10 Mar 2013 11:48:05
With the news of Rooney being offered a new contract, surely we won't be going for Lewandowski this summer. The only way it would work is if Chicha leaves, and then we still have 4 strikers all who want a regular place in the first team. However, signing Lewandowski would be a huge signing, as I fully expect City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs to all sign high profile strikers in the summer (Cavani, Falcao, Huntelaar? Damiao).
Because of all the firepower I expect teams to get however, we can't rely on on just strikers to dig us out of holes, so a solid midfield player is defo needed, but i'm unsure whether the manager thinks it's necessary. He's spoken many times about how he is happy with our midfield options. {Ed002's Note - I would not try and draw a relationship between Rooney and Lewandowski.}
Why would Falcao leave Atletico for Chelsea? He demolished them in the super cup.
10 Mar 2013 14:28:03
Rule number one the manager lies. Of course he's going to say he's happy with the midfield options. He can't say anything else as it would affect morale at a critical point. With Scholes looking like he's retiring, Fletcher also possibly retiring due to health that leaves two gaps in the squad. Giggs whilst still very capable out wide isn't enough in the centre. And surely this summer questions have to be asked on Anderson's future after another stop start injury hit season even if you discount what he said last month. Powell is still very young. Petrucci could go either way. Carrick is immense but is aging. Cleverley is a good squad option but we need one, preferably two signings. Case in point look at the bench for the Madrid game. We had a keeper, one defender in Evans and the rest were all attacking players, no central midfielder on the bench. No one we could have put on after the red to try and solidify things.
This next summer I can see us finally buying a quality CM that we've lacked recently. Either Strootman and Wanyama I think are the more likely of the names mentioned of late.
SAF was praising Nick Powell the other day saying that it was better to keep him at United this season in the reserves instead of sending him out on loan because of little injuries he keeps picking up. First of all I hope that doesn't continue because I think he's going to be magical in 4-5 years time. Also though it made me think next season, will he go out on loan? Or be drafted into first team games? He's definitely the closest player in the reserves to making the step up.
Ozwald
Cleverly and Carrick have made a really good pair this season, but with Anderson's fitness and Fletcher's future uncertain, we need a signing in cm, but maybe not a big name one. McCarthy could be a good option, good, skillful young player, especially if Wigan go down.
However, I think the bigger priority now maybe the wings. Kagawa is ok, but better in the middle, Nani is still inconsistent, Young is only a squad player, and Valencia has been fairly poor, possibly because we are playing a slightly more modern style of football now which doesn't suit an old-fashioned winger like him. Zaha should get some action, but surely not ready to be first choice. Which leads me to expect at least one of Valencia and Nani leave, possibly even both.
Who would replace them though? My first choice would be Gotze he's got great skill, a great mentality and knows Kagawa. Isco is similar but I don't think he is as good.
Dortmund won't want to sell both Gotze and Lewandoski, but I think Gotze would improve us far more. {Ed004's Note - I think Rodriguez is a very likely option. Would love a summer of Strootman, Rodriguez and Lewamdowksi.possibly Gotze as well. A front 4 of Rodriguez, Rooney/Kagawa, Gotze supporting RVP would be brilliant}
Gotze ain't going to be leaving Dortmund.
rpc
Cleverley was crap today, contributed absolutely nothing and passed the ball to anybody in a blue shirt every time. he wasnt on his own though rooney, nani, kagawa, evra all very poor not a good day at the office.
johndenton
Johndenton don't judge our players on half an hour and ignore the other hour.
Gotze is not a winger, while he can play out wide just like Shinji, his preferred position and the position he plays best in, is in the hole.
Isco is a great player, would be excited about his arrival if it were to happen likewise with Rodriguez. The latter being left footed, could be a bonus as Giggs is the only left footed wide option we have.
Ozwald
I know Gotze isn't a winger per se, but neither is is Isco, or Silva, or Ozil, or Mata, etc. But they are all really effective there. They have the technical skill to take defenders on, retain the ball in tight space and pass shoot or cross well, they also have the intelligence to play good passing football as well as the crosses and shots you get from more conventional wingers. That could be perfect matched to the movement of central players like Hernandez, RVP and Kagawa.
Look at the way Silva and Mata play, then imagine that with RVP getting on the end of the chances.
Ideally we could get 4 players: Strootman, Rodriguez, Modric & Lewandowski. With Scholes, Anderson, Valencia all leaving as well as Macheda, perhaps Hernandez (unfortunatly).
The only reason rooney should be given a new contract is if he drops into a cm or a cam position. don't get me wrong I love rooney but tbh i'd rather see him go than pay him 250k a week and not contribute fully to the team. the past few seasons his shooting has been almost terrible in front of goal but if u look at his return recently. granted this season he has been over shadowed by RVP its only ok for a man of his stature. but in MY opinion rooney has some of the best vision in the league when he has played for us in the midfield role he has been a different player one with hunger and a drive that says pick me over him one that will fight back win the ball and burst up the pitch and we need that from him cause he is our driving force when he plays that bit deeper. yes the problem will be his fitness and can he adapt, I think he can and with one quality midfielder brought in in the summer and wayne layin off the macky Ds we could have a midfeild legend in the makin rather than a overambitious striker.
duff
If Rooney signs a new deal, the max I would be prepared to offer him would be 135k. If people RVP, Vidic, Carrick etc are on between 90k - 120k, why should we pay Rooney over double what they get? If he comes back for pre-season overweight there is ZERO chance that he has a future.
Why oh why would we want to sell Hernandez? This guy is the best poacher around. We should be working a system to ensure we play him more often not selling him. If he was on the pitch against Real, he would have taken two of the chances that fell our way.
Rooney unless he improves dramatically in the next ten games is the one to go.
I would not buy lewindawski. I think falcao will be the best option for us, but not sure if united will pay the money.
I can't believe some of the stuff I'm hearing. Rooney is currently our inform striker and last season he was only bettered by Rvp in the whole league.
We need a defensive midfielder, Kevin Strootman or Wanyama.