Manchester United Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread - Mod Note in OP, 13/8

Average-Ro wrote: »

What did Rodgers say?

My club is better than your club.....LVG retorted with My Da will batter your Da and Rodgers scarpered.

M!Ck^ wrote: »

Just reading there, Rodgers taking first shots at lvg...ooo its on

He can't help himself though. Rodgers should be keeping the head down. This won't be the first time Liverpool have gone into a season of the back of a good one, and as history will tell you, they can sometimes falter big time.

They've made a lot of signings, and spun a story that it's not Totenham like, but buying players that will purpose fit into his plans. He has a less then stellar record in the transfer market, and there could be a fair few duds in that lot.

I don't think he has had a pop at Van Gaal, was probably a genuine opinion. But I think Van Gaal has enough experience and coaching at the highest level not to be phased by the Premier League.

As Max said above, I'm also dieing for the season to kick off. We have had a good pre-season imo, confidence building, and some of the passages of play have been incredible. I'm not expecting a title challenge, but I think my expectations have been slightly raised in that I would hope/expect a top four finish.

I'm not getting my knickers in a twist over signings, I know that we need more, but Van Gaal might be looking at some options or players doing something we arn't aware of, or know.

He has been the most important signing of the summer, and regardless of his CV every manager needs some time to settle and assess things, probably wishful thinking he could do this in what, three weeks?

I do however expect there to be some movement, of players out, and players in. Might not be marquee signings, but think we will see a new face or two. Could be a mental last week or two of the window.

TheDoc wrote: »

He can't help himself though. Rodgers should be keeping the head down. This won't be the first time Liverpool have gone into a season of the back of a good one, and as history will tell you, they can sometimes falter big time.

Did anyone hear McAteer’s interview yesterday? He didn’t seem too optimistic about them. More or less said they knew last year was their chance with all the new managers at the top clubs and was going on about how great an achievement it would be if they could finish top 4 again this season.

I don’t think they’ll pose a huge threat if United can get their house in order.

The dream well and truly died for Doc when Kroos signed for Madrid. Also, Max? You two BFFs now? Sleeping together? FFS. I feel so left out, and unloved.

Coat22 wrote: »

Did anyone hear McAteer’s interview yesterday? He didn’t seem too optimistic about them. More or less said they knew last year was their chance with all the new managers at the top clubs and was going on about how great an achievement it would be if they could finish top 4 again this season.

I don’t think they’ll pose a huge threat if United can get their house in order.

I felt this last year. I remember making a post about how Moyes might get a sweet break, with new managers at the top clubs. That he had a great opportunity having premier league experience and inheriting a title winnign squad. I had assumed the squad would have done most of the work guiding the team back to the title.

Unfortunately we made way too many slipups, but in fairness as did every other team. I'm a big believer that the team that wins the league isnt the one who beats it's rivals, but makes the least amount of slipups.

I thought even at Christmas that the experience of MOyes and our squad, could catchup during the winter schedule, where a lot of teams struggle, but we have the experience. It got even worse. But Chelsea and City did make slipups.

Mourinho and Pellegrini now have a year settled. Arsenal are further opening that mystery chequebook and have an FA cup win boosting confidence. They will be tougher contenders then last year in my view, thats for sure.

Liverpool I think might struggle to cope with the loss of Suarez. Sterling might well fill that void in certain aspects, but Rodgers will need to learn quickly how to juggle the midweek fixtures.

I'm not wishing poor fortune on them, I'm not that type of United fan, but I just honestly feel that they might miss out on 4th this yea. As they made such a focused surge last year with no European distractions, I feel we can do the same.

If I was calling it right now

1) Chelsea
2) City
3) Man United
4) Arsenal
5) Liverpool
6) Totenham

Unless Arsenal do a bit more business, they will suffer injuries like clockwork that derails the good momentum they will no doubt be on.

Regardless of signings, don't think I'll be shifting the above too much before kick off. Some might think I'm being a bit dillusional, but with no European distractions, meaning key players remaining fresher and fitter, I can see the team doing well domestically.

MagicIRL wrote: »

The dream well and truly died for Doc when Kroos signed for Madrid. Also, Max? You two BFFs now? Sleeping together? FFS. I feel so left out, and unloved.

Your damn right. I wasn't really keeping tabs on Vidal, knew nothing about him pre-world cup. I knew that we had an interest and that he was highly regarded, but never saw anything for myself.

Kroos was a different story, and I felt he was one of the best CM's in the world. Thought we were going to land an absolute wonder signing, and then got absolutely gutted.

To be honest I think its worse the fact he did actually move. If he stayed I wouldn't have been so annoyed, but the fact he moved probably indicated we were in the mix, and he choose Real over us

I guess my feelings towards this are similar to say if loads of the lads sweating for Vidal, say him move to somewhere else rather then us.

Bild reporting Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said that Reus' buyout clause is actually €25 million and not €35. Can't see the truth in it though since they paid nearly €20 million for him in the first place.

Also, El Confidencial saying we were sniffing around Turan but won't pay his €40 million buyout clause.

If players like Kroos and Reus are apparently available for 25 million. United should be busting a nut trying to get them... I really can't fathom why we are not going hell for leather trying to get these players.

Years of football manager has made me disillusioned!

weisses wrote: »

Lets see how Zen you really are 2 days before the closing of the transfer-window with now new signings

See how zen people are in November when its Carrick and Cleverley in midfield again, the other teams won't let us play and Mata and Rooney are having to drop back into midfield to try and get the ball.

MARCA suggest that he is keen on deals for Daley Blind, Ron Vlaar AND Kevin Strootman

Reprinted by the ever reliable Mirror but I think this is far more likely to happen than any Vidal / Cuadrado / Di Maria moves. If this was the case it would make for a nervous first half of the season waiting on Strootman but worth it in the long term.

Any of you gents seen the new Utd third kit (blue one) in stores in Dublin yet?

Have to pick it up for a friend's birthday.

Would be chuffed to get Strootman, like, really really happy.

That sort of injury isn't as destructive as it once was, with advancements in therapy and the likes. At his age, has every chance of making a strong recovery.

Blind and Strootman would be very good signings. Strootman might not be an immediate impact, but I'm sick of reciting how he was on a path to be a world class CM, and while that path might have skewered slightly with injury, nothing to say he still won't make it.

The Blind one seems a bit too obvious in terms of gossip, but would sort of that LWB cover as well as providing his ability in CM. Would probably be a starter ahead of Fletcher and Cleverly as well.

I'm really not a fan of Ron Vlaar. Decent for Villa and functional for the Netherlands but there's a reason why he is playing for PL relegation candidates at 29. This is his peak.

TheDoc wrote: »

Would be chuffed to get Strootman, like, really really happy.

That sort of injury isn't as destructive as it once was, with advancements in therapy and the likes. At his age, has every chance of making a strong recovery.

His is an ACL injury isn't it? To be honest I don't think you're right here, it remains a potentially devastating injury. All going well you've a good chance of making a full recovery, but it doesn't always go well, and when it doesn't you're basically shagged whether you're 18 or 38.

I watched a documentary about a new procedure that should dramatically increase the success rate, but as far as I'm aware it's not being used yet.