Manchester United Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread - Read Mod Warning in OP 7/1/15

https://twitter.com/HLNinEngeland/status/561041372808232960

Courtois did a twitter Q&A,you can guess what happened when United fans got in on the act.

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/555157/Chelsea-Courtois-Twitter-Q-A

zerks wrote: »

Courtois did a twitter Q&A,you can guess what happened when United fans got in on the act.

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/555157/Chelsea-Courtois-Twitter-Q-A

#bantz :cool:

Carrick out for 4 weeks.

https://twitter.com/manutd/status/561142907130761216

Surprised to see Fletcher leaving. Is it because Van Gaal doesn't rate him or there are still concerns over his fitness?

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

I might be in minority then, but I think our squad is more then good enough to get CL.

Injuries and more recently the poor tactics\ formations have been the problem imo.

I'm in there with you.

I think anyone that doesn't think this squad can qualify for the champions league, is stuck in some mental vortex of football manager land.

There would be an argument that our strongest 11 on paper could win the champions league, let alone ****ing qualify for it. Squad issues were last years excuse.

This year is totally down to new manager trying to instill his ideas. I'm really REALLY hoping something clicks and then it sets us up for the rest of the season. Just something, a stellar performance, a individual masterclass, SOMETHING that will make van gaal stick to a suitable tactic and then that be that.

4-4-2, Di Maria left CM, Blind DM, Herrera right CM, Mata AMC and Rooney and Falcao up top. I'm convinced that's our best front six and am consistently disappointed I can't see it get game time to gel.

I'm not nearly to hit the panic button yet, but there is a re-occuring theme where last season I was all " ah its grand, it will click and we will be back to our own ways" but there is growing worry I need to adjust to a new way I've never seen before, and because it's new I don't know when it's happening.

Lord TSC wrote: »

Anderson and Fletcher have played zero role in the United team this season (other than slight cameos from Fletcher) so we really aren't weakened significantly by their departure. Carrick may be out, but hopefully that means Herrera gets a decent run in the team, and we also have Fel, Rooney and DiMaria who can play there. (I'll be in the minority, but Carrick's injury might be a blessing in disguise if Herrera gets a run in the team, and we may look stronger in his absence).

I still think we'll be pushing for a CB, but it was said before the window opened that we weren't going for short term options; that we had a list of players and if they weren't available, we'd be waiting till Summer.

Still plenty of time in the window left though, so still have plenty of time to wait before the toy throwing should even consider beginning tbh. I still think we have a squad well capable of top 4 though.

Rooney has, imo, been rubbish in midfield apart from his initial promising start there. Doesn't dictate play, doesn't tackle successfully, doesn't contribute what he could to the side.

We now have Blind, Fellaini, Herrera as the only players capable, imo, of playing in a midfield 2. Di Maria should be a runner in a 3. Rooney shouldn't be in central midfield. Mata shouldn't be in central midfield.

We need more quality. Instead we have got rid of two players (however useless they may have been) and lost another to injury while doing nothing to add to the squad.

Same story in defence. We are goign to persevere with Valencia at right back rather than trying to sign someone. And stick with Jones, Smalling and Evans (whenever any of them are actually fit) to play alongside Rojo. Brilliant.

Another finish outside the CL places out of arrogance.

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

The defence is patchy and open for debate, but even from Midfield on we have plenty of quality.

Never had it better at the club if I'm honest

Patchy defense is starting to become a statistical myth, and I think it's maybe that we keep ****ting a brick seeing our defenders one on one, or De Gea making loads of fantastic saves.

What's the latest mindphuck stat? Only recently we had conceeded one less then City who spunked their load on Mangala and have Vincent "what do you mean I'm overrated Kompany", and one more then Chelsea, who many would have you believe were Fort Knox.

As much issues as you or I may have with our defenders, I think your in barny land if you think what we have isn't good enough for top 4. I'd imagine the problem is them being flung into this weird system they arn't used to, that doesn't seem to show any benefits and as a result confidence get's knocked. The amount of 1v1 situations that develop from a hoofed ball is just mind boggling.

TheDoc wrote: »

Patchy defense is starting to become a statistical myth, and I think it's maybe that we keep ****ting a brick seeing our defenders one on one, or De Gea making loads of fantastic saves.

What's the latest mindphuck stat? Only recently we had conceeded one less then City who spunked their load on Mangala and have Vincent "what do you mean I'm overrated Kompany", and one more then Chelsea, who many would have you believe were Fort Knox.

Its posts like this that prompted the current thread on meaningless statistics in soccer.