14 Aug 2014 12:18:17
Ed's : slightly confused. Contrary to much of what has appeared in print in national newspapers, my understanding is that Utd have absolutely NO interest in Cuadrado or DiMaria!? Never have!? Can you clarify please - as it had been suggested that bids could be made. Also, picking up that Benatia is to remain in Rome and that presently, only one signing is expected this window - Blind.

{Ed002's Note - I have explained repeatedly that clubs do not like auctions which is what Fiorentina have been looking to do with Cuadrado. Barcelona have turned elsewhere. May still be a twist involving another club. Di Maria would like to get a deal done with PSG but they need to raise money by selling. RM will wait a bit but he is not the only significant bit of business that PSG are looking to do. Could happen still. Two other sides have had bids rejected for Benatia, one within the last week. They have been told he is not for sale. That could still change of course.}

1.) 14 Aug 2014
So could the Cuadrado in, Schurrle out rumours actually be true then Ed?

{Ed002's Note - Try the Chelsea page Syd.}

2.) 14 Aug 2014
It's just if Barcelona are out of the loop at least for now, it would be disappointing if MU have another to compete with. Especially if it's someone like Chelsea. Cuadrado would be a good buy IMO.

3.) 14 Aug 2014
14 Aug 2014 13:46:43
Thanks for the reply Ed - BUT - my point was that Utd have ABSOLUTELY NO INTEREST in either player! Smoke screens perhaps?

4.) 14 Aug 2014
Do Bayern maintain an interest in Cuadrado?

5.) 14 Aug 2014
I just want to say I have had 2 posts that haven't made it to the board.
The first one a week ago stating RM and Blind would be the only two signings in August.With the possibilty of
a defender from celtic(i forget his name)
And I also had it on good authority that Vidal will stay another 12 months at Juve, tried to post this at 05:00 this morning but it was never posted.
Rant over Z00P

6.) 14 Aug 2014
Worrying thing is we, re going into the season with a weaker squad and first team than last season

7.) 14 Aug 2014
Dusty, let's hope we can agree a deal for Vidal, Blind & Rojo then.

8.) 14 Aug 2014
Syd, scratch vidal from that list after his coach said he's going nowhere

9.) 14 Aug 2014
Perhaps the coach should let the president know that then. It would save a lot of messing around negotiating.

10.) 14 Aug 2014
I don't think it is weaker.

Herrera changes the whole dynamic of the team. Firstly he adds the passing we've missed since scholes, but also he adds an attacking threat to central midfield.

Last season we lacked an attacking threat in central midfield, and opposing midfielders would push up to support their attack freely, because they weren't scared of players like Cleverly breaking forward with the ball.

Herrera can and will break forward, and can do some damage when he does. Fletcher also looks back to fitness and form, and while he can't split a defence like Herrera can, he can't be ignored when he breaks forward, which he rarely did last season.

Having central midfielders willing and able to break forward will encourage a little more caution in opposition midfielders, and will relieve the pressure on the defence.

The new formation will also get more out of the players I think, although we still need some defensive reinforcements (hopefully Rojo + Hummels or someone similar).

11.) 14 Aug 2014
Vidic, Rio, giggs and evra have left Shaw and Herrera in, that's weaker however you want to look at it, Evans injured again, Shaw injured, valencia injured Carrick injured, smalling and Jones never get through a season in injured, if we don't spend now we never will

12.) 15 Aug 2014
3 ageing defenders out, only one of whom (Vidic) has been even close to good enough in the last year or two, for one very good young defender.

One 40yr old playmaker out, one superior 24yr old playmaker, who also has the engine of a box-to-box midfielder, in.

We do need some defensive strengthening, but that really isn't much weaker, and once Rojo signs it'll be stronger. Hopefully we'll still manage to get in a top centre-half or someone too, and then we will be set for 2nd or 3rd place and to finish the rebuilding next summer.

If we get in too many players they won't gel. We already got 2, hopefully 2 more soon (Rojo and another centrehalf), maybe 1 more on top of that at most.

13.) 15 Aug 2014
If buts and maybes mean nothing, tomorrow the premier league kicks off and we are weaker, evra vidic and giggs would improve the starting 11 tomorrow, even butner would improve the bench

14.) 15 Aug 2014
Yes, we still need a signing or two defensively, but how would Giggs improve our starting 11?

Mata and Herrera are both better playmakers and Herrera also offers much more energy, gets up and down the pitch to contribute at both ends and is far better defensively. Mata offers more goal threat than Giggs too.

I must admit I do wonder why Buttner was allowed to leave, as the club must have known there was interest in Evra, and he would have made a useful backup for Shaw. In fact I can't help thinking he would have done much better as a wingback in the new formation than he did as a fullback before.

15.) 15 Aug 2014
Giggs along side Herrera would improve the first team tomorrow, and I see you've now agreed the squad is weaker from your last post

16.) 15 Aug 2014
Dude, I've been saying all along that we need defensive reinforcement, but with Herrera we are a lot stronger in midfield. So weaker in defense, stronger in midfield, overall I think we're about the same.

Also, Giggs alongside Herrera would be much weaker than Fletcher, as Herrera would have to take all the defensive responsibility, preventing him from going forward where he is best.

With Fletch, they share defensive responsibility and Herrera can get forward to make defense splitting passes and link up with Mata.

17.) 15 Aug 2014
That's great thing about football, we all see thing different which makes it interesting to talk about