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

Adamocovic wrote: »

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.

Was pointing out other posters had said it, not you.

I think our needs in this window depend on what LVG intends to do formation wise.

If he is going to mainly play 352, then I think united need two ball playing CBs, ideally one right, the other left footed. They could hopefully cover if Rafa or Shaw are injured cos cover for them is non-existent. I agree with you that Young, Valencia, Januzaj etc are not suited to these positions as their defending would not be up to it, as was clear from Swansea's second goal as Young got caught under the ball. Add to those a DM, like Vidal and the first 11 wouldn't be bad.

If LVG is going 433 then our needs change. I think then you're, being realistic, looking at a CB, DM, like Vidal and a third midfielder who offers something going forward, especially pace so somebody like Di Maria.

Just to say again, my post was addressing the mood round here during preseason where people made a bit much of it and castigated those who advised caution when assessing United's apparent renaissance.

Three stellar signings will help steady the ship, and put us in the mix for the top 4, but I think Chelsea and City will still be out of reach. That's fine, but we need to move to make us competitive for top 4.

Likely it has been posted already, and taken from Neville's Sky Sports interview:

Highest net spenders in Europe (last 5 transfer windows)

PSG (£165m)
Man Utd (£165m)
Barcelona (£155m)
Chelsea (£137m)
Real Madrid (£126m)
Man City (£126m)

Man Utd signings

Ander Herrera (£29m)
Luke Shaw (£27m)
Juan Mata (£37m)
Marouane Fellaini (£27.5m)
Wilfried Zaha (£15m)
Total: £135.5m

Neville's alternative signings

Gareth Bale (£86m)
Toni Kroos (£24m)
Cesc Fabregas (£30m)
Filipe Luis (£20m)
Total: £160m

Sky Sports

I'm pretty sure that most of Neville's alternative signings chose clubs they preferred to United, but the prices paid for Kroos and Fabregas shows that there really is value in the market.

What happens when a thread reaches 10,000 posts? I'm assuming it's like a glitch in the matrix or something?

ETA: question is regarding how the previous thread got closed off.

aligator_am wrote: »

What happens when a thread reaches 10,000 posts? I'm assuming it's like a glitch in the matrix or something?

ETA: question is regarding how the previous thread got closed off.

It's a Liverpool conspiracy. If the Man U thread reaches 10,001 posts a buzzer goes off in Ed Woodward's brain and he has to sign a player. They call this 10,001st post, "the one". In order to avoid the appearance of "the one" they have concocted a system whereby all Man U threads are shut down (with the use of an army of sentinels and agents known as "Mods") before the one can make its appearance and save Manchester United.

Cantstandsya wrote: »

It's a Liverpool conspiracy. If the Man U thread reaches 10,001 posts a buzzer goes off in Ed Woodward's brain and he has to sign a player. They call this 10,001st post, "the one". In order to avoid the appearance of "the one" they have concocted a system whereby all Man U threads are shut down (with the use of an army of sentinels and agents known as "Mods") before the one can make its appearance and save Manchester United.

We may need to contact Joe Duffy or Alex Jones about this, I'm sure the Illuminati are involved somehow

homerjay2005 wrote: »

this part of Delaneys article sums up my feelings in one paragraph about this summer.

I think this much is obvious: a massive change is needed at the club, be that personnel-wise or approach wise. There is a difference between overpaying for quality and getting ripped off. Fellaini was a rip-off. Paying 40mill for Fabregas last year would have been a bargain even if it would have been overpaying.

The club drastically need to do away with this odd penny-pinching attitude. We have no problem paying too much for mediocre players, yet when proven quality is an option we try to be smart and haggle. It's an absolute disgrace. If things continue this way the club will experience a drastic turn in fortunes.

adox wrote: »

I completely agree with this and may have raised something similar in the past on here or on twitter.


It's a huge amount for any four players. I don't really think Utds problem has being spending money but spending it on the right players, in the right positions.

For such big sums, the only proven top class player that was signed was Mata and he's the only one where we didn't need a player in that position.


While the lack of any more signings since June is beyond a joke at this stage, it's nearly as depressing that a huge investment has already been made in the squad already, yet it still looks lacking in quality and quantity in the key positions.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that money(whatever the exact amount is) could have been spent much better.

United haven't been spending money though......
They are behind City and Chelsea in the past 5 seasons, I put the figures up earlier, Apparantly it's not relevant, its all about the net spend.

Net spend it nonsense when you want to look at "investment" in a team.

Woodward expects to seal this deal tomorrow.