02 Aug 2015 08:58:45
Just reading through a few posts this morning and see people are quoting us to be finish mainly 4th spot . Surely nobody on here can be happy with finishing here !!! We want to compete for silverware this year not settling for fourth again . So the fans that are on here saying we don't need another striker or we don't need a replacement for Adm then stop saying it because clearly we do . For me we need to de gea ADM sold now and get Pedro in to replace ADM . Cillisen to replace de gea. Otamendi for Cb and Spend the 35-40 mil and get Lewandoski . With them I agree we ll be a 4th 5th spot this season with and a embarrassing early exit from Cl

1.) 02 Aug 2015
02 Aug 2015 09:26:39
We're not happy with finishing fourth but it's realistic unless we sign a centre back and a striker/winger

2.) 02 Aug 2015
02 Aug 2015 09:31:03
Torqs - I also think we will finish 4th or 5th the way things look currently. It is nowhere near good enough, we were unfit and all over the place last season with better players (on paper) and no Europe. We will know after 6 games how the season is going to pan out. As soon as LVG starts blatantly lying in his post match interviews we know the pressure cooker will be on full steam. He didn't start blatantly lying until early Winter last season, it will be by October this season unless he sorts out the defence and understands that winning games is reliant on actually attacking teams in numbers, especially in a defensive PL.

Too much work needs to be done too close to key games, bad management again.

3.) 02 Aug 2015
02 Aug 2015 09:39:58
I don't think anyone would be happy with finishing 4th Torqs, I think most people just see the league as it is, very competitive. The three teams who finished above us haven't lost any players but have strengthed with a few minimal purchases.

The thing is we all know we need a CB and a ST (and maybe a GK) but the problem is fielding a team with potentially seven new players is a problem in itself. Chelsea's squad have grown under Jose the past few years, Wenger has brought his entire team through years together playing alongside one another whilst adding a few WC players and City have a group of players in Hart, Kompany, Yaya, Silva, Aguero and co who have rampaged their way to the title on more than one occasion.

We are in a sticky spot. Add players and risk another 'transition' year or stick with what we have got and risk lacking that extra quality in the squad. This is where the manager has got to step up with a clear plan of attack and know how he is going to go about competing this season. We can't keep changing formations and moving players to postions unknown to them.

We have a good team, we just have to find the best way for it to move forward.

4.) 02 Aug 2015
02 Aug 2015 10:01:53
Beast, we've added Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Darmian and Depay this summer. How was last season's team better on paper?

5.) 02 Aug 2015
02 Aug 2015 10:10:12
To be fair Noucamp if before the season started last year and our options were the above 5 players or Di Maria and Falcao, two WC players in thier prime I think most would have gone for the latter.

6.) 02 Aug 2015
02 Aug 2015 10:22:20
I think we'll win the title this year. Ed to bring in one marquee signing and two further signings. With the additional sponsorship money, there is no way we will start the season without further additions.
The pressure on Ed and LVG will be massive.
Can see Bale, Pedro and an experienced centre back come in before the end of the transfer window. LVG has mentioned we need more pace and creativity and Bale and Pedro fit the bill well enough
Hopefully De Gea stays and personally I'd be happy with someone like Vertonghen in.
I'm optimistic about the signings made and to come and think the one bad result against PSG isn't a reason for people to become disillusioned so quickly
We'll stuff Spurs 3-1

7.) 02 Aug 2015
02 Aug 2015 10:37:38
Beast

Sorry but it is too easy to blame LvG with the glib "bad management again" comment. Facts are he had an unbalanced squad which he recognised straight away and has been working towards sorting out. The lightweights have already or are in the process of being removed. The purchases made so far this summer have been good ones whilst also having to continue to accommodate some bought previously without a plan to where they fitted.

LvG will have told Woodward what is needed and it then comes down to the club finding the money. I am uncomfortable with us not having the pace and creation up front in place already and the central defender , but wonder if that clear message from LvG is to us to say he knows what is missing and also to Woodward to pull his finger out and get something sorted.

8.) 02 Aug 2015
02 Aug 2015 11:01:50
Beast , I am glad you are back mate because you add a lot to the page at times. But please , would you lay off the whole blaming it on the manager at every opportunity. Everyone knows , including LvG that we need CB(s). We are trying I am sure , but there are not many top class CB's out there , and they are difficult to get. Woodward's has done a good job so far this summer , and he takes the credit for signings.So how come signings that don't happen are LvG's fault?
And the whole issue about LvG "telling lies" is just another stick for you to beat him with. Despite some things being a little mis-interpreted at times due to translation , I actually find him a pretty straight talking and honest bloke. Sometimes to his detriment. SAF was one of the biggest bullshitters going at times , if he thought it was for the benefit of himself or the team.
I am not the banter police , beast , and we all have different views. But you and JMB got a lot of stick for the constant slagging off if the manager. I actually think he used to deliberately egg you on. We know you don't like LvG , fair enough. But don't start with the whole anti van Gaal campaign again before a ball has even been kicked. Lots can happen between now and the end of the window , so let's wait and see before we judge. And to be honest , whether we have LvG or Mourinho or the Lord Jesus Christ as manager , I really wouldn't be expecting miracles (well maybe if it was The Lord J.C !) in the first few months of the season. We will likely have 4,5 or maybe even 6 new faces in the starting eleven. They will take time to gel and get to know each other's game. But I suppose a proper manager wouldn't have that problem ?

{Ed004's Note - Beast I was just wondering what you think of the four signings we have made for the first team this season? Darmian, Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin and Depay. Of the four and of the players that have moved this window only Vidal stands out as being an improvement but we have tried and failed to sign him before and he comes with a lot of baggage}

9.) 02 Aug 2015
02 Aug 2015 11:10:33
Fergie never lied to the press, nor José or Wenger did they? All managers lie to the press so to castigate lvg for that on top of everything else is just pathetic but at least your consistent beast. The players were not unfit last year at all IMO your simply making things up and talking nonsense

10.) 02 Aug 2015
02 Aug 2015 11:25:23
Ed , now this is some statement , but I honestly think Schneiderlin is the best signings could have made in his position. In the long term , even better than Vidal. I really rate him that highly. I have probably bored everyone on here by reminding them that I was championing Schneiderlin two years ago , but I make apologiess for that because I was well chuffed that we signed him!! He is exactly what we need :)

{Ed004's Note - I should have said possibly as it is open to debate. Schneiderlin is a fantastic player however Vidal has proven it at a far far higher level. Though Schneiderlin will not need time to adapt to the league, is younger and doesn't have any baggage. I was delighted when I heard he was signed.}

11.) 02 Aug 2015
02 Aug 2015 11:35:52
Noucamp - Unreal summed it up for me, add RVP to that mix who is better than Hernandez and then the DDG scenario.

Redman - The manager has to be the person we look at, he is the one picking the team and signing off on transfers. Blind at CB, Depay behind the striker, Mata out wide, two holding midfielders every friendly despite saying he won't play this way, Jones starting ahead of Smalling pre-season, hardly any Herrera - all of these decisions seem strange. His prerogative as manager, but he has to be held accountable for disjointed displays and not getting the most from players. He should have learnt a lot last season, this pre-season looks like more of the same and that is all we have to judge him on thus far, not pipe dreams and hopes.

Betty - I'm only bashing him because he keeps making crazy decisions. If any of them actually worked I'd be happy but the only decent games we played last season were when Fellaini was a target man, which ironically is the most anti-football way we played and therefore anti LVG's philosophy. He started off telling the truth after games, then when it came out about Directors not being happy he started saying things about performances being good when they clearly weren't. It's frustrating for me and to be fair I have only bashed him a couple of times in recent months.

Ed 004 - Happy with the deals, but the primary target was a CB and I would rather have only signed one of Schweiny or Schneiderlin if it meant we lose out on Herrera. Most of us (I assume) wanted Herrera to feature as he is dynamic and links but it seems it will be him missing out again. Depay I like the look of, although again I would rather see Mata or Perreira playing behind the striker. Darmian looks class. I have 3 major issues, Rooney isn't good enough to lead the line and the cover we have is inadequate, the CB situation is a farce, we had a bit more tempo attacking wise pre-season yet we have small numbers attacking because of the P word. Actually 4 - DDG this uncertainty is going to cause mayhem with our CB's already looking lost.

{Ed004's Note - That's a fair enough assessment. I still think the club is working on deals (ie Meeting with Zlatan's agent etc) and think the primary targets for the cb position were Hummels and Ramos (who has signed a contract yet..). Valdes will replace De Gea IMO and pedro looks like he will sign and add more pace up top. On your post about weird formations and positions during preseason. Could it be that he already knows Herrera and Smalling will be starters and they were playing with the second team to add some leadership. He has already said Smalling is the third captain and I'm sure I read somewhere how Herrera has become more vocal on the team. Hopefully Depay has been playing centrally to improve on his awareness there as even if he started wide left he would be drifting inside more anyways. On a side note shaw has seemed to improve on his offensive game during the off season and looks fit enough to control the left side of the pitch. Maybe this is just me being optimistic. I think we are currently two signings away without losing De Gea from competing and once Di Maria goes we will have a lot left to spend}

12.) 02 Aug 2015
02 Aug 2015 11:49:22
All this talk about the 4th spot. Look, if LVG didn't ruined his pre-season and start of the campaign last year, with trying to fit in the 3 5 2 formation, we could've been at least title contenders. Not saying that we could've won the league though. With today's players the top 4 finish isn't an issue for me at all. If LVG can make the players tick like a clock, I'm sure that we'll be very close to the top if not on it. Even if we don't sign CB or striker. Look at Costa at Chelsea, I don't rate him at all, but he is considered as a superstar, because of his goal record. Rooney for me is by far a better striker. GGMU I'll go with a 3:0 win over Tottenham at the start!!!

13.) 02 Aug 2015
02 Aug 2015 12:04:46
Ed 004 - Thanks, yes I agree about Shaw. I hope you are right about Smalling & Herrera, but he did say that the team he plays will be the one that starts against Spurs. Smalling & Herrera should also get used to playing with the new players during pre-season if he intends to start them. He could be telling porkies again, but either way it is bizarre if you ask me. Pre-Season for a team signing a lot of first team players should be all about building understanding between those players, especially with CL qualifiers coming up and how competitive the league is, 10 years ago we could have gotten away with it more.

If we had a different manager I agree we are just a couple of players away, we could sign the worlds best 11 players in each position and I still think LVG will find a way to mess it up with pointless tinkering and stifling their natural game, that is how low I rate this guy unfortunately.

{Ed004's Note - I don't think anyone on here could alter your opinion on LvG anymore haha. Hopefully we see a normal 433 against Spurs with Depay and Mata out wide and Herrera, Smalling and not Blind playing cb}

14.) 02 Aug 2015
02 Aug 2015 12:08:00
Ken - I don't care what Wenger or Jose say, I care about the man that represents our club. Pre-game or transfers I don't expect him to reveal anything, however post match assessments got more and more deluded as the pressure built up. Surely you have to admit that? He was a breath of fresh air when he first started with his honest assessments despite odd decision making, but then he realised the heat was on so changed his tune to try and keep his job. He sold out and I lost any hope whatsoever for the guy being right for the club.

15.) 02 Aug 2015
02 Aug 2015 12:29:54
I said it many times last season that I don't think LVG is the right man for the job but I would like nothing better than to eat them words and be proved wrong.
He seems to be getting a good squad together with balance and depth, I truly believe were only 3 signings away from being a world force again, let's just hope that LVG makes the right decisions with them signings.

16.) 02 Aug 2015
02 Aug 2015 14:29:42
Beast, sometimes, you make no sense at all.

How is the team weaker? We signed 5 players ffs. All top players.

RVP done sod all last season. Falcao was about as useful as a brush-less broom; and Di Maria looked like a baby elephant with skates when he had the ball at his feet.

I am sorry, but your comments are becoming subjective rants.

17.) 02 Aug 2015
02 Aug 2015 13:15:33
Ed agree maybe Smalling and Herrera may be already guaranteed a starting place that's why LVG is looking at the other options. but nothing can explain why we have bought one of Europe top potential wingers and played him at number 10, whilst playing a World Cup winning number 10 out wide right or a small slow utility player at starting CB. If this is how we start the season I have to say I won't be crossing my fingers on much success. Also all this talk of how it's taken 3 windows for LVG to assess the squad and move players on or identify who he wants in. If the club gets the same start as they did last year LVG could be out and do we have to start this whole process again.