25 May 2015 13:06:18
Supposedly PSG is offering us van der wiel in exchange for di maria and i would assume some cash. Throw in Verrati and i will personally drive those two to OT.
25 May 2015 13:29:02
Chelsea may hijack those two if u take roadways. Better take a private jet instead GCU.
25 May 2015 13:38:57
I don't think Di Maria can replicate his true self in the EPL. Nonetheless, we should give him another season because he has shown glimpses.
25 May 2015 13:41:52
Van Der Wiel is so overrated. I remember about 3 or 4 years ago when loads of clubs wanted him(especially Chelsea).
I really hope we keep Di Maria, bit of confidence and he will show his class.
25 May 2015 14:20:47
PSG would be getting the champagne out if they could get money off a transfer fee for Di Maria by offering us Van der Wiel who is poor.
Matuidi, Verrati or Lucas are the only PSG players I'd want.
25 May 2015 14:23:02
9matt2
He could be no worse than Jones lol. He can at least pass which jones seems to be hopeless at and don't get me started on his long balls as during the Hull game he hit a few and on some the closest unite player was not within 10 yards of where the ball was lol.
25 May 2015 14:24:46
Money coming our way not the ether way mate.
25 May 2015 14:32:52
I'd take Marquinhos from them in part exchange given the choice. Then again if rather not sell Di Maria because when he gets more quality around him he will play a lot better.
25 May 2015 14:57:10
@ God Created United
You realise Jones isn't a right back? I'd stick with Valencia as RBt than Van Der Wiel any day.
25 May 2015 15:20:41
Off course i do and not sure what Jones is :)
Agree with Prodigal Marquinos would be an excellent swap and i don't think Dimaria is going to be anything but a luxury player and a poor buy given what we paid for him.
25 May 2015 15:50:36
If Di Maria is off to PSG, then we're taking Marquinhos! Remember, back to front lads! Then we buy Laporte, Shaw's already here and it's only RB to deal with?
25 May 2015 17:05:09
Selling Di Maria would be a mistake unless we had Bale lined up. We will struggle to find a better 'world class' winger on paper. In practice he has not been great, but on paper he could be.
I'd rather have Di Maria in the squad as a starting option than not.
{Ed007's Note - It's a pity football's played on grass and not paper, Di Maria struggles to play on grass, he was no better than average at Madrid so I don't understand how anyone is surprised that he has been a major disappointment this season - what did fans expect, had they not watched him? How anyone could genuinely think that Di Maria is world class or that he even has the potential to be, is beyond me.
I said at the time and still believe that Utd didn't sign Di Maria for footballing reasons, they signed him to show they still had financial clout and to appease the fans for a disastrous season.}
25 May 2015 18:05:10
Di Maria was regarded as one of the worlds best at the end of last season getting countless assists and being a real attacking threat. I doubt the whole scouting team and coaching staff would go for him if they don't rate him.
But that is the beauty of football, everyone has their own opinions.
25 May 2015 18:59:36
I've never read a ed response n felt the need to respond because it's usualy accurate n I tend to agree! I watch a fair bit of Spanish football and 2/3 seasons ago di maria started to change my opinion of him! When he signed for them I remember we were linked so I looked out for him and I thought we dodged a bullet he seemed a slightly better version of nani(basically pants) but since then he's progressed and I beleive become a vital part of Madrid winning things like alonso, modric? Yes ronny n benzema get them goals but those 3 make them tick and angel had nailed the role given to him he looked to me t be a good buy (in today's market) I did think he'd adapt fairly easily but he hasn't. I still beleive he'll show his class so hope we stick with him? But like 'twas said the reason footballs so great is it divides opinion. Ps great read all season n part of my football ritual so big thanks t the edds for the thankless task they do
25 May 2015 18:15:27
I would tend to disagree with Ed007 on this. Di Maria is a class player though not consistent. EPL is an unforgiving place where you get no time to settle and no time to have ball at your feet. He might be a luxury for a team but one which United can afford if we got sufficient steel on other parts of the field. If we do that, we can judge him after next season.
{Ed007's Note - How come any player that moves to Utd needs a season to settle in yet players go to Chelsea and Arsenal and hit the ground running? Bale at Madrid, Suarez at Barca didn't need a season to settle in, it seems to only happen in Manchester and usually only for Utd at that, I'd say it's just an excuse wheeled out for players flopping, I'm sure I read the same kind of excuses for Kagawa and even Veron in the past. Why did Utd waste so much money on a player who - in your opinion - will only play well if Utd spend more money on players to cover Di Maria's many failings? What did Madrid do wrong that he was no better than average for them as well because if you watched a lot of Madrid you would know that Di Maria is nowhere near as good as some Utd fans would like to think, they based it on the CL final without watching him week in and week out.
You would think for the money paid you'd be buying the finished article, Di Maria is nearer a scribble on the back of a fag packet.}
25 May 2015 20:19:44
If he was so bad then why did Real Madrid sell Ozil over Di Maria first?
25 May 2015 20:30:58
Well,it isn't peculiar to United alone,certain Shevchenko,Fernando Torres,Materja Kezman and Crespo at Chelsea took longer at the club with no real spark to their billings. The thing is, these things happen in football. You'll like to look at what happened to Chamakh at Arsenal.IMO,a player needs more than a season at least, be it sentiment or not.
25 May 2015 20:10:32
Ed
That would be because our whole team and club is in transition. All those other clubs are very stable.
{Ed007's Note - Ah that old chestnut, another feeble excuse that gets wheeled out to cover up failure. I suppose Utd's 'transitional period' will carry on until they win the league again, sounds a bit Scouse to me.
Didn't Bale join Madrid the same summer Mourinho left and Ancelloti took over and isn't this Suarez and Luis Enrique's first season at Barca as well, European teams and players leaving England don't seem to need transitional periods.
Perhaps if Mourinho had been brought in as manager Utd wouldn't be in transition... again and for the THIRD summer in a row, it's not half dragging on this transition, and costing plenty.
You'd think £150 million spent would have pushed things on a good bit but once again and for the THIRD year in a row Utd still need players for the same positions, CB, RB, CDM, CM and up front to take the pressure off Rooney, add in that De Gea looks like leaving and this transition could be a long and frustrating road if Utd are going to waste money on inferior players like Di Maria.
Do you think the Utd team looks as if it had that amount of investment last summer? The only signing I'd give pass marks to is Herrera and even he could have been more involved throughout the season.}
25 May 2015 20:24:04
Francis Jeffers ozil Shevchenko veron Torres duff ballack 50 million for Torres!!!!
25 May 2015 19:55:21
Ozil was a Arsenal player that still hasn't hit the ground running even after 2 seasons.He has a big price tag, he also was good at Real.
Sanchez is a different story he has been brilliant, he's also a team player which is nice to see.
25 May 2015 20:57:13
U feel strong on this di maria thing hey ed? I like it n stand ya ground but I'll stand mine I don't think it's the players around him that make him play well I just think he's not been consistent or shown what he can do? I do watch a lot of Spanish footy n when I watched Madrid the players I noticed (not stood out) were alonso modric n di maria! The 1st two were real solid unselfish team players and angel was more of a flair version who could not only pick a pass but could beat a man! Ronaldo n benzema would love him back and at times you could c his link up wiv Rooney n mata was there as I hope it will b next season? I agree his 1st season hasn't been what's required of a 60mil marquee signing but let's hope he kicks on I'd rather him do that than have 3-4 months of good footy then show nothing like the afor mentioned ozil n bale have at there clubs. Not a dig just a opinion
{Ed007's Note - You noticed Di Maria because he runs about like a headless chicken all over the park, I must have blinked and missed the flair you're on about.
P.S. Seeing you're so friendly with Ronaldo and Benzema any chance of getting a couple of signed tops we could use as prizes on the sites? And if Ronaldo ever reminisces with you again about players he misses etc ask him what he thought of Roy Keane for me, thanks.}
25 May 2015 21:19:57
I'm afraid I'm with bond on this one the only player who has been worse this year is falcao who was told not to let the door hit him on the way our! If we could get anything close to what we paid for him I would craft a throne from the oak tree in my garden and get my children to carry him to his next destination.
25 May 2015 22:28:19
Completely agree with Ed007. When we signed him I knew it would be a mistake. He's a slightly better player than Nani but nowhere near world class. Only managed an average of 25 appearances a season for Real so if he was truly world class why didn't he play more often.
25 May 2015 22:53:41
Haha I like the sarcasm n reading my post back it did seem I implied I knew what ronaldo and benzema were thinking? I was merely saying from what I seen he linked up well with them and they seemed to appreciate his assist and runs? I really do value your opinions and don't want to antagonise u as others have! I just think he's worth 1 more season as other achievable targets are not much more accomplished alternatives to angel? Another bad season we take a 15-20 mil blow or a good season and we have the player we want. Ps I don't know ronny or benzema but could probs get u a Jason walker shirt who plays for my local club barrow who are conference north champs no less! Not the same pull as ronny but may fetch over a fiver ha?
26 May 2015 00:26:36
Di maria will come good.
{Ed007's Note - Well that's cleared that up, do you know when because I've been waiting since 2010 to see it.}
26 May 2015 00:36:56
Sorry ed007 have to disagree with you on this, the only reason, in my opinion he has struggled to adapt to the PL is the physicality compared to spain. don't forget he was man of the match in the champions league final, and you don't just lose talent over night. He has shown glimpses of his ability for us, for example the wonderful goal against Leicester, he just hasn't shown it consistently. I have a feeling that if he stays another season you might just be eating your words.
{Ed007's Note - And there it is 'don't forget he was man of the match in the champions league final' - point proven I think. I don't eat words btw, don't you know they go straight to the hips?}
26 May 2015 01:04:30
Lol, that made me chuckle, but what point am I proving, I also said you don't lose talent over night, which I stand by, and if you can prove that talent in the final of the most difficult club competition on earth, then surely he is not just a one trick pony like Nani who hasn't proved himself at all. Also the technique required for that goal against Leicester, is no short of world class.
26 May 2015 07:08:55
I am with Ed on his views as struggling with physicality is one thing but simple footballing things that you would expect is not there. I think his thought process and reading the game that you would expect from a 60 mill signing is very poor.
I hope i am wrong but don't believe so and i think we are stuck with him given his wages and the cost and far and few teams will be able to afford that and not sure they would be interested.
26 May 2015 11:08:59
Bond,
I haven't seen enough of Di Maria for Real to judge how good he was / can be but I have been disappointed this year and hope that he can improve, as the glimpses of quality he has shown have been fantastic, just nowhere near often enough.
The thing about transition would be 'Liverpool like' if we hadn't won the league for 25 years and hadn't just lost the manager who made us the force we were before he left. We are clearly in a transitional period, one which we got totally wrong last season and needed to start again this season, if in 5 years people are still saying we are in transition then it will be like Liverpool, but losing SAF had a major effect on the whole club and it takes time to recover from something like that, especially if it is handled so badly.
{Ed007's Note - It's a pity more teams don't suffer from these transitional periods, Utd might be able to cash in if they did. Pellegrini won a double in his first season at City and after spending £150m this season Utd went out the League Cup to MK Dons and were battling for 4th all season. Is that part of the transition or is that a complete embarrassment and abject failure, where does the buck stop?
It's embarrassing that Man Utd see finishing fourth - 17 points and light years behind Chelsea - as a success, especially when you're splashing nearly £60 million on one player, you say Utd got it totally wrong this season, I say they got it totally wrong this season and if LVG is still here in August they'll have got it totally wrong for next season as well, there's nothing I've seen this season to make me think that LVG will deliver any kind of success to Utd, qualifying for the CL isn't enough for a club like Utd.
Come next summer when Utd have failed to win the league again what do you do, sack LVG and start the transitional period all over again?}
26 May 2015 13:26:11
Hazard went from being the best player in france for two years to the worst player at chelsea in one summer. It takes some players time to adapt. Add in the fact that LVG himself needs to adapt to the english game and has taken time to nail down a formation then it is no surprise that some players have struggled. Mata looked like he had no place in the squad until we went to 4141 and put him on the right. A consistent formation and a lack of injuries and di maria will show why we signed him.
I do agree with Ed that he was signed to flex our muscles and keep the fans happy but he is not the only player we could have signed to do that.
26 May 2015 15:02:05
Bond,
What do you suggest? We sack the manager right away? Yet it will be another people opinion the manager should've been given more time. Don't forget the same measure was taken over a year ago with the former manager(though most agreed it was the right decision to take)
Then,do we sack the current man in charge again after a season in charge? Not forgetting he just brought us back to Europe after last season's huge disappointment?
I think he deserves another season. I am very sure he will be shown the exit door if there's no significant improvement in our game plan after September.
{Ed007's Note - So you'd give him another transfer window to spend millions and if there's no improvement sack him in September? Hhhmmmm, that makes perfect sense.}
26 May 2015 19:07:11
007, who do you support btw? It's clearly not United.
{Ed007's Note - You're right, I'm not a fan of Newcastle at all although I am a keen supporter of Mike Ashley's work in Scotland.}
26 May 2015 21:45:09
Ah Rangers fan, which makes you a Chelsea fan too from what I've noticed with my Rangers supporting flat mate? Is Ed002 the same? With the anti United slanted posts I thought 002 was a scouser but now I think it's quite clear 002 is a Chelsea fan in one form or another. 001 is a Liverpool fan I gather?
{Ed007's Note - Rangers were liquidated, and no I don't support The Rangers either, I'd actually rather contract AIDS than support either The Rangers or Chelsea.}
27 May 2015 14:16:54
Got it haha. I can't understand how you don't rate Di Maria. His assist record is phenominal and even being on the bench so often he has 10 assists to his name this season, he is a creatively he is unmatched IMO. For the first 3 or 4 months he was on fire, scoring worldies and playing brilliantly. After the break in at his house he hasn't been the same but I definitely consider Di Maria in the bracket below Ronaldo and Messi, despite his lack of tactical/positional discipline.
28 May 2015 13:55:24
Must be Celtic then? I hate Rangers too! They beat my Dads precious Queen of the South in the playoffs! (Growls)
{Ed007's Note - That's a good enough reason for me! :=D
28 May 2015 17:24:29
For the first 3 or 4 months he was on fire? I think you mean weeks.