Manchester United Banter Archive January 08 2015

 

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08 Jan 2015 23:01:37
Said weeks ago and l will say now again l can't see us signing anyone during this window( Valdes excluded as he is not what we need right now), champions league spot looking good so the club will wait for the next window. That's how they operate now.

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{Ed004's Note - I agree though I reckon we may try for Strootman but don't think it will succeed}

We wouldn't be in champions league position only for DDg, our defence is more than bad, we need a top defender now, not the next window

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Unless the right player becomes available at the right price we should sign nobody. Moyes signed Mata for £37million last January and he was gone by May. Go figure.

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08 Jan 2015 19:30:15
Glad to have got a decent back up keeper & I think this is how United have to view their squad when the overhaul is completed, which will take another summer transfer window to get really close. I just hope we do finalise the Falcao deal as he is a class act & I feel that next season he will be back to his former self before his injury & it would be awful to see him move on elsewhere & this happens. Hopefully if we can get back into the champions league next season then players of his calibre will be needed if we progressed to the knock out stages. I don't see Wilson as the answer just yet but hopefully he can also progress & develop as a player as their is potential there.

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Mr Falcao is a very interesting subject. His wage demands are out of this world and his fee is very high. Very good player on his day but unless he drops the mercenary wage demands and a fair price can be agreed, I for one cannot see justification in the expensive expenditure considering his average season thus far.

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Jmb. So if we let falcao go, who do you want in his place? Every striker is going to command big money and big wages.
Falcao will be amazing in a 433 formation. At the moment, lvg is playing defensive formation and non of our strikers are shining.

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Nomidfield, the Falcao pre injury would be great, he's not yet shown enough to justify the amount of money being discussed

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08 Jan 2015 18:38:08
Valdes deal done! Not a bad back up at all.
Think its good all round as well how LVG has said that he is joining as utd's number 2.

All we need now is for DDG to sign a nice new long term deal, 2 or 3 new defenders and a quality midfielder over the next 2 windows and the team should be challenging on all fronts again. Not much then lol ;)

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Well if we are making wishes then something like these 8 then.

GK: Valdes
RB: Arias
CB: Varane & Laporte
DM: Strootman
CM: Pogba
FW: Isco/Bale & Dybala

a couple of players more than you suggested but with the addition of these 8 and letting 15 go (i know this is not football manager, but i seriously think 15 could go / should go by the end of the summer. and this includes a couple of youth players) and we would have a complete squad ready for next seasons challenge of the PL and CL.

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Oxred that is an entire new team. Have a look at Liverpool or Spurs to see what the repercussions of signing so many new players can do to a club.

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Juanmatesbeard… technically that is 5 players for the 1st 11 and 3 for res. So just under Half a team… but I get where you are coming from. And correct me if I am wrong here but we did sign 7 players last summer.
However I think that both Varane and Laporte would help each other settle in quicker and form a formidable partnership for the future, along with Pogba (who already knows the club).
Besides if we could get some in this window and then some in the summer the transition would be fine.

I do however think this is just a dream but something worth dreaming about never the less.

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The thing is OX that in the current footballing market the players you have shortlisted would realistically cost in excess of £200-250million.

I am not one to talk about money - because the market is so unpredictable - but If reports are to be believed Varane would cost upwards of £40million, Laporte maybe more (Bilbao are know to be a stubborn club). Strootman we are supposedly being quoted around the £40million mark as well and we all know Pogba will cost a pretty penny (around the £50-60million mark). Dybala is being mooted at around the £30million mark and Isco (who has been in good form lately) will not leave R.Madrid for less than Ozil or maybe even Di Maria did in the past. Which leaves Bale who will not be sold unless Madrid recoup at least 80-85 percent of his fee.

Even with outgoings of 15 players like you said we could never pay these wages and continue to pay our current crop their annual salaries as well as all the other overheads the club is liable for.

Like you said it's a pipe dream, but it's nice to dream once in a while.

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08 Jan 2015 17:27:49
Just thought I'd give a quick update to those who haven't seen the news of the day that could be of interest.

There are a few names we can tick off the list for this window at least are Ricardo Rodriguez who has signed a new deal and Shaqiri who is in Milan to finalize a deal at Inter.

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{Ed002's Note - Neither or which were interested.}

And Heskey has signed for Bolton which means he's out of the picture now as well.

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What about snidjer :)

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And Gerrard's going to L.A.!!! there will be no one left for us to sign at this rate, get a move on Woody!! ;)

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11 Jan 2015 02:09:37
Shaun Maloney might be a good shout !! Cheap and cheerful

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08 Jan 2015 16:34:27
Ed002, quick question, what do you think Guardiola's long term future holds? Was talk of him extending his contract a few weeks ago, now it's being suggested he could return to Barca as Sporting Director with Laporta.

Would love for him to succeed LvG, sadly I think we'll be a year late though, whether it be to City, Barca or elsewhere.

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{Ed002's Note - I really don't know what his long-term future holds - I am not even sure what my long-term future holds. To gwt a little publicity and keep his profile high Joan Laporta is discussing 2016 and the role of sporting director. I would think the chances slim - perhaps manager. I have no idea what you are talking about in terms of a "year late" for replacing van Gaal, and I would certainly not be getting the Kleenex out over PG moving to Manchester United.}

08 Jan 2015 16:49:51
Pep would be perfect to succeed Van Gaal, he has played his philosophy and i think if the right timing he would be open to it.

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Personally i think guardiila is overrated. Yes he won a lot at barca but that was when the team were deemed as one of the best to have ever existed. Would he be able to do the same with a team in transition?. Both his teams really had competition from one team. Madrid and dortmund. Madrid weren't great during his time and in the bundesliga there's no competition until he's proved himself in the prem, where there's more competition i won't see him as a class manager

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08 Jan 2015 17:00:22
I get your point Trumours and maybe he hasn't proven thst much, but in case of philosophy i think he would be a good choice to continue LVG so we don't have to start over with a whlle new style of play. But than again, as you point out he hasn't really proved that much.

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Do you think LVG a class manager Trumours?

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08 Jan 2015 17:38:29
Who do you concider as world class Beast? Who would you the most like to have?

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LVG is a class act IMO. I think he has been excellent for us personally. Especially as he had to pick up from where the last manager left us; plus an horrendous injury list to deal with. Not sure what other managers could have done what he has done, under the circumstances he was dealt.

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LvG from the 90s is what I will consider a class manager, infact one of the best in the world!

Deeps.

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I thin Pep has proved nothing so far, he has not built a team and Bayern was the easy option for him. He may be a brilliant Manager but we are yet to find out.

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People dismissing Pep because he only won things with Bayern & Barcelona, fair enough I have done the same in the past, but isn't that pretty much it for our gaffers CV as well - plus ours is 20 years older?

Norwegianred - I don't know enough to say who a world class manager is or isn't, I think most of it is to do with the existing squad, funds, support staff and pressure (players, board and fans). The media build up and destroy managers, one bad season and your reputation is in tatters, Rodgers, Klopp. Or one fluky run and you have a trophy that people use as a benchmark - Di Matteo.

I like Simeone, Klopp and believe it or not the enemies manager Rodgers, but I'm not privy to the ins and outs of what is expected and what they actually do. I obviously realise Rodgers isn't viable, but I rate him despite what the sale of Suarez has done to them.

Its so hard to know what is down to the manager or not, we just have what we see and what they say to base our opinions on.

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08 Jan 2015 19:40:10
I also rate Klopp highly but i was hoping for Guardiola after SAF with Klopp second.
And what you said, a "worldclass" manager on paper could fall through, so its more up to the club itself to find the right man for the job.

I think the LVG signing was a really good way to go, getting a manager who has the balls and attitude to turn it around, in someway i feel he has done allready. We lack less now than when he started? A couple of signings, DDG a new contract and we will be there. If the right long term comes along, i hope their not affraid to sign him up even before LVG's contract expires, so w don't fall down again.

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08 Jan 2015 21:09:52
De Boer from ajax

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08 Jan 2015 22:56:53
I read the Scousers were eyeing him up to replace Brenda, Mr E.

I do like him, though I'd be worried about his relative inexperience.

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Its a hard one beast. On one hand he's won it all, in different countries and can nring the best out mediocre playrs like fergie. His only problem is how he doesn't get on with a lot of players. What i'd class as world class are managers who can manage the very top players and those who are stubboron or don't play have respect for the manager. In this class i'd put mourinho and fergie

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To manage a dressing room of all those egos, play fantastic football, get results and deliver silverware year after year is testament to how fantastic a man manager Pep Guardiola has been. No one better out there for me at the moment.

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{Ed004's Note - Just look at how Barcelona are doing without him}

09 Jan 2015 07:09:27
Very good point Ed002. Enrique won't last long (assuming the press is to be believe) maybe Barca will pull out all the stops to get him back.

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08 Jan 2015 15:29:45
Best rumour of the window. I challenge anyone to beat it by finding a more stupid rumour.

'Manchester United are keeping tabs on the future of Luis Suarez who is unsettled in Spain'.

ha as if he would be welcomed here.

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I always thought it would be a bad move for him considering they already had Neymar and Messi in his favored position.

I wouldn't want him anywhere near our club. I don't care how good he is.

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08 Jan 2015 15:59:11
This window reporting has been even worse.
We are linked with Suarez,Krul and don't know what kind of players.
I ll prefer buying Bebe back than buying suarez .

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It's never going to happen but I would take suarez any day of the week

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I'd sign him just for the meltdown on Merseyside.

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I'd take him and put him down!

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I said a year late Ed as Guardiola's contract ends at the end of next season, whereas LvG's is the season after.

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08 Jan 2015 10:42:34
Was Watching Athletico Madrid vs Real Madrid Last night and Bale was very average and he has been like that for a while.
Nothing special about his performances lately keeping in mind the price paid by RM for him.

Isco looked far better player than him and have had more impact than bale all season.
Have RM realized they overpaid for Bale??

Will be surprised if We(or anyone)try to sign him for anything over 30 mil.

Overrated??Thoughts??

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He played as an out and out striker that's not really his best role against a very solid team.

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There was lot of talk about bale and how good he is whn we were linked to him last summer and i rembr someone mentioned that he is too dependent on pace. I would be disappointed if we sign him for the price being quoted.

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08 Jan 2015 11:51:29
Yeah but this whole season he has been poor and the point is we shouldn't pay anything over 30 mil for him, in case we plan to buy him.

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08 Jan 2015 11:54:01
£30m? I think he's a top top player, he might have been quiet last night. His speed is frightening and he would be immense in out side , but imagine our counter attacking with him and di Maria . Would pay £60-£70m for him if was possible to get him but doubt it will be

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I can't see him being sold for any less than £60m in the next 2 years no matter how he is playing.

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I might be the exception here, but the guy, IMO, is all pace and not a lot else. He won 't be worth a tin of beans when he loses that pace. Now way is he as good as Di Maria. And no way was he worth the money paid for him.

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I have never understood the hype around Bale. Is a good player, but not a great one and not worth even half the pricetag and wages imo.

He has pace, bucket loads of it, but apart from that his game is pretty limited imo. I'm glad he went to Madrid instead of accepting the rumored offer that we made.

The money that it would take to get him would be better spent elsewhere. I'd rather spend big on Reus or Hazard.

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The figures of £100 million are silly. In today's market I would pay a maximum of £60 million. There are better, cheaper targets that aren't all about pace like Reus or Robben

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08 Jan 2015 13:14:58
Bale has a lot more to his game than just pace. All those wonder goals that he scored for Tottenham in his last season were no fluke and there was more skill than pace involved in them. I do agree that his technique is not in the level of ronaldo, messi or zlatan but he is still quite a skillful player and is worth much more than 30 million. The only reason why I feel he won't be the best buy for united is both he and di maria are at their best on the left wing though both seemed to have adapted decently to the right when played there.

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{Ed004's Note - I disagree I feel Bale and Di Maria best position are both centrally. That's were Bale played for Spurs. At Madrid he seems to stuck out wide right so that there is width in the side as Ronaldo comes centrally so often. Think Bale and Di Maria centrally behind Falcao/RVP would be something else. Certainly best attack in the league. However would only spend 60/70 mill on him no more. And would want Rb, Cb and CDM addressed first so can't see this being a likely move}

I'm with Sam if you were asked last year who would you have picked? Do Maria or Bale? He is a very good player but probably in the £;50 mil category.
real got there pants pulled down by Levy they are not the first and won't be the last.

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08 Jan 2015 13:35:06
Think Bale is a player acctually suited better for the Premier League than the Premiera, if he is bought back i think he would be a big success.
The price isn't right though.
Think he would fit us perfectly.

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Bale would be perfect if we go 433 allowing him to move between the wing and inside channel with possibly Di Marea/someone else doing the same on the right.
To be honest anyone up against Ronaldo looks poor but he was excellent for spure and last year for RM.
For 60m I would say yes.100 it's a no.
Very marketable from, a revenue point of view though having been at RM.

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08 Jan 2015 16:15:58
Overrated, no. Overpriced, yes.

Honestly if people are struggling to see the players' quality, I worry. He scored some really important goals for Madrid last year too.

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08 Jan 2015 16:16:02
To say Bale only has pace is his locker is rediculous. Scored 20 odd goals in his last season for spurs, when playing centrally ( his most effective position by far ) . And most of them were wonder goals. He can take a game by the scruff of the neck and single handly win games . Not many players in the world can do that. His stats this year 22 appearances 11 goals 6 assists, and he's having a bad season apparently, even tho he's playing in a side with the likes of Ronny etc. he suits the premiership, and would be fantastic for united.

Fresh, you'd rather sign robben ( who spends 50 mins a game on his ass ) than bale? Insane

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{Ed004's Note - I think Bale would be the difference in winning the title to whatever premiership team he goes to. He offers so much when he is the main man.}

08 Jan 2015 16:17:29
I'm sorry but for people to say that all Bale has to his game clearly either don't know what they're talking about or haven't watched him enough. He is very quick but he has great skill and technique as well, his main weakness is the fact he's so one footed. Like Ed said he is much better in the middle of the field or with space to roam about but then again so are Messi and Ronaldo. He's not worth paying any more than what RM have already paid for him but he's easily worth £30m when you think Fellaini cost £27m and Mata £37m!!

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It is all a matter of preference is it not? Bale does not have a great football brain IMO. I have watched him a few times, and his main weapon is his pace. Take that away, and what is really left?

He isn't two footed. He isn't a great natural passer. He does have a good shot, but isn't a natural finisher. And quite frankly, for 80 million, I would want the guy to fire lightening from his backside.

Nope, I sorry, but I don't know what I am talking about.

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08 Jan 2015 17:01:25
Some people have always struggled to see how good he is, it does shock me when people say 'he has nothing but pace' because it so plainly wrong.

Massively overpriced but he would be incredible for us in the epl.

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Agree with Ed 004 on this one:Di Maria and Bale are better suited to a central role. I won't go so far to say Di Maria is wasted out wide but he is devastating through the middle,Bale to a lesser degree. It seems odd what is going on with Bale at Madrid. He was fantastic last season and looked settled and at home. He looks a different player this season.He's getting a lot of negative press and looks out of sorts. I think he is better suited to the Premiership. I'd love to see him at United but not at the insane prices quoted.Be interesting to see where he played.

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If anyone had given me the option of either Bale or Di Maria in the summer I would have taken di maria hands down. I'm not saying Bale is like a Walcott who is ONLY about pace but compared to other players of the same category I think he lacks skill on the ball in tight situations. Di maria reus and hazard much better than him on the ball and are better passers. Bale would need the entire team to be based around him. If we are going to do that its Ronaldo or Messi that we should be buying.

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I know some are going to call me out because I am posting stats again, but for a player playing his position, stats really do matter.

44 Games - 22 Goals - 18 Assists - 3327 Minutes played - A Goal/Assist every 83 Minutes.

The guy is class, would take him in a heartbeat. Take this for first season stats in a "foreign" league. Wow

Deeps.

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I'd have taken Bale, used to the prem, normally delivers, adaptable defensively which our manager seems to value. Whenever I have seen ADM he has either been the best player on the pitch or one of the worst, it's close but he is just that bit more inconsistent for me than Bale.

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{Ed004's Note - I would go bale as well.}

I would of gone for bale as well, in his last season for spurs he was the best player in the EPL and was winning games on his own .
I haven't seen a player do that in the same way since ronaldo.
Spurs sold him spent 100mill on players and where half the team.

People should look at some of the goals and assist the lad has to see the talent .
Add to that his pace and you have a special player imo.

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08 Jan 2015 23:05:50
Well said, boys. One of the players I love watching. I'd have him here in a heartbeat.

I always rated Di Maria, and loved it when he signed for us, but if I'd had to choose one or the other, it would be Bale every time. As someone mentioned above, he's much more consistent than Angel, if not quite as good technically.

Along with Hummels and Vidal, he'd make up my wet dream summer transfer window.

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I'm actually quite surprised by how many would have taken Bale! But as Sam says further up it is a preference thing, I thought last year Di Maria was right up there with the best a genuine pleasure to watch. don't get me wrong I also would love to see Bale here I think he is a very good player but personally I don't think he is worth more than Di Maria.

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08 Jan 2015 08:18:41
This is a post for beast, I just accidentally clicked on your profile and then noticed this:

Favourite player: None deserve it at the minute

Is that what you actually think, that you don't like any of the players that play for us at the minute, or is it that you can't choose? What if you supported for example Hartlepool and were bottom of the football league, would you just not have a favourite player because they aren't good enough for you?

I love my club and I will back them as everybody on here knows, and surely out of the 25 man squad you can find one of them that you like? Maybe you wrote that ages ago but if you did then it appears you have had no enjoyment out of supporting united for a long time. I support my club as a hobby and get every last bit of enjoyment out of it that I can, maybe others are different to me.

Is there anyone else on here who doesn't have a favourite player because all of the players are rubbish?

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08 Jan 2015 08:39:33
I think DDG would pretty much top everyones list this season

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Doesn't really have to be a current player, could be of all time, right?

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mbd              

08 Jan 2015 09:12:59
It's favourite player not who has been the best. You just pick any.
Its a tough choice for me apart from the start I liked Herrera this season straight away and Falcao has an lively unpredictable presence which I also love.

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08 Jan 2015 09:22:25
Mumbai,

That would be the best player of the season, not favourite player. Since I started supporting United I have had various favourite players, Brian McClair, Eric Cantona, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. Not always the best player in the team at the time, just the one I went to the games looking forward to watching.

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This was filled in a while ago mate, when the results and performances were both poor. Best performer is DDG by a mile so I would put him in now, but none of our current outfield players are my favourites, and even the ones playing well-ish aren't my favourite type of player, not that they have played much (Carrick, Fellaini & Young).

Hard to choose, as none of the new players have done enough. I desperately want to like ADM as I love players that take on opponents and attack at speed, he started very well but had 4 or 5 bad games in a row before his injury, so I can't choose him. Same sort of thing for Falcao I want to like him but he hasn't done enough yet, I did really like Rafael but he hasn't done anything for a while because of injuries.

So a mixture of not enough viable options to choose from, not enough games played and general poor performances from the type of player I prefer.

Of all time since I've been watching - Giggs or Keane.

Does that satisfy the profile police GDS2, or is there another round of questioning haha? Only kidding mate.

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08 Jan 2015 11:09:38
Haha fair enough mate, I wasn't being profile police I did just accidentally click on it (not stalking you honest ;)) and noticed that, also thought it might make people discuss who their favourite players are.

I can understand the lack of that one player at the moment that stands out, ADM and Falcao certainly have the potential to be that player that gets us off our seats but it has just not happened for them consistently yet. DDG is that one player but I think kids growing up (unless they are a goalkeeper themselves) would have a goalkeeper as their favourite, Schmeichel was amazing when I was growing up but I preferred the players playing in the position that I was playing at the time.

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08 Jan 2015 12:41:23
I really like Herrera, probably my current fave.

Cantona was my fave and my hero growing up.

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Loved watching Robson and whiteside especially against liverpool.

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Gareth Bale has it all in my option. Better than Di Maria by far for me.

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08 Jan 2015 03:23:32
I found it interesting when Jred posted that Moyes and Van Gaal were on very similar points at this part of the season.

Without opening up a can of worms here this makes for interesting reading in regards to not only Van Gaal spending a shed load of money compared to the chosen one but Moyes did have to compete with a rampant Liverpool and an inspired Arsenal last year along with Chelsea and City. You could also throw in a free scoring Everton into that pot as well. Plus David Moyes had CL football to contend with.

If Arsenal or Liverpool hit the early season heights of last year this season would we still be sitting pretty in third place under these LVG's performances? I am not having a go at Van Gaal, as I have said previously I am not one for advocating the sacking of a new manager less than a year in the job (anyone who does has a poor understanding of our game), but it sure does provide food for thought.

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First off welcome to the site, great to have you here.

IMO Moyes did'nt have the credentials for the job, it was always going to be to big for him, unfortunately it was Fergie's last mistake to put his name forward.
Having said that who knows what he could have done if given the resources LVG got.
LVG has a better CV for the big clubs, he has done ok at this level in the past but he is very stubborn IMO, will he deliver the goods? Yes, eventually but we as fans are in for a bumpy ride trying to figure out his "philosophy", in fact I think he's still trying to figure his philosophy out.
Not my choice but he's here so has my backing.

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I agree completely Herbie, SAF had my backing through his tougher seasons, Moyes had my support until he left and I will give LVG the same backing. Although I will say in terms of 'credentials' I think Moyes has the foundation in place and after a year or so at a 'big club' (Everton are a big club) he would have adjusted. It wouldn't surprise me if another elite club take a punt on him in the future. Even now I hope he does well, gentleman on and off the pitch.

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Its not my intention to compare the 2 but it brings in to focus where we are in terms of last season.
Both managers had difficulties for varies reason.
I do wonder if the likes of arsenal and liverpool had played as well as last season and we where sat in 5 or 6 along side westham and southampton if people would be happy.
I think the difference this season is the club have bought well the excitement is back and when fit we have a good first 11.
Last year i think it was an average first 11 which also had injuries, we had 2 real good players in rvp and rooney.
But rvp only played 21 league games in the whole of last season, he has played 17 allready this year

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08 Jan 2015 08:43:06
What most of us seem to have forgotten due to our poor form last season was that we had a really good CL campaign under Moyes, better than we had done in 2 previous seasons under SAF.

We demolished Leverkusen both home and away, were unbeaten in our CL group with 4 victories and 2 draws. Nearly managed to beat the holders Bayern had it not for momentary lapse of concentration after Evra's goal.

And all the points you've made about Arsenal, Liverpool, who's to say Moyes wouldn't have done any better if he was our manager now without CL and only 2 teams firing at the top.

So, I don't think LVG has done extraordinarily well as some have made out, the performances were good at the start, but have been really inconsistent since then. It was the same with Moyes beating swansea 4-0, leverkusen with something like 4-0, etc. Maybe Moyes would have got results as well if he had been given a full week to prepare and 160 million to spend.

Which bring me to my next point that regarding performances and results, we've not done anything significant. But the team atmosphere seems a lot better now, and the confidence LVG has is showing. That's the only thing different from last season as Moyes was clearly out of his depth dealing with the press and being a manager of a top club. But maybe that would have come with experience, who knows.

P.s. The likes of Ferdinand and Vidic clearly didn't like Moyes's methods, and had LVG come straight after Fergie who's to say they wouldn't have liked him either.

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Resources LvG got? Moyes was given the $$$ but was probably overwhelmed by how much he could spend. He just doesn't have what it takes to attract big names to a massive club. All high profile targets were wary of uncertain times at utd. As such they chose safer bets, Alcantara being a typical example, Cesc even. Lvg even without the lure of the CL and inheriting a 7th finisher not the defending Champions has been able to bring players in. He has also brought out the best in Young and Fellaini. Moyes had my support until the home defeat by liverpool. It just doesn't seem right that his old team did better than us! Good Riddance!

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mbd              

08 Jan 2015 09:35:48
Adey,

Show me a post that says 'LVG has done extraordinary well'. There isn't one. I think people appreciate in terms of results we are not a million miles ahead of where we were this time last season, and if we have the same points under LVG after 21 games we will be just about holding on to the Champions League spot and Southampton will be above us, but there is just a feeling this year that we are heading in the right direction.

At this stage last season I was still backing Moyes to succeed despite some major flaws in how he was managing us and the fact he looked like he was a million miles out of his depth. From this point on we lost a lot of games including 3-0 to both of our nearest rivals at home with no fight and no improvement at all.

Like jred said, comparing LVG and Moyes is pointless really, everybody knows LVG is a better manager, his CV proves that, it is just whether given time he can get the players playing how he wants them to be playing whilst also building the youth setup how he wants it and creating a strong position to leave us in when he does go.

Fergie should have spent his last 3 years preparing for the future and to some extent he tried to, buying players like Jones and Smalling who he would have expected to be top players by now, but unfortunately he kept too many players who were at the end of their careers just as he was leaving, Vidic, Scholes, Rio, Giggs, Evra, all players that needed replacing but never were.

Moyes had an extremely difficult job and did it badly, LVG has an extremely difficult job and is doing it better, but not amazingly. Given time I would think LVG could do amazingly, where I think Moyes would have only ever done OK. Obviously, we will never know this, but that is how it felt at the time and still does looking back.

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MDB you are being over critical of Moyes in my opinion.

The money that LVG has had was not available to Moyes at United (well respected journalists have repeatedly said so) and the players he wanted ie Cesc/Bale/Banies for example are of better Premership quality than Rojo/Blind and even Di Maria. The club simply didn't back Moyes with cash because he inherited a winning squad.

LVG has the backing because after a disappointing season last year the club knows that it simply cannot afford financially to miss out on the CL places again. To be honest I think the owners needed the disappointment of last year as a reality check.

Again not having a go at LVG but to berate Moyes for taking on a poison chalice without much help is pretty poor.

Ps. Your saying LVG has got the best out of Young. Yes that's true but Moyes got the best out of Januzaj and I know who I would rather have on top of their form in my team.

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08 Jan 2015 10:23:52
Its almost impossible to compare the two as there are so many different factors. Moyes took over a team that had a lot of confidence and knew how to grind out results when not playing well, by the time LvG had taken over the confidence was shot and the moment the team would concede a goal their heads dropped. Moyes had to contend with more teams playing well, and the rigours of a european campaign. But then some believe like me that playing in the champions league is of a benefit to a team. It means you have no time to dwell on a bad result as you have another game in a few days and you need to rest, train, prepare and travel to your next game. Where as a week between games is a long time to dwell on a poor performance.

I think you need to compare everything when considering how well a manager is doing. Not just points on the board.
Are the players happier and more confident this season?

What is the feeling within the club on a match day?

How are we coming across in the press?

ect ect ect.

For me the players seem much happier and far more confident both on and off the pitch. There is a fighting spirit back amongst the players too.

There is also a better feeling in and around the club, on match days in and around the stadium there is a feeling of excitement again, which has replaced the tense feeling of last season.

And there is no stories of ill feeling leaking out of the club, the media have moved on from their constant Man Utd bashing that was a daily occurrence last season.

Last season the months between August and December felt like a dismantling of a side and a club. The tearing down of what we had built over the last 20 years, regression and general backward slide.

This season it has felt like we our building and progressing again, you can see it in the way the players hold themselves on and off the pitch.

How far LvG can take us in that is yet to be seen, but we are moving in the right direction again. That for me is why LvG has my backing, and he will continue to have it until it becomes apparent that he has taken the club as far as he can go.

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08 Jan 2015 12:55:49
Chelsea weren't as good last season, nor Southampton. We also still had Vidic, Evra, Rio, Giggs experience. If posters are going to highlight ways in which Moyes had it hard then perhaps we should look at it from both points of view? These comparisons are a little arbitrary tbh, people will tend to use the points they think back up their opinion and ignore others.

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I for one can't see any comparisons between Moyes and LVG. Totally different circumstances for starters. Moyes took over a title winning team and eviscerated its soul, while LVG has taken over the mess Moye's left, and has us in third place and unbeaten in 11 games.

No comparison IMO. Not even close.

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Juanmatasbeard,
I stood by Moyes and was berated alongside him. How do u know he got the best out of Januzaj? I am just asking bcos that was his debut season, how can we possibly know what his best is, unlike Young who has had many seasons. You were silent on the fellaini, bit. He was one player we'd have thought Moyes would know how to utilize.

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mbd              

08 Jan 2015 16:04:36
mbd, I think he's comparing Januzaj's form last season, to this one, when he talks about getting the best out of him.

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It is quite silly to compare as each had very different circumstances but also the criticism of moyes is unwarranted as he took over a team with arguably his star player Rooney wanting out having fallen out with Fergie.

Through out the season RVP was injured and our 3 key defenders all looking like they were on their last legs and many here calling for their heads, Now you lot are shifting where the wind blows and talking about losing all that experience. Fellaini and young had injuries most of the year and hardly played and sae goes for Nani and evans, smelling and evans did their usual 2 weeks fit 4 weeks out and took turns and same with rafael.

I should pull up some old post by almost everyone asking for Evra's head and Rio and Vidic being finished and should never play for us LOL.

I think it is interesting people blast moyes for finishing 7th with a shocker of a summer transfer business but happy to finish 4th with a 150 mill spent.

BTW shaw and herrera were Moyes recruits and the caretaker manager said so in Jan when they are out here and said shaw was a certainty in the summer. Blind, Rojo are definitely LVG recruits.

We should all move on as the 2 circumstances were so different and we will never know what was going on. One thing for sure was a very ageing squad with many key players in their last year of contracts and the team Moyes took over was grossly overrated evident by the fact that we can't move anyone on 2 years later and still trying lol.

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I can't think of one redeeming feature of Moyes's time in charge. Maybe the introduction of Januzaj but that is it. Everything else was as bad as it could get.

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08 Jan 2015 18:22:49
Gcu, I totally agree. As I said in my post the comparison is arbitrary at best. I felt I had to mention the loss of experience and other factors purely because others above me had chosen to mention the pro-Moyes factors without mentioning the anti-Moyes factors, if that makes sense.

I do agree tho, we should draw a line under thus one and move on.

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Interesting it was mentioned that we can't move people on, when the arch problem is Nani and we still have to pay his £5m a year wages even when on loan after someone gave him a new 5 year contract.

Sometimes I read posts and wonder if myth is replacing reality. Nice man Moyes, insufficient acumen, rightly sacked and no warm thoughts will make it different. Move on.

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08 Jan 2015 01:50:00
The contracts of Khedira, Konoplyanka, Ranocchia, Lichtsteiner, and Danny Alves are all ending at the end of the season. Do any of the eds know of any negotiations between these players and interested clubs? These are all fantastic players that would significantly improve our team without spending any money

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{Ed002's Note - Yes but this is the Manchester United page.}

The trouble with these 'free' transfers is that in theory yes they cost no money to add to our team but the massive signing on fee and huge wages to complete their signatures more than makes up for the fee.

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None would do anything for us. Either too old or not good enough unless we are looking for squad players, which i think we don't need and if anything need to sell quite a few players Nani, Cleverly, Hernandes, Defender.

Some will argue konoplyanka is okay but not sure personally as he is very hot and cold like many wingers. The rest can go where they like as far as I am concerned.

Would love to see Colemen as a signing. Given Everton's season so far and looking like another league loss at City and west ham in the Fa Cup, there will surely be some changes there both manager and personnel, I think Martinez is in trouble if this keeps going for a few more weeks.

Another wish list item would be Laporte or varrane, Koke and Reus and we should be good to go. Add Gundogan on a reasonable fee and we are all set. 2 windows to do it :)

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GCU interesting name you mentioned that I haven't heard linked in a while, Koke. If I am not mistaken we were hot on his heals a few years ago but I have not heard anything since. Similar to David Silva in my opinion. I'd like him to stay in Spain if not to United, not a player I would enjoy facing.

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{Ed002's Note - In January 2014 Barcelona held talks with Atletico Madrid about Koke and Chelsea also discussed Koke in terms of being part of a possible part exchange deal with a Chelsea player. Atletico wanted to keep him and Barcelona looked to Rakitic instead but interest in Koke still exists from England. Manchester City see Koke as a possible long-term replacement for Yaya Toure but have sanctions they must work within. Chelsea has spoken again with Atletico and made clear they remain interested. Bayern Munich may become interested if he comes up for sale.}

08 Jan 2015 12:02:00
So no United interest at all anymore Ed002?

Always the fountain of knowledge!

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Juan

Off course we are not after Pogba or Koke. We are after the fast and furious, half messi/a quarter yay a torre and quarter zidane, Dutch guy called strootman according to some posters here LOL. God help us.

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Pogba must be bought at all cost. He's the best and will take us to the next level.

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