Manchester United Banter Archive July 06 2014

06 Jul 2014 22:40:33
Wayne Rooney will be the new captain of Manchester United. I just know it. Thoughts?

Think you may be very disappointed my friend.

I'd be delighted with that. He is a senior player, reliable, a leader, always gives 100% and he's a fanastic player who will start games when fit and playing well.

Rooney is the most suitable candidate.

Why not, it could keep him motivated and on top of his game. If him and RvP can click next season we will destroy defences.

Reliable?

Syd - You want to give Rooney the captaincy to keep HIM motivated?! Surely the role of the captain is to keep the TEAM motivated amongst other things like transmitting the coaches requirements onto the field, (I know Rooney speaks double-Dutch but being an orator is not something I would associate with Wazzer), why wouldn't Rooney simply be motivated by doing the job he is paid to do, (well over paid)? He is hardly a leader of men, he doesn't even have a 100% starting place, nor does he lead by example with his on field antics - Mr Give Away.

If we are building new foundations then the leader needs to be somebody the squad can trust and rely on to pull them through the tricky games, Rooney vanishes when the going gets tough and only perks up when it's contract renewal time. RVP leads by example with his class and will start, but isn't going to be around long term, I would go for DDG - he will be a fixture of our team for the next 10+ years barring any surprises and he will be the foundation our new team is built on.

Even the most hardcore of Rooney lovers must see that giving him the captaincy is lunacy at this time, it is sending out the completely wrong message. I hope he pulls his finger out and warrants it, but he will most likely be bench warming if not sold and he is hardly an example for the youth, more often than not he is out of shape.

I have no issue with either RvP or Rooney being captain.

Yeah because 300k a week wouldn't be enough to motivate him! Poor Rooney!

So Rooney vanishes when the going gets tough, yet Van Persie leads by class. If it wasn't for Wayne Rooney standing tall amongst the runis when Ronaldo got his dream move, the downward spiral would have been further accelerated. You keep talking Bobbins I am afraid Beast.

Deeps.

06 Jul 2014 17:54:06
Could any of the eds if you have a few minutes spare shed any light on the Fabio Coentrao situation please? There's every chance Evra could leave for Juventus and we could be left on low supply on players who can fill the Left-Back role, we nearly signed him last summer and he can play all the roles that Blind can and is only 26, thanks a lot in advance

06 Jul 2014 21:38:21
Liverpool fans keep playing down the sale of Suarez by saying they will be able to strengthen four other positions. Well they would have been able to do that and keep Suarez. So a pointless thing to say really. Whether Suarez was sold or not they would be buying the likes of Bertrand, Origi, Lovren, Can, Lallana, Lambert etc and improving their weak areas. Suarez leaving is a massive blow to their side. No matter who they sign this summer. I'm not sure any of their signings or likely signings have improved their first XI. Lallana on the left instead of Coutinho? Lovren instead of Skrtel? Bertrand instead of Flanagan? Can will be on the bench. Lambert will be on the bench. Origi will be out on loan. Man for man there's no big improvement or any improvement at all. I think after losing Suarez they needed to go out and buy some proper top notch signings. I think so far the signings have been squad improvements, whereas the first XI will be substantially weaker.

Arsenal seem to be doing some nice business. Debuchy, Sanchez, Schneiderlin if they can get these players they will have improved their first XI significantly. Chelsea have improved their first XI. Costa & Cesc already in, possibly Pogba, Khedira or Vidal could be added. Courtois to come in from his loan. Varane and Luis to strengthen the defence if they can get them in. City really didn't need to do much. They have given their mercenaries a bigger contract each to keep them happy for another year (Yaya and Aguero). Ourselves are not yet done in the transfer market. Already two instant improvements. Wilson knocking on the door of the first team. I think he will be a breath of fresh air next season. A decent manager and a couple more signings and I think we will be in very good shape for next season. A top notch CB, another top midfielder and a pacey attacker and I think we will be set. After the season we have just had anything to be fair will be an improvement.

Well you know syd, we need squad players because we're competing on all fronts ;)

Unlike you lot our only European trip won't be to play Swansea away.

Please inform your 'tactical genius' Van Gaal that there are no penalty shoot outs in the premier league. 0-0 against Costa Rica after 120 minutes, impressive

06 Jul 2014 22:34:56
Great post syd! I agree with what you have said.
However, if yaya was to leave city do you feel Fernando is the right replacement? Or will they opt for someone like pogba?
I feel that arsenal and Chelsea could do the best business.
We need to do business; the additions of hummels, de vrij, Vidal and a winger will be great.

I couldn't agree more Sydney the moment Suarez leaves liverpool fear factor won't be the same and it be intresting see how sturridge does this season he have all the pressure on him and the opposition will focus a lot more on him unlike last season it was all about stopping Suarez and any liverpool fan who thinks they will be stronger than last season without Suarez are crazy any team losing the quality of Suarez will be weaker

And Mohawk talking about tactical genius van gaal might not be perfect but he sure won't be like your tactical genius Brendan and lose a 3 nill lead in last 10 mins

I think Fernando will replace Garcia in the squad. I think just Hummels and Vidal would do. Di Maria would be a great bonus.

06 Jul 2014 23:26:40
Spot on syd and an obvious nice little bite from aggers with the boring old 'we are in Europe' jokes.

I've seen a few scousers talk about the 0-0 against Costa Rica and that proves lvg isn't very good. He is having to play with dirk kuyt because the Dutch squad is so poor and has got them to the semi finals. The Costa Rica keeper had the game of his life and if you watched the match you will have seen plenty of chances for holland players and only one team ever going to win the match.

Sydney, we've already signed Lallana, Can and Lambert for £40M, do you honestly see Liverpool being able to afford Lovren (you're seriously questioning replacing Skrtel for Lovren? are you being serious?) for £20-25M, Moreno for £15-20M and Shaqiri/Markovic for £20M, taking our transfer spend to £90-100M, can we do this without the sale of Suarez? I certainly don't think so.

A starting eleven of Mignolet, Flannagan, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno, Gerrard, Henderson, Coutinho/Can, Shaqiri/Markovic, Sturridge, Sterling/Lallana

is a much stronger elevel than, Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Sakho, Flannagan, Gerrard, Henderson, Coutinho, Sterling, Suarez, Sturridge.

Our defence and midfield will have been improved drastically, whereas our attacking depth would be improved, there's also talk we're looking at a new keeper, I'd expect someone like Begovic, who'd be an improvement on Mignolet, £70-80M, for a player turning 28 in 6 months, 3 biting offences in 3 years, isn't too bad, you predicted we'd get £35M tops for him after all Syd ;)

Aggers, who's next on the list when Chelsea sign Markovic?

Chelsea are a stronger team than City as it stands and they are not finished yet.

Liverpool will be weaker next season but give it a few seasons and players like Markovic and Origi will have them competing for top 4 again.

07 Jul 2014 00:36:38
McDonald

You have posted pretty much the exact post on here before and were torn apart for it then as well. Do you want the same again?

Writing Liverpool off from Top 4 because they have lost 1 player from when they almost won the league. FML! Where do we find them from!

Gds2, you can't argue against my points, if we add Lovren, Moreno, Begovic, Sanchez/Shaqiri, we'll have a stronger 11. nice to see manfromchester has a brain and the ability to take off his red tinted glasses.

McRonald, if Suarez had stayed you would still have signed Can, Lambert, Lallana, Bertrand & Lovren. The only one's you wouldn't sign are the likes Origi & Markovic/Sanchez.

So the question is who is better Markovic or Suarez? There's your answer. Suarez leaving is a major blow no matter how much you pretend it isn't.

MANfromCHESTER, who has written Liverpool off from a top four place? Where is that written?

07 Jul 2014 09:30:04
But you will not have any world class players. Them players are good players and will add to your squad and give you a chance at top 4 obviously, but without Suarez in the big games, you do not have that x factor that will keep you up there with the big boys.

Aggers, McRonald, question, which is the stronger attack:

Sturridge, Suarez, Sterling & Coutinho.

Or

Sturridge, Markovic, Sterling & Lallana?

Sydney with the latter attack, Coutinho will still be playing from midfield, with the sale of Suarez our starting 11 and squad will be much stronger as a whole.

GDS2, your fixation with the term "world-class" need's to stop, last season according to you we had 1 world clss player in Suarez, whereas most United fans deemed you to have 4, Rooney, Mata, RVP and Vidic, we finished 2nd and you finished 7th, enough said really.

Rodgers is building a team not a team of galacticos that'll fail year in year out, a team of Mignolet, Flannagan, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno, Gerrard, Henderson, Coutinho/Can, Lallana/Sterling/Markovic, Sturridge, Shaqiri/Sanchez

Playing the Rodger's philosophy of cohesive unity, effortless pressing of the ball, relentless direct counter attacking football, will make us a formidable side, their may not be an established world class player, however Sturridge, Coutinho, Sterling, Lovren, Sakho and Moreno, all have great potential and current ability and barring any hiccups will go on to be great footballers. I think the problem is, you hope with the sale of Suarez we will go back into mediocrity, just like we hope you will, I however believe both sets of fans need to accept that starting from next season Liverpool and Manchester United will once again both be competing at the top of English football, which afterall is great for the English game.

Also another point, GDS2, Suarez rarely turned up if at all against the big clubs.

McRonald, NO IT WON'T!

Like I have said above in plain English. Even if Suarez had stayed you would have signed the likes of Can, Lambert, Lallana, Lovren, Bertrand etc. The only ones who wouldn't have signed are Origi and Markovic. Would you rather have Suarez or Markovic and Origi? It's a simple question.

Let me put it in a simpler way for you. Would you prefer:

Lovren, Bertrand, Can, Lallana, Lambert & Suarez?

OR

Lovren, Bertrand, Can, Lallana, Lambert, Origi & Markovic?

McRonald, don't you think Liverpool may have got the news back last night that Sanchez has no interest in signing for Liverpool and then Liverpool immediately activate Markovic's clause? I do not think Liverpool had any intention of signing both Markovic and Sanchez. I think it was always one or the other. I could be wrong, but it seems odd that Liverpool would sign both Markovic and Sanchez and not have the room to fit them into the same team. How would you fit Sanchez, Sterling, Markovic, Lallana & Sturridge into a four man attack? I could be wrong, but I think Markovic is an alternative to Sanchez/Shaqiri and a direct replacement for Suarez. Suarez spent most of last season interchanging with Sturridge, but Sturridge was the number 9 predominantly and Suarez played on the right of him. Which is where Sanchez, Markovic & Shaqiri would have played. Where Markovic will play next season if Chelsea decide they don't want him.

Sydney, at the end of the day come the 1st of September our first 11 and squad will be stronger than it currently is.

Also we'll get Moreno or Rodriguez not Bertrand, don't believe everything you read.

Okay then, you keep avoiding the truth. Keep burying that head of yours deep deep deep in the sand. Come September 1st, you will have a slightly stronger squad, but a weaker first XI. The evidence is pretty clear.

Lets wait and see if you bring anyone else in other than I mentioned above, but if Bertrand, Lovren, Can, Lallana, Lambert & Markovic are your signings. And Agger or Skrtel leave, along with Suarez, then your first XI will NOT be stronger.

Sydney, is Flannagan, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno a better defence than Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Flannagan, the answer is a definite yes.

Lovren will be a huge upgrade on Skrtel, as for Agger he hardly got a game last year and he's extremely injury prone.

IN REPLY TO SYDNEY!

'Chelsea are a stronger team than City as it stands and they are not finished yet.

Liverpool will be weaker next season but give it a few seasons and players like Markovic and Origi will have them competing for top 4 again.'

RedSeven

That's where Liverpool were written off from top 4! Next?

McRonald, Sakho was available last season, but not picked. Moreno is not looking like happening, it's looking like Bertrand. Is Lovren a "huge upgrade" on Skrtel, no quite frankly. Is he a better player? Yes, is he a much better player, er not a chance. There will be no significant improvement. Skrtel to be fair saved many goals last season with his constant fouling which went unpunished. Is Markovic and improvement on Suarez? Not a chance. Is Lallana an improvement on Coutinho? Maybe. No doubt you will have a slightly better squad, but your first XI will not be as strong as it was last season and Suarez leaving is a HUGE blow. Liverpool will no longer have that fear factor that you once had with Torres and Suarez. As it stands, Liverpool have very little to be upbeat about at the moment.

Sydney, Lovren is a huge upgrade on Skrtel, Lovren is quality, he's in the top 3 cb's in the league with Kompany and Koscielny, Sakho had an injury which kept him out for 2 months, he was also climatising to a different environment, there's a reason he was PSG's captain at 19 and France captain at 22, him and Lovren will form a formidable partnership.

Skrtel has no positional sense and no pace, which forced us to play a deep line, which is something Rodgers clearly doesn't want, he'd like us to play with a higher line, which he'll be able to do with Lovren.

What makes you think we'll sign Bertrand? because the Daily Fail says so? seriously, you bash people like Fresh! for reading to much into what the papers say, yet you use it to back yourself up in arguements, once Sauarez is sold and we have the cash, Moreno will be signed.

You're asking whether Lallana is an improvement on Coutinho, yet you bashed us all last season for having no quality in depth, now we're getting depth, you're trying to compare player A and player B, you're seriously dense.

MANfromCHESTER.

Top four next season will be Chelski, City, us and Arsenal.

Just like you said last season red seven, ey ;)

07 Jul 2014 21:12:50
McRonald, we are talking about first XI's. What has that got to do with depth? Clearly it's not me who's dense.

Liverpool have enquired about Bertrand very recently and Moreno is unlikely to happen. You need to listen to Ed002.

McRonald -

Not at all. I said we'd finish fifth and Liverpool would finish in the top 4 last season.

06 Jul 2014 17:04:28
For anyone interested

Former Netherlands Under-21s coach Albert Stuivenberg has joined Louis van Gaal's staff at Manchester United.

Looks like a decent appointment from what I've read about the guy

06 Jul 2014 14:38:14
Very exciting to think that within the next fortnight van Gaal will be in his office at Carrington. Now with Vermaelen out the World Cup do we expect to see the deal to go through this coming week? Quite a few journo's reckon its just a matter of a medical and a few last points of the deal to be completed. The deal makes total sense, especially if Evra is leaving. An experienced EPL center back that can cover left back.

A very mediocre signing. Hardly anything to get excited about. We need a warrior like Hummels, not a sicknote.

I would use kagawa in any deal for hummels

06 Jul 2014 16:46:56
Hummels won't join without champions league football. We need an experienced stopgap. I think I'll trust king Louis judgement.

06 Jul 2014 16:47:45
Syd, your slating of the potential signing of Vermalen is ridiculous. Is hummels an attainable signing? Right now, no. TV will be cheap enough, and he covers left back. When fit he's a very good player, if LVG feels he can improve us, I will back his judgement.

Jred, in an heartbeat.

Coalan, I just cannot see how TV is getting people so wet. Hardly a great signing is he?

Paying Arsenal's unwanted third choice cb £100,000 a week.

I think people will be surprised to find that van Gaal is capable of making mistakes, and signing Vermaelen would definitely be one.

If a player won't join us because we have one year out of the CL then to hell with him is what I say. Konoplyanka and Hummels should go and swivel.

Both would improve our side massively but do we really want such fickle short term characters at our club?

The CL is over rated anyway in terms of importance for a career, group stages are normally a doddle against mickey mouse teams and then you have 4-6 high profile games dependent on how far you go and nobody remembers the quarter finalists anyway. It's the same as people saying you can't be the best footballer ever if you haven't won a world cup, stupid media rubbish - 99% luck if you are born in a country that can win the world cup for starters.

"Hummels won't join without champions league football"

And you know this how? Herrera sacrificed UCL football to join us. Shaw could have opted for City or Chelsea, but chose MU. Vermaelen is willing to leave UCL football to join us if reports are to be believed. How can you possibly know Hummels won't join without UCL football?

I would peddle Kagawa to Dortmund on a Penny Farthing if we could have Hummels in return.

Wow LvG has got to be really stupid. Really hasn't got a clue about signings and all the experts are here, ready to give him advice! Silly man! LvG will sign who he wants and it's my guess he has a little more experience? Not even behind his desk yet and people are saying he's going after the wrong players! Couldn't make it up!

Sydney, so you'd rather have no one instead of Vermaelen then? Was RVP not a sick note? Vermaelen is good on the ball, has bags of experience, is a former captain and can cover left back. For £10 million I see nothing to moan about and would be a good squad addition. He is far better than Koscielny anyway, he just doesn't gel with Mertesacker.

Not every signing is going to be a world class one. Some should be solid players who will add some strength, although the quoted wages for TV are a bit steep. If we can nail 2 more top quality signings with 2 of a CM, CH, or winger, then this will have been a stunning window. I think £30M Euros plus Nani for Vidal proudly be good, off load Bebe, Zaha, Hernandez, and possibly Young and focus on a top class CH.

Fresh, I believe Vermaelen is a back-up plan for Hummels, if all our efforts go south. Would I prefer TV or nothing? It's a close one, but he would be better than nothing agreed. Just VERY disappointing when we could have had a world class beast of a defender who doesn't spend 50 weeks of the year in the nurses office.

Firstly nobody knows weather evra will be staying or going. So all the talk about covering lb may well be pointless.

Secondly i'm sure most of us would choose hummels as our first choice cb signing and nothing I've read suggests its a no go.

And we've already got people saying lvg isn't worth getting excited about etc.
After last season surely we have every right to be excited. LVG is a step up on most managers out there.

So why don't we just look forward to a great transfer window for us and a great season to follow :)

Fresh
Do you think evans smalling jones and tc would be good enough options as our cb for the next 4/5 years .
We have kean also coming through so imo unless one of evans smalling or jones is sold we only have room for 1 more cb.
Imo its needs to be a top class player like hummels not TC.
Beast
I would think that a lot of players would look at the EPl and think maybe united won't make top 4 unlike teams like munich dourtmund real etc.
United in the CL no longer looks a sure thing

I think it has been mentioned on here before that Van gaal and Woodward have an A B C list so we may have to accept some signings will not be A listed and as exciting, as others. Also we have to balance the books so with Hummels unlikely then maybe a combination of Vermarlen and de vries makes good sense.
Also could all be paper talk so let's, see what happens
S in coming week. hopefully we will see at least 1 more this week

The main problem with our current defenders is that they're always one step away from the treatment table. Now we're looking to bring in a player that has been injured more than he has been fit during the last two seasons. Add that to the fact that he isn't good enough to start for his club, and was kept out of the national team by a man on the brink of retirement. Plus he wants big wages.

Hummels might be beyond us this summer, but we can definitely do better than an injury prone player whose best days are already behind him despite his relatively young age.

Hummels should be the one of course. But we may have to wait a year and we need a stop gap that is versatile. Vermaelen ticks those boxes. If we got him I could easily see us go for Hummels next year, maybe Evans will go.

Fresh
So u think we should sell evans?

Or we could just keep Evans and not buy Vermaelen. One top notch CB is all we need.

Hummels in the centre with Jones and Evans either side in a 343. Vidal and Herrera in midfield. Valencia and Shaw as width.

06 Jul 2014 12:01:44
Would people be happy with 40m + Nani for Vidal? Quite a lot but personally I'd jump at that for a player of his quality. If it wasn't for yaya toure I wouldn't even have to think about labelling him the best centre midfielder in the world currently. If we do sign him though we must remember his birthday.

Its not cheap but clearly we need him and Nani is shocking to say the least. I would be more than happy with that deal.

Yeah, he likes flowers and a card on his birthday. Just like Yaya.

They're a sensitive bunch these world class midfielders ;)

£40m + Nani is a great deal. Gets rid of £100k + per week off the payroll for a player who's proved over and over again he's not United class.

Some reports saying Juve want Fellaini too. Yes please lol. 2 duffers for genuine world class midfielder? The stuff that dreams are made of :)

06 Jul 2014 09:51:04
Had a banter with my everton buddies, they said shaw is over rated and won't get to baines level.thoughts guys?

He's already at Baines' level at 18 years old. At Euro 2016 Shaw will be first choice LB.

06 Jul 2014 10:35:43
Spat out my weetabix

06 Jul 2014 10:37:53
Their just bitter they didn't get to rip us off for him when they were asking for fees not far off what we paid for Shaw.

Don't get me wrong Baines is a good player and i'd have been happy to sign him for a reasonable price. he's an essential signing for any fantasy team for the number of points he gets from goals and assists. And that's an area Shaw will have to work on.

But remember Shaw is ten years younger and no disrespect to Southampton playing at a higher level with better players can only improve him.

Already better Baines is a better crosser but that's it Shaw is faster and better defensivly just look at Baines performance at the world cup

06 Jul 2014 11:09:00
Typical delusional mickeys.Already ahead of Baines who isn't that great which was proved at world cup

And what level has baines reached?He's a very decent player both defensively and going forward but he's hardly been tested properly. Never played against any european giant. He, for the most part of his career has played in teams which just defend, which makes his job easier.He's never done anything good for england.
Shaw is going to be england's left back for a long time. He most probably will have to face much better wingers in the UCL sooner or later.There is no comparision of levels here.

06 Jul 2014 08:27:30
Enough of transfer Madness. on a separate note!
Last year as we toiled along I waited for David moyes to become suddenly a better tactician as I pulled my hair out screaming at him to make a change or seeing no game plan whatsoever I still supported him. may be may be he would learn
He never did. from the gambler that fergie was to dithering Dave.
Louis Van Gaal may or may not have a golden Willie
But what he does have is an Amazing tactical brain. irrespective of what you folks say there is no fixed system
What there is/should be is the spirit to win, the passion the desire which makes him the perfect man to manage us.
I have never liked mourinho.
but there is one quality that absolutely no one can deny.
he gets his team to play for him every person gives his all on the pitch
Considering he learnt his trade from Van gaal.
Its going to be brilliant tactical battles us vs Chelsea.!
Yes we want to be champions
None of us know if we will or we won't
But one thing we know for sure. We will be feared we will be respected we are Manchester United! GGMU!

One random decision does not change the fact that since the Spain game Holland have limped past 4 teams that they should have beaten comfortably.

I thing LVG is a good manager but he has done nothing at this world cup to improve that opinion.

06 Jul 2014 12:04:57
Costa Rica parked the bus and Navas and Gonzalez had the games of their careers. It should have been 6-0. Mexico weren't a shabby team and the Dutch struggled in the heat. Chile were a very good team and most people on here are desperate to sign their two best players. So I think your not giving enough credit to other teams. Fact remains their still in the semis. You can only beat what's in front of you and so far they have. he's created a united team all willing to run through walls. How often in the past have Dutch teams collapsed because of ego.

Should have beaten comfortably? R7 Chile Mexico and Costa rica? Chile are one of the best teams in south America gave Brazil a run for there money Mexico played brilliant football
With the team Dutch have I am surprised they are in Semi finals
Costa rica kicked out Italy Uruguay and England
yet the average Dutch team should have beaten them confortbly.
The truth is other than RVP and robben and to an extent sneijder they don't have proven stars the rest are youngsters has beens and average players like vlaar
Lvg has made the best possible use of the squad in front of him with good tactical brilliance
I for one can't wait to see him manage us!

06 Jul 2014 12:26:01
Redseven,

Give over mate, no games are easy at the World Cup, they beat a tough Mexico side who almost beat Brazil and last night were by far the better team against Costa Rica who earlier in the tournament beat Uruguay and Italy.

The decision last night was a brilliant one, not random but planned, otherwise he would have used his 3 subs. Last season we had a manager scared to make a tough decision in any game any who appeared to have no plan. In each game lvgs plan is clear to see, even if it doesn't necessarily work for the full 120 minutes it can be adapted.

If you can't see that this is going to be a lot better than last season then you are never going to get it.

Have you seen the Holland squad red seven. couple of top quality players and the rest good but not great. So that is the semi finals with an average team simply because he has made them work, adapted tactics and made winning the priority. I would take that next year.however he is getting the players he wants in so it will be win as a priority nut he will do it withflair.
I for one am massively excited

06 Jul 2014 13:29:31
You cannot say Costa Rica were a team that Holland should have beaten comfortably after they beat both Italy and Uruguay and drew with England. It doesn't matter about on-paper stats, they had built some great form and have a decent manager who knew what he was doing.

The signs of a winning team is to win even when you're not playing your best, holland could definitely win this world cup no doubt.

Exactly GDS there is the plan that's there. there is a counter plan if one doesn't work. And its about the team with a few flair players. average players we have aplenty fergie's best attribute was getting the best out of them. lvg cut from the same cloth? We will see. one thing for sure we will be focused with a plan unlike last year. or fergie's last couple of years. where Sir Alex won us the games with his sheer strength of will!

This is pretty much the same Dutch team that made it to the Final of the last World Cup; only with a group of young players who everybody on here seems to think are worthy of playing for Manchester United (I've seen people saying that they'd like to see us sign at least 10 of their players over the past month). Sneijder's probably not playing as well as he was four years ago but RVP and Robben are playing considerably better.

Holland have played some of the ugliest football I've ever seen from a Dutch team at this World Cup and were it not for Arjen Robben (and to an extent his diving) they would have been out already. To be honest I'd be much more optimistic about next season watching Holland lose playing good football rather than win playing long diagonals and relying heavily on luck and Arjen Robben's diving!

06 Jul 2014 19:17:30
I bet Sunday lunch is a hoot around your house red seven. You would prefer him to have got knocked out so you could be more confident, absolutely crazy.

We need a manager with a winning mentality with teams that can win even if not playing at their best. Seems like you aren't going to change your mind, but maybe watch last nights game again and the chances that holland created in all different ways and coming from different positions.

Good point about it being the same team as last time so it is really easy, don't Spain have the same team as last time? They didn't do too badly did they?

Holland don't have the same team as last world cup at all! Their entire defense is different; the only players who remain are Robben, RVP, Sneijder, De Jong, and Kuyt.

Ruud -

Starting line-up for the 2010 final and their ages now and then;

Maarten Stekelenburg (27/31)
Gregory van der Wiel (22/26)
John Heitinga (26/30)
Joris Mathijsen (30/34)
Giovanni van Bronckhorst (35/39)
Mark van Bommel (33/37)
Nigel de Jong (25/29)
Arjen Robben (26/30)
Wesley Sneijder (26/30)
Dirk Kuyt (29/33)
Robin van Persie (26/30)

The only players they've really lost to age are Mathijsen, Van Bronkhorst and Van Bommel. The rest are arguably around the age they should be in their prime and the fact that they are not playing for their country would suggest that the players that are are better, no? Or are you suggesting that LVG opted not to take his best players with him?