Manchester United Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread - Mod Notes in OP,22/7

Julez

Blatter wrote: »

Never thought I'd see the day :eek:

I thought it was Federico Macheda!

HaveASnickers

Haven't read the thread since before the Holland game.

I think last night showed the "genius" of LVG wasn't in fact genius, but more a decision out of necessity. Serious questions have to be asked about why Vlaar took the first penalty. I seen some comment that LVG used to take the spotlight off his decision to pick Vlaar as first choice when he said 2 players refused to take (the first?) a penalty. There was Robben/Sneijder/Kuyt/Huntelaar just off the top of my head as 4 players who are vastly more proven in penalty taking than Vlaar.

RichFTW

Julez wrote: »

I thought it was Federico Macheda!

Macheda ages in dog years though. He probably looks about 55 at this stage!

Spazdarn

HaveASnickers wrote: »

Haven't read the thread since before the Holland game.

I think last night showed the "genius" of LVG wasn't in fact genius, but more a decision out of necessity. Serious questions have to be asked about why Vlaar took the first penalty. I seen some comment that LVG used to take the spotlight off his decision to pick Vlaar as first choice when he said 2 players refused to take (the first?) a penalty. There was Robben/Sneijder/Kuyt/Huntelaar just off the top of my head as 4 players who are vastly more proven in penalty taking than Vlaar.

Players bottled it... he can't take the penalties for them

Hococop

HaveASnickers wrote: »

Haven't read the thread since before the Holland game.

I think last night showed the "genius" of LVG wasn't in fact genius, but more a decision out of necessity. Serious questions have to be asked about why Vlaar took the first penalty. I seen some comment that LVG used to take the spotlight off his decision to pick Vlaar as first choice when he said 2 players refused to take (the first?) a penalty. There was Robben/Sneijder/Kuyt/Huntelaar just off the top of my head as 4 players who are vastly more proven in penalty taking than Vlaar.

Apparently huntelaar is one of the players who wouldn't take the first penalty

MagicIRL

There's literally 0 reasons to keep Fellaini now. I can't make bad Thin Lizzy jokes watching games anymore.

HaveASnickers

ToiletFusion wrote: »

Players bottled it... he can't take the penalties for them

I don't think Robben/Sneijder/Huntelaar would have refused to take the first kick.

Argentina sent Messi.
Holland sent Vlaar.

HaveASnickers

And my worries about our strike force were rekindled last night.

RVP can't go on forever. I'd love to think he doesn't rely on pace but his level will drop. How many times was he offside this tournament? I'd love to know...

Hope Chico isn't sold and Welbeck is in LVGs plans.

Spazdarn

Could see Hernandez staying because of his impact off the bench, but Welbeck seems in capable of scoring so he won't be played as a striker and we don't seem to be sticking with our wide play ( this of course is only based off of predictions of LVGs possible formations but...) don't know where he fits really

Johner

ToiletFusion wrote: »

Could see Hernandez staying because of his impact off the bench

Isn't that why he wants to leave?

Mr.Prodston

Well it's been 9 months since I got my hair cut so I guess this is the sign I've been waiting for!

You have broken my heart, Mr Fellaini. You have broken my heart

jonnyfingers

Just saw Fellaini without the afro. I'm hoping he's an anti-Samson and losing his hair will give him more power!

redbaron_99

I read somewhere the other day that VanGaal wants to have a 20 man squad this season. In some ways it seemed bizarre, in that we have a large squad already and there are supposed to be more players coming in. In some ways it makes sense, in that we have no Champions League football this year, and domestic cups are unpredictable. It might not be true, but it got me thinking about the squad we have. It's a big squad for the amount of football that's ahead, and very imbalanced IMO.

GK DeGea, Lindegaard, Amos RB Rafeal, Valencia LB Shaw CB Jones, Evans, Smalling, Keane

CMF Fellaini, Carrick, Cleverley, Fletcher, Anderson, Herrera WMF Young, Zaha, Nani, Januzaj

AMF Powell, Mata, Kagawa ST Welbeck, Van Persie, Rooney, Chico

That's currently 27 players for a campaign without Champions League. Way too many. Oddly though, we are still painfully short in some positions:
One recognisable right back
One recognisable left back
Four centre halves, two of which are injury prone, one is a novice.
Only one winger that has shown good form in the last two years.
Six central midfielders. Four of them are very average, Carrick is coming to the end of his career, and one has never played for United.
Also, we have a crop of promising youngsters like Wilson, Lawrence, Janko, Varela, that are almost ready for the senior squad.

There's a lot of talent in that group, but also a fair amount of poor players. Too many players for certain positions, not enough for other positions. I think this is Van Gaal's first major challenge at United; to balance out that squad.

Corvo

Not to mention Henriquez and Wilson

redbaron_99

Corvo wrote: »

Not to mention Henriquez and Wilson

Mentioned Wilson, but forgot about Henriquez

DM_7

Re squad numbers.

The third keeper wouldn't be in that number.

Anderson, Lindegaard, Hernandez, Nani all likely to leave.

Powell, Keane and Zaha will be out on loan when a couple more signings arrive.

Wilson the only one of the younger lads mentioned are likely to be a regular squad member next season I would guess.

Backstreet Moyes

Hopefully Hernriquez gets a Premiership loan he is well thought of.

Rayne Wooney

We should buy an older experienced player to cover for Shaw, buying Rodriguez would just stunt one or both of their development

Backstreet Moyes

Rayne Wooney wrote: »

We should buy an older experienced player to cover for Shaw, buying Rodriguez would just stunt one or both of their development

Like i said unless he see's one of them as a winger it would be a waste of money both are future world class fullbacks.

RobertKK

Ricardo Rodriguez could play winger in my opinion.

Fescue

Rather than assuming Utd fans all think they will win the league now LVG is in charge, I thought it might be better to ask Utd fans how they think they will do this season?

I'm a Liverpool fan but I'm not trying to be mischevous. I have always liked LVG and the project he is undertaking at Utd is probably the most fascinating in the League this year. Naturally it'd be great if it all went horribly but I don't see that happening. So whats a good season for Utd in 2014/2015?

Backstreet Moyes

Fescue wrote: »

Rather than assuming Utd fans all think they will win the league now LVG is in charge, I thought it might be better to ask Utd fans how they think they will do this season?

I'm a Liverpool fan but I'm not trying to be mischevous. I have always liked LVG and the project he is undertaking at Utd is probably the most fascinating in the League this year. Naturally it'd be great if it all went horribly but I don't see that happening. So whats a good season for Utd in 2014/2015?

Make some decent signings, get rid of the deadwood, finish 4th and next summer try bring in a few big name signings to win the league.

Will I Amnt

Fescue wrote: »

Rather than assuming Utd fans all think they will win the league now LVG is in charge, I thought it might be better to ask Utd fans how they think they will do this season?

I'm a Liverpool fan but I'm not trying to be mischevous. I have always liked LVG and the project he is undertaking at Utd is probably the most fascinating in the League this year. Naturally it'd be great if it all went horribly but I don't see that happening. So whats a good season for Utd in 2014/2015?

Back in the top 4 is the aim for now, there might be higher expectations if it starts off well though.

J. Marston

Fescue wrote: »

Rather than assuming Utd fans all think they will win the league now LVG is in charge, I thought it might be better to ask Utd fans how they think they will do this season?

I'm a Liverpool fan but I'm not trying to be mischevous. I have always liked LVG and the project he is undertaking at Utd is probably the most fascinating in the League this year. Naturally it'd be great if it all went horribly but I don't see that happening. So whats a good season for Utd in 2014/2015?

Top 4.

Fescue

Pretty much the same as Liverpools I would imagine. This might be the first time in a long time the clubs will be direct rivals. Should make the games against each other a lot of fun!

jonnyfingers

Fescue wrote: »

Rather than assuming Utd fans all think they will win the league now LVG is in charge, I thought it might be better to ask Utd fans how they think they will do this season?

I'm a Liverpool fan but I'm not trying to be mischevous. I have always liked LVG and the project he is undertaking at Utd is probably the most fascinating in the League this year. Naturally it'd be great if it all went horribly but I don't see that happening. So whats a good season for Utd in 2014/2015?

This season will be even more transformative than the last as many of the older, experienced players will be gone. We've made two good signings and I'm assuming we'll make a couple more. But in a season where we only need to be concentrating on domestic competitions I'd be expecting a top four finish and maybe a cup run. Don't think we'll get near winning the league as we're still in need a few more top class players. However I expect Van Gaal to have us playing beyond our ability, to be well organised and hopefully to see some of the younger players come through and have a good season.

Giggernaut

First time poster , long time voyeur. I thought Perez has looked decent all tournament, perhaps worth a punt if LVG has eyes for Strootman in January/Summer.http://metro.co.uk/2014/07/10/manchester-united-make-7million-transfer-offer-for-benfica-star-enzo-perez-4792991/ Good to be part of the mad house.

thelad95

Fescue wrote: »

Pretty much the same as Liverpools I would imagine. This might be the first time in a long time the clubs will be direct rivals. Should make the games against each other a lot of fun!

If they sell Suarez and Sturridge declines from last season, we won't have to worry about Liverpool.

RobertKK

Fescue wrote: »

Rather than assuming Utd fans all think they will win the league now LVG is in charge, I thought it might be better to ask Utd fans how they think they will do this season?

I'm a Liverpool fan but I'm not trying to be mischevous. I have always liked LVG and the project he is undertaking at Utd is probably the most fascinating in the League this year. Naturally it'd be great if it all went horribly but I don't see that happening. So whats a good season for Utd in 2014/2015?

Well I backed United at 13/2 last May each way so I am going for top 2. We are in a position similar to what Liverpool were last season with no European Football, so the players should be fresher towards the end of the season from having played less games than the current top 4 teams and the Europa league teams.

We are being linked with some great players, so the next thing is to sign some of them, the good thing is LVG seems to over ride the no CL problem and it seems to me the club are going all out to win the league next season.
So it has to be top 2 if players of the quality of Vidal are signed.
I don't think United will spend so much money simply for a top 4 finish, they will want to be challenging for the title in May.

PhlegmyMoses

Depends on what LVG can do in a short space of time. The players are low on confidence but there is bundles of talent there. RVP, Mata, Rooney, DDG are all among the best in their positions in the world.

Liverpool showed last year that a team with obvious weaknesses (porous defence, no real squad depth etc) can have a tilt at title when a couple of players are red hot and the rest play well enough.

Realistically though, it has to be top 4.