28 Aug 2015 14:56:24
Afternoon,

Now as most of you will already know as I probably bore the hell out of you with it, I'm a big fan of Hererra. This morning, as I have 5 days off I decided to watch the whole midweek match again which I had recorded. Granted, Hererra had a stinker first half hour, but in all fairness he was literally starting his season then and is 4 games behind most.

Once he settled down I thought he really started to impose himself on the game, just like he had done in the second half of last season. I actually think he was our best player much of last season bar De Gea.

One thing I love about him is his movement, he is always looking to give and go, his passing is more often than not forward, something we lack recently. If you watched midweek, he made a number of runs beyond Rooney and created space and options, like the one he scored from. Having him in the side defiantly helped Rooney IMO. I also think he brings the best out of Mata, they seem to have a good understanding of each other and link up well.

Now I know some get frustrated as he does give the ball away a bit more than the others, but players looking for that killer pass often do. More often than not it will pay off.

Rather than play two holding CM's in a 4-2-3-1 formation, I'd much prefer us to set up with 4-3-3. For me Schneiderlin would defiantly start in there for his overall play, defensively and offensively. I'd then play one of Schweiny/Carrick, happy to rotate both with fitness issues over the last 24 months. Then Hererra as the more advanced one of the 3.

Despite my opinion that Rooney isn't good enough anymore, it's obvious he's going nowhere. With that in mind I'd like to see an attacking forward bought before the window. A greizzman, Reus, Moura, type player. Ideally Bale would be the dream signing but isn't going to happen. We would then be able to play the new signing on one side with Memphis the other side of Rooney up top.

This formation and side would give us a strong chance to challenge IMO, although in an ideal world I'd like a CB too. But I feel an attacker is more of a necessity right now.

I think we are now starting to see the best of Shaw, he looks a totally different player this season, and with Darmian on the other side we look to have very good fullbacks for the forseable future. I like smalling and think he will become a very good centre back. So all in all we're not far away. But I do feel we will struggle to better 4th without one big signing before the window shuts.

Here's hoping Hererra get much more game time as i feel were a much better side with him than without.

1.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 15:17:27
Good post. Agree. I am even warming to Daley Blind at centre back but worry how he'll fair against the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and City.

3 from Rooney, Memphis, Mata, Adnan and 1 more is pretty strong and well backed up by the likes of Young and Chicarito (even if he did have a stinker the other night) and adaptable enough to drop one of the 3 in midfield in certain scenarios.

2.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 16:26:11
Good post Stand. As you say we have to accept that Wazzer is going to be our main man so I hope we do the same, just somebody that can stretch teams on the right like Memphis can on the left. This will bring even more out of Darmian as well imo and enable fast switches of play which lead to something rather than a slowdown.

I genuinely think we will win the league now irrespective of who we sign. City, Chelsea and Arsenal all play one main striker, so Smalling or Blind will have cover. The key in the modern age is the DM and we have 3 crackers. We just need to add some tempo and balance (not just left threat) and we will be hard to beat and hard to defend against for 90mins.

Here's hoping anyway. (my only serious worry is the keeper, I wish he was tested more before the window closes so LVG can see he is an accident waiting to happen).

3.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 16:32:47
Well balanced post that sums up where we are. I wouldn't be surprised if we sneaked 3rd or if we're lucky 2nd with the current squad but I agree with all our strengths and weaknesses. One signing now could really lift us, let's see what happens.

4.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 16:39:12
Well VG had this to say about herrera.

“I started my campaign this year with Herrera on the bench so I had a theoretical scheme in my head that he could play as a 10, and he did well against Club Brugge,” the boss said. “But in the second half it was easier for us to play.”

Yes it was easier as it only took Herrera 4minutes playing in his best position to make something happen and setup a goal for Rooney.

From then on it was easier, but credit should be given where it is earned.

I hope that with Januzaj injured Herrera now starts in this position and goes on a run of games like last year. He could make a big difference in there, as his movement running from deep and past rooney has been lacking in our first 3 league games.

5.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 17:10:14
Agree on most of that stand. But mata is a really good player. He has played his full career on the winds with the exception of 1 season at Chelsea and not a full season at that.
Ms and ah are box to box players that operate best with a 6 behind them. Herrera is not a no 10 ìn anyway and has never played as one he is an attacking midfielder.
Personally I would sell adnan while he still has a decent value (albeit highly over valued) I don't think he will be a top player in England but might do well in a softer less physical league.
Bale has always been my wish and I'm not giving up until Tuesday☺

6.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 17:37:18
Personally I'd play Herrera in Januzaj's position behind Rooney then start Januzaj out wide insted of Mata. He could cut in and create like Mata does or pass his man out on the wing and get a ball in.

7.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 17:38:13
Sell Januzaj? Think you'll feel stupid saying that in a few years time ken.

8.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 17:53:37
I personally think as I have said many times that Janazaj needs a season loan in the premier league. At a club like Swansea, Bournemouth, Everton, someone who tries to play good football. I think he's a bit lightweight and needs 12 months away

9.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 17:55:19
I don't rate him ozwald is just my opinion mate. Imo he is totally overhyped I don't think he will cut it in England.
If I turn it to be wrong I'll be pleased but for me be had done very little on The pitch to justify big expectations.
ÃŒve been wrong before but I won't be feeling stupid if I'm wrong on this.
Lacks a bit of Heart and character imo and I could be wrong.
I'm not a kneejerk reaction type I'm nagging my pinion on what he had produced over pay 18 months which is very little. You might say he had had little chances but he might not have deserved them

10.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 18:03:36
Beast did I read that right. You think we will win the league with and I quote you .a clueless manager who mistreats his players who is a dinasor who obviously did not watch any of our matches last season who is a liar and a fake and had no idea about modern football and that he should be fitted and you won't sleep easy until he is. can i ask you who is coaching and selecting this team that you think is going to win the league ?

11.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 18:13:55
Eh fired not fitted damn autospell

12.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 18:17:33
Beast I share your concern on the keeper situation I'm not sure what's going on there buti don't expect us to go into sep without signing a top class keeper. I'm hoping cillesen or perhaps lloris will jump as top 4 looks unlikely for spurs even this early.
Ed might have to bend over and take it from levy again☺

13.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 20:46:13
Good post mate.

I really hope we start Herrera in the number 10, but have a feeling the manager might go with Felliani.

I think a pacey right sided attacker would really add something to our attacking play. I just hope we can bring one in before the close of the transfer window.

14.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 20:51:50
You had a drink Ken?

15.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 20:54:26
Ken - yes mate, I wrote a longer post about it a few weeks ago which goes into a bit more detail. I don't like the manager or his methods, but I now think we will lose less than some of our competitors, and we will pick up wins where others will draw. It will be the most boring football team to ever win anything, but I think we could very well mop up. The DM's and how defensive we are is the key, I hate it but the current set-up of the PL suits us for a lot of 1-0's. Europe we will do well as well now, I would put money on us doing the double.

Sadly I am one of the few that would sacrifice titles for entertaining football. I know we all want both, I think we should get both, but most of the time we won't with this guy in charge. Maybe I am just trying to be overly optimistic but I can't help feel the sacrifice of our great name and what it represents across the world has to be worth something!

16.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 21:41:51
Beast in the predictions comp I had us down to win the title because I believe we will win it and it's because I believe in the manager and what he is trying to do.
He took over one hell of a mess a squad that needed to be ripped apart and I could not and dtill can't believe some peoples lack of understanding and tolerance and some like yourself writing him off and wanting him fired after a few months.
I have a lot of friends in germany and many of them hate what pep had done to B Munich. Because he has changed their style and they think it's boring.
Chelsea are boring according to many outside the bridge.
If you want to look at the negatives all the time is very easy to do so.
Take klopp for example
A manager that took his own championship winning team from champions to playing 72% of Last season in the bottom half of the table. He sold players but invested terribly and bought bad Players. He took kagawa back and could not revive him. He quit when the going got tough and walked out. He has had numerous but ups with the german press. His train methods are so bad the injury list at BD was a disgrace and it was all his fault. Hummels and reus wanted to leave but stayed when he quit. Now do I believe in all that negativity. NO and i could type a list of all his positives but that is the sort of bullshit you post about Lvg. anybody can be made look hopeless if you just spot negatives. Klopp has won less than lvg in last 8 years but you won't acknowledge any positive about lvg.
You even said at one point you would prefer moyes that's just crazy talk. glad to see your coming around just a little☺

17.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 21:43:11
Anyone who wants to SELL janusaj is mad!

18.) 28 Aug 2015
28 Aug 2015 23:33:38
Hb mad for having an opinion? I don't see him being a success at United. I'm not mad just don't share your opinion
I don't agree with some of beasts views but he is not mad. I'll give an opinion and I'll be happy if he proves me wrong.
I think he will be sold within the next18 months and we won't get then what we could get now. But lvg seems to rate him and I value his opinion but I think he will fade out of the team after a few very lack lustre performances and will find it very hard to get his place back.
The lad is talented but I'm not sure the epl is the best place for him.
I don't like his constant diving and cheating if he played for Liverpool or Chelsea everybody on here would be slating him for it.
He is young and will learn and will possibly improve but I just don't see it happening for him at United.
He is 1 signing away from seeing little or no 1st team action this season in any meaningful games. Not a great spot to be in at 21

19.) 29 Aug 2015
29 Aug 2015 03:14:35
Stand United, beast, Ken I totally agree with you on this, took the words right out of my mouth, all the other comments, I don't quite understand where your all coming from with this, again I'm repeating myself when I say some of us have biased man utd blinkers on from watching far too much MUTV, learn more about the beautiful game guys.