Manchester United Thread

Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

After last summer, I don't believe any rumours.

I'm just worried (and this sounds a bit silly) that Anderson and Cleverley will have a good pre-season, then Fergie might be tempted to not invest in midfield and keep faith in them. Then we get another scenario like this season where they're constantly injured, a little unfair on Cleverley, but Anderson certainly has previous.
 
Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

depends if we have any other signings in mind but for now I'd like to see the Carrick/Giggs Combo be used with Carrick/Kagawa, I guess if that didn't work he'd have to come in from the left handside and try to help make a 3 at times and switch with Rooney perhaps.

I think we'll have wrapped up our signings by pre season.
 
Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

Yeah that would be worrying.

Cleverly has shown a lot of promise but as far as I'm concerned, Anderson has had MORE than ENOUGH chances and has been here for a LONG time now. Yet how much has he improved? How good a player is he? I dare say the attacking midfielder Anderson at Porto a few years ago was a better player than the fatter more injury prone less confident Anderson today.

He was bought with Nani but where as one seriously improved and became one of the players in the team and when on form one of the better ones in the league, the other one (Anderson) has hardly set the world alight.

My patience with him has grown thin and unless he has an amazing season next year and FINALLY fulfills that potential or shows serious signs of improvement and CONSISTENCY, I think he should be sold off.

He's not a bad player but the United move hasn't helped him at all. He can go to a club like Mallorca and rediscover his confidence, be in starting 11 all the time and establish himself as a key player and fulfill his undoubted potential.
 
Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

I would think he might be off already PLF but for a pure numbers aspect it would be silly to sell a midfielder when were already short as I see it.
 
Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

I'll never get over my optimism with Anderson. For every 3 month absence, there's a match where he gives us the kind of attacking impetus none of our other players can bring. He has an underrated touch and football brain - but is admittedly erratic and inconsistent.

Some of the through balls and chipped passes he attempts (and sometimes makes) are fantastic.
 
Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

He's not good enough though and I don't think he'll ever grow out of the inconsistency.

We need someone proven and brilliant.
 
Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

Actually I think it's good if Man United don't win the title this season, as it could likely propel United to take a serious, hard look at themselves. And that would lead to improvement.

I recalled there's once (2000 to 2002 I think) when they won three titles in a row, but became complacent somewhat and dropped in quality - before Mourinho came in for Chelsea to snatch the title away from United. United then 'woke up' and became better as a result of that.
 
Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

I agree actually. If we manage to beat City despite their squad, that would have sent the wrong message.

We've not been all that fluent at all this season, and a lot of that has, of course come from the lack of energy, youth and talent in the midfield. There's nothing wrong with Carrick per se, but he's not the man you want in high-energy matches. And when you pair him with a 37 year old retired player, well you don't exactly up the vigour.

Contrast that with a player like Ramires - who isn't technically the greatest - but can make a difference in tight games with sheer exuberance and pace. I think we'll definitely get that type of player in the summer. Well I hope so anyway.

Also hope that this forces Fergie to have a look at his 'gambling' side. He's been poor this year in terms of crazy/odd formations.
 
Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

It would be good but if we managed to nick it given the position we're currently in then I'd not stop grinning all summer.
 
Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

Yeah, we definitely need a bit more mobility in central midfield, although bear in mind we had that in abundance earlier in the season when Anderson and Cleverley were fit.

I don't think winning the league or not will effect our business in the transfer market, I;m pretty sure Fergie would have already had some names in mind as soon as last season's transfer window had closed.

If he's loaning out Fabio, then a LB to give Evra a kick up the arse should be a priority, as well the issue in central midfield. It'll be interesting to see which type of midfielder we go for. Defensive? Creative? Mobile?

The issue is with Rooney in the hole, that more or less rules out any sort of number 10, advanced playmaker style player. We tried that with Anderson, shoe-horning him into central midfield and that has had mixed results.
 
Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

We should just play Rooney up front and have a Kagawa/Hazard/Sneijder/whoever behind him.

Don't give a shit about Welbeck, he's the next Heskey.
 
Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

Nah you won't.

I reckon you'll probably have more of the ball than us as well, you're obviously very good in possession.

I reckon it'll be a big struggle and if we do win then it'll only be 1/2-0 or possibly 2-1.

Mind you, if Newcastle help us out then maybe, just maybe we'll go for the jugular (mind you, we only seem to do that until the first goal and then slack off and make it hard for ourselves this season so I guess it still won't be a battering).
 
Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

When City win in the morning, 1 of 2 things is going to happen:

1. We'll have finally shed the pressure, and enjoy the final home game with flunecy, youth and fervor.

2. We'll be crippled by disappointment, and not bother chasing posession, and get beaten/ tight draw.

If Newcastle take any points of this City team, with the momentum and focus they have, I will eat a football. Not. Going. To. Happen.

(oh and dear Fergie, just for me and the other 75k fans at OT - please please please give us the chance to see Dimi Berbatov one last time. It's not gonna affect our position, so at least let the class get on the pitch. If you play Park or Giggs instead of giving him a send off, I'll seriously hate you forever. Well, not forever, but I'll claim you're senile)
 
Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

How much has berbatov played this season? I don't get to watch a lot being in the US, but I haven't even heard anything of him this season.
 
Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

daikirai said:
How much has berbatov played this season? I don't get to watch a lot being in the US, but I haven't even heard anything of him this season.
Click to expand...

He hasn't played much at all. But when he has, he's scored goals.

It baffles me given how poor Chicarito has been in the second half of the season that he isn't getting games. Clearly had a falling out with Fergie.
 
Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

matherto said:
We should just play Rooney up front and have a Kagawa/Hazard/Sneijder/whoever behind him.

Don't give a shit about Welbeck, he's the next Heskey.
Click to expand...

No way, I think Rooney is superior to all those in that role bar maybe a future Hazard and even then he could work his magic off the wing.

We don't need a Ramires lol, we've got a pretty similar player in Anderson actually. It depends really I think we'll go for agile dribbler who can be creative and see if he works in CM (yeah basically what Anderson was meant to be)
 
Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

Rooney is superior to them yes, but also much superior to Welbeck.

A combination of one of them + Rooney would be much better than Rooney + Welbeck.
 
Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

I actually think we more need a big, talented centre forward. We've completely lost the ability to hit it high, or long, because Rooney and Welbeck/ Chicarito are all poor in that area. So we become a bit predictable.

Anyway, very limp showing today. Swansea clearly couldn't be bothered to do anything but damage limitation from the off, which was disappointing from a supposedly good footballing team. Showed less ambition than Blackburn at Spurs the other day. But Fergie clearly threw in the towel. Limited substitutions, limited play.

Anyway, can't bedgrudge the team in the league. Should be on track for 89 points, some >20 than Arsenal and Chelsea. We only lost because we got absolutely blown out of the water in terms of spending. Imagine if we could have bought (deep breath):
Jo (18m), SWP (9m), Robinho (33m), Bellamy (14m), Given (8m), Santa Cruz (18m), Adebayor (25m), Boateng (11m)

In just 3 years, and been able to write them all off. That's the grotesque bit of City's spending. That's almost £150m - more than any other team bar Chelsea in that time - on players that City don't even bother having 2 years later. How can you compete with that?
 
Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

So Cavani then?

Can't think of anyone else in that mould that would be available, though Cavani will probably go to one of the clubs that'll bother to bid for him.
 
Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

beachryan said:
Anyway, very limp showing today. Swansea clearly couldn't be bothered to do anything but damage limitation from the off, which was disappointing from a supposedly good footballing team. Showed less ambition than Blackburn at Spurs the other day. But Fergie clearly threw in the towel. Limited substitutions, limited play.
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Agreed, I think most of our players were overawed by the occasion, just no bite whatsoever. It could have been more than 2-0 to be honest, and even for the goals we were sloppy (especially Young's goal, some crap defending!). Nothing to show upfront, which proves we need a proven Premier League striker to bang in goals if we're going to survive next season.

I'll have to be very frank about this, but I can't see Man U getting the title now. Sorry guys, but I think City will be too much for QPR on the final day, though stranger things have happened! It'll be very exciting to watch though!
 
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Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

I think City will beat QPR too, but I won't be congratulating anyone till they've done it, that would be disrespectful to QPR.

Thought we put in a professional performance today given the circumstances, so I was happy with that at least.
 
Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

I don't mind being disrespectful to QPR, they've got one of the most disrespectful managers in the league.

Will absolutely love it if they get relegated just to see Hughes' face.
 
Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

So do you lot wanna see Rooney pushed up into the No.9 role? I personally don't see an issue with Wayne in his current role, I mean he's been very productive in it and he's got a decent workrate to help out the two CM's become a 3.

I seriously think the 'right' midfielder and maybe another stardust player would make this side as good as any.

infarct what are the neutrals opinion (PLF? Lo Zio?) on this United team and were you think we need to improve, i'd say our current best 11 would be

------------DDG------------
Rafael--Ferdinand-Vidic--Evra
--------Carrick-Scholes*---
-Valencia---Rooney----Nani-
----------Welbeck-----------

*if retired or in rotation with Cleverley/Anderson/Fletcher
 
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Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

This could be all in my head, but I also think Rooney is starting to hate playing with Chicarito. His head seems to go on the 3rd/ 4th occasion the lil Mexican has screwed up his control, or misplaced a 5 yard pass.

Hernandez is only a super sub. I don't believe he should be used as more than that, it hurts our overall performance and hurts his contribution.

@ YoungGun - That's definitely our best formation for me, though I'd consider based on form swapping in Young for Nani.

Next season I hope we get at least one striker that can play as the 'big man' when we need to mix it up. I don't love Rooney as a true 9, would rather see him as a 10.
 
Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

YoungGun_UK said:
So do you lot wanna see Rooney pushed up into the No.9 role? I personally don't see an issue with Wayne in his current role, I mean he's been very productive in it and he's got a decent workrate to help out the two CM's become a 3.

I seriously think the 'right' midfielder and maybe another stardust player would make this side as good as any.

infarct what are the neutrals opinion (PLF? Lo Zio?) on this United team and were you think we need to improve, i'd say our current best 11 would be

------------DDG------------
Rafael--Ferdinand-Vidic--Evra
--------Carrick-Scholes*---
-Valencia---Rooney----Nani-
----------Welbeck-----------

*if retired or in rotation with Cleverley/Anderson/Fletcher
Click to expand...

Here's mine:

------------DDG------------
Rafael--Ferdinand-Vidic--Evra
--------Carrick--Tiote----
-Valencia---Hazard----Nani-
----------Rooney-----------
 
Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

Rooney seems to have lost a bit of control on the ball in my opinion and obviously pace, how often does he beat a player anymore? I think of him more as a scorer of goals than a creator. Though he's more capable of that than most strikers, I don't think he can solely be relied on to create that spark in the middle.

Been thinking about us constantly being linked to Attacking midfielders, rather than central midfielders lately and how that'd work. These players won't slot into the CM role, so surely that isn't the plan.

Perhaps Fergie intends to have a fluid front 4 next season, where each player is capable of shifting to the wing or coming inside, generally causing havoc to the opposition.

Young - Rooney - AM - Nani
Nani - AM - Rooney - Young
AM - Rooney - Young - Nani
Welbeck - Rooney - AM - Nani
Rooney - Welbeck - AM - Nani
AM - Rooney - Welbeck - Nani

But then Valencia and Hernandez are less capable of that sort of transition, so I'm not sure.
 
Re: Manchester United Champions Thread!!!19!!!!!

Wow, just heard a rumour that Hazard wants £200k a week - anyone got any info into that?

If that's true he's friggin mental. He's proved nothing so far, and he wants his salary to be alongside Rooney, Toure, Messi, Ronaldo and Nasri (!)?

He can go keep Samir company on the City bench if that's what he wants. I wouldn't give him more than £75k personally. Give him a highly incentivised contract sure - with big increases if the team win the league/ trophies and so forth - but a 21 year old that hasn't played in a true 'big' league to demand that just shows you where football has gone.
 
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