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

KH25 · 29-12-2014 04:55PM

For me our strongest CB pairing at the moment is Jones and Rojo. If Jones can stay fit I really think he can become a great player for us.

Winston Payne · 29-12-2014 04:57PM

PhlegmyMoses wrote: »

I have no love for Smalling tbh. Should be better in the air with his height and his ability on the ball is overrated imo. I think he gains reputation when out injured and doesn't do much to live up to it when he is back. He is a decent player but easily replaceable.

There's an opportunity for one or more of our CBs to step into a leadership role and cement their status in the first XI but none of them are doing so. Jones is the closest, imo, but his injury problems are never far away.

Since him and Jones have both been at the club in terms of putting performances in Smalling's ahead of him though. Not injured as much, more consistent. Evans should be out the door before both of them regardless.

29-12-2014 05:02PM

Smalling doddles on the ball and is the worst CB at the club in terms of composure. Looked good for his first season but then went to shít. Looked decent earlier in the season but over a run of games the last few seasons he's gotten worse rather than better. I still think Evans will step it up this season and show everyone what he's about. I think rotating him and Jones with Rojo and Smalling as cover is the best option when Rojo is back fit. Thought Evans was very good yesterday.

PhlegmyMoses · 29-12-2014 05:03PM

Winston Payne wrote: »

Since him and Jones have both been at the club in terms of putting performances in Smalling's ahead of him though. Not injured as much, more consistent. Evans should be out the door before both of them regardless.

I really think that Jones has been better since SAF retired, so the last 18 months or so. Jones is still only 22, whereas Smalling is 25 so it's getting to that stage for him where he needs to really kick on or players will come in to replace him.

The fact that I usually prefer a more tactically aware and pacy defender (Smalling) over a more blood and thunder last ditch player (Jones) tells you a lot about how I rate Smalling.

PhlegmyMoses · 29-12-2014 05:05PM

Liam O wrote: »

Smalling doddles on the ball and is the worst CB at the club in terms of composure. Looked good for his first season but then went to shít. Looked decent earlier in the season but over a run of games the last few seasons he's gotten worse rather than better. I still think Evans will step it up this season and show everyone what he's about. I think rotating him and Jones with Rojo and Smalling as cover is the best option when Rojo is back fit. Thought Evans was very good yesterday.

Evans still has an issue with physically dominant strikers. It was evident again with Benteke and I really hope he doesn't start against West Ham in a couple of weeks. If he could improve his aerial ability (unlikely at this stage) I'd be backing him to stay in the side.

Gits_bone · 29-12-2014 05:14PM

Billy86 wrote: »

Funny thing is LVG has more points, despite having a backline mainly of Valencia/Young/McNair and if lucky more than one of Smalling/Jones/Evans/Blackett, compared to Ferdinand/Vidic/Evra. Strangely, our general play has been improving throughout the year rather than going backwards, he has the players respect (funny that, eh?) and our main tactic employed when we have a one goal lead with 20 minutes left isn't "sh*t yourselves".

Yeah, you said it yourself. Last year ye had Evra/Ferdinand/Vidic...3 players who couldn't give a toss or undermined the manager. Evra and Vidic struggling in a terrible league and Rio has been in and out of relegation fodder.

TheDoc wrote: »

For anyone looking for super positive to keep that title dream alive.

Chelsea playing "sensational stuff", largely unchanged and without injuries
City are a bit wobbly, no Aguero until Feb? Mangala a disaster, Toure off to African nations?

How have they been wobbly?

Didn't they win 8 or 9 in a row before Burnley including Bayern and Roma away?

29-12-2014 05:17PM

PhlegmyMoses wrote: »

Evans still has an issue with physically dominant strikers. It was evident again with Benteke and I really hope he doesn't start against West Ham in a couple of weeks. If he could improve his aerial ability (unlikely at this stage) I'd be backing him to stay in the side.

Evans isn't that bad in the air. Anyone could struggle in the air against Benteke once or twice a game. Evans doesn't back down from anything and is United through and through. I feel him and Rojo, once the midfield gets sorted and the full backs up to speed and fluidity is the name of the game is the way to go for defence.

PhlegmyMoses · 29-12-2014 05:23PM

Liam O wrote: »

Evans isn't that bad in the air. Anyone could struggle in the air against Benteke once or twice a game. Evans doesn't back down from anything and is United through and through. I feel him and Rojo, once the midfield gets sorted and the full backs up to speed and fluidity is the name of the game is the way to go for defence.

I think he's very weak in the air and just generally by physical players. For example, Rio and Vidic were rarely physically bullied by anyone. The level we need to be looking at is those two, and Evans falls way short.

Bear in mind that I'm looking at this from the perspective that we will most likely buy some defenders. Will Evans stay in the team if we do that? I have my doubts.

Cantona's Collars · 29-12-2014 05:36PM

RobertKK wrote: »

Seamus Coleman would be a good signing, can play more than just right back, would be a great wing back.

I don't think a deal for Bale whenever would be worth it if it involved De Gea.

Strootman looks likely at some stage.

Talk of Hummels costing £47 million. I expect a deal for Vlaar to be made next month, whether that is he joins immediately or just an agreement with the player and a free transfer in the summer

Enzo Perez from Benfica who had been linked is expected to sign for Valencia later this week.

I do expect some new blood to join in January.

It's been reported in Spain the Perez deal has fallen through,Benfica wanted £23 million and Valencia said no.

sReq | uTeK · 29-12-2014 05:44PM

Winston Payne wrote: »

Smalling's been our best defender over the last two seasons.

Not sure if serious......

irishfeen · 29-12-2014 06:28PM

https://twitter.com/lukeshaw3/status/549612410429259776

Billy86 · 29-12-2014 06:38PM

Gits_bone wrote: »

Yeah, you said it yourself. Last year ye had Evra/Ferdinand/Vidic...3 players who couldn't give a toss or undermined the manager. Evra and Vidic struggling in a terrible league and Rio has been in and out of relegation fodder

Funny how all the players who couldn't give a toss" and "undermined the manager" last season, this year have not done anything of the sort, nor under Ferguson beforehand. Really strange that isn't it, especially as it's an issue that developed over Moyes' tenure rather than from the start. Interesting, very interesting.

LVG lost 37 YEARS of experience at this club alone from those three players (and over a combined half decade in their entire careers) and had to go instead with teenagers, wingers who were out of favour, and a rotation belt of whichever of the remaining defenders that struggled to get in the team previously over the three that left were healthy. That's before even bringing the fact that he was without one of the better defensive midfielders in the league until Halloween, who we have bizarrely enough picked up 24 of 30 points since the return of.

thelad95 · 29-12-2014 06:42PM

Dammit, just saw we're playing Stoke at the crack of dawn on New Years day on BT again. Will be a lethargic atmosphere I imagine.

Cantona's Collars · 29-12-2014 06:46PM

Billy86 wrote: »

Funny how all the players who couldn't give a toss" and "undermined the manager" last season, this year have not done anything of the sort, nor under Ferguson beforehand. Really strange that isn't it, especially as it's an issue that developed over Moyes' tenure rather than from the start. Interesting, very interesting.

LVG lost 37 YEARS of experience at this club alone from those three players (and over a combined half decade in their entire careers) and had to go instead with teenagers, wingers who were out of favour, and a rotation belt of whichever of the remaining defenders that struggled to get in the team previously over the three that left were healthy. That's before even bringing the fact that he was without one of the better defensive midfielders in the league until Halloween, who we have bizarrely enough picked up 24 of 30 points since the return of.

I said before,when Moyes joined it was a case of certain players going "show us your medals".They simply had no respect for him and as results got worse their attitude mirrored it.
LVG came in with the pedigree to match his claims and got rid of these players-funny how a lot of stuff leaked before from the club was attributed to Cleverley,one of the worst players to grace the pitch under David Moyes.

Billy86 · 29-12-2014 06:50PM

zerks wrote: »

I said before,when Moyes joined it was a case of certain players going "show us your medals".They simply had no respect for him and as results got worse their attitude mirrored it.
LVG came in with the pedigree to match his claims and got rid of these players-funny how a lot of stuff leaked before from the club was attributed to Cleverley,one of the worst players to grace the pitch under David Moyes.

I would disagree, Moyes lost the players with his poor tactics and preparation, draconian training methods, and habit of giving way too much respect to the opposition which showed most of all in our becoming petrified whenever we had a tight lead in the last 20 minutes of a game. Hence why it only really showed up as the season wore on, and got worse and worse by the month.

Headshot · 29-12-2014 06:56PM

zerks wrote: »

I said before,when Moyes joined it was a case of certain players going "show us your medals".They simply had no respect for him and as results got worse their attitude mirrored it.
LVG came in with the pedigree to match his claims and got rid of these players-funny how a lot of stuff leaked before from the club was attributed to Cleverley,one of the worst players to grace the pitch under David Moyes.

Billy86 wrote: »

I would disagree, Moyes lost the players with his poor tactics and preparation, draconian training methods, and habit of giving way too much respect to the opposition which showed most of all in our becoming petrified whenever we had a tight lead in the last 20 minutes of a game. Hence why it only really showed up as the season wore on, and got worse and worse by the month.

You are both right

Cantona's Collars · 29-12-2014 06:58PM

Billy86 wrote: »

I would disagree, Moyes lost the players with his poor tactics and preparation, draconian training methods, and habit of giving way too much respect to the opposition which showed most of all in our becoming petrified whenever we had a tight lead in the last 20 minutes of a game. Hence why it only really showed up as the season wore on, and got worse and worse by the month.

It's an open secret that Moyes lost the dressing room by October,his tactics etc. just made things worse-you could actually see by some of the players that they simply weren't trying.

Anyhow,we have had enough of this discussion before,now we have LVG who seems to be running things in the style of Fergie and that's a good thing.

Gits_bone · 29-12-2014 06:59PM

Billy86 wrote: »

I would disagree, Moyes lost the players with his poor tactics and preparation, draconian training methods, and habit of giving way too much respect to the opposition which showed most of all in our becoming petrified whenever we had a tight lead in the last 20 minutes of a game. Hence why it only really showed up as the season wore on, and got worse and worse by the month.

Teams have to drop deeper when they have a 1-0 lead late in the game. This is to combat the other team throwing extra players forward, because they have nothing to lose at that stage. The other option is to try and control play but when you had Cleverly & Fletcher then you were never going to be able to do that.

Someone was also leaking the team news to the media.

And the players never gave a toss about Moyes from day 1. Would you see this attitude displayed now by the CB?

bennyx_o · 29-12-2014 09:07PM

thelad95 wrote: »

Dammit, just saw we're playing Stoke at the crack of dawn on New Years day on BT again. Will be a lethargic atmosphere I imagine.

Match is on SS1, not BT

Kirby · 29-12-2014 09:18PM

Wonder if Pro.F is watching the game. The "best DM in the league" is getting the run around at the moment.

irishfeen · 29-12-2014 09:20PM

EDIT: it was photoshopped - my bad

Deiseboy01 · 29-12-2014 09:21PM

rebeve wrote: »

With Champions league football next year we will need a much bigger squad .So we need a few more quality players .

LVG is blessed we dont have CL football this season. With the injuries, problems integrating new players etc. we would be mid table at this point if we had to play two games a week.

bangkok · 29-12-2014 09:47PM

Kirby wrote: »

Wonder if Pro.F is watching the game. The "best DM in the league" is getting the run around at the moment.

yea i cannot look at leon britton the same anymore, every time i watch him play i laugh

kryogen · 29-12-2014 10:00PM

Deiseboy01 wrote: »

LVG is blessed we dont have CL football this season. With the injuries, problems integrating new players etc. we would be mid table at this point if we had to play two games a week.

If ifs and buts were candy and nuts something something

Rob Thomas · 29-12-2014 10:25PM

Deiseboy01 wrote: »

LVG is blessed we dont have CL football this season. With the injuries, problems integrating new players etc. we would be mid table at this point if we had to play two games a week.

It suits this season as it also gives him time on the training ground but apart from it being a byproduct of a good season this time round, he will need more games in more competitions next season to keep all the players all ticking over.

When ADM and Blind come back and you add in Herrera, that's a lot of talent going to be on the bench when we only have a game a week.

Donnielighto · 29-12-2014 10:31PM

Rob Thomas wrote: »

It suits this season as it also gives him time on the training ground but apart from it being a byproduct of a good season this time round, he will need more games in more competitions next season to keep all the players all ticking over.

When ADM and Blind come back and you add in Herrera, that's a lot of talent going to be on the bench when we only have a game a week.

I love your song smooth, what happened to Matchbox20?

The_Kew_Tour · 29-12-2014 10:38PM

The Stoke defeat in this fixture last year was the real nail in the coffin for me thinking we had any hope of Top 4.

3 points on Thursday and very confident of CL.

kryogen · 29-12-2014 10:38PM

Donnielighto wrote: »

I love your song smooth, what happened to Matchbox20?

They have gone through some band turmoil, members leaving, returning etc but they are still excellent, and Smooth was a Santana song featuring the incredible vocals of Mr Rob Thomas

Yes, I love him.

Montroseee · 29-12-2014 11:06PM

Annoying the way Arsenal, Spurs and even Pool to a degree are starting to find form.

The Moldy Gowl · 29-12-2014 11:11PM

Montroseee wrote: »

Annoying the way Arsenal, Spurs and even Pool to a degree are starting to find form.

One swallow does not make a summer.

Ill worry when they have won 7 out of the last 9 and we lose the next 5.

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

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