Manchester United Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread - Mod Note in OP, 25/08

Pro. F · 18-08-2014 08:20PM

Your Airbag wrote: »

No you haven't. Ive read evey reply and I havent seen an explanation.

You're right. I lost track a bit with this conversation being so unnecessarily long and painful. I had talked about what I think is an acceptable strike rate of good to poor crosses, not what a good cross was.

So here you go:
I would call a good cross one that either:
- Goes near a team mate giving them a reasonable chance to do something useful with it, ie with an appropriate speed and trajectory
- Or goes into an area where a team-mate might reasonably be expected to be (like the channel between the defenders and the 'keeper, when there is a striker lurking on or close to the last shoulder)

Now, we both know that we fundamentally disagree on what qualifies as a good cross. We already knew that. So why don't we just leave it there?

How Soon Is Now · 18-08-2014 08:21PM

Adamocovic wrote: »

The way I see it is there were some promising signs in the preseason. Injuries didn't help for the first game but also one game won't do away all the work done this summer. I fully expect the team to improve this year under VG.

I hope so but to be totally honest I think if we don't sign at least two big players before end the month where not getting into the top 4. If we miss out on the cl again next season I really think it could set the club back in a major way much worse then now.

redbaron_99 · 18-08-2014 08:22PM

How Soon Is Now wrote: »

Where is it going to come from with our current setup though?

Even with Van Gaal there.

Ah, all is not lost. Personally I think we are short of a top central midfielder, even very good central defender, an attacking player with genuine pace and a right wing back. And a season for The squad to adapt to the managers vision.
It will take time but we can get there. By the end of this season we could be flying.
But we have to sort out the way we do business.

jimmytwotimes 2013 · 18-08-2014 08:23PM

redbaron_99 wrote: »

http://www.espnfc.com/blog/espn-fc-united-blog/68/post/1991460/manchester-uniteds-transfer-window-travails-under-louis-van-gaal-and-ed-woodward

This is not a nice read at all. Absolutely damning stuff here.
I nearly choked on my noodles, lads.

Thanks for posting, sums it up. Hope they somehow get their skates on over the next fortnight, made all the more difficult as clubs won't have time to replace if they sell as it's so late in the window now.

Fingers crossed

Adamocovic · 18-08-2014 08:24PM

twam2008 wrote: »

Its not about one game, its about another disastrous Summer transfer window when we needed it much more than the teams above us yet they've all added to their squads and we have done nothing like what we needed to do. After seeing what happened last year how can you not have a problem with it happening again?

As much as the transfer window hasn't been going to plan, you can't deny the majority of fans were positive after some good displays in the preseason, then we lose at home on opening day and the mentality took a u-turn.

I never said I was happy with the lack of transfers but to start predicting a terrible season after 90 minutes of football and the transfer window still open seems a bit over the top in my eyes.

I know most disagree but it's just my opinion.

titan18 · 18-08-2014 08:24PM

Adamcp898 wrote: »

People shouldn't discount the position of Director of Football as ''trouble waiting to happen'' simply because they're not used to them and is one which could actually work extremely well if done correctly.

But rather than getting into the debate again, is there not a way of hiring someone in a similar role who would technically be ''under'' the manager in terms of making decisions on players to sign and so wouldn't upset the apple cart with needless signings? Because lets face it, at the minute we're probably signing just as many needless players without one as it is.

Tbh, I'm surprised the Glazers haven't looked at going that way. NFL teams often have a load of officials for that with GMs, Director of Player Personnel

How Soon Is Now · 18-08-2014 08:25PM

redbaron_99 wrote: »

Ah, all is not lost. Personally I think we are short of a top central midfielder, even very good central defender, an attacking player with genuine pace and a right wing back. And a season for The squad to adapt to the managers vision.
It will take time but we can get there. By the end of this season we could be flying.
But we have to sort out the way we do business.

There's alot of possiblitys and ifs there ha. Nothing is certain that's my worry there's as much chance of us ****ing up another season then there is having a great one.

That's not an issue this club should be worrying about!

rockal · 18-08-2014 08:26PM

All this cross-talk about crosses is making me cross.

Zico · 18-08-2014 08:27PM

I think Woodward is even more out of his depth than Moyes was so, although it's highly unlikely, I'm getting worried about these Di Maria rumours. The guy could panic, again, and buy a player we don't need, to try appease the fans/critics.

The situation is very like the Mata one. Madrid need to offload him and there's no one else who can afford him but they must fancy their chances of getting a ridiculous amount of money from someone as naive as Woodward.

Getting gouged is one thing but I will spontaneously combust if he brings in a vanity signing like Di Maria before 2 CBs and a DMC.

Pro. F · 18-08-2014 08:29PM

Can somebody tell me what van Gaal's record on scouting and buying players has been like over his managerial career.

super_furry · 18-08-2014 08:30PM

Did United ever make any real efforts to sign Fabregas? Watching the Chelsea game and he looks exactly like what they need.

jimmytwotimes 2013 · 18-08-2014 08:32PM

Adamocovic wrote: »

I never said I was happy with the lack of transfers but to start predicting a terrible season after 90 minutes of football and the transfer window still open seems a bit over the top in my eyes.

Too much was made of preseason anyway. Any poster who pointed that out was called a Moaning Michael.

The Madrid game was good, but Madrid are two weeks behind United in preparation as their season starts later. Others did point out that the United CBs struggled when Liverpool pressed in the first half and couldn't make the needed passes to get past it, Liverpool obviously couldn't keep pressing to that extent as they weren't fit enough.

There were signs in preseason that issues were still there, but posters who pointed it out were branded kill-joys.

United have serious issues, top four looks a right battle, every poster on here hopes united manage to sort it out. Pointing to these issues is not a crime however.

How Soon Is Now · 18-08-2014 08:32PM

super_furry wrote: »

Did United ever make any real efforts to sign Fabregas? Watching the Chelsea game and he looks exactly like what they need.

One person will tell u we never bid the other will tell you he didnt want to play for us. The same could be said about Kroos i guess.

bullvine · 18-08-2014 08:38PM

The 120m on four players in 12 months worries me, I cant help but be underwhelmed by any of these signings it will be the same if roja comes in.

MagicIRL · 18-08-2014 08:42PM

Has something happened re: Rojo?

Adamocovic · 18-08-2014 08:44PM

jimmytwotimes 2013 wrote: »

Too much was made of preseason anyway. Any poster who pointed that out was called a Moaning Michael.

The Madrid game was good, but Madrid are two weeks behind United in preparation as their season starts later. Others did point out that the United CBs struggled when Liverpool pressed in the first half and couldn't make the needed passes to get past it, Liverpool obviously couldn't keep pressing to that extent as they weren't fit enough.

There were signs in preseason that issues were still there, but posters who pointed it out were branded kill-joys.

United have serious issues, top four looks a right battle, every poster on here hopes united manage to sort it out. Pointing to these issues is not a crime however.

As much as people are questioning the CB, I would rank the need for wing backs and a solid centre midfielder like Strootman ahead of a CB.

Think we need players at wing back who can attack but also defend, I don't rate Ashley Young and Valencia in terms of defending.

Also after all the talk about our defence being vulnerable (which will be tested far more against the bigger teams) it seemed a lack of creativity was a bigger problem on Saturday. Very flat and can't remember many times where Fabianski was truly tested.

And I haven't said that pointing our issues is a crime, I just feel some of the reactions have been over the top, something I think I'm entitled to say.

DM_7 · 18-08-2014 08:44PM

Pro. F wrote: »

Can somebody tell me what van Gaal's record on scouting and buying players has been like over his managerial career.

This might help but not a great indicator of how he made decisions on players or if it was him who made the decisions.

http://www.redcafe.net/threads/van-gaals-transfer-history.389695/#post-15566690

Rayne Wooney · 18-08-2014 08:44PM

I can't think of a better reason to sign Di Maria than the potential for a song to the tune of Shaggy's greatest hit

PhlegmyMoses · 18-08-2014 08:49PM

Rayne Wooney wrote: »

I can't think of a better reason to sign Di Maria than the potential for a song to the tune of Shaggy's greatest hit

It wasn't me or Mr. Boombastic?

Schwiiing · 18-08-2014 08:50PM

Rayne Wooney wrote: »

I can't think of a better reason to sign Di Maria than the potential for a song to the tune of Shaggy's greatest hit

Oh Carolina?

On another note, Dortmund got Hummels for 4m. :eek:

Rayne Wooney · 18-08-2014 08:52PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWJrPzAUzAs

I know it's pronounced a little differently, but we can worry about the details later

I want a rough draft by the morning

Cookiemunster · 18-08-2014 08:52PM

Schwiiing wrote: »

Oh Carolina?

On another note, Dortmund got Hummels for 4m. :eek:

When he was 19.

keane2097 · 18-08-2014 08:53PM

Rayne Wooney wrote: »

I can't think of a better reason to sign Di Maria than the potential for a song to the tune of Shaggy's greatest hit

Shaggy's greatest hit!? Angel!? If you were a dog I'd drown you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC_mV1IpjWA

Adamocovic · 18-08-2014 08:57PM

Rayne Wooney wrote: »

I can't think of a better reason to sign Di Maria than the potential for a song to the tune of Shaggy's greatest hit

When I read that at first I was thinking of this guy, and hadn't a clue what you meant ha!

PhlegmyMoses · 18-08-2014 08:57PM

Ah heyor, Angel is not Shaggy's greatest ever song.

The_Kew_Tour · 18-08-2014 09:01PM

Stone Roses FTW!!

Things are awful depressing at the minute.

It would not surprise me if Ed was in Saipan checking out Hotels for next years Pre Season Tour.