Manchester United Banter Archive October 06 2012

06 Oct 2012 23:13:44
Some of you on here are unbelievable with your doom and gloom rubbish after 6 games. Utd have been hampered by injuries at the back since the season started, not to mention having RVP missing pre season, Kagawa adjusting to a new life and Rooney sustaining a freak injury. Some of you people amaze me. City have not been playing well at all and but for Joe Hart would be struggling in the league and out of the champions league already yet some of you say they are miles in front of Utd! Chelsea have had a nice run of fixtures and haven't been tested yet, oh and have only played 7 league games. I look on here through the summer and read the doom and gloom that we won't buy anyone, then we do and it switches to the moaning about leagues being over after 6 games, if 6/7 games were an indicator for the rest of the season then I hope West Brom get a good champions league draw! Yes Utd have been sloppy these first few weeks but some of you need to chillax, calling for Fergies head, listing who we should have signed, claiming the title is over! I'd hate to be around some of you in a crisi! Being a Utd fan is a religion, supporting your team no matter what. I for one won't write them off after 6 games, if you wanna do that then go join the blue plastic fans at wastelands, there's plenty if room! The same people claiming the legue is over etc will be on in may claiming they always knew Utd would win the league should they finish 1st.

Big G

Best quotes from a true united fan.its just too early to conclude on this team.we fail to forget the team has jelled well.rooney has come along yet,kagawa will only get better.this team will play better football trust me.

U have to understand that it is not about the points on the board now, its how we are playing. We have played some teams whom we should have beaten very very comfortably but we struggled. The loss to Spurs at OT was not out of the blue. It was in continuation with how we have been playing since everton. Its worrying enough that we ve not improved or changed anything for the last 8 weeks, what really sadden some of us more is the managers unwillingness to see the problem and accept we have sucked. Talking about extra time etc is plain rubbish . WE have to improve our squad and our tactics. No doubts about that at all.
Being a united fan only gives me more reason not to be casual and hope things will improve. I love my team and want them playing the way we are known for. If I am worried and I complain its because I have every right to.

Trident!

Oh Dear. I did not know being a fan means being a headless chicken and supporting everything blindly. Forget this site just have a listen to every respectable football pundit who has played the game at the highest level including some of our own legends and they all see the same thing most of us here talk about.

Let's wait and see as you say and see where we are come christmas. I say 10 to 12 points off the top and then maybe some of us faithful fans were not so wrong to question the current setup and direction.

It is inexcusable after getting destroyed by Barcelona in front of a billion viewers a club as big as us to go spend 90 million over two summers and not buy a midfielder and instead talk a 38 year old out of retirement as short term bandage to a deeper wound that needs proper surgery.

Shahram

So sharam, where do you stand today in terms of the team? Not sure the manager looked outdated today. Choosing to believe the team will gel and come good is not being a headless chicken, in fact saying after 6 games that they'll be 10/12 points off the pace at Christmas would be along the lines of a headless chicken. Some people come on here and spout the same rubbish every week and think they know more than the greatest manager of them all. Do you think Fergie hasn't tried to sign a midfielder in the past 2 summers? It's pretty obvious that he has made a bid for several but it hasn't materialised so we move on. Tactics today, spot on, performance much improved now put your toys back in the pram and wait for the next defeat so you can through them out again.

Big G

06 Oct 2012 21:59:54
guys, i don't get all the liverpool-bashing on this site. i know, blair may be a pain in your ass, but the liverpool-banter-site is full with united-blairs like supasub. my question is: if your team is so awesome, miles better, your youth is better, your gaffer is better, your players are all better and liverpool are so poor, why are you constantly bitching about them? if you're confident, let it go and praise your team, and be happy. that's for me what football is about.
berlinred {Ed007's Note - It is banter mate that's all. Football fans like to wind each other up. It's all done in fun. Plus LFC fans are wrong and need educated on football, that's why they come on here.}

06 Oct 2012 23:45:01
Lol BOND ...

We don't need no ejukayshionn ... (The United fans that is).. No abusive banter in the forum...People leave the trolls alone!

Deeps...

06 Oct 2012 20:46:37
I would like to adress our midfield. In recent weeks we ve seen carrick partner scholes, and fletcher partner cleverley and anderson. But it appeared that both partnerships lack something. Now let's assess each individual.
Paul Scholes : still the best passer in the premiership bar none, Scholes is a quality DLP. He sprays the ball forward to the forwards with such ease and accuracy its a joy to watch. He can dictate the tempo of a game and in terms of positioning he is quite good. He lacks energy and movement though, which is why he needs a midfield partner who can win back possession and provide the legs.
Carrick: whatever you say about carrick, he is the most underrated player in our team. He does the same job as scholes, but of course without the same efficiency in his passing, although he is the second best passer of the ball in the team. And, just like scholes of old, he thrives when given a bit of attacking freedom. He is quite dangerous in and around the box but you rarely see him there.
Now that's why the scholes/ carrick partnership doesnt exactly work. Both are too static and simply dont complement each other because the roles they play both require a more energetic midfielder next to them.
Now that's where fletcher, anderson and cleverley come in. Those three are not as good at passing as the previously mentioned duo but they have the hunger and workrate that scholes and carrick dont posess:
Fletcher: used to be a great box to box midfielder, but his illness has took its toll on him and he has to alter his game. Thats why you see fletcher just sitting deep breaking up play and instructing the defense. With a shaky defense like ours, we need such a midfielder. But on the downside he cant play in a midfield 2 anymore, cause pure defensive midfielders are more effective when played in a 3 man midfield, which should be used against the bigger teams mostly, thats where his role is and beeing a big game player, i dont think he will disappoint.
Cleverley: seems like our new midfield maestro, Clevo seems to be able to control the tempo of a game. Unfortunatly, his passing range is quite limited and so is his creativity, but he makes up for it with great energy and willingness to receive the ball and eagerness to get it back when it's lost. His defensive abilities are very underrated. After all he made a decent leftback but he needs to work more on his positioning, which comes with experience.
Anderson: he offers what cleverley lacks. His passing is never safe, he's always looking to carry the ball forward and can work his way up the field with the ball. He is a beter tackler than cleverley but unfortunatly he is massivly out of shape, and beeing a very energetic all action type midfielder, he gets drained easiely. If he can stay injury free and lose some weight, we all know what he can do ( most notably make a joke out of fabregas and gerrard ).
His partnership with fletcher never really worked because both are very similar players, get carried away chasing the ball leaving the midfield wide open, because of that each requires a more static/ disciplined midfielder next to him.

So going by these descriptions, you could see that in a midfield 2, players need to complement each other and here are imo the best partnerships :
-Scholes & Anderson: when scholes plays with carrick the lack of energy is apparent and With cleverley you can feel the lack of physical presence. Now scholes with anderson could be a treat. Scholes provides a steady and disciplined presence and the midfield that can control possession, and in anderson he has a partner that can hassle opponents to win back possession and cover a lot of ground, and at the same time take matters into his own hands and drive the ball forward with scholes staying behind, and if we lose possession, youve got anderson running his socks off to get back and help scholes who can hold his own defensivly as long as he doesnt tackle too often.
- Carrick-cleverley: Now just like scholes and ando, these 2 could well work quite well together in a midfield 2. Cleverley provides energy and carrick steadiness. But cleverley is well disciplined in his own right and could allow carrick to make forward runs, something neither scholes ( lack of pace ) nor Anderson ( lack of stability) could And cleverley has enough pace to follow attacking players while Carrick ( who doesnt have anderson's pace or energy ) gets back to position. And considering that both are not too adventurous, this could be more steady than the partnership of scholes anmd anderson but doesnt offer quite the same creativity.

Now in big games where we play a midfield three fletcher is an automatic starter. Cleverley and anderson together in front of him would offer great attacking play but just not enough quality in maintaining possession unless cleverley evolves into the midfield maestro we all know he can be. That's why for the moment ferguson can go ahead and rest his mind by playing one of the oldies. Now because of anderson's ability to run forward and create chances is greater than cleverley's i think would be better in a midfield three alongside fletcher and one of scholes and caririck.
In that sense we have 5 partnerships that i beleive can allow us to challenge for the league and even the champions league if ando and cleverley fulfill their potential
- Carrick cleverley
- anderson scholes
- fletcher scholes anderson
- fletcher carrick anderson
- fletcher cleverley carrick .

Now for the transfer targets i beleive we need a centre back if jones and smalling cant stay fit, and my personal choice would be papadoupoulos. the guy is a complete beast, an absolute wall and reminds me of vidic.
If not i would take a midfielder who can cover at the Back.
IMO i dont think we need a playmaker since cleverley deserves a chance, so does petrucci and powell while carrick and scholes can still do a decent job given the right tactics. We are more in need of a defensive/box to box midfielder and here are our options :
- Vidal : top of the bunch, and is absolutely a worldclass player but its extremly unlikeley that wed be able to but him .
- Wanyama : He is a good tackler and his ball wining ability is wonderful. I think he is a star in the making but his passing is not good enough. But he is still 21 if im not mistaken and can become a great player and most importantly can cover the cb slot nut is african so he has the afc.
- Strootman : weather he is a dlp or a box to box i am not sure, but does not offer the same defensive attributes as any of the others, and as any eredivisie fan would say he is not good enough to be on top of the footballing world: his tackling is mediocre and apart from a good shot and a decent engine, he doesnt offer much in terms of playmaking but is decent when running with the ball. Not entirly convinced though.
- Capoue: Shappy's favourite, the defensive side of his game is fantastic. He has a good presence and his tackling and passing intereception is great but his problem is that his attacking play is simply not good enough, so he doesnt offer the same tactical options as the others. Can slot in at the back.
-M'vila : defensivly he is just as good as Capoue but is a much better all around player. he can do the defensive midfielder role as easiely as the box to box role, he can also play as a deep lying playmaker. His passing ability ( especially his scholesesque long passes ) are very accurate and his vision is excellent. He has a great engine and is a physical beast but is not the easiest of characters for the manager.

My personal favourite is Vidal obviously but considering guetting him would be extremly unlikeley I would choose, in order of preferance M'vila, wanyama, Capoue than Strootman.
What are your opinions ?

Mick

2 paragraphs now ready to sleep

Good post Mick, little tip though i find when writting a long post it helps to break it up abit and leave a few blank lines. It makes it easier for people to read and they are less likely to give up half way through.

But i agree with alot of what you said. When it comes to who we buy alot will depend on the tactics and the direction the team is looking to move in.

Your right Capoue is my favourite, he just always looks hungry and willing. Plus he is a player totally unlike anyone we have at the club so i feel he'd add more in the way of options then some of the others would. When it comes to defensive minded midfielders we have at the club atm we have Carrick who is more of a deeplying playmaker, good at shielding but unlikely to get stuck in.

Fletcher has the reading of the game but it's yet to be seen if his energy levels will return.

Jones has the best tackling and can push forward with his driving runs but lacks tactically awearness.

What we don't have is a specialised DM, someone who'll sit and just cover the defence, read the game and make the interceptions and tackles needed, someone who is all action. Thats why i feel Capoue is the best option as that discribes him.

Shappy

Shappy
advice well taken .

As for jones unfortunatly his positioning, ball control and passing are nowhere near the level required of a central midfielder in a club of our stature.

Im a big follower of the ligue 1 considering i live in france and i get to watch both capoue M'vila quite often. The reason i rate M'vila as better is because he is able to play more than one role. He can act as a box to box midfielder, a deep lying playmaker or a defensive midfielder. he adds much more quality and creativity than Capoue.

You know more often than not in a game the manager has to adopt different tactics, a different approach. So if we need our midfielders to drive forward and add to the attact ( for example when trying to come from behind ) and we are in need of a box to box midfielder who is gonna help at both ends Capoue is not gonna help, while M'vila can make the transition easiely. Defensivly he is just as solid and very disciplined so if instructed he will stay back and shield the back four but is much better in the attacking sense, offering more tactical options, thus beeing more useful to the team, his only downside is his attitude but he seems to have made a progress. But if we get Capoue you are not gonna hear me complaining because he will be an upgrade from what we have ( or in this case what we dont ) in his position.

Mick

I agree Jones isn't suited to midfield in the long term but to give him game time he should play some games there against the less technically able teams. He has and energy and drive that could be useful if used properly. But long term his place is in defence, but without playing games he won't improve.

As for the M'Vila/Capoue debate, i fully see your point on M'Vila being more adaptable but is this what we need? I see us playing either 433 or 4231 with alot of the width coming from our wing backs, in both formations and the tactics that go with both it is vital to have someone just sit and shield the defence at all time whether your losing or winning the game or you leave yourself exposed centrally.

This ie where i think Capoue is at an advantage to M'Vila. Capoue is much more disciplined and has no real interest in pushing forward with the ball so he will just do his job at all times.
M'Vila isn't as disciplined and has more ambition to get forward which means he will be more susceptible to being caught out of place leaving us exposed.

In a 433 the DM would be playing with the likes of Cleverley Kagawa and Anderson so there really isn't any need to push forward as the other players are all more than capable, what is vital though is that the DM doesn't neglect their defensive duties as the other midfielders aren't going to cover him if he does.

Or we'll play 4231 in which case the DM could possibly move forward more depending on who was along side him but it wouldn't be vital that he does and the tactic's would be more likely to be pressing higher up the pitch, this will mean we are more likely to be hit quicker on the counter to combat our tactic's in which case you need to be very discplined and not leave your station. Personally i feel M'Vila would be bored in this formation as he likes to be on the ball alot and sulks or goes looking for it when he doesn't see as much of the ball as he would like. This would cause serious problems and leave us open to a quick counter attack.

So i just feel what we are missing to make both formations work for us is a proper out and out DM who won't go looking for the ball or want to get involved in the build up too much. In short someone who would be the base of our midfield and shore up our creaking defence.

Buying players isn't always about buying the best player but buying who is best for what you need. This is why i feel Capoue is the better option for us but not necessarily the better player out of the two.

And i didn't even mention M'Vila attitude problem or why no team would touch him this summer just gone.

Shappy

06 Oct 2012 18:46:24
I see everyone wants a CM as do we all but I firmly believe that won't solve all our problems. I believe that we won't play the kind of football that we all want until the back line and GK situation are sorted. When we were at our best we had possibly the strongest back line triangle in the world with VDS, Vidic, and Rio. Evra was also playing well at the time and we had Neville/Brown at RB who were both reliable. When your defense plays good it gives your attacking players the freedom to express themselves. As of now we are conceding goals at a staggering rate and we play "safe" football as a result of this. If the team always has one eye on covering the defense they are less likely to play "risky" passes. We are scared to lose possession when our fullbacks are pushed up as we know Evra won't get back. As far as shielding the back 4 goes once a player goes past Carrick or Scholes they do not have the pace to recover and really they aren't great tacklers which lets them run directly at our CBs. Giggs doesn't have the legs to cover for Evra and Nani really can't be bothered to track his man. That leaves us with great players up the field by themselves and forced to try to make things happen from what our scared midfield can provide. I think for the next 4 or 5 games we should put in a back line and stick with it Fergie needs to choose a #1 in goal and stop jerking De Gea around. Buttner must play I don't care if he is raw or whatever the excuse is he has to play. Rafael is getting there just needs to work on his defending a little but he is our best RB. The middle 2 is a little harder I would put Rio and Smalling if possible to have both pace and reading as well as distribution from the back. Those of you screaming to take chances with youth with our current back line they would really be up against it. They would face the same problems as our current players added to their inexperience there is a good chance that we could be on the end of a hiding playing them in the team. Every mistake would be picked at until finally they would be deemed not good enough by some.
So that's my suggestions fix the foundations then you can add more to the attack build up the teams confidence then blood the youth in a confident team where they can shine rather than put them under the gun in a setup where they are more likely to fail. There is more wrong than just one player missing the tactical side of things and team selection also need to be questioned. Those of you who think one player would make Evra and co not play as poorly are deluded. I await tomorrow to see the team selection and tactics used in hope that Fergie has figured it out.

Darren-Bermuda

Would love to think the tactics and selection will improve, but SAF will not change. He is committed to his approach with 2 wingers and sems to have totally lost his nerve when it comes to promoting youth to the first team. Pep is free - we need to take advantage of that and get him in next summer.

Sir Alex will alter his approach if the assistant is someone he really trusts. With Quieroz we played 433 with a front line of Tevez Ronaldo and Rooney, none of which are traditional wingers. It's not what you say but how you say it.

Shappy

We got crucified in some quarters of the press and by some on here for being predictable and lacking width when we did play 4-3-3. 4-3-3 will be played when we have everyone fit, nd maybe this weekend.

We always get crap off the press no matter what we do, it's all part of being a top team. I persoanlly feel we should be altering our formation and tactics depending on who we're playing. Personally i feel 4231 with high pressing and width from wingbacks is the best idea. With perhaps 433 being a more defensive option if we feel were gonna be under the cosh abit more and need abit more in midfield.

Shappy

06 Oct 2012 17:17:22
Questions to all you guy out there..
Given that the chances are that we will sign a midfielder only next July, even if we do that is, how many of you would really want us to bring in a midfielder?
Most of us are creaming out for the likes of Petrucci, cleverly, anderson, powell and even lingard and tunnicliffe to get more time. This is after carrick fletcher and giggs( unfortunaltely he will continue to play in CM ) being there, assuming scholes leaves. SOme of us even want rooney or kagawa in there.. where the hell is the room for another CM?
On a side note, can anyone tell me when the loan deals have to be done by, hoping petrucci will get shipped out on loan. He deserves more chances than SAF is ready to hand youth nowadays.
Trident!

06 Oct 2012 17:05:15
Chelsea and City are miles away from us this season!

We must improve ASAP or we'll be left behind.

Pls, don't come up with stories about being better supporters, just open your damn eyes and see the difference.

We don't have the best squad and we're even far from the best football, so, we won't be luck all season. Or we improve right away or the so called "AFTER CHRISTMAS" effect won't help us a dime!

We have very good and creative players up front, but our MIDFIELD and Defence don't add anything to our game, Kagawa would be as efficient as he was at Dortmund if we had a good MID. It's amusing that a team like UNITED in 6 games hasn't played a single decent game.

We need young blood, new ideas, new spirit and maybe by the end of the season new coach members including a new MANAGER. SAF is a legend and forever will be, but He's time has gone.

Most of the people call it a "CLOSE" title last year, but they forget that we had 8 pts more than City and let it go and won't happen again this year because we're playing much worse.

As always Fergie will come up with stories about Giggs and Scholes being able to play one more year (I'm praying every day, it doesn't happen), so that we can finally be able to move on and build a new generation for UNITED. We are much better than this and Fergie knows what is going on but he is extremely arrogant to admit.

I just hope that we Win and play a good game tomorrow to build up from that and start playing the way we have to.

Nick86

Nick

Can't agree more mate, The 8pt gap with 6 games to go last year, spoke volumes to me as to where we are in terms of Management and Coaching. Ferguson thought it was all over at Easter Weekend. Not playing Scholes at Wigan and taking Rooney off after 60 minutes. It said it all to me that. Ferguson lost us the title last year and deep down every Manchester United fan knows it.

We win 12 out of 13 games with Scholes and he drops him at Wigan. He is the only player that other teams have any respect for in our team, because towards the end of last year, who else was in out team to fear anybody with.

Look at the Spurs attitude towards us last week and that was with Scholes in the midfield. We are gone and any United fan knows it. With the exception of RVP, b lister signings.

We will get beat tomorrow at Newcastle, our defence can't cope with Demba Ba and Cisse, and with a midfield of Ben Arfa, Cabaye and Tiote they will completely out muscle us.

Hate to sound defeatist but I am realistic at the same time. The title this year will be between them and Chelsea, thats providing Chelsea don't implode without Terry.

I would put every effort in to the Cup comps because after last week, the premiership is gone already for me

Mike the Moston Red

You have no faith

Ross

Football is about playing, not Faith! Or you work hard to deserve and Win or you don't!
You need to have faith when you are done with ur home work.

Nick86

In the current regime Ross, no

Title ping pronged back and forth between Utd and City blowin leads. Came down to one goal in the last few seconds f the season. Less moaning.

06 Oct 2012 15:27:58
Guys, I don't want to sound like a spoil sport, but would one midfielder being brought fix our possession problems?:/ I would love to see wanyama and strootman at united! Everyone else's view very welcome please!

06 Oct 2012 13:06:28
Uniteds instability is due to d fact that oshea left. letting brown go was fine but oshea had been the man for all positions in defence and was far better than evra or ferdinand.

Silverfyre

Gary Neville was a much bigger loss

Ste-Utd

We've never been the same since Martin Buchanan and Gordon McQueen retired

AJH

And Nobby Steeelez!

Supasub

Martin Buchan!

I don't think you got that wrong, I think the site "autocorrect" changed it, as it happened when I typed Buchan first time.

And ashley griiiiiiiimes

06 Oct 2012 11:35:10
Obviously ridiculously early to be doing this but these are the 2012 transfer ins and outs that I would a) like to see and b) I think are realistic.

In:

Rodriguez
M'Vila
Okore
Fischer

Out:

Nani
Macheda
Evra
Giggs (retire)

Fred

Sorry to burst your bubble buddy, but the 2012 window jut passed by.. Bummer! i know.. Hope these transfers happen in the 2013 window atleast!

Trident!

Haha sorry just a typo! Can't see anything of note happening in January so it's way too premature to be predicting really but I was bored.

Fred

06 Oct 2012 11:22:09
Thiago Alcantara is the perfect man for midfield if Strootman also comes in. We'd have a fabulously giften midfield with those three.

You only listed 2 players....

Why the HeXX they want to come when we have such poor and notorious managements?

06 Oct 2012 10:44:24
This is what I would go for tomorrow:

__________DDG
Rafa__Ferdy__Wooton__Butts
______Clevs___Ando
Nani______Rooney_____Kags
___________RVP

That is the best team that we could put out. I have ommited Evans because I think he is still struggling with his injury, this is affecting his performance. I would also not risk Smalling, I'd give him an extra week - I wouldn't even put him on the bench. The season is more important than this one game, so we have to be careful. Buttner obviously should play instead of the woeful Evra. Cleverly & Anderson are too open, but they are the two best that we have in terms of a partnership. And the front four pick themselves (however I'd have Tony instead of Nani).

Fresh!

Fresh!, are you Rd19?

Sydney!

Scholes and Carrick are our best middle 2,have been for years and still are.
Yes would like to see Buttner,would have Toni in front of Nani if he is fit.

Red Daz.

This, except I'd probably play Evans.

Percy

06 Oct 2012 11:32:15
No Syd I'm not LOL. And, Scholes is our best midfielder, but we need to move on and play Cleverly / Anderson who could be a very good partnership.

Fresh!

Sydney!

I thought it was you, if I'm honest, mate ;) He uses the same names (Ferdy, Kags etc) and he has a ! behind his name. You know what they say about imitation mate.

TK-Red

06 Oct 2012 10:07:55
I have a sense of optimism for the Newcastle game, hopefully the performances of Cleverley, Fletcher and Anderson against Newcastle in the cup and against Cluj in the Champs league has given Ferguson something to think about. I don't expect to see Fletcher play but I feel Cleverley should be given real consideration as should Anderson. Although these two are not world beaters they do a much better job together than Giggs, Scholes or Carrick would do. Against a Newcastle side with plenty of strength I feel we need the energy in the centre to combat Tiote and co. Really wanna see this lineup:

DDG
Rafael Rio Evans Buttner
Cleverley Anderson
Welbeck Rooney Kagawa
RVP

I know Nani is the more natural choice for the right flank but I feel Welbeck could open up some well needed space for Kagawa and Rooney to thrive with RVP.

Opinions anyone?

RED_LAD

I share the sentiment but think we might get overrun. Pop Fletcher in front of the back 4, play Rooney a little deeper, and use the full backs to deliver width. We def need energy in the centre though so Anderson and Cleverley should get a run of games.

AJH

06 Oct 2012 07:48:26
Dem ba to Utd in January..
Around 8 millions
First u lisen here

Uttar pradesh

06 Oct 2012 07:46:25
smalling could be fit for sunday which is good news, but while ferdinand and evans have been getting some criticism i think the main culprit is Evra. His defending is now a complete joke and he is caught out of position so much that its dragging the CB's out of position, as they seem to be always covering for him. He was at fault for goal at Cluj and many more goals this year. Everyweek he is in the papers saying how we need to tighten up and cut out silly mistakes, well imo there mostly down to him. Just cannot understand how Fergie and backroom team have not seen this, as i think he has been poor for about 2 seasons. Would assume we will be in for a very tough match on sunday as newcastle are playing well and there forwards tore us apart last year, but big big positive is RVP and rooney clicking against Cluj.

06 Oct 2012 07:44:12
go0d morning LAD's...
-
Ferguson has been monitoring the development of the Barcelona youngster who has shown a great deal of promise. Thecentral midfielder is a stylish performer, comfortable on the ball, fleet of foot and with a good footballing brain and the Man United boss will look to continue his youthful transfer policy by making a significant offer for his services.
Alcantara is currently tied down to a long term contract that runs until the summer of2015 but this may not stop Sir Alex Ferguson's pursuit of the one time Flamengo youth team player.
The Man United manager has brought in a number of young talents from across Europe that he has then looked to field withacademy graduates as he looks to the future of the Old Trafford club. The likes of Javier Hernandez, David de Gea, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling have all made fairly speedy impacts since they were signed andthis summer two more young recruits werepurchased, Nick Powell and Angelo Henriquez.
Ferguson is thought to have a good relationship with Barcelona and has previously brought in Gerard Pique from the Catalan club before selling the defender back after four years at Man United.
Thiago is currently sidelined with a knee injury but this is not thought to affect Man United's interest.

06 Oct 2012 11:34:39
Could be a decent signing. Players would have to leave though. I think we will slowly move towards the 4-3-3 with RVP, Rooney and one of Valencia/Young. Kagawa I think is destined to play as the most advanced player of a midfield 3.

Fresh!

05 Oct 2012 22:52:16
Just read the interview with Hernandez today, it's nice to him hungry to win games and do well, we need more players like him. I have always admired him! He always wants to play his best, yes he has has a rough few games at the beginning of the season but he hasn't played so much.

And to all the people saying they would sell him, what do you want? Older players who don't bother as much (Evra, Giggs) or would you want a young striker who is thriving to be his best again! If he gets a handful of games this season I think we will start to see the same Hernandez we all saw in his first season.

I know I moan a lot about the side, but lets hope Fergie makes the right choices and lets see a performance like the second half of the Spurs game! Have a good weekend guys.

-JakeW

I personally think he is a fantastic player his movement is the best in world it is incredible an I been saying for ages if he was at a team like barca or Madrid who make chances for fun he in my personal opinion would get 40 odd goals if he played the entire season his finishing is great he great in the air technically he is average but I'm old fashioned I want a striker who scores goals an he does that if giving a run in the team an chances are created


Dio

05 Oct 2012 22:42:28
Guys, if we lose to Newcastle at the weekend then I really regret to say that I think our season could be over, I really can't see us recovering from it, too many losses too soon, but it's much much more than just losses, it's the level of performances we have put in so far, we haven't played well once yet this season in any competitions, if it weren't for RVP then we would offset more, sure we have had injuries, but isn't that always our excuse when we play bad?! It's time to admit that we aren't the team we used to be, and there's no-one else to blame other than our manager himself, he's the one picking daft teams regulary, and when he's come out today saying carrick, scholes and giggs are all fit to play, what does he see in them anymore, they get outplayed in 99% of games, some against mediocre teams, I really think that this will be SAF's last season, I think the fact that phelen is still assistant manager proves it, they wouldn't bring in another coach when the entire coaching team is getting replaced, his face says it all at games, just sat there with no expression. I think football as changed so much in the last few years but our style is stuck in the past and that's why where getting outplayed week in week out, SAF is too old to change is style now and I think even he realises this, he isn't stupid and neither are we, if he stays any longer than this year then I think we will decline even more so, year by year. I hope he doesn't retire from everything for good, but hope he goes on into an advisory roll and brings in a more youthful coaching set up with European style. I think he's become more insecure and stubborn with age and if he keeps insisting on playing the likes of carrick, evra, giggs and scholes then we will struggle to even finish in the top 3.
Some supporters will say I'm not a true fan but then what is, someone who is biased and sticks by fergies selections in all the important games by picking these players when they are clearly not good enough to even play for mid table teams never mind united, the once best team in the world not so long ago. If we are all honest and in touch with reality then we all know that each and every year since we got best by barca in the champs league final 09 we have been on the decline, losing world class players each year and not replacing them, neither replacing our older players who were once world class but just aren't anymore, RVP being the only exception to replacing anyone, apart from him who have we signed since that CL final.
This is the first time in my 25 years of being a united fan that I am honestly not confident in our chances not only in winning the league, but winning in each game we play, I really think this is the worst Manchester united team that has played in the prem league since it started, and I know each and every other fan thinks and feels the same, even the biased ones who don't like to say it out loud, because they think there being disloyal to our club

Dale Edwards 87'

So, you've been fan for 25 years meaning you've only ever really seen success. Some of us have been around a bit longer and saw a long period of mediocre, sometimes poor football. Success is not guaranteed, the fact we have been winning trophies regularly since 1990 is exceptional. Yes this team is in transition, yes SAF is picking some dodgy line ups, yes 2or 3 players are well past their best, but to say our season is over if we lose today is a bit much. Get a grip son.

AJH

Totally agree. Saf great manager but time to hand over to younger manager with modern methods. We must embrace change and not be scared of it. Saf and phelan are picking safe options which unfortunately don't work as the players he's picking are too old.Come on saf we know you llove united so do the right thing and let a younger man carry on the excellent work u started.
NoMidfield

Dale.. you are spot on and have been saying this for last 2-3 years since first final with Barca and losing Ronaldo... now there is no real quaility in the team
...the answer for starters is Mike Phelan... sits in the dugout like Mr Glum...this needs changing drastically..the guy is clueless and all his ideas are old... like everything else things change and football as changed to different styles..ie Barca / Bilbao and now Dortmund... we need pace in midfield and upfront...and unfortunately we are lacking... change Phelan for the likes of Solskjaer or Scholes in some coaching capacity....i think 2 or 3 more losses and we will struggle to finish in top 4...stockport red.

I think the team of 2003-04 was pretty mediocre too. Both comparable I think.

Devil for Life

AJH

So what you are saying is because you have been a fan for longer (just be because you are older, which can't do anything about) then you know more and are more loyal than me, is that how it works then? So just because we didn't have success before then then it is ok to just be happy with hat we have got and be gratefull, not strive to become better, do you think barca fans, real Madrid fans, or any other fans of other teams for that matter would be happy if there team just stopped succeeding, do u really want to go down the same road as Liverpool have, shall we just be satisfied with what we have already achieved, shall we treat is as overachieving and be gratefull, you come across to me as an ugly man with a fit girlfriend, satisfied because you are punching above your weight.
SAF is over 70, who could blame him if he actually as started to lose the plot abit, its inevitable it will happen one day, people can't go on forever, I personally think its been happening for a few years, do u really think the fergie of old would of let pogba leave, and its not just him, how many of the youngsters have been given a chance last few years, hardly any, instead picking players in there late 30's, it's embarrassing. Can u imagine, barca, real, munich, Dortmund, city, Chelsea playing players who are 37+, neither can I. If SAF would of been managing anyone else in top four since 09 then he would of been sacked based purely on his strange selections, and how phelen is assistant manager to our massive, great club is beyond me.
And your making out your a better fan, we're playing 2moro not today mate, get a grip son.

Dale Edwards 87'

06 Oct 2012 15:38:49
haha brilliant dale, u are right i hate these older fans hu fink they are more loyal and talk down to us younger fans

The season will be over after this game in October?! Have you watched the epl before?

Ruudinthemood

No mate never watched it, what is it, give us a clue?
Like i said it's not the fact we might of lost a few games and even if it is only October, it's the manner of which we have lost, and the wins that we have we have scraped, we haven't played well once yet, there's only one solution...

Sort the midfield out ASAP, we should of done this seasons ago, it doesnt take a rockets scientist to realise this, but why as our manager not sorted it, we all expected our manager to do this as he is a legend in the game, but why as he not, surely he doesn't think what we have is good enough, I personally think he's too stubborn with age to agree with the fans, the neutrals, the pundits, the opposition fans, the entire world of football. Let's hope the next manager gets rid of the dead wood.

Dale Edwards 87'

You may not want to go down the road Liverpool have, but that's where your going
The last couple of years Liverpool has new owners, owners that will not get LFC in debt, their policy and management staff have been completely replaced, years of investment in the Academy is starting to pay off, and we are using some of these players in the 1st team we are adapting a complete new style of play which will take time to blend.Some of Utd supporters blame us for living in the past but it's the future we look to, most of us don't bury their heads in the sand. Utd have been far supperior in relation to trophies over the last decade and Sir Alex is a true legend. But things are about to change I'm not saying Liverpool will be as successful as Utd in the next 20 years but we are laying the foundation of a modern thinking football club which I believe will bring us success

YNWA Bobbinred

We could go down the same road as Liverpool but we won't, ever, because we are man united, the biggest club in england, the biggest club in Europe, the biggest club in the world even, and you are, well your just Liverpool haha sorry mate ;)

Dale Edwards 87'