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04 Nov 2014 01:14:35
Did anyone watch Monday Night Football? If so, what did you think about Gary Nevilles assessment of RVP?
For those that missed it. Yes he needs to do more, however in his defense his runs are by and large the same but the vision to pick him out is not there without Scholes and Carrick.
1.) 04 Nov 2014 07:12:48
Hang on! are trying to tell me rvp is not a washed up has been? Cause I won't have it. 😊
2.) I didn't see it, but from what you say it surely looks like an indictment on our "playmakers", Rooney & Mata who are meant to be feeding these runs.
I think it is just a matter of perspective, RVP looks knackered after a 10 yard run, I doubt he is as willing a runner as he was when Scholes was playing. Mata & Rooney may not be as creative as many people like to assume as well.
3.) But Beast; Carrick and scholes sat deeper than mata and rooney.
4.) RVP doesn't look the same player, but I must admit it was enjoyable to see Carrick play on the weekend - he looked so assured and calm. I think we could do with him stepping back into the team to be honest, even if it is at the expense of Blind.
5.) Yes but we played with wingers then. Mata & Rooney are playing in the hole and the primary objective in that position is to feed the runs of the strikers, link up play and create chances. None of which is happening enough.
I understand what you mean about the deeper role seeing the runs clearer and its not a like for like comparison, but in effect those two are doing the Scholes/Carrick type job now, the formation has changed.
6.) I have been thinking the exact same things that Neville highlighted about our players not trying to look for Rvp's runs. Blind does not have the passing range of Carrick and I think it will get better once Carrick starts in that position.
In his first season the players were clearly instructed to look for Rvp every time they got the ball and it made a huge difference.
Although I think if fit and anywhere near his previous form, Falcao will offer a lot more than Rvp.
7.) He's not completely blameless, he's had the chances to score and 2 years ago they would have gone in, he should have 6/7 by now if you look at the chances he's missed
8.) 04 Nov 2014 14:46:40
Would be nice to see Carrick in the holding role alongside energetic midfielders like Fellaini and Herrera. Although having said that Blind has had some fantastic games for us that I think some people have forgotten about already, controlled the midfield in a few games. Just lacks the eye and skill for that killer pass unfortunately.
9.) I get your point Beast.
Anon you are spot on as well!
10.) Why do people mention Carrick in the same breath as scholes. No where near as creative as scholes.
26 Jul 2014 00:36:39
Vidal is a great player don't get me wrong, but I don't get why we are so obsessed with our midfield. Yes it needs improving but for me centre back is top priority.
1. LVG likes to play 3.
2. We only have 3 senior centre backs.
3. None of them are a Rio or Vidic in their prime.
4. It is rare they are all fit at the same time.
Hummels would be great but even if we get him I still think wr need another and may even need to be pragmatic about them perhaps not being what we'd call "United quality".
Who would everyone's unfancied pick be?
Personally I'd like Vertongen, de Vrij or even Shawcross or Vlaar. Each would improve our team imo as all are better than at least one of Evans, Smalling or Jones. Baby steps.
1.) De Vrij: has the potential to be world class. Strong, commanding leader (F. captain from young age), used to LVG's "philosophy" and is delaying giving Napoli an answer because he wants to come to Utd. Yes, he's young - but I think him and Jones at the back (with Vermaelon also) would give us experience and a platform for years to come.
2.) 26 Jul 2014 12:41:53
The 3 we currently have Evans, Smalling and Jones to go with hopefully Hummels and give Michael Keane a chance in the first team squad I think is enough. Also can see Carrick been used in a 3 at the back. Think this is sufficient for this season at least. I am sure there will also be plenty of games this season where we play a traditional back 4 so no need to overload on centre backs imo. Big season for Evans, Smalling and Jones ahead. Can see at least 1 if not 2 of them going in the next 12 months if they don't progress and start staying injury free.
3.) I don't think De Vrij's lack of experience will be an issue for LVG. He's already said he's not so bothered about actual experience as abut a player having the 'right stuff' and being capable of playing in the formations he wants to use. De Vrij has already showed the latter for Holland, and I assume LVG thinks he has the 'right stuff' as he kept selecting him.
15 May 2014 10:02:02
Gareth Barry is available on a free transfer and is better than all of our central midfield options imo - he quietly went about his business very well last season. He may be over 30 but I'd be happy if he signed him if it meant the rest of the budget went on a top notch midfielder, centre back (or 2) and left back. GB would be a pragmatic signing, apparently Arsenal are interested and he could be just what they need.
1.) I don't think so, he is decent but no better than Carrick or even Fletcher. He would not improve us at all.
2.) Ben80
I would seriously give up watching United if we signed him.
3.) If city don't think he's good enough the he certainly ain't good enough for us. i'd rather give a youngster games or dare I say it cleverley. we should be aiming much higher than city cast offs!
4.) There have been some shocking posts on here in the past but I think we have found the worst :-)
I'm with Simmo.
5.) Stop gap pragmatism. Barry is much better than Fletcher, MF and Tom C, was about the same level as Carrick at the start of the season but MC has gone backwards whilst GB had a decent season.
Would be interesting to hear thoughts of Everton fans. And "if he can't get in at City, he's not good enough for us" is flawed by the fact City are streets ahead of us atm. If GB was at United last season, he would've played pretty much every game.
Note I didn't say "only Gareth Barry", I'd just rather him plus a £40m midfielder than 2 £20m midfielders.
6.) I'd rather play Ben Pearson.
7.) Not convinced Pearson is ready, but have only seen him once or twice so will defer to anyone better informed. There is a trend on here to think youngsters performing well against other youngsters are ready, but when they're not given a chance it suggests to me they don't stand out when training with the first team.
To anyone critical of this post, you're entitled to your opinion og course. But how many games do we think he would have played if he was on our books the season just gone?
I know this post would get criticised as GB wouldn't cost £20m+, is no spring chicken and doesn't have a trendy foreign name. But I stand by my original statement, he'd add defensive protection that is non existent atm, free up budget to address the biggest issue we have (defense) and part plug the experience gap as a result of Rio and Vidic leaving. I'd still want another centre midfielder too though. Anyway. I reckon he'll end up joining Everton permenantly or signing for Arsenal.
8.) Rather Barry from Eastenders!
06 May 2014 09:04:02
Lots of talk about left backs and Shaw seems to be the favourite. With the new manager likely to want to spend in other areas too, and Shaw likely to be expensive. I wouldn't be dissapointed if we signed Ashley Cole for a season or two if it means we focus our budget on sorting centre backs and centre midfield.
I'll probably get slated!
1.) As back up yes, as long as Shaw got most of the game time. SAF was interested at one point. Shaw and Cole would be better than Shaw and Buttner at the end of the day.
08 Jan 2014 23:46:04
Wrote a long post and my fat thumbs and small phone ruined it. !
I do run my own business so whilst I don't claim to be a finance expert (I employ accountants for that!) I can hold a conversation on the subject.
Hate is perhaps too emotive a word and in truth I don't blame them for taking advantage and should really direct my feelings towards those that opened the door.
City's owners are by far and away the best and not just for the investment in the team, they're also investing in the infrastructure and community and their cash trickles down to grass roots via transfer fees.
Obviously they are the exception, but I don't think Ken Bates is the rule and there is plenty of middle ground. I'm sure you know plenty about who's been sniffing around United but I'm also sure more would come out of the woodwork should the club become available.
Personally I think FFP should be all about encouraging money into the game and discouraging it from leaving the game via agents, mortgages, etc. And this just demonstrates to me that FFP is a mere political ruling to keep the money rolling in for the powerful elite - and I don't exclude United from this.
But hey ho, it's a business like any other. But a very unique business where "customers" don't jump ship and do sometimes get a raw deal as a result. No other type of business could increase their prices by as much as United in recent years and get away without me even thinking about looking elsewhere.
George, Costa is a great player but why should Chelsea fans care about the price? If I had £40m spare I'd buy a bigger house.
I was in the give him time camp but am quickly running out of patience. I doubt he'll go and am concerned about how he'll spend but can at least be pragmatic about it. If the summer signings are more like Mata and less like MF then a new manager could build with them should the time come. I don't like the "Director of Football" role but maybe that's what is needed to ensure money is spent in a way that allows us to switch to plan b in terms of who is manager?
I don't get the "Will top players sign for Moyes?" issue.
A few observations;
1. Barcelona have appointed 3 managers in a row that were relatively unknown or unproven in management at the time, and it hasn't caused them any issues.
2. What % of players that sign and see out a 5 year contract have the same manager for the duration of the contract?
I get where people are coming from but still think players sign for the club and/or the money primarily and the manager secondary - especially when there is every chance the player will be at the club longer than the manager.
Ronaldo too old, heard it all now. He's not even 30.
I don't believe it but would be over the moon like 99.99% of other United fans if it happened.
Phil Jones is a Vidic/Terry type centre back, needs to be played with a Rio type to do his thinking for him and he'll be a great centre back with his physical presence and willingness to stick his head where not many others would. How anyone thinks he is a central midfielder is beyond me but each to their own.
I'm guessing/hoping if Rio retires and Vidic leaves we replace them with one top centre back and let Evans, Jones and Smalling compete to partner him. Long term my money is on Jones being first choice centre back for United and England.
Many good points made well and an interesting read.
I wouldn't go so far as to disagree with Ed as tbh I watch United as a fan and only keep a mental note of things I remember annoying me and am otherwise caught up in the emotion of the game. but I'm sure I remember thinking Shaw did well to cut out a fair amount of attempted crosses even when he started as second favourite.
Emotion aside, the biggest annoyance for me was Rooney's repeated cross field pass attempts. I'd understand if should any of them have come off they'd have lead to a good chance, but for me they were all bigger risk than reward and midfield (+ football in general) is about percentages.
Ps
I've changed my mind slightly on one small point re: letting Naval go wide and that is that I'd be less scared of Yaya trying to get his head on the end of a cross than being t'd up for a 25 yard strike when he becomes free whilst everyone hands over their marker to accommodate Shaw passing Navas on to Blind whilst tracking Pablo Z. Swings and roundabouts.
{Ed001's Note - good points, but a well drilled team, which United should be by now, should be able to work out how to cope with a winger being forced inside. If they aren't capable of doing so, then I would be wondering what the coaching staff are doing all week! It is a standard way of dealing with a winger who wants to go on the outside, especially when playing a narrow midfield, which United have done a few times this season. If you send them outside, and you are playing a narrow diamond, you give them space and time, if you send them inside, you force them into what should be an area packed with bodies, making it difficult for them to do anything. If Blind is being set to man mark Yaya in a match, then who is being drilled to cover? After all, this is City we are talking about, and, other than Navas, their wide players all like to cut inside, so the team should have been drilling in dealing with that constantly. Which is another reason I think sending Navas inside makes sense, because the team should be set up to cope with wide players cutting inside, due to most of them doing so.}
04 Nov 2014 01:40:05
The years under SAF were great, don't get me wrong. But whilst he spoiled us with success, he also dropped the ball with his forward thinking in his last few years and we're paying for it now.
Our squad at the start of the summer was the worst it's been for a long time, but much better at the end of the summer.
Yes LVG is still to plug some fairly major holes especially at the back, and the volume of new players will take a while getting used to each other. But ironically we wouldn't have needed to spend half as much if we started this rebuild a few years ago when it was due, and who knows Moyes might even have worked out.
Actually who am I kidding, last season was horrendous. This season hasn't been much better on paper so far, but at least I get that feeling that this run of indifferent results will be followed by someone getting a hiding soon and that was non existent last season.
That could be down to LVG, or could simply be down to the attacking options we now posses once all our fit. Either way, I'm certain we'll get Top 4 this season and kick on from there, and I'm also certain that is very different from the Arsenal annual quest for 4th.
LVG may work out in the long run, he may not. But regardless he had the guts to stand up and tell it like it was, we needed to invest (and wisely) or face 7th being a standard season ala Liverpool when they were "knocked off their perch".
Time will tell if the investment was wise, but ADM seems low risk, Falcao riskier and with high rewards if it works, Herrara looks graceful, Blind neat and tidy, Shaw full of potential and Rojo I'm waiting to judge as his start has been similar to Vidic and Evra.
It's still early days though, let's all just get behind the lads and enjoy the ride????
04 Nov 2014 01:09:44
Sorry for your loss. RIP
At least the young lad won't have a central defensive partner who has played more football at left back than centre back recently and also doesn't have English as his first language, plus a right back next to him that although now classed as experienced is still always a moment of rashness away from getting sent off, throw in a teenage left back also making his first competitive home start, a young (although good) keeper who has not yet developed the leadership qualities of our past keepers and a player making only his third start for the club in front of them all. easy debut really.
On a serious note, hope the lad does well with his unexpected chance. It's not his fault he's in the position he's in and he'll be wearing the shirt.
I wouldn't be surprised if Fletcher doesn't start ahead of Herrara, RVP or Falcao in order to provide a bit more protection in numbers to an inexperienced back 4.
No player should ever be happy to sit on the bench. Allowing for injuries and Adnan probably playing less than the other 5, they should all be able to play most of the games they're fit for.
MrE you make a good point but by all accounts Danny was told by LVG that he didn't fancy him and Arsenal was a good move for him. An (almost) equally big a club off the pitch that aren't in transition on it, strong in other areas of the pitch and weak in his position.
I do think we need another couple of defenders and a strong centre midfielder but would hate to lose Mata. Whatever the lineup when everyone is fit, it's always nice to have a couple of potential match winners on the bench which is why I think we need all 6 of the players I listed.
All of our good sides have had game changers on the bench and we've won titles off the back of late wins as a result. Teddy, Ole, Berbatov, Tevez, Giggs and Scholes in their twilight years, etc.