intelligent

06 Apr 2015 13:17:34
Blind, IMO, has never had a bad game for the team.

His recent performances have been nothing short of excellent.

Shaw could struggle to get his place back.

06 Apr 2015 14:30:49
He is slow with his feet but manages to balance that with his quick mind . I really like the way he has been playing with us .

05 Apr 2015 17:49:35
In reply to JMB down the page which I feel would have got lost in the shuffle if I didn't reply now, I have been out with my family for Easter Sunday rather than trying to call people out on football websites for quotes they made 6 weeks ago.

I stand by my quote that at that time herrera hadn't quite done enough and was giving the ball away too often, I felt he had the ability that he is showing now but was not showing it consistently. He has now began to do that and is showing what a wonderful player he can be. I always hoped he would come back and show us what he could really do, I just didn't feel like he had at the time. Is that ok JMB, make you feel better about yourself? You were right, I was wrong, all is well with the world now?

On another note, if I typed all the quotes you had put on here over the past 3 months that have been proved wrong over the past 3 games we would be here all night, so I'll sleep easy this bank holiday weekend knowing that I have been proved wrong on only one thing from 6 weeks ago that you could find, whereas you have been proved wrong on pretty much everything you have said in the past 3 months.

In all seriousness, how great it is to see a team playing with passion and team spirit and like they have suddenly clicked. Fast passing with wing play, overlaps and an end product of shots on target is what we have been calling for and it has happened (despite many 'realists' suggesting it never would), it is a pleasure to watch us and if we can end the season and finish 2nd or 3rd we would be on a role moving into next season when we can push for title, which LVG said was the plan at the beginning.

05 Apr 2015 19:48:19
It's the way we thought Van Gaal could get the team to play it just took a while to implement as he stated at the start of the year

05 Apr 2015 19:53:21
We are by no means the finished article but now it seems like most of the playing staff are on the same page it took as long as some expected but others expected miracles. The manager came with a poor pre season into a league he had no experience of with players he did not know in the main and furthermore the players did not know each other or the league they came into which is alien to where most of them came from. Most of them had no pre season either but the likes of jmb or beastie did not take that into consideration. The likes of anchelotti did not win his league last season but got very lucky to win the cl in last min nor did klopp nor jose win their leagues so they must be crap coaches too. As they say gds there is nowt queer add folk. I know at least they are in the minority but they provide good comedy value on this forum of you take they're views for what their worth

05 Apr 2015 21:49:07
most people on here change their mind more than they change their underwear, when it comes to a players quality.

06 Apr 2015 00:02:44
What bugs me the most is when something positive happens and a poster comes on gere saying how they've been proven right. On a positive note, i think we are 2-3 players away from a complete team, barring any sales from our current first team. A cb , rb and a powerful mid are essential with a winger being a good extra but not neccesary. I think we'll see the utd were used to seeing. can't wait till next season!

05 Apr 2015 16:31:57
During BBC live text
74 min
Liverpool try the "Paul Scholes" corner, clipping one high and deep to the edge of the box. But Jordan Henderson is not Paul Scholes, his shot is horribly wide.

LOL .Good one BBC

06 Apr 2015 10:45:16
There is only one Paul Scholes :))

06 Apr 2015 16:07:57
Haha brilliant.

05 Apr 2015 13:19:27
Remember those folk a few weeks ago that claimed Ronaldo was in decline? Shame on you all.

05 Apr 2015 16:06:30
There you go again, everyone is wrong, you're right. In answer to your question further down about why people give you a hard time, I think it's a style issue. You often have very valid points but it's all a bit overly direct.

In terms of Ronaldo, players rarely fall off a cliff, I remember Sammy McIllroy scoring a hat trick the game before we sold him. He will still have stellar games and his stats this year are incredible, the wider point is that age is against him and given the otion, many of us would prefer Bale. Not Fresh obviously whose man love for Ronaldo knows no bounds (no offence Fresh)

06 Apr 2015 02:48:41
How is age against him? He's has just turned 30? He will be at the top of the his game for another five years. 30 is not old. Look at Giggs, Scholes etc. Madrid said last month his body has never been in better condition.

I'm a direct kind of Guy AJH why beat around the bush?

06 Apr 2015 07:32:05
Fair enough JMB, but if you are too direct peole will push back.

In terms of Ronaldo, he is incredible but for me , the money involved for a 30 year old is not worth it. I don't see him having the same impact for the next 5 years but I'm happy to be proved wrong.

06 Apr 2015 08:45:24
Jmb

It isn't about being in decline but understanding what the real situation is with his left knee. At 30 he isn't in decline yet our league is more physical and that would put more pressure on any weakness in that knee.

06 Apr 2015 10:31:31
Agree with red man. Of course Madrid are going to say he's in the best physical condition. Their not going to say o yeah his knees a bit suspect.

06 Apr 2015 12:08:49
Feb 15, Marca, Madrids paper outlined Ronaldo's situation, tendonitis in his left knee. " Ronaldo still has problems with his left knee. He is struggling to regain the type of full fitness he needs to get back to his best out on the pitch.
The Portuguese is looking for a solution to his problem. He doesn't feel comfortable, something which has been easy to see in recent games.
MARCA reported two weeks ago that the Real Madrid star was undergoing a series of tests. One of the doctors he visited was Mikel Sánchez, the man who treated Luka Modric and Rafa Nadal when they suffered almost the same knee injury as CR7: tendonitis.
Ronaldo travelled to Vitoria to hear his diagnosis and discuss possible therapies. It was not the first time that he had visited the same doctor. He also dropped into the Vithas San José clinic last season.
The type of stem cell and blood treatment suggested requires that he spend at least six weeks on the sidelines, something Ronaldo simply cannot afford to do.
The Portuguese's knee hurts whenever he tries to sprint, which is why his famous runs have given way to him playing closer to or even inside the 18-yard box, more as an out-and-out centre-forward than a winger.
The club wants to deal with Ronaldo's situation discreetly. Ancelotti showed as much when he was asked about Cristiano's knee ahead of the game against Real Sociedad. The Real Madrid boss said he was in tip-top condition. That's the party line."

We have seen an ice pack on it and Portugals own doctor commented how serious the knee problem could be if he played in the World Cup. Perhaps it can be sorted in summer but why would Real sell the best player in the world if he could be at the peak of his powers for 3 or more years?

06 Apr 2015 12:52:51
Your right red man his knee looked dodgy last night.

06 Apr 2015 20:30:32
Jmb they were also playing a team liverpool could beat

06 Apr 2015 22:08:16
I've not seen any of our strikers bang on five goals against a team bottom of the league in an eternity

06 Apr 2015 23:32:01
Maybe teams at the bottom of the premier league are better than the teams at the bottom of la liga? Maybe the money in la liga all goes to the top teams and not to the lower teams. It's not a fair comparison, and I don't think anyone has suggested we have a player better than ronaldo, just that for what he would cost we might not need him.

07 Apr 2015 10:59:15
The teams at the bottom of la Liga would smash the teams at the bottom of the EPL in my opinion.

05 Apr 2015 07:59:46
While people are rightly giving praise to the likes of Herrera, Mata and Fellaini over the last few weeks, I feel the most important player in our side is Michael Carrick.

He gives Herrera and Fellaini the ability to move forward without fear of being caught out of position, is a brilliant user of the ball and reads the game as well as anyone in the league. His return to the team coincided with our 7 game winning run earlier in the season and again when he is playing we are winning. Personally I feel he's the most underrated player in the league.

I'd be interested to hear people's thoughts on his contribution and also who they feel is the most underrated player in the league?

05 Apr 2015 11:28:18
Hes been such a vital player over the years. If he was Spanish or Italian or played in la liga or serie a then people would be rating him more. Heck if he was French, Dutch or German the same would be true. Its a typical English mentality to over hype players who run around a lot and get stuck in like Gerrard or terry but not to appreciate genuinely talented class players who get on and do a job with a minimum of fuss.

05 Apr 2015 17:24:06
Well said Mr.E!!

06 Apr 2015 00:10:02
Cheers. I always get the nephew a Carrick shirt.

06 Apr 2015 07:33:40
I've always banged on about Carrick as he is often overlooked. He has been overrun on occasions but in this formation he is ideal. A nice bloke too

06 Apr 2015 07:58:03
A mate of mine, spurs fan, said that whenever Carrick comes on it is like when the teacher joins he losing side at school, everything instantly is better. Can't be any coincidence hat Carrick return has led to our improved form. He will be a hard one to replace.

05 Apr 2015 07:45:30
Just read an article on sky comparing Inngs and Kane .I have watched both of them and now this article has exactly plotted down my thoughts . Inngs may turn as good as Kane if he gets to play with better players around him . 10 goals playing from a burnley team is very good and if he was in suppose playing with spurs may have score quite more than 10. If Ed is correct and we are interested in Inngs then i think it would be very good choice as he is such a smart player and still developing with enormous potential . If we decide to sell RVP with falcao not being purchased then Inngs and Wilson to cover Rooney might be really good . Though both are too young and not an finished article to play as first choice striker in a huge club such as ours but if given oppurtunity i certainly think they can do the job .

05 Apr 2015 11:30:32
Id definitely go for ings, we will need someone in with all the extra games next season. I can see Wilson getting loaned out next season and with falcao going we definitely need someone.

05 Apr 2015 17:22:25
In a lot of respects signing Ings is a no Brainer.he will be a free transfer, not onmassive wages and with possably 2 forwards leaving in the summer he could slowly be bedded in behind Rooney/Rvp.along with Wilson.
Also leaves the money we Have to be spent in other areas of more pressing need.

05 Apr 2015 00:06:20
"I actually do not think Herrera has been amazing when he has played, he gives the ball away quite a lot and doesn't defend as well as LVG would like.

I think Herrera is better than Rooney in midfield, but he is not the long term answer in my opinion and that is why LVG will be looking to bring that long term answer in in the summer"

GDS2 - this is a quote you made a few weeks ago about Herrera. Would you be willing to change that view?

You have essentially said he is not good enough so is not the long term answer and LVG will be looking to bring in someone new?
I for one think he is what we should build around.

05 Apr 2015 01:16:04
I think Herrera is incredibly valuable to the team given his energy, speed of which he passes the ball, and creativity. He works hard but is not necessarily the best defensively. Having Carrick and Fellaini with him in midfield is a very balanced combination. He's one of my favorite players to watch and should definitely be one of the first names on the team sheet.

05 Apr 2015 07:43:01
JMB

Not sure why you felt the need to post is. Herrera is now showing himself to be the player we knew he was, he has been excellent and contributed massively. However he did take time to settle. Listen to what he said and listen to what LVG get has said and you will see he has acted on the feedback he has been given. Earier he was energetic and showed great potential but he did give the ball away. Now he is more composed and having a real impact. It's not just him either, Young and Fellaini look like different players,Smalling has come on leaps and bounds, and Mata looks like he has found a role he can excel in. People can only give their opinion on what they are seeing at the time.

05 Apr 2015 07:52:49
JMB , donu you think it a little unnecessary to "call people out" over old quotes that you didn't t agree with? We could all copy and paste peoples views and save them for a later date , just to say I told you so , but it would be a very fun place to be would it?
I'm sure that GDS is quite capable of sticking up for himself , and will.
But to be fair , his bit about " hasn't been amazing when he has played" was past tense , and was quite justified. He had some good games , and also had games when he had no influence and his passing was a bit wayward. His performances over the last month or so have been excellent , and he fully deserved the plaudits he is now receiving. If he had played like that all season , he would have been a regular starter , rather than sitting on the bench.
As for not being the long term solution , that depends on how you want to interpret it. Is Herrera a very good midfielder? Yes. Is he "the long term answer"? No , but he may well be part of the answer. No one individual is the answer. There is no doubt that we will look to sign another midfielder in the summer , so that in itself should tell you that Herrera is not " the answer". I do believe that he will be part is the jigsaw though.

Let's just enjoy the fact that Herrera , along with the rest of the team , has found some form and consistent at the right time in the season. He is an excellent player who I'm sure we all enjoy watching.

Happy Easter all! :)

05 Apr 2015 09:14:30
I think u have been watching a different game to me.

05 Apr 2015 09:15:42
I also think I should not reply when I've just got up too, as I wouldn't misinterpret posts lol

05 Apr 2015 09:29:31
To be fair to GDS when he wrote the above it was true that Herrera was giving the ball away too often as he was trying the final pass a lot when not always on the same wavelength as his team mates. The progression of the whole team has improved and credit must go to the players and coaching staff as the shape, movement and understanding of what lvg requires looks to now be delivered for 90 minutes. There was talk of double sessions earlier in the season and it wouldn't surprise me if the majority of the work has been done on the technical aspects as all the players appear to be more comfortable receiving and delivering the ball with pace in tight situations. There is also plenty of evidence that movement has improved as the player in possession of the ball now has at least two passing options that do not involve high risk (which doesn't necessarily mean a pass backward) and has contributed to good possession. Noticeable too is how we have the intelligence and energy to press quickly as a complete unit. To me we may not win any silverware but this season has seen a shift in emphasis and has taken the club forwards so is far from a write off. We had a lot of success with sir Alex and then we had Moyes who had similarities with fergie and played a similar way but it didn't work out. Lvg has then come in and I don't believe the players were used to the style of play so this has taken time to click (longer than expected I would guess). This change of style is helpful moving forward as regardless of if lvg stays the candidates quoted on this page are usually klopp, simeone, pep, ancelotti etc who are all foreign managers who appreciate and require a high level of technical ability in their systems so will benefit from the groundwork put in this season. Finally I must state I don't necessarily want lvg to go and signs are positive towards us hitting the ground running from day one next season and challenging for the league.

05 Apr 2015 13:18:39
Why folk are happy to call out me and others when we have got it wrong. Why shouldn't the question be asked?

05 Apr 2015 16:19:43
I remember this as it was a reply to my reasons Herrera hasn't played I think. At the time the answer given was Justified but has been taken out of context. GDS has said that he wasnt the long term answer as in not the type in the Vidal/Verrati/pogba mould which would be the spine of our midfield for years to come who can drive us forward and pull us up by the scruff of the neck and drive the team from Midfield. Herrera is not a player you build your Midfield spine around but is certainly a player that will compliment any Midfield spine due to his intelligence and skill. Judging by Herrera interview a while back its seems GDS was right. Not speaking for GDS just interpretating his rationale as I understood