Manchester United Banter Archive May 05 2013

05 May 2013 23:18:43
On a positive note, I can't help but relish the thought of Evans and Jones playing together at the heart of our defence for years to come.

If you look at Evans, he's not the biggest, strongest, quickest defender you'll ever see, but his positional awareness and timing means he doesn't need to be.

Also, his distribution is brilliant for a centre half - he can ping passes about the pitch with confidence, rather than just look for the easy 5 yarder to his partner. He also doesn't get a nose bleed when he crosses the half-way line with the ball.

If you look at most centre halves, they don't have the confidence to run with the ball, and if they do find themselves in the opposition half with the ball, they're looking for someone to take it off them, or a nice, safe pass. Evans looks as if he enjoys running with the ball, and looks to pick out a forward pass to keep the attacking momentum going. Just getting more and more impressed with him.

Jones is scarily good for one so young. He's going to be the heartbeat of our team for years, our leader on the pitch, an old-fashioned English centre-half who wears his heart on his sleeve, and who others will look to rally behind.

His positioning and passing aren't as good as Evan's at this stage, IMO, but when you're as pacy as him, and so adept in the art of tackling, then the rest will come with time and training.

Chuck in Smalling, and young Keane, who impressed me in the few games I've seen him, and I really don't see why some posters are looking to bring in another centre-half, especially as Vidic is going to be here for another couple of years, by which time, Evans certainly, will be pretty much the finished article.

No doubt, some sexy foreign defenders will continue to have some posters salivating, but sometimes we need to appreciate what we have in certain positions. {Ed007's Note - Stevie, when you are logged into the site you don't need to put your e-mail tag on posts. It's not important but thought I would say.}

You're right - Jones & Evans could forge a magnificent partnership IMO with a little experience on their side, they have everything between them. We have so many good options at CB I see no need for us to be looking to buy one any time soon.

No bother Ed - how's that? :) {Ed007's Note - Perfect mate.}

Evans is class but his distribution cost us today the Sunday league clear decks pass was poor
Dylan

Yeah, the whole team was superb, how can anyone see any positives in that crap. The whole lot need a kick up the back side, including Ferguson for making the crap selections and substitutions.

"Yeah, the whole team was superb, how can anyone see any positives in that crap. The whole lot need a kick up the back side, including Ferguson for making the crap selections and substitutions. "

Stevie was making a valid point about 2 of our best players going in terms of our future. So why don't you cheer up a little pal, instead of crying over nothing. Yes we all know we played bad - see the other threads for that!

Ha! No name - attitudes like yours always make me feel a wee bit better about myself.

No matter how bad things are in my life, it's always nice to see there's people out there getting it worse than me :)

05 May 2013 22:29:44
Conspiracy theory time. Supposing SAF put out our best side and won, less chance of Bale joining none if spurs get champions league football
I wouldn't put it past him at least considering it it's only good thinking

The only explanations for choosing a side like today, which had no chance of winning, are either SAF doesn't care or he is happy to let Chelsea take the CL spot from Spurs. Jones, Clev, Ando, Valencia and Giggs. Yeah, that was never ever ever going to work. Not in a million years.

05 May 2013 21:10:55
How poor was our team today? I wouldn't even put Valencia on Right bench let alone Right wing on his current form, Anderson has been given chance after chance and has rarely taken them! don't get what the hype about Cleverly is, He is ok, not united standard though. Evans and Vidic played well and were unlucky to be on the losing side. Wasnt expecting such a tame line up especially considering how heated our previous encounters where with Chelsea. Was disappointed not to see any youngsters come on, and was trying to think why hernandez wasnt playing but for the life of me couldn't think why! Some sales definitely need to be made this summer and hopefully a few decent midfielders come in.
James

We can't win them all.

05 May 2013 21:02:14
Howard Webb missed about 5 calls in unites favour. He is a disgrace and shouldn't be aloud to ref united games.

Cali

Oi Howard Webb is a united legend!

Gave loads in your favour, got enough help at the Bridge last league game.

Gave loads in our favour? It was so clear that he was favouring united it was truly shocking.

Cali

Favoring United? You must be blind!

Don't look elsewhere for blame; we were shockingly, embarrassingly bad and fully deserved what we got. We learned nothing that we didn't know already I. e. half our squad is average at best. Why is SAF apparently so blinkered to the reality of th situation, maybe his hip was playing up.
RedSince68

"I. e. half our squad is average at best"

God knows what this says about the rest of the EPL then.

05 May 2013 20:22:41
Who saw Ramirez kick out at Phil Jones, when Jonesy blocked him. How do these players get away with this?
Not a great game, but what does it matter, I just hope Tottenham beat Chelsea to 4th place.

aaallj5

05 May 2013 21:19:16
I saw it and thought something should have been done. Had he made contact with Jones he could have seriously hurt him.

Bit bitter there mate.

That match mattered more to Chelsea than us. Shows our lack of leaders. Keane would never have stood for that today.

Ramirez was walking the line, but nothing TK write home about.

I actually like that Rafael got sent off, Luis was a disgrace and could easily have over stepped the mark himself, but he kept his bad behaviour just below the level the officials would send him off for.

But I like the fact that Rafael stood up to him. It did no harm, and he knew it. If he did that in the 6 minute of a game that mattered I'd be fuming. Fair play to the lad for kicking out at Luis today. I would have probably butted him in the face!

Wish a few more of the lads had stood up and been counted today. Still league champions though ;)

Dodgy, if I seen him laughing or smiling I think I'd have been arrested for assault it's players like that now a days who bring the game to shame at times, I don't like it when young dives, when Suarez dives infact when anyone dives I hate it, it must be abolished from the game, rafael was not right to kick Luiz but if I was rafael I probably would have given him a proper kick.

05 May 2013 20:10:13
Hi Guys
I'm not even going to start to pick that performance apart I have to go to work in the morning. What I want to say is how on earth can Luiz look at himself in the mirror. His behaviour was disgusting. I admit Rafael should not have lashed out but to openly smile and cheat because that was what it was is beyond me. Surely the FA should look at that and act retrospectively but I bet they don't. That said we were very poor.

Bazza The Red

05 May 2013 19:32:20
brutal performance today, passing and final ball was non-existent.
def need major changes in midfield this summer, when was the last time we dominated a game in midfield especially against the stronger teams?

You've just won the league, michael carrick has been amazing this season and probably the best centre mid in the prem this season. the main problem is wingers who can properly cross consistently and young, valencia and nani definately don't offer this. adding gundugon/strootman to partner carrick and then a brilliant left winger in the shape of ronaldo/bale/rodriguez and rotate zaha/valencia and for the tougher games kagawa on the right.


SCOUT.

05 May 2013 19:21:06
its hard to have a pop at fergie when we have just won the league and after all he has done but the team selections, formations and substitutions have been abysmal this season and some of the decisions. how is it every fan can see where the problem is or who is playing badly but he cant, or he can but is too stubborn or just has some other secret reason. but surely there can't be any good reason to play Valencia pretty much the entire season can there the way he's been? or choosing a 39 year old instead of blooding the younger players who need game time and experience? I hope next season we can get a more fixed formation and get rid of dead wood, play more faster and exciting football and see the team win in style and bury teams. all that aside I am greatful and proud of what they have achieved this year (but could've been better at times) ;)

05 May 2013 19:12:57
Just been thinking about today and can't ever remember a united team that is so poor on both wings and gets almost nothing out of these players.

We have become such a workman like team and the beautiful football has vanished.

Shahram

05 May 2013 18:45:24
Do you realise we have won more titles than Anderson has played complete games in the 6 years he has been at the club.

"Agree"

He is a lazy, fat tw*t. How anyone can defend anything about this guy is beyond me. I am still waiting for someone to tell me what he did today considering so many said he had a decent game. It baffles me it really does.

Brendan81

It's going to be a poor return what we get for him this summer.

Glazer Puppet i'd take magic beans if it meant not having to watch him in red again. can't stand the thought of paying him in a week what most people only get in about 4 years.

Brendan81

05 May 2013 18:28:15
What a poor performance. I've defended Cleverly at times this season but he was extremely poor today. Perhaps Fergie has noticed a poor application in training recently and that's why Cleverly hasn't been in the squad. The manager clearly gave some fringe players the opportunity to prove their worth and they failed miserably. Anderson frustrates the hell out of me. He clearly has talent but the stat of only completing 18 games in six years says it all really. He has to be sold, Nani has to be heading that way and it would appear Rooney is going too. He has lost his edge, he's not fit and that fire to drive the team forward is gone. Surely, depending on buys, the team will change to accommodate Kagawa next season. Today's game was crying out for his quick passing game.

Evra once again shows that he is a liability. He can sprint going forward but strangely can't when he's defending. Buttner came on with a bit of energy, a few neat touches and a glimpse of a good bit of skill. He's no world beater but at least he showed a bit of hunger and wanted to take his chance.

Luiz

05 May 2013 18:10:39
I don't think anyone on the pitch today had shown intention to win. We are playing really poor and yes we may of won the league but we still need to play like champions.

Whats the point in starting half of these players if they don't care anymore? May as well start youngsters and others such a Kagawa, Chicharito, Welbeck and so on.

Poor performance and Fergie is partly to blame today after that line-up.

Anyway I am going to make a runner before all of the doom and gloom posters bombard the site.

-Jake W

P. S David Luiz is an Id**t.

Person? Much stronger words needed for that c*nt.

Brendan81

I'm worried in case the FOR SALE signs on Anderson's back "good runner very unreliable" and Lindegaard "Bodywork excellent very little use" break any advertising rules.
On a more serious note very little difference between the two teams today, but i'd personally much rather have given some young players a run out than todays choice.

05 May 2013 18:33:16
Rafa is obviously the person, he was the one who kicked out. Get over it ffs!

Think I would rather have david luiz than cleverly in united team yes he is a sh--house but can play abit too

05 May 2013 18:47:24
Rafael is the coward u bitter. Don't forget it was Webbo your ref too.

Basics, Rafael was stupid but it doesn't stop Luiz from being a pr1ck. City player or not I enjoyed Aguero's fair challenge the other week.

Brendan81

U kick out like that you go. Lines woman flagged as soon as he kicked out, he would have been sent marching no mater how Liz reacted. Rooney nearly crying saying Ramirez fouled him was hilarious though. Great tackle/interception. {Ed004's Note - it showed that Ramires got the man first from behind then got the ball but I don't expect there to be any media coverage about that as it wasnt utd that scored from it}

05 May 2013 18:00:31
Luiz a man like u desetves a bwck hand. Awful acting.

United got complacent today and didn't turn up.

Luiz should get an award (Oscar) for his act he definitely does deserve act of the decade award.

Wrong team selection in the begining, but still think we shudve taken our half chances.
Rafael I reckon will get special treatment when he goes into the dugout.

Singh

Dont think united got complacent at all I just don't think we are good enough, yes we have won the title but look at the bigger picture turmoil all season at both chelsea and city let's hope it continues next season or I would take third place now, unless we bring some quality into the squad and clear out the dead wood, no pressure title won then lose to both teams who will finish above us next season

Mate its abit hrsh to say that we aren't good enough, the reason we lost today its brcause few of our first 11 didn't play. Wrong team selection the reason why we lost today. I think we were a lil complaacent on our part I still believe if we took our half chances we wouldve come up with a draw atleast.

If we had carrick in the middle with kagawa and if our league wasnt wrapped up we wouldve won thr game today.

I also think fergie was ju trying to see if the players he chose will rise to the occasion unfortunately they don't have the ability and the legs to do it.
Mate next year I can assure uou we will be fighting for the title if not win it.


Singh

Look at the picture chelsea are rebuilding a lot of new foreign players just joined. City have just been poor because of fall outs in camp. United have been average all season. All English clubs out early in cl.

I know we haven been great this season but with the team we've got I can hold my head high knowing we $ re ahead by 12 ppints against a team that has spent rideclous amount of money. You say chelsea are rebuoleing what do u think we are doing we have an 40 yr old on the pitch no disrespect. But w if we play like we know we can with few additions next year we will be a force to be reckoned with.

Singh

A force to be reckoned with? Have u not been watching our pathetic performances. We have struggled against the top teams. Spurs outplayed us, Chelsea outplayed us twice, city could have easily beaten us at itihad, reading and Southampton gave us games.
I don't understand this blind optimism. we played predictable football with one or two quality players. If it wasn't for rvp having a blinder of a season, we would be lucky to get into 4th place.
Wake up guys, this team will do nothing next season, unless fergie and the owners spend money on quality players. Problem, is our manager has made a few boobies in the transfer market, Anderson, nani, tosic, bellion, obertan, young. So I'm not sure that the scouting and the manager have excelled themselves.
Get ready to be disappointed next year unless we can change this "all rosey in our back garden" attitude. Because it is NOT.

05 May 2013 17:59:30
Yes we have won the league but our record against the top sides is abysmal. andog

Well not really, its pretty equal. spurs are the only team that has out done us this year, taking 4 points off us

So Andog which one of the top teams haven't we beaten

05 May 2013 17:53:19
Another disgraceful performance.

05 May 2013 17:49:55
Fergie has no excuses, pathetic game and what a gift to chelsea.

If I am spurs or Arsenal supporter I would be rightfully pissed off. Pathetic waited 86 minutes to get valencia off the pitch for Hernandez.

For those of you who will say who cares, we have already won the league, I say I care, piss poor for a champions of the league.

Shahram

So Valencia was sh1t but Anderson had an ok game? Are you having a laugh? Valencia was poor but you can't slate him and not Anderson, Evra, Rafael, Cleverley, Rooney. They were all poor today.

Brendan81

05 May 2013 18:13:31
I totally agree, we should be trying to win every game whether its thought of as important or not. I can't stand chelsea and would rather see spurs and arsenal get the the last two places. MrE

Brendan

Rafael had a stupid moment, which was still not a red card and David Luiz is dirty piece of s***. besides that incident he had a good game.

I have stopped posting about Evra as my expectations of him are so low and bewildered how he starts almost every game for us. If you take the top 15 sides in Europe we have the worst left back of any.

I agree with cleverly and Rooney being poor but don't agree with your assessment of Anderson, who I thought was very positive and actually tried which is more than I can say for some of the other players.

Finally, Valencia was the worst player on the pitch and the amount of times we wasted good opportunities down the right hand side is sinful.

Shahram

Rafael was ok but a petulant moment ruined it. Sending off or not he gave Sideshow Bob a reason to jump in the air right in front of the linesperson.

Evra I am with you 100%, he is sh1t.

Anderson though was poor, didn't have any affect on the game. Ran a bit, few passes but nothing more. His wide load got in the way of Cleverleys one shot on target just to round off the performance.

Brendan81

Problem is that we Allowed Chelsea to win. Next year, they will come to ot with confidence as they have now beaten us on three occasions this year.
All games matter, and as shahram said, if I was spurs or arsenal, I will be royally pissed off. We are united, we should be better than this.
The manager was so downbeat in his pure match interview, he kept going on about Chelsea's record at ot?! Well bloody do something about it Ferguson.
Nomidfield

05 May 2013 17:46:30
Valencia is useless! Why is Giggs still on the pitch?
Chelsea dominated us all season head-to-head!

Hernandez may have to leave to get game time elsewhere, when Valencia playing Zero and still stays almost 90 mins on the pitch. Wow

05 May 2013 17:22:40
why won't he bring gigs off and why does he always have to come on as a sub rather than powell or somebody

Lol you can't take off ryan mighty he the best 40 yr old in the world

05 May 2013 17:19:05
This is turning into our usual second half performances. Give away possession, boot it anywhere away from our box and defend deeper and deeper.

Hope we get some fresh guys on and give it a go.

Rafael and Vidic ooz class.

Shahram

Due to lack of quality in squad big boot awful team to watch glad I've stayed home today

05 May 2013 17:00:31
seriously, can someone explain to me why Valencia is allowed to carry on playing right wing for us? out of all the players that get stick for us he is by far the worst, may aswell have played beb there this season.

Poor delivery again today.

ms85

05 May 2013 16:26:01
23 mins in and we can all see why so many hope this will be Anderson and Evra's last season at united.

Brendan81

Thought Ando had a bright half TBH, very forward thinking. Wonder if he's in the shop window?

I actually thought Anderson woke up about 25mins in. He's playing alright IMO. Very frustrating team today, hopefully Kagawa can come on and pull some strings.

Anderson is still very poor for me, hasn't influenced the game apart from getting his fat arse in the way of Cleverleys shot. Evra also very poor as has been Valencia again, just doesn't seem to be getting his confidence back if that is his problem.

Brendan81

05 May 2013 17:20:42
Anderson has played well whenever he's got a run out this season but then he stops getting game time and that's why he runs out of steam and people wonder why. whenever he plays people slag him off and makes me wonder whether they actually watch the game or just write this crap. he's looked great on the ball today and always looks to slot it forward, they trouble is he has no help around him

Fatboy off, fatboy on :-)

Brendan81

Same here thought anderson had a decent game.

Shahram

Good point over andrson should get more game time to get match fit

What did Anderson do today? He is an attacking midfielder who runs at people and can create and score goals apparently. He did none of that yet again today.

Brendan81

When will people learn? Anderson never gets match fit. He either gets injured after 4/5 games or he can't manage more than a few weeks out of Greggs or the nightclubs. He'll be gone this summer finally, a disgraceful professional just like the other fat fella that came on along with Buttner.

Brendan81

Brendan81

05 May 2013 16:17:51
I would much rather have fielded a stronger lineup today than last week. I would rather see Chelski not qualify for the UCL as they are a bigger threat in the transfer market. Hazard wouldn't be a Chelsea player if they hadn't won the final last year.

05 May 2013 15:25:30
There's something that's puzzling me and I hope one of the regulars can clear it up for me and I'm sorry in advance if it has already been discussed. It regards Gareth Bale.

I've seen posts on here along the lines of "Bale doesn't want to play for United, as he has said in the past" and then I see things such as "Bale would love to come to United and replace Giggs his boyhood hero"

Which one is it?

Nat

I don't think Bale has ever said he would never play for United, and SAF has stated that the reason we didn't sign him years ago was that Southampton didn't respond to our enquiry.

But what is more important is that Spurs wouldn't sell Bale to us unless we offered a silly amount of money. They wanted £40m from any EPL club looking at Modric, and Bale is worth vastly more. People have to realise that Levy does not want to sell to any EPL team, especially us after Berbatov.

Danny Pughnited

Tbh I dnt think anyone really knows, I think the main consensus is that we would not pay the fee spurs would want for the player.

05 May 2013 15:16:13
{Ed004's Note - Team for Today: Lindegaard; Rafael, Evans, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Jones, Anderson, Cleverley, Giggs; Van Persie. Playing 3 in midfield I think will be interesting to see the Cleverley and Anderson partnership again but this time with Jones covering them. Unless Giggs is central and Cleverley goes out wide}

05 May 2013 15:33:13
It looks like a 433 type line up. It doesn't automatically mean anything but could it be trying things out for next season as we have nothing left to play for. Now I wonder who it was who suggest we'd play a 433 type line up next season? Lol. {Ed004's Note - That is exactly what my first thoughts were}

Hmmm, what a 'quirky' lineup!

Looks like a 4-2-3-1 to me, giggs and jones in behind anderson cleverly and valencia with cleverly on the left of the three

05 May 2013 16:36:25
Giggs certainly looks like he's playing more on the left than centrally to me. I think Cleverley and Anderson are really pushing up the pitch when we have possession.

I think it was me Shappy!

05 May 2013 14:32:08
@Red Man

I saw one of your replies guessing that Sir Alex could be hinting at Ronaldo signing. A lot of that was based upon Sir Alex wanting to bring him back in probably his last year at United and Ronaldo getting disillusioned at Real Madrid.

I think you seem to be forgetting what Sir Alex has always said. There is very little place for sentiment in this business. Sir Alex will always have one eye on the future and the stability of Manchester United and it would mean a lot more to him than going out on a high. Ronaldo would cost somewhere around 80-100mil euros plus wages. I don't think the deal makes sense for a self sufficient side like Manchester United right now. Yes he is the probably the best player in the world and even at 28-29 looks fitter than some of the younger players, but when you look at it from how Sir Alex has managed Manchester United, I just don't see it happening.

A more determined push for Rodriguez would rather be more understandable.

Also regards Falcao, that doesn't make any sense either. 40-50mil on Falcao when Lewandowski could be bought in 25-30mil, why would United even think of spending such an amount on Falcao? I see the club rather making a more determined push for Lewandowski. We already have a strong strike force and spending big on Falcao doesn't add up.

A lot has been said about United's supposed penny pinching but when you look at it we seem to have the biggest wage bill in the league at the moment. You correctly pointed out that we have a large squad which no doubt means that an arrival or two will have to depend on if we are able to sell certain players.

Its been difficult to find a buyer for Nani for the last couple of seasons now. Why would anyone buy anderson? Macheda and Bebe will be hard to shift too. Rooney looks out of touch but there is lack of interest in him should we choose to let him go to make room for another striker.

Its a lot, lot more complex than just "you will get what you want if you are willing to spend big". Saying United don't spend is the easier way out of it. For eg. we would not doubt like Schweinsteiger and Alaba. Will fix us right up. But they are simply not for sale at any price since they are worth far too much on the pitch to Bayern.

Rodriguez, Strootman, Lewandowski and getting Rooney and Valencia back up to speed is as good as it can get this summer for me realistically. Even Eriksen could be a shrewd buy. Also Evra could still be good if he stops going forward and just concentrates on defending.

REDFAITH

REDFAITH

SAF does make decisions based on sentiment and an example will be if Scholes is on the bench to try and give him a final appearance or two in the remaining games. Did SAF give Giggs and Scholes games together in the last 18 months based on their level of performance? I do think SAF makes some decisions based on sentiment. It is hard when you have seen them grow up like his own but some of his decisions have smacked of sentiment.
SAF has said he wants Ronaldo if he is available I take him at his word.
I think we need some real quality in the first team or will get overtaken

Just going to walk down to the game now so back later

Red Man

Where giggs is concerned its all about sentiment leaving rooney out of madrid game, RVP was not scoring over that period giggs to make he's 1000 appearance against madrid now that was sentiment

05 May 2013 11:50:11
I want to talk about my biggest dissapointment with our club over the last year.

This time last year we were all very excited about the future of our club due to the excellent youth team we had.

Johnstone, Vermilj, M. Keane, Thorpe, Fryers, Pogba, Tunnicliffe, Lingard, Morrison, Cole and W. Keane.

How bright the future looked, even whispers of a team to emulate the class of 92.

Now less than a year later, and Pogba the shining light of the team has moved on to pastures new. Was it for more money or more playing time? Well it doesn't matter as he's got both at Juventus.

Morrison's shocking attitude has got him at Birmingham City in the championship. This a player who was supposed to be the next Scholes.

Fryers poor attitude and his sulking at the departure of his mate Morrison ment the club never offered him a new deal. Even after a couple of promising games in the first team.

Young Will Keane has unfortunately had a serious injury and we await to see if he can fully recover from that.

Thorpe and Cole have seemingly stagnated, still good players but they haven't improved this last year.

Lingard was promising on tour last summer but his confidence seems to have been destroyed after a poor loan spell.

Tunnicliffe has had a running with the law and now is apparently posturing for a move away. On the back of his poorest season for us he's had.

Vermilj still looks a talented young man, able to play a few games at first team level. But their are rumours of us looking at Elliot Kebbie, and 18yo RB who would surely take his place. So how does the management feel about his future? Plus he has a 22yo Rafael in his way in the first team.

Johnstone still looks very promising, but it will be very hard for him to have a long term future here with De Gea about.

Only Micheal Keane looks like he has a future here after an excellent loan in which he has come on leaps and bounds.

It's quite a sad at how this excellent young team has just fallen apart. Maybe we put too much expectation on them. But their seems to have been abit of an attitude problem with Morrison, Fryers and Tunnicliffe and possibly Pogba depending what you believe.

Clearly our youth set up is producing talented young players, but could something be done differently to help curb these attitude problems than seem to be a reacurring theme?

The only three I feel could still have long term futures at the club are M. Keane, Lingard and Vermilj. but they would more likely be long term futures as squad players. quite a come down for a team that was supposed to be the next great United team.

Good post although I do think a lot of it comes down to us having too much expectation.

The real problem with this team was that the 2 stars (Pogba, Morrison) left for the reasons you mentioned above. Had those 2 stayed and 2 of the less promising players had the same attitude problems then we would be saying it was a successful batch. On that front I think we were a little unlucky. Most of the players left over will be good squad players at best.

Let's hope the likes of Powell, Januzaj, Daehli (spelling) make it through without some of the same issues. It comes down to mentality at the end of the day.

We haven't had a top top player come through the ranks since scholes and co that's 20 year ago.
It's a huge step up from the youth ranks to the United first team and mental attitude and strength are just as important as talent, which is why it's so difficult to predict how good some of these young players could be.
There has been a clamour on this site for such and such to get a chance but as I have always said fergy will give youth a chance IF they are good enough.
Jred

Good post Shappy.

I think attitude definitely has done for some of those, Morrison and Fryers stank the place out by all accounts and Pogba wasn't much better. I think getting rid of them was supposed to be an example to the others, and i'm not sure if its worked if the Tunnicliffe stuff is true.

I never saw Tunners as any more than a Butt/ Phil Nev style squad player, but to be drink driving is just stupid and its likely to see him depart.

I think Thorpe has a chance if he can nail down a position, his versatility at times works against him.

Lingard and Cole I think need the right loan next year and both might still make it, but do have others on their shoulders.

Will Keane fingers crossed.

Vermijl is tricky, as we do need cover at RB from a proper RB rather than pushing CB's out there but Fabio's return might play a part in that. I see Vermijl moving on next summer, think he'll get a few cup runs, draws permitting to knock his price up.

Johnstone could make a good number 2. I think again things depend on others. What if De Gea decides 5 years in England is enough and wants to go home? Could Johnstone wait? Would he progress enough?

Mort

We must realise you have to be a super talent to be pushing our 1st team at a young age, the quality at all top clubs in Europe is at another level from when the class of 92.
I don't see that ever being repeated the stakes are much higher with all the major investment from oligarchs etc.
Januzaj being the exception.
Dylan

05 May 2013 13:00:11
Well but that's it Shappy. Every couple of seasons new youth players start shining and everybody started seeing a new class of 92.

But that was a one off and it will probably not happen again ( to the same extent ). Now you see last season, we believed that Ravel, Pogba, Tunicliffe and the Keabes will be the new Giggs and Scholes'. Now that they have disappeared for one reason or another, we found ourselves a new bunch of youngsters to put too much expectations on and be bitterly disappointed if they need time to develop. Januzaj, Powell, Daehli, Barmby, Pereira, Wilson and Pearson. If two of those previously listed make it at united, I would be extremly happy.

And you said that Lingard is stagnating and suffering from post-loan depression. Actually, even though many on this page saw him as a super talent when they saw him ( possibly for the first time ) on tour, but I think he's nothing special.

He does have a decent close control, likes to beat a man, and has a decent finish on him. But more often than not he will just disappear throughout the game. He doesn't have any real dribbling skills, his passing is all about 5 yard one twos, he is rubbish defensivly, I just don't see it.

Tunicliffe would make a good premier league player just not for us.

One you did not mention is Davide Petrucci. When hmwe first bought him, he was quite possibly the most talented youth player in the system bar Morrison ( who really had the world at his feet ). Even after his 2 years of injury he just seemed to get better, transforming himself from a Berba like attacking midfielder to an absolute beast in the middle of a park. If he can keep himself from guetting injured, next season Petrucci could be slowly replacing Carrick.

Mick

05 May 2013 13:37:50
Mick that's not going to happen, there's no chance of Petrucci succeeding Carrick. The Premier league will be too strong and physical for him. He struggled in the Championship and he's too injury prone. He only has to look at grass and he's out injured for three weeks. We'd be better off cutting our losses and letting him move back to the more genteel Serie A and hopefully getting some decent wedge for him.

05 May 2013 14:04:02
Petrucci is an obvious talent, and he could make an impact in the first team. But I have my doubts as to whether he can stay injury free. There was talks of us maybe sending a youngster or two to Ajax. Personally I hope we send Petrucci there, he could have a big impact in Holland and would get european experiance and play regulary in a league where players are better protected which means he might have a chance of avoiding injury.

Plus he could let Fischer know what an amazing club we are and he should join us if he wants to become the best player in the world. Lol.

05 May 2013 10:35:44
Fergie said 'we sometimes scout players for upto 2 years'. Now reading between the lines I think our transfers will be.
James Rodriquez: can't say I have seen much of him, only in CL. How would he adapt to the prem, and is he any good?
Kevin strooman: heard a lot of him box to box, just what we need I think. A lot like Martinez but cheaper.

What do you guys think?

Obviously he didn't do that with Bebe and a few others over the years.

05 May 2013 13:07:46
I don't see Rodriguez moving to an English club unless its City or Chelsea who are prepared to pay the daft fee Porto want. And Chelsea have no need for him. I could see him in Spain myself. Maybe in a white shirt if two of Ronaldo, Di Maria and Ozil leave.

05 May 2013 13:17:55
Ah my friends back, I was getting worried where you had gotten to Negative Nigel. I was most perturbed, I was about to dispatch Jeeves out to search for you but now he can get back to sorting out the tea for todays cricket match. Was looking good for a century but for that bloody Yorker. Horrid fat Australian chap called Shane. Bit gobby, attractive wife though. Good to have you back though Negative Nigel. I'll have words with that ghastly American family, find you a job as a scout. No more silly Bebe's then, what! Bertie Wooster.

05 May 2013 08:24:01
The newspapers this morning are full of Fergie having the cash to buy one mega-star this summer. Who do we think it will be? Ronaldo? Bale? Falcao? or someone who has not been linked recently such as Neymar (I hope not) or even a top class defensive midfielder (Schweinsteiger, for example)?
Where would your money go?
Mine would be on Falcao or Ronaldo. To me, Falcao is as good as Gabriel Batistuta was in his prime - and that is one player United should definitely have signed in the past! Ronaldo, we know all about, and I am sure he would not mind "coming home".
Mike B.

It is an interesting question. If I was guessing I would say it was Ronaldo. SAF is nearing the end of his management given his age and there may well be some sentiment from Ronaldo to want to play for him again whist he still can. I found it interesting that SAF intimated that they had been working on deal/s for months and we are if I recall close to Ronaldo's agent. If it happens I would be delighted but I think there would be a sacrifice possibly Hernandez to give it a chance. That may be a sticking point.
Will Ronaldo want to leave Madrid, well is it all he hoped for? The Spanish clique don't make it easy for other players and even Mourinho has struggled for control. A manager needs authority and Mourinho hasn't been given that so it may have been difficult to be unified. If Ronaldo has seen that then hounding out Mourinho could well be the final straw.

I would take Ronaldo over Bale and Falcao over Bale personally. I just hope this is not another false dawn and it is that standard of player that arrives.

Red Man

There is absolutely no chance of gareth bale will join manchester united!

05 May 2013 00:22:40
Hey guys. Surprised that Cabaye hasn't been mentioned for a while. Surely if Newcastle go down he'll be moving on, and he'd be perfect to play beside Carrick and, eventually, strootman too if he comes. Plus he'd be cheap so wouldn't prevent us from getting players like strootman or bale. Though it would probably spell the end for cleverley and definitely the end of Anderson. What do we think?

MattL

Cabaye sometimes has mood swings and his play is affected by it, he obviously is a big risk

nikz

Im guessing by mood swings you mean INJURIES lol

ART

Doubt he'd be getting mood swings when he's winning titles.

Here we go again the C word. He is not good enough for united. Simple as that.
Do u see cabaye walking into Bayern, real, barca, city or Chelsea midfields and making an impression? No, I don't think so.
If he is so good, why are Newcastle where they are? Of course u can't blame their plight on line man, but surely if he is that brilliant then he would have been pulling the strings in that midfield. The fact is that he's an average midfielder who played well for one season when Newcastle as a team did well.
We should be aiming higher.
Nomidfield {Ed004's Note - Wasnt Cabaye injured for large parts of the season and that's why a lot of people think they are we're they are? Also he is now a regular in the French squad and team}