Manchester United Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread - See Mod Warning in OP, 09/11

kryogen · 27-10-2014 12:57PM

Mata worked very hard yesterday. Particularly first half

Mars Bar · 27-10-2014 12:58PM

Van Gaal is a bit mad!

Wilson explains shirt number change

James Wilson has revealed why he moved shirt numbers ahead of the 2014/15 Barclays Premier League season.

The Manchester United striker, who came off the bench to help the Reds earn a 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Sunday, switched from 47 to 49 in the summer after scoring twice in the previous shirt on his debut against Hull City in the final home fixture of last term.

"I asked why it had changed as it wasn't my decision and, because I'm a striker, the gaffer wanted me to have a nine in my number," the teenager told ManUtd.com. "So he has moved me up to 49. I could have been 99 in theory, but 49 was the closest one."

Louis van Gaal clearly feels the centre-forward will benefit from the psychological effect and continues to involve him in his first-team plans as he also entered the fray as a substitute in the win over Everton earlier in the month.

kryogen · 27-10-2014 12:59PM

beno619 wrote: »

Anyway the elephant in the room is still RVP.

Though he was below par yesterday and his goal probably gives him another week or two before people really get on his back.

I'm not certain what people want of him? He makes good runs, takes up good positions, links play well, he has been guilty of being a bit indecisive this season but he is still playing pretty well. He is not setting the league alight like he did when he joined, maybe thats the problem?

He is a great point man, he does a good job for the team and he still has a knack for that important goal as evidenced yesterday.

People have been getting on his back since before the season began

DM_7 · 27-10-2014 01:00PM

beno619 wrote: »

Anyway the elephant in the room is still RVP.

Though he was below par yesterday and his goal probably gives him another week or two before people really get on his back.

I thought he did well and looked more mobile, sharper than recent games

Held the ball up well and made some great runs Genuinely think he would have scored earlier against another keeper with less positional awareness.

ElChe32 · 27-10-2014 01:00PM

Mars Bar wrote: »

Van Gaal is a bit mad!

That is brilliant.

kryogen · 27-10-2014 01:02PM

Sometimes I do wish players like Cleverely were still around so we could have an (almost) universal target for the negative comments

DARK-KNIGHT · 27-10-2014 01:11PM

kryogen wrote: »

Sometimes I do wish players like Cleverely were still around so we could have an (almost) universal target for the negative comments

Gone but never forgotten...

Cantona's Collars · 27-10-2014 01:11PM

kryogen wrote: »

Sometimes I do wish players like Cleverely were still around so we could have an (almost) universal target for the negative comments

We still have Young.

Good article here on the rebirth of Fellaini:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2809395/Marouane-Fellaini-infamously-cost-27-5m-endured-year-misery-does-finally-look-like-Manchester-United-player.html

Due to his influence,Fabergas only had 11 passes in the whole of the first half.He also completed 70 sprints,I reckon he didn't even manage that in the whole of last season.

jaykay74 · 27-10-2014 01:14PM

Larry Wildman wrote: »

Yes he's likeable but if that was the only basis for playing for United, we'd have Ant & Dec playing up front.

That doesn't make any sense. Ant is a keeper.

beno619 · 27-10-2014 01:14PM

kryogen wrote:

I'm not certain what people want of him? He makes good runs, takes up good positions, links play well, he has been guilty of being a bit indecisive this season but he is still playing pretty well. He is not setting the league alight like he did when he joined, maybe thats the problem?

Yesterday was his beat performance of the season. Still he's playing far below his level again I think hell be cut slack because he got the goal in the end.

I don't believe he's contributing enough though he probably did more than Drogba yesterday.

kryogen · 27-10-2014 01:27PM

beno619 wrote: »

Yesterday was his beat performance of the season. Still he's playing far below his level again I think hell be cut slack because he got the goal in the end.

I don't believe he's contributing enough though he probably did more than Drogba yesterday.

He is getting sharper each game, I agree with you. I just think we are unlikely to see him again in the form of 2012 and maybe that will be used as a stick to beat him with, he will suffer the consequences of being ridiculously good that year and be held to that standard. From what I see he is doing a good job for the team right now even if he is not lighting up the league with individual brilliance week in week out, he had a disaster of a season last season with injury and then the world cup, he is still find his form again.

He is getting fitter and sharper each game, I have no doubt he will hit a purple patch sooner rather then later as the whole team continues to improve.

Any news on Falcao actually? Would be great to have him back for the City game

Vic Vinegar · 27-10-2014 01:40PM

kryogen wrote: »

Any news on Falcao actually? Would be great to have him back for the City game

Falcao has a bruised shin apparently, probably won't be out for too long.

kryogen · 27-10-2014 01:49PM

Bombleswizzum wrote: »

Falcao has a bruised shin apparently, probably won't be out for too long.

I won't even ask about Phil "The Glass Man" Jones

Panthro · 27-10-2014 01:59PM

beno619 wrote: »

Yesterday was his beat performance of the season. Still he's playing far below his level again I think hell be cut slack because he got the goal in the end.

I don't believe he's contributing enough though he probably did more than Drogba yesterday.

Drogba is 36 and a third choice striker soooo..

Mars Bar · 27-10-2014 01:59PM

kryogen wrote: »

I won't even ask about Phil "The Glass Man" Jones

Shin splints

That's a toughie for him.

The_Kew_Tour · 27-10-2014 02:04PM

Bring on City!!

Rooney back is massive lift.

madcabbage · 27-10-2014 02:10PM

Rooney has to start against City in my opinion. Badly missed in big games.

RobbingBandit · 27-10-2014 02:15PM

Overhead kick from Rooney again and all is forgiven, Michael Carrick in the Michael Owen role of scoring an injury time winner wouldn't go amiss neither.

Rob Thomas · 27-10-2014 02:17PM

Hi. I'm a long time reader of this thread but this is my first posting here!

My tuppence is that a certain amount of confidence is coming back into the play and the new signings are clearly beginning to bed in so the performances are slowly getting better. There is plenty of work still to be done and I'm sure there will be setbacks from time to time but a lot of money has been spent, and, together with a decent January/next summer windows, (addressing the obvious positions we need strengthening in), i think it's a minimum from VG to expect that we should start next season as one of the favourites for the major competitions again. Top 4 is odds on on this season, the ability to focus on the league games and getting a purple spell from Falcao and RVP will mean we will easily squeeze out Liverpool and push Arsenal for 3rd. I think the top two are already nailed on.

No-one should underestimate how confidence took a knock during the Moyes reign and it takes time to banish the general negativity that surrounded that time.

While results/points might not appear much better than this time last season, clearly the intensity is coming back and there is a fluid gameplay, not the confusion of last year. This time last season the Chelsea game would have finished 1-0, the belief was not there to chase down teams and get a late equaliser. Several times the team accepted the result 10-15 minutes out and that, for me , was the hardest part. I don't see that anymore thankfully.

In terms of players, its still short in certain areas: I think Mata needs to do more. His stats are strong on paper but if he is to be credited for his performances for Chelsea in the past, then equally he has to be judged now at that high level and he is not influencing and dictating games like he did in those seasons. We need more from RVP too but I genuinely think he is getting sharper and last season and the WC certainly slowed him down a bit, but he is still a fantastic player and very committed its obvious to MU. I'm not as worried about him.

Nothing too controversial there I suppose but I have to start somewhere!

ericzeking · 27-10-2014 02:24PM

Thought Mata played well for the time he was on, clearly worked hard and emptied himself...he laid on a sweet disguised pass early on which if it finished in the net we would not be having this conversation, cant remember who took the shot. Mata does a lot of good work receiving and moving the ball in attacking areas, it can't be all goals and assists. They were a lot more ineffective players on the pitch than him.

Delighted Fellaini is proving so many wrong, he was a real force yesterday. Really like the guy and we need his physicality.

One thing I haven't heard mentioned anywhere is RVP for the drogba goal...without his touch the ball goes straight to DDG...IMO RVP is in no mans land...not attacking the ball and in the keepers way...his normal position for corners is further out.

BloodBath · 27-10-2014 02:27PM

Welcome to the forum Rob. Good first post.

Agree 100% on all of it.

ericzeking wrote: »

One thing I haven't heard mentioned anywhere is RVP for the drogba goal...without his touch the ball goes straight to DDG...IMO RVP is in no mans land...not attacking the ball and in the keepers way...his normal position for corners is further out.

Not really his fault though. It's pretty standard to have players on the posts. I doubt De Gea was going to get to that regardless.

Will I Amnt · 27-10-2014 02:43PM

ericzeking wrote: »

One thing I haven't heard mentioned anywhere is RVP for the drogba goal...without his touch the ball goes straight to DDG...IMO RVP is in no mans land...not attacking the ball and in the keepers way...his normal position for corners is further out.

Had this argument with a mate yesterday, there wasn't much RvP could do. He didn't have the best starting position for defending the near post but it would be incredibly harsh to be slinging the blame his way.

bedrock#1 · 27-10-2014 03:10PM

ericzeking wrote: »

One thing I haven't heard mentioned anywhere is RVP for the drogba goal...without his touch the ball goes straight to DDG...IMO RVP is in no mans land...not attacking the ball and in the keepers way...his normal position for corners is further out.

From what I remember from the last two years Raf was always on the near post for corners and RVP was in the position that Raf took up against Drogba. RVP's clearing headers from that position just advanced of the near post were a staple of the last two seasons.

Giggsy11 · 27-10-2014 03:40PM

homerjay2005 wrote: »

would ye go for a sneaky low bid for Vidic in January?

i know its not going to happen, but its something that came up in prematch discussions yesterday.

wouldnt be a bad short term solution, especially if Moyes got the Inter job

I think you didn't check how he is doing for Inter. At least his start was awful and he was dropped from their last serie A game.

Also if we are planning to play high line then Vidic is not the answer.

homerjay2005 · 27-10-2014 04:42PM

newballsplease wrote: »

How stupid would that make the club look in fairness?!

Non runner

Not stupid at all. Vidic left because of Moyes.

Do Chelsea look stupid for bringing back Drogba?
Teddy Sheringham went back to Spurs.

And theres many other examples of players returning.

ericzeking · 27-10-2014 05:15PM

bedrock#1 wrote: »

From what I remember from the last two years Raf was always on the near post for corners and RVP was in the position that Raf took up against Drogba. RVP's clearing headers from that position just advanced of the near post were a staple of the last two seasons.

Exactly and yesterday he was not in that position,ahead of the near post, outside the 6 yard box....he wasn't on the post...he wasn't doing anything except obstructing the keeper and diverting the ball away from him.
Anyway, that goal was a catalogue of defensive errors, and I wouldn't blame any one player solely, it was just something I thought was worth mentioning.

The_Kew_Tour · 27-10-2014 05:21PM

so with another big game coming up can we get a result against City?

Dare I say get 3 points?

With Rooney, Falcao and Herrera to come back I think we can feel we least have some chance.

Will Fellaini be picked to keep Silva quiet I wonder?

BloodBath · 27-10-2014 05:22PM

We're lacking leadership at the back to organise that defence. Someone needs to stand up and take control of the situation.

It is madness that the biggest aerial threat was marked by one of the smallest guys on the pitch.

I'm sure Van Gaal and the coaches will highlight these errors and the team will learn from them.

I think we will struggle against City. We're losing the home advantage and Aguero will have fun with our defence.

I doubt Fellaini is the man to mark Silva either. Fabregas isn't as mobile as he is so it was an easier task for the big man. Stick him on Toure instead and let the faster guys worry about Silva.

Lord TSC · 27-10-2014 05:25PM

homerjay2005 wrote: »

Not stupid at all. Vidic left because of Moyes.

Do Chelsea look stupid for bringing back Drogba?
Teddy Sheringham went back to Spurs.

And theres many other examples of players returning.

I don't see why we would go back for him and look for another short term fix tbh (and that's ignoring his recent form for Inter and the fact he wasn't exactly a stable base last season).

We should be going for a top level striker, not a cheap one based on form from 2 years ago...

EDIT: *Defender. Not striker...typo...

RobertKK · 27-10-2014 06:02PM

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

so with another big game coming up can we get a result against City?

Dare I say get 3 points?

With Rooney, Falcao and Herrera to come back I think we can feel we least have some chance.

Will Fellaini be picked to keep Silva quiet I wonder?

Yes is my answer to your three questions.

City have lost the same number of games as we have and it could be argued that United are improving.
For example, before the West Brom game we hadn't scored after the 63rd minute. Now we are doing it and rather late at that.
Now it is time to start winning away, at the Etihad would be a good place to start...

Manchester United Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread - See Mod Warning in OP, 09/11

Comments