Manchester United Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread - Read Mod Warning in OP 7/1/15

thelad95 · 31-01-2015 07:23PM

I remember Reading were in a similar position to Southampton in 06-07 I think, eventually they faded and finished 6th or 7th I think. The same will happen with Southampton.

In saying that they have nothing to lose so I'll expect them to continue to play with the freedom they have been all season.

31-01-2015 07:26PM

Southampton haven't been that good, it's the teams around them being bad that have them in the position they're in.

Hank Scorpio · 31-01-2015 07:30PM

thelad95 wrote: »

I remember Reading were in a similar position to Southampton in 06-07 I think, eventually they faded and finished 6th or 7th I think. The same will happen with Southampton.

In saying that they have nothing to lose so I'll expect them to continue to play with the freedom they have been all season.

So were Ipswich one year and they finished 5th after being promoted, it means nothing. If we have to rely on other teams messing up its not a good omen. Southampton aren't going anywhere imo, they play better football than us and have a more balanced team

Pro. F · 31-01-2015 07:31PM

Blind's first touch is just as weak as Carrick's and his range of passing is not as good. It's ridiculous how the tide of popular opinion is turning on Carrick while his performances have been the same, steady but limited, as they've always been.

thelad95 · 31-01-2015 07:33PM

The only Southampton players who would get in the United team are Clyne and maybe Schneidirlin. Aside from that they're just a well drilled mid-table side. The fact they considered Shane Long a marquee signing says it all.

Hank Scorpio · 31-01-2015 07:34PM

thelad95 wrote: »

The only Southampton players who would get in the United team are Clyne and maybe Schneidirlin. Aside from that they're just a well drilled mid-table side. The fact they considered Shane Long a marquee signing says it all.

Yet they outplayed us in the 2 recent games, they're a solid team. Fonte and Wanyama would have a shout too imo

Montroseee · 31-01-2015 07:35PM

thelad95 wrote: »

I remember Reading were in a similar position to Southampton in 06-07 I think, eventually they faded and finished 6th or 7th I think. The same will happen with Southampton.

In saying that they have nothing to lose so I'll expect them to continue to play with the freedom they have been all season.

If you look at their squad it's not surprising how well they are doing. They've quality all over the pitch and a good bit of depth too. Players like Pelle and Tadic started the season very well, more recently Ward-Prowse, Mane etc. have stepped up, Wanyama and Schneiderlein have been solid all season. If you were doing combined 11's with Pool and Spurs it'd be pretty much 50/50.

31-01-2015 07:35PM

Pro. F wrote: »

Blind's first touch is just as weak as Carrick's and his range of passing is not as good. It's ridiculous how the tide of popular opinion is turning on Carrick while his performances have been the same, steady but limited, as they've always been.

Blind's first touch is one of the best at the club easily.

Also popular opinion is not turning on Carrick, I just think Blind suits the team better in an attacking sense and you don't lose much defensively having him there over Carrick.

Montroseee · 31-01-2015 07:37PM

thelad95 wrote: »

The only Southampton players who would get in the United team are Clyne and maybe Schneidirlin. Aside from that they're just a well drilled mid-table side. The fact they considered Shane Long a marquee signing says it all.

Fonte and Alderweireld would too.

Kylo Ren · 31-01-2015 07:39PM

#FreeShinjiAnder

Cantona's Collars · 31-01-2015 07:41PM

Pro. F wrote: »

Blind's first touch is just as weak as Carrick's and his range of passing is not as good. It's ridiculous how the tide of popular opinion is turning on Carrick while his performances have been the same, steady but limited, as they've always been.

The Moldy Gowl · 31-01-2015 07:42PM

http://gfycat.com/AnotherDevotedAtlanticsharpnosepuffer

Mata and his knee walk

billyhead · 31-01-2015 07:44PM

I can see Herrera been sold in the summer and either Strootman or Pogba coming in.

Pro. F · 31-01-2015 07:44PM

Liam O wrote: »

Blind's first touch is one of the best at the club easily.

Also popular opinion is not turning on Carrick, I just think Blind suits the team better in an attacking sense and you don't lose much defensively having him there over Carrick.

Blind's first touch is nowhere near as good as Mata's, Hererra's or Di Maria's. It certainly isn't good for a central midfielder at this level.

irishfeen · 31-01-2015 07:46PM

FT - Chelsea 1-1 City..

Good result for us although a city win would have been slightly better, 3rd and 4th are going to be very close as most are hitting form - Spurs with Eriksen/Kane, Liverpool with Sturridge/Sterling, Southampton with Schneiderlin/Pelle, Arsenal with Sanchez/Cazorla.

A win next week v West Ham could be massive in securing CL football.

Hank Scorpio · 31-01-2015 07:49PM

I don't recall Blind loosing the ball due to a poor first touch pretty much ever, in any of the games he's played, genuinely. Open to correction on that. If anything under pressure he's much better than Carrick imo, there was times today he was being pressed by two men but still remained calm and sprayed the passes around

Pro. F · 31-01-2015 07:50PM

zerks wrote: »

Whatsisname · 31-01-2015 07:55PM

Ducker said this about the Herrera situation, not sure if already posted.

Lot discussing Herrera. Tried to ask LvG a few straight questions on matter yesterday but he wasn't for playing ball. When he doesn't want to discuss something he uses that old argument about not wanting to talk about individuals yet when it suits there have been plenty of occasions when he's been happy to discuss individuals. What was a little odd was the response to the question about why he committed almost £29m to sign Herrera only to push him to the fringes. Ordinarily when a club opts to make a player their fifth most expensive purchase ever it's because they think he's going to make a big impact on the first team. Yet LvG made some reference to McNair costing nothing. That was baffling and has nothing to do with the Herrera situation. Any manager who spends such a huge amount on a player only to not play him should accept that people are going to ask questions about it. All round, it's an odd situation and I'm not convinced Herrera himself has been told what he's doing wrong or what he needs to do more of to get in the side. Personal view is he's played well when selected and offers mobility, impetus, drive in midfield, precisely things United are lacking at the moment.

yabadabado · 31-01-2015 07:59PM

The only reason I can see for not playing Herrera is he wants to find room for Rooney,RVP and Falcao.

John Cherry · 31-01-2015 08:04PM

irishfeen wrote: »

FT - Chelsea 1-1 City..

Good result for us although a city win would have been slightly better, 3rd and 4th are going to be very close as most are hitting form - Spurs with Eriksen/Kane, Liverpool with Sturridge/Sterling, Southampton with Schneiderlin/Pelle, Arsenal with Sanchez/Cazorla.

A win next week v West Ham could be massive in securing CL football.

Very confident we won't fall out of the top four this season. 2nd spot is the aim now and hopefully a long overdue FA Cup win as well.

Gonna go for a 2-0 win away next week against WHU.

Montroseee · 31-01-2015 08:04PM

yabadabado wrote: »

The only reason I can see for not playing Herrera is he wants to find room for Rooney,RVP and Falcao.

You'd think someone as experiences as LVG would see that that trio is not going to work.

Pro. F · 31-01-2015 08:05PM

Hank Scorpio wrote: »

I don't recall Blind loosing the ball due to a poor first touch pretty much ever, in any of the games he's played, genuinely. Open to correction on that. If anything under pressure he's much better than Carrick imo, there was times today he was being pressed by two men but still remained calm and sprayed the passes around

And do you remember Carrick losing the ball because of a weak first touch often? These players rarely lose possession directly because of their first touch, they just constantly avoid receiving the ball in tight spots because they know they aren't capable of playing out of them. The knock on effect is that their link up play does not drag opposition midfielders out of position and so create room for their teammates.

I can't say I saw Blind's performance as others did today.

31-01-2015 08:11PM

Pro. F wrote: »

And do you remember Carrick losing the ball because of a weak first touch often? These players rarely lose possession directly because of their first touch, they just constantly avoid receiving the ball in tight spots because they know they aren't capable of playing out of them. The knock on effect is that their link up play does not drag opposition midfielders out of position and so create room for their teammates.

I can't say I saw Blind's performance as others did today.

There were times today when if Blind turned the way the ball was coming or his first touch wasn't spot on there'd be trouble. He was Scholes like in his abilty to touch the ball away from the opposition and create a pocket of space. His passing range is very good also, he takes more risks than Carrick which RVP and Falcao desperately need.

beno619 · 31-01-2015 08:12PM

Pro. F wrote: »

And do you remember Carrick losing the ball because of a weak first touch often? These players rarely lose possession directly because of their first touch, they just constantly avoid receiving the ball in tight spots because they know they aren't capable of playing out of them. The knock on effect is that their link up play does not drag opposition midfielders out of position and so create room for their teammates.

I can't say I saw Blind's performance as others did today.

I don't see many criticising Carrick, they are just praising Blind.

Pro. F · 31-01-2015 08:13PM

Liam O wrote: »

There were times today when if Blind turned the way the ball was coming or his first touch wasn't spot on there'd be trouble. He was Scholes like in his abilty to touch the ball away from the opposition and create a pocket of space. His passing range is very good also, he takes more risks than Carrick which RVP and Falcao desperately need.

Well just like it used to be with Carrick, I completely disagree with you about Blind.

MagicMarker · 31-01-2015 08:17PM

I like Blind but he's no Leon Britton.

Pro. F · 31-01-2015 08:17PM

beno619 wrote: »

I don't see many criticising Carrick, they are just praising Blind.

There have been about three or four different posters this evening saying that Blind's ability in tight spots is a lot better than Carrick's. There was even a post saying that Blind plays it out to the wings better than Carrick.

PhlegmyMoses · 31-01-2015 08:24PM

Blind is excellent in showing and receiving for the ball in any situation. Probably his biggest strength along with how he reads the game.

He also managed to turn over a huge amount of possession and started a lot of attacks that way. Delighted with him and he's the kind of player that will get better with age.

His major weaknesses are that he is not the paciest and he's small enough compared to other CDMs (never hurt Makelele though).

PhlegmyMoses · 31-01-2015 08:26PM

Di Maria was pretty poor first half and I was concerned but as the second half wore on it was like he remembered who he was and he started running at them. He is due a renaissance in form because he is too good to be putting in such lacklustre performaNces

yabadabado · 31-01-2015 08:26PM

Montroseee wrote: »

You'd think someone as experiences as LVG would see that that trio is not going to work.

You would hope so but so far he seems to be just shoehorning Rooney into cm so he gets all 3 on the pitch.
A CM of Blind,Herrera and Di Maria seems to me to be the best option.Then you gotta have the balls to drop one from Rooney,Mata,Falcao and RVP.

Manchester United Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread - Read Mod Warning in OP 7/1/15

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