Manchester United Rumours Archive March 26 2013

26 Mar 2013 18:26:13
Ed do you think Halilovic will move this summer and if you do, who is most interested at the moment? {Ed002's Note - Dinamo Zagreb's Halilovic is attracting the attention of many of Europe's leading side including Real Madrid (who have had an offer turned down), Inter, Juventus, Ajax, Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal. A move to England in the short term is unlikely due to his age but both Inter and Manchester City are again pushing.}

The lad looks a real talent. Would hate to see him at City.

Pip

26 Mar 2013 16:48:26
I posted something earlier about Lewandowski which ended up on the team page, not exactly sure why it did but Its not worth causing a fuss over.

anyway, I just wanted to say that I don't think any of our forwards will be leaving this year. personally I think that both Lewandowski and RVP will start and we'll go back to 4-4-2. I also think Rooney will drift between midfield and up front depending on the game and team we're playing.

As for Hernandez I think he'll still be 3rd/4th choice however I do believe that Welbeck will start to play out wide similar to how Sturridge used to play for Chelsea.

Which leads me to think that Young OR Nani will leave then we'll have a fairly different selection of wingers from Zaha, Nani/Young, Valencia and Welbeck.

Obviously he'll still play up front from time to time it will just be varied on how often he does.

If as I suspect that all of this happens then no forwards will have to move on, we won't NEED a winger and we can concentrate on getting that CM that we desperately need.

I also think that we WILL sign baines this summer.

Summer ins: Lewandowski, Baines, Garay, Strootman, and hopefully Will Hughes from Derby - that boy looks incredible.

Summer Outs: Nani or Young, Buttner and Anderson.

I would happily have this next season.

Powell, Tunners, Michael Keane, Lewandowski, Baines, Strootman, Hughes and Garay.

Then lose Scholes, Fletcher, Ferdinand, Nani/Young, Buttner & Anderson as well as a few fringe players.

Quick Question for the ED. is it true that Erikson is availble for as little as £8M and that Liverpool are front runners? {Ed002's Note - No.}

I'm not sure your theory adds up - if we're playing 442 then Rooney can't drift between midfield and up front, he either has to play in a midfield 2 or on the wing (if RVP & Lew are up top). I don't think he excells in either position, I think he is best as a no. 10.

Then there's Welbeck playing outwide - fair enough in a 433 or 4231 but in a 442? He isn't really a traditional winger in my view, not strong enough at crossing for a start.

Lastly there's Kagawa, what happens to him? In a 442 IMO he would be wasted either in a midfield 2 or stuck out on the wing.

I'd say Welbeck, Rooney & Kagawa all fit better into a 4231 type formation. I'd be interested to know your thoughts.

p. s. I'd go for Baines, Strootman, Wanyama, (Zaha) & Rodriquez IN with Nani, Anderson and a couple fringe players out.

I think we will be very surprized with our summer spending I am in the opinon that we will sign Lewandowski he is going to be in his last year of contract but I think we will get him for cheap compared to what we paid for RVP I also see us signing a cm maybe Barkley going to be world class and an attacker like Bale? (maybe its Zaha or maybe Zaha and Bale or?)we need a guiness winger, I don't think we will let Rio go he is still class best english defender in the game unless your a chelsea supporter or the press or roy hodgson and we should sign the two lads from derby there going to be monsters in truth we are moving towards our greatest ever team and the future of united and what SAF has created will live on many years after he goes. Katef

If we go back to 442 then we are nutters. Good teams will slaughter us like they did in europe before we changed to 433 in 08.

In terms of youth signings we should be looking at Barkley, Halilovic, Crowley, Patrick Roberts and Mastour. All have world class potential, some could play right away or have a loan and others would be scholars. Either way, these kids are the best out there and we should try desperately to sign them!

Dan

A Guiness Winger? Ibrahim Ba? Thought he retired years ago.

The formation changes from game to game nowadays. Nowhere near as rigid as it used to be. It's about players being able to play in lots of positions now.

Am I the only one who's not under the assumption that Lewandowksi will sign this summer? I would be very disappointed to see United spending on a high profile striker when our midfield needs addressing. I would hope that at least 1 or 2 center midfielders would be brought in. If Nani goes, which is likely, I doubt Young will also make way. The Baines purchase really doesn't make sense to me. And why would Buttner be out after 1 season? Not expecting a mass clearout.

We will keep a balance, we won't let too many leave, evolution over revolution as always. I'd say a maximum of 6 out and 4 in. Excluding youngsters.

Forget bale he isn't interested!

You aren't the only one. While I know we have an interest in Lewandoski, I suspect it is only as a replacement if one of our current forwards leaves, which I only expect to happen if we receive a large offer from a team the player wants to go to. This makes Welbeck unlikely to leave, and I suspect Hernandez is most likely, as he is good enough for any top side to be interested, and might be tempted by more regular football at another big team. Strangely, I think rvp would be more likely to leave than Rooney, as a big team like Real, who really need a better striker than they currently have could tempt him.

Also, while a new defender is a possibility, I expect the current 5 cb's to stay, and with Fabio doing well and getting plenty of football this season I expect him to be kept at utd next season, so unless we can get a straight replacement for evra (poss. Baines) I don't expect any movement ther either.

1-2 cm's and a winger is what I expect.

Moon, 0-30?

Savage, mate.

RED_SKY

I expect Vidic to go and a replacement to be brought in. Ferdy may go but I expect he will stay for another year. If he gets the FA cup maybe he will go. I think Hernandez will leave in search of regular football and I also expect that Nani and Anderson will do the same. Lindegaard could also leave and in that case I would expect Begovic to come in. I expect a CM, a forward player (maybe a winger or a versatile forward) and a CB. I would like a left back like Sandro or Shaw but i'm of the belief that Evra will get a year extension to stay for one more season.

Dan

Why did u want scholes to leave?

26 Mar 2013 12:19:06
watching MUTV last night and Paddy Crerand seems to think there is a good chance we will sign Lewandowski he also said he thinks Rooney will probably go into midfield and Lewandowski will be the main striker along with RVP he also thinks Jose will go to chelsea what do you lot think of Paddys comments. Katef

I have been suggesting this for months.

All I will say is that I have posted regarding these points on several occasions and none of them have been placed in the main thread. I agree with these points 100%.
From what I understood Lewandowski was agreed last summer.
Also expect Anderson to go and probably Strootmn to arrive.
PJ {Ed002's Note - None of your posts have been cut.}

I think Jose will more likely go to inter Milan. simple journalist linking him with Chelsea because he said he may go back to an old club. They missed the part where he said the nerrazurri family was the place he felt most at home and most enjoyed.

Shame if Mourinho goes to chelsea, this guy is a winner and he would have brought new methods to us. But until saf decides to retire then we're stuck with 442 and all the other top teams are moving on.
Our system works in England but always found out against the best teams in Europe.
I would ask saf to retire and get Mourinho in. {Ed002's Note - You have been told repeatedly that he would not be moving to Old Trafford.}

I couldn't agree more with him, I have said this for the past few weeks. I think that we will play 4-3-3 though with Lewandowski & RVP up top with Rooney in between the midfield and forward line with Carrick, Strootman & Kagawa making a midfield 3.

Lol if paddy has said it on mutv well it must be right

I'm sorry did I miss something? We didn't play 4-4-2 vs Real Madrid did we? We usually play 4-4-2 through the group stages and against the weaker teams. Whenever we come up against a difficult fixture we tend to alter our tactics slightly. There is no blanket rule that 433/451 beats 442. Each game has to be taken on it's own merit. 442 as a formation can differ hugely depending on the tactics used and how it is deployed.

Paddy has never been very reliable. He doesn't get an awful lot right. But I agree with most of his comments. Lewandowski up top with RVP, Rooney playing between Strikers and midfield. Not sure of midfield yet as no one has mentioned any of the wingers or Zaha!
I fancy Jose is going back at Chelsea, and we'll miss out as SAF isn't ready to step down just yet, but maybe he will surprise us? 2 signings this summer and Lewandowski will be one of them.

Dan

Very good post and very true no name. Should leave a name.

I think Lewandowski will sign as he will be the long term replacement for RVP, don't get me wrong he will play straight away but I think fergie has realised what a player like RVP brings to a club and Lewandowski looks like he could develop int a RVP class of player. Remember Fergie saying he regrets not going for RVP before his Arsenal days. Also anyone who has watched Dortmund from 2 years ago would have seen how great Lewandowski links up with Kagawa. The only thing missing then would be Mario Gotze now that would be some side lol.

26 Mar 2013 17:52:07
Rooney playing midfield will be a disaster and is just a money saving dodge rather than buy a proper midfielder.

I've also said about moving Rooney back into midfield but I can still see him being sold. If he moves into midfield Cleverley will sit on the bench for nearly the entire season. Welbeck will get very little game time as well and SAF has never/would never bench our young players like this. Kagawa wouldn't get a game either. Bookies have Lewandowski going to Bayern by quite a margin and I think that's where he'll end up.

Dan

I think lewandowski is all but a done deal. We have clearly inquired and monitored the player for some time. With the number of games that the team play over the season there would be enough playing time without selling any of the forward line. The 442 formation sometimes works when our wingers are on form but as has been shown numerous times this season 4231 and 433 have been a success too. I think we're looking to ensure that as a squad we are capable of matching the best. This summer will hopefully take us to the next level.

Adz

26 Mar 2013 08:46:47
It might be only paper talk, but the are reporting that united scouts watching begovic, I hope not. Could they be watching papadopoulus?
Ddg is here to stay and I don't think begovic will come to sit on the bench, if we want a second goalkeeper, if lindergaard leaves, then why not try Kasper schmeichel?

Pretty sure you have been told for months that Utd are interested in Begovic by Ed002. Don't think its papertalk mate.

Melbourne CFC

Cause kasper might as well b a ghost in goal

Kasper Schmeichel is also a City reject - so no chance.

Del boy!

Would we not be better of watching begovic in the EPL

No-name
I also wondered why we were supposed to have sent scouts thousands of miles to watch someone who plays in the Prem every week.

TommyH