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

weisses · 30-06-2014 12:10PM

bullvine wrote: »

Was Dirk Kuyt playing RB yesterday, i think he was. Just shows you what LVG expects of his players, that they can be versatile and willing to do anything for the team.

Started LB then moved to right back and ended up front with Huntelaar after the last drinking break

rumor is he's gonna be Goalkeeper against Costa Rica :P

Billy86 · 30-06-2014 12:10PM

redbaron_99 wrote: »

Carrick is not still a top midfielder. He slows the game down every time he gets the ball. Not quick enough to stop midfield runners either. Sideways passing. Must I go on...!

He was probably the best midfielder in the league the season before... and then Moyes happened.

People have been criticising him for not being a "tough tackling" type who drives the ball forward with pace and chases down opposing wingers or pacey forwards. That has never his game though, even remotely. Carrick has always been based around cutting down passing lanes with positioning and anticipation, slowing opposition attacks to allow us to regroup after committing a lot of players forward, and always being calm amd smart in possession, particularly as he often has the ball deep in our own half, often after us having just got it back.

I'm not saying he is going to be a major player moving forward as he turns 33 in a few weeks time, and yeah if a quality option were to come available to replace him and at the right price then it might be worth considering. What I don't understand is some people carrying in like it is a massive need though, more so than a CM to control the game like Vidal, or a CB since we are so thin there. But then again, some people want us to go for Kroos and use him as a defensive mid, so...

Rayne Wooney · 30-06-2014 12:17PM

Unless he is a fan of United it's hard to see why he would pick us, not in the CL, over the European champions who will offer the same wage as us if not more and the chance to live in Madrid. He's 27 so this will probably be his last transfer

If he did pick us I'd be over the moon, finally having that leader in the middle of the pitch, superb attacking and defending

redbaron_99 · 30-06-2014 12:23PM

By the by, I'm not saying Carrick is finished, or should be first out the door. I just think he's in the twilight of his career. A good squad option, but we're in trouble if he's a first teamer.

30-06-2014 12:24PM

Agreed. I'd be shocked if he'd make the move with no CL on offer.

redbaron_99 · 30-06-2014 12:26PM

Rayne Wooney wrote: »

Unless he is a fan of United it's hard to see why he would pick us, not in the CL, over the European champions who will offer the same wage as us if not more and the chance to live in Madrid. He's 27 so this will probably be his last transfer

If he did pick us I'd be over the moon, finally having that leader in the middle of the pitch, superb attacking and defending

United is still a big draw, can pay top wages, and have LVG as manager. Also, it looks like Kroos is headed to Madrid. That means he's got a lot of competition over there. He can come to united and will be top dog. That counts for something - especially with a player like Vidal who has a big ego.

We may or not get him. Will have to wait and see. A player I think we could/should go after is Arda Turan. He is a player I admire and is a tough, leader type character. Would do well on the left side of a midfield three.

Quandary · 30-06-2014 12:26PM

Vidal would be an incredible signing but if we signed someone like Carvalho I would still be very pleased(even at the reported buy out clause).

If we go into the new season with Herrera, Fellaini, Carrick, Carvalho as our primary options I think we would be doing very very well.

Zico · 30-06-2014 12:29PM

rarnes1 wrote: »

Agreed. I'd be shocked if he'd make the move with no CL on offer.

You'd know all about that.

30-06-2014 12:32PM

Zico wrote: »

You'd know all about that.

Exactly.

A player of that calibre will want CL.

Corvo · 30-06-2014 12:32PM

Tough to see why Arturo Vidal would make the move to United, unless he has a specific preference to play in the Premier League. One thing for certain, he would relish the physical nature of it and the faster pace of the game means he should be right at home.

Saying that, I do believe United/Woodard want a big name, statement signing and Vidal would certainly fit the bill. Hopefully we can get the remainder of our business tied up soon, whether that be Vidal, De Vrij or whoever. Would like to see us settle early as on paper, we should be winning the first 5 games - which would put us in a great position.

On another note - how do you feel about Van Gaal since? I wasn't as impressed with Holland last night as some make out, but no doubt he made a crucial change at the right time and I was impressed with his willingness to remove Van Persie.

MagicIRL · 30-06-2014 12:32PM

Zico wrote: »

You'd know all about that.

There goes the thread.

Rayne Wooney · 30-06-2014 12:33PM

Kroos going to Madrid would be great as I think we would have a good chance of getting Vidal if that happens.

He is such a monster defensively but then you see he has 28 goals and 20 assists in 96 appearances for Juve, it's what our midfield is crying out for.

This is a good read
http://www.thesportreview.com/tsr/2014/06/arturo-vidal-the-vital-piece-in-louis-van-gaals-man-utd-midfield-puzzle/

TheDoc · 30-06-2014 12:34PM

Too much importance being put on CL football.

We arn't a team who have a history of drifting in and out of the competition, or trying to make it every year. We have fallen out of it once. ONCE.

We have a decent modern history of progressing into the next rounds, and a relatively recent history of a good few finals and semi finals.

If I was an agent, I'd be telling my client to take the inflated wage packet on offer that United FEEL they need to offer because of the lack of CL, but the likelyhood is the club will be back in the CL quickly, and you'll be back competing in the biggest tournament on massive wages.

Too much emphasis being placed on lack of CL. PLayers don't move looking at the immediate season, they are planning for 3-5 years, according to every shred of insider information you could read from autobiographies and the likes. 3-5 years is always the planning, unless someone is moving for a stepping stone where they plan for 18 months.

The issue I'd sight as the REAL potential pitfall, is that Real are seeing as the goliath of football in South America, not United. And La Liga is regarded as the better of the two offerings.

30-06-2014 12:35PM

MagicIRL wrote: »

There goes the thread.

Not by me.

I'll make my point without being a dick. Like some who come in btw not you or anyone here!

redbaron_99 · 30-06-2014 12:35PM

Corvo wrote: »

On another note - how do you feel about Van Gaal since? I wasn't as impressed with Holland last night as some make out, but no doubt he made a crucial change at the right time and I was impressed with his willingness to remove Van Persie.

Hard to judge Holland on yesterday's performace. They managed to get the win which is always a good thing. But the performance wasn't great. But keep in mind it was almost 40 degrees yesterday, and they lost DeJong in the opening minutes. RVP looked wrecked after an hour.

NeVeR · 30-06-2014 12:39PM

World Cup Sweeps Update

I think this is right

.. but please correct it if it's wrong.

Most yellow cards in group stages €20 - Honduras -- LostBoy101
1st Red Card €20 - Uruguay -- Gadge
1st OG €20 - Croatia -- ninja900
1st Peno €20 - Brazil -- markc1184
Worst goal difference in group stages. €20 - Cameroon -- bennyl10

Billy86 · 30-06-2014 12:42PM

redbaron_99 wrote: »

By the by, I'm not saying Carrick is finished, or should be first out the door. I just think he's in the twilight of his career. A good squad option, but we're in trouble if he's a first teamer.

Ah right, gotcha now. I wouldn't say it is a problem if he is a first teamer (though we should at least be looking for someone to take his place next year, through the season) but it would be if we are depending on him to take over the midfield like Moyes seemed to expect him to do. He's a good bit like Evans for me - a good, solid player but not a match winner like Rio or Keane were in their positions. If van Gaal goes 433 for example, Carrick/Vidal*/Herrera would be absolutely brilliant for this year. And without Europe, we don't need to worry about having the same squad depth as usual.

As much as I think we should gut a lot of dead weight from the squad, I don't think we should panic into making too many signings for the sake of making signings, which is an error we made in 2003 and 2007 I reckon.

*pleasepleasepleaseplease!

30-06-2014 12:44PM

TheDoc wrote: »

Too much importance being put on CL football.

We arn't a team who have a history of drifting in and out of the competition, or trying to make it every year. We have fallen out of it once. ONCE.

We have a decent modern history of progressing into the next rounds, and a relatively recent history of a good few finals and semi finals.

If I was an agent, I'd be telling my client to take the inflated wage packet on offer that United FEEL they need to offer because of the lack of CL, but the likelyhood is the club will be back in the CL quickly, and you'll be back competing in the biggest tournament on massive wages.

Too much emphasis being placed on lack of CL. PLayers don't move looking at the immediate season, they are planning for 3-5 years, according to every shred of insider information you could read from autobiographies and the likes. 3-5 years is always the planning, unless someone is moving for a stepping stone where they plan for 18 months.

The issue I'd sight as the REAL potential pitfall, is that Real are seeing as the goliath of football in South America, not United. And La Liga is regarded as the better of the two offerings.

Its certainly not the number 1 factor but it would be a factor for some players particularly if another club is offering similar wages and are in the CL.

Maximus Alexander · 30-06-2014 12:44PM

rarnes1 = generally the best pool fan to come into the thread tbh.

Zico · 30-06-2014 12:45PM

rarnes1 wrote: »

Exactly.

A player of that calibre will want CL.

That is a fair point but players will look longer term too. Utd being out of the CL is as much of a blip as say Spurs being in it.

redbaron_99 · 30-06-2014 12:45PM

Billy86 wrote: »

Ah right, gotcha now. I wouldn't say it is a problem if he is a first teamer (though we should at least be looking for someone to take his place next year, through the season) but it would be if we are depending on him to take over the midfield like Moyes seemed to expect him to do. He's a good bit like Evans for me - a good, solid player but not a match winner like Rio or Keane were in their positions. If van Gaal goes 433 for example, Carrick/Vidal*/Herrera would be absolutely brilliant for this year. And without Europe, we don't need to worry about having the same squad depth as usual.

As much as I think we should gut a lot of dead weight from the squad, I don't think we should panic into making too many signings for the sake of making signings, which is an error we made in 2003 and 2007 I reckon.

*pleasepleasepleaseplease!

Yeah, I'd go along with the majority of that.

kstand · 30-06-2014 12:46PM

Throw Vidal into that squad (or Carvalho), bring in a top drawer centre half and get a decent winger and there's no reason why United cant really push for the EPL next season. I have a feeling that Yaya Toure is on his way out of City - he is their beating heart, without him they aren't nearly the same side and he was player of the year in the EPL last season - when they came powering through he was the one pulling them along like Keano used to do for us. With him gone they wont be the same. Liverpool now have the Suarez problem on their hands and their central midfield isn't all that - plus CL games next year will take their toll. That leaves Arsenal and Chelsea and they are no great shakes.

So I'd hope that LVG will go and bite the bullet and bring in someone like Vidal and a centre half of the highest quality. Very exciting season coming if he does that.

30-06-2014 12:46PM

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

rarnes1 = generally the best pool fan to come into the thread tbh.

Probably a few that'll disagree with that! Lol

Mitch Connor · 30-06-2014 12:48PM

As much of a dream signing Vidal would be, and I do believe United are very eager to sign him, I just can't see us pulling off a deal ahead of Madrid and Munich.

Maximus Alexander · 30-06-2014 12:48PM

rarnes1 wrote: »

Probably a few that'll disagree with that! Lol

Meh, I'm not saying I always agree with what you have to say, but you're generally just chatting, not on the wind up. Either that or you're such a good wum that it goes over my head. :pac:

redbaron_99 · 30-06-2014 12:50PM

Mitch Connor wrote: »

As much of a dream signing Vidal would be, and I do believe United are very eager to sign him, I just can't see us pulling off a deal ahead of Madrid and Munich.

I think sooner or later United are going to have to beat the other big three to a signing. As a statement of intent, more than anything.

v3ttel · 30-06-2014 12:53PM

bangkok wrote: »

Pogba > Kroos > Vidal

Amazing how people always pick up those signs the wrong way around.

glued · 30-06-2014 12:54PM

I think some people are seriously overrating current CL status. People are seriously overrating the lure of Arsenal and Liverpool. Neither side are near the capacity to mount a serious simultaneous European and Premier League challenge.

Let's not forget that Arsenal are typically prudent and Liverpool don't have the financial muscle to compete with us. Throw a couple of extra thousand on that salary per week and I think sitting out of the CL for one year wouldn't be such an issue any more.

Liverpool aren't a consistent CL team and Arsenal haven't mounted a serious title challenge for a number of years.

30-06-2014 12:55PM

Zico wrote: »

That is a fair point but players will look longer term too. Utd being out of the CL is as much of a blip as say Spurs being in it.

Of course. Utd will be back in it soon for sure. Will it be after the next campaign? Who knows with all the changes. Sometimes it takes a while for a managers ideas to work.

Van Gaal is obviously a huge draw for any player so that could be a deciding factor in some deals

glued · 30-06-2014 12:56PM

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

rarnes1 = generally the best pool fan to come into the thread tbh.

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

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