Whilst I hope the feeling at the end of last season sticks with our players for a long time, serving as the motivation for them to work even harder, I have spent the past couple of months trying to pretend that 2011-2012 didn’t happen. We didn’t drop eight points behind then go eight points clear, only to lose it all with the last kick of the game at the Etihad. It was only last week that I saw the Sergio Aguero goal that won them the league, spending weeks carefully avoiding the footage.
Danny Pugsley, who isn’t very bitter but is very blue, who owns the excellent Bitter and Blue blog, has shared his thoughts on this coming season.
Scott the Red: What would have to happen this season for you to class this as a successful one?
Danny Pugsley: This has been the most asked question of me for the various previews this summer. Having done what City have the past couple of seasons there is a platform for continued success. By that, of course we mean lifting trophies so to go without a trophy would be classed as a disappointment. The hope will be for a better showing in the Champions League but the big prize will be to try and retain the title. Success breeds success, but it also breeds expectation so this will be an added pressure for the squad to cope with.
STR: After years of United fans rubbing it in your face, how much satisfaction did you take from winning the league in such a painful way for United fans?
DP: It would have been far, far worse had City lost the title on the final day. For me, and certainly the wider impression I got was that it was about City, not United or anyone else. The thoughts in the final ten minutes and then at the final whistle were no way concerned with United or anyone else apart from City. Maybe this was to do with the manner of the win and how the title was ultimately achieved but the feeling was that this was solely about City.
STR: How do you feel about your club’s business in the transfer window this summer?
DP: Lack of you mean? Far too much has been placed on the lack of activity I think. Mancini’s comments make for good headlines but the market is not huge and City are no longer in the position to have to throw money around to quickly catch up. They also have the added problem of being burdened with some of the contracts from the early days which are hampering them due to FFP.
Rodwell is an interesting signing. There doesn’t feel an obvious ‘fit’ at the moment but the fee is not huge and he will have a couple of seasons to emerge. If he then goes on to be a dominant player for a decade then it will be a great signing. I suspect it will be 3-5 years before we can really assess the signing.
STR: Who do you think will be your most important player this season?
DP: City have a spine of Hart, Kompany, Yaya Toure, Silva and Aguero which I think are unmatched. Silva is the obvious choice (and one I long went for) but Yaya Toure continues to impress more and more and was such a key figure over the final games in 2011/12. I wouldn’t rule out Tevez having as successful a season as 2010/11 however. If Mancini does field a 3-5-2 (or loose variant of) this will fit him perfectly.
STR: Speaking of Tevez, Mancini said he would never play for the club again and the fans showed up with “Tevez Out” banners. How do you feel about him now?
DP: I know football fans are supposed to have a black and white view on these sort of matters but the overwhelming feeling I had was one of ambivalence. So much nonesense had gone on that I was indifferent to the whole thing. It felt such a shame as where was he trying to move to, and for what reason? In hindsight that was a mistake for Mancini to say that (regardless of how he felt) but what had happened clearly affected him and he was caught immediately after the game. Tevez can come back and repair things (forgive rather than forget) and amidst everything it shouldn’t be forgotten that he is one of the top players in the Premier League. It does look – for now – that everything is rosy in the Tevez garden and he may go on to have five or six successful seasons. You do feel though that those six months will inevitably be a footnote or an asterisk on his City career.
STR: How do you rate your manager’s ability to take your club forward?
DP: It’s easy to dismiss what Mancini has achieved given the players and money at his disposal but last season proved quite how tough the league is to win. To maintain form when United were so relentless and to then bring the team earned him plenty of credit. He can be quite an emotional character at times (witness the incidents with Tevez and Balotelli) but he has fostered a strong spirit and identity with the squad, despite the common outside view of them being a disparate bunch of mercenaries. I’ve always thought though that he may ultimately be judged by his ability to win a Champions League. His record at Inter was underwhelming and he needs to improve on last season. The title win will have bought him some time however.
STR: Who do you think will win the league this season?
DP: City have been installed as slight favourites and I think that is about right. Chelsea and Arsenal will improve but let’s not forget how big a distance they were behind last season. Tottenham I’d expect to post a similar season while Liverpool will improve; even a slight improvement in them converting chances will increase their points total. United will be challenging again as there is plenty of talent still within the squad plus there will be the motivation of how last season ended. Don’t forget that historically United price very adept at winning titles back once they have lost them.
———–
Follow Danny on Twitter and read the Bitter and Blue blog.
Man Utd News 24/7
Enemy indeed….
Let’s do it this season, United. I’m confident we can get back OUR title.
GRRRR….
nice read, not the worst of bitters i’ve come across. interesting point about mancini’s inter record, i think there is a good chance that city will lose interest in the league. the lack of signings i think will make the team feel a bit stagnant. high hopes for this season boys i think we’ll walk through the league, cant see us doing particularly well in the champions league though but i’ll be happy with our league bak and a decent cup run.
We dont have the midfield to do it in Europe and we are going to fall short again when we play City.
Who do we have that will put Toure in their pocket during a BIG game that really matters like last years away Derby ?
If that problem (CM) is still unresolved we can expect the same result as last year and dont be surprised if we have not got a single trophy to show again. The same goes fpr central Defence in my opinion with the exception of Vidic. I havent swallowed the whole “Evans was brilliant” thing – He isnt good enough in my opinion when he has to face REAL centre forwards.
So, remember this : What has happened before is no guarantee it will happen again. We may have been great at winning back our title in the past but then again we ALWAYS went into the transfer market and bought the best out there when we lost it. This year we havent bought the Best as we were outbid or out-smarted or there was “no value”.
Whether we face the facts or not, this season is going to be like no season ever before and teams are starting to realise we dont necessarily need to be given too much respect on the field anymore.
Ashley Young and Bebe arent going to strike fear in anyone anymore and I am starting to see how Rooney doesnt make teams quake anymore either.
When Ronaldo is on Madrids team sheet you can bet the opposition is shitting it. But then we sold him and the money was down the Glazer drain and NOT reinvested despite the dear leader saying “The Ronaldo money is there for me to spend” Well it wasnt was it Fergie and unlike YOU I dont think that “The Glazers are marvellous owners” so I guess I am one of thos not “Real2 fans that has been in the Stretford End for the last 26 years.
After this year – I may well be done with the whole sorry business and watch Olympics re-runs.
Sorry I can not read it , its to painful still.
Tevez is a skidmark little troll. United to reclaim the title
LordGaga – how’s the missus and her green armpits?
Don’t know what to make of their squad. Rodwell is the only signing, but De Jong could leave. I’d say that a step backwards as far as their midfield options are concerned. Still better than ours though.
Their strength is that their team has gelled together for the last 3 years whereas we are still in a transitional mode.
Can we have proof that this is a Bertie? He seems just a tad fair minded & didn’t call us rags?? Some fair points but I’m sorry, the bit where he claims the last gasp title win felt all about city is a lie. He’d never admit that but we all know it is… It’s engrained in their DNA to exist as Uniteds haters so every slight dip we have is celebrated. I have blue mates who text constantly bitter shit about anything and everything, often during our matches, whereas I’m not even interested to watch theirs.
Also, maybe I’d he’s reading this he could admit the truth about the Tevez saga… I know for a fact that if the situation had come about at United (which it wouldnt ever be allowed to), 99% of United fans would want him out & not have the same wushy washy opinion as blues do. He’s shat on the club ffs and it, to me just proves the whole false situation that is going on there. Believe me now it is not sustainable. His off the cuff remarks about all the other big contract mercenaries out on loan also backs this up, it’s a joke. Well done to the players as they were put together huge money, loyalty or not and they did a job. Same for Mancini. But sorry, as for the club & it’s fans nothing from me as if it wasn’t city the Arabs chose then it could’ve been ANYONE. To be catapulted with such financial ferocity like they have is to me obscene. Their Luke warm argument is that Chelsea did it which is true but they were a top 5 side anyway plus 2 wrongs don’t make a right and they say we did it…. Bollocks, we built, learned how to win in Europe, ie developed and grew. He now wants the CL after their 1st title in how many years!!? I can remember sitting in the gods at the Nou Camp having been battered 4 nowt by Barca.. How many things had we won leading up to that?
It may be a shock to hear the level headed tone of this guy but look between the lines… They’re all the same. One Love
StR
Great threads mate, if I could pass any feedback as a regular is that I used to love these ahead of whern we play their respected team.
Top threads mate, top blog!
Love these reads. Keep em coming:
Off topic: Fairly balanced read on RvP deal. Van Persie move to United seems to have moved to direct talks between clubs. SeveralSources: deal in £21-22m after personal call from Fergie to Wenger paves way
http://sportwitness.ning.com/forum/topics/robin-van-persie-moves-closer-to-manchester-united-as-clubs-enter
Thought id read this on a know your enemy basis . Tevez really burnt himself last season ,no one interested in paying the sort of money Cash and Carry wanted ,must of been a wake up call .He has come back a stone lighter this season so his intent is to impress .
The team : i got the sense that other teams were getting the measure of them and frustrating them ie Sunderland , QPR . add that to this an everybody wants to beat the champions syndrome .
They are in the same class as P$G etc . Were they excited the non commited, now the money element will drag them back as people wake up to how easy it is for clubs like these to damage the fabric of football as we knew it .
It matters little how i feel they came by success that is not due to them . They are now a challenge and as a United Supporter i accept it , look forward to it, and hope we rise to it . No un United football or undue respect this time if it has to be battle so be it .
Final point how can teams like Chelsea and mcfc not fill Villas ground with supporters for the community shield ?
I really don’t see why we are in for RVP. A good player he might be but he simply doesn’t fit into the team. I have still not seen a line up with Nani, Valencia, Kagawa, Rooney, RVP in the same team that makes sense. Either our wing play suffers or Kagawa has to play in a midfield two or Valencia is at right back or something equally ridiculous. Surely we have to play a 4-2-3-1 with Rooney up top and Kagawa behind him, with Nani and Valencia on the wings. Carrick and one midfielder who is fit in front of the back 4. Could someone try to convince me how RVP fits into the team. I just can’t see it.
I think DP stands for Dip Prick! Seriously though I concur with Giggs12 (Although he’s a K stander) I am loving the return of such threads, just like the old days….Great read and a nice bit of banter
Thanks for this post Scott.
Fair questions and I have to say fair answers from a bitter.
The biggest mistake you can make is to underestimate or overestimate your ‘enemy’. It’s better to keep a sharply dispassionate appraisal on theirs and your own strength and weaknesses.
It’s interesting that City are going all English if latest reports are to be believed. But what I would be wary of isn’t the present City team or their manager in the short term but their plans for an academy for the long term. This is United’s strength and I hope we keep investing in youth and letting talent express itself the United way.
SAF is passionate but he’s also coldly ruthless when he needs to be to get the best out of his team. As fans we are of course passionate and tend to lapse into hyperbole because we love our club so much.
I’d rather deal with City for the tenacious competitors they will be this season and not only match them but come the end of the season reclaim what is ours for a record 20th time.
I’m all psyched up for this season.
Diego
Im not a fan of bringing in RvP but for different reasons. In your squad you have Rooney as furthest forward. Impossible he’s Wayne Rooney he does what he wants. When on a charge towards goal have you seen Rooney furthest forward. He likes to come deep and be the playmaker and basically stand on everyones toes. Rooney is a No9 not a No10. Thats probably why theres chatter about RvP. But saying that we have Hernandez who is a top No10 and Wellbeck who will do as he’s told for the most part.
I dont like the idea of RvP because 20 million for a player who costs sod all next year is a fucking joke. If Sir Alex signs RvP he has absolutely no face in saying theres no value in the transfer market because quite simply it would be more stupid than any of Citys deals. What happens if we buy him, for 20million and he suffers an ankle injury (hes had an ankle injury every year of his career to date), he sits out a reasonable portion of the season, that could equate to the equivalent of 40million for a player who would be free the following summer. Its daft in fact Id go as to say the worlds most stupid ever transfer deal.
Im not saying he wouldnt be lethal, he would Im sure. But the rest of the team isnt capable of winning the champions league at the moment and by the time it is 2 or 3 years, he will be 32 with fucked ankles. Whats the fukkin point.?
Same money get Llorente, doesnt work still has equivalent resale value back to spain.
What do you call a person who carries 10 mugs at once but no cups?
Robin Van Persie
mancdub
If you read this, do get well soon mate. I hope that old ticker is getting back up to speed
Maybe FERGIE actually doesn’t want a resale value and wants robin van persie to complete his forward line. Yeah he’ll be 30 something in a couple of years but the dutch man has got all the technical skills that would render his potential loss of dynamism would be rendered useless. United have only one world class striker while others still need work, maybe it’s not as complete as some would think.
Keep RvP fit and the footballing brilliance he would provide is clear. He’s a class act. I’ve not really placed hopes on signing him but i see the value and FERGIE picking a player he obviously admires.
Hernandez and welbeck are some way off a ‘top’. Both still lacking in their games.
couple of typos in that.
@Diego
Can’t see it either. Not with the options we already have up front.
Goat-disagree,wellbeck is not lethal yet as he is still too young….RVP will have a short term impact for 2-3 years,and any player can get injuired…sure he has had more than others. I’ve read the fee will only reach 20million with all the add ons etc. and in a worst case scenario and he does get injuired,his wages would be covered by the insurance.His fee will already get covered by the shirt sales he boasts
Nice to hear the two pedos will stand trial. The worlds fucked up even though reading the story on football365 it does seem the courts have no bloody case. They are not being done for pedofilia so I suppose Ill have to drop that one as she was 16. In France its not against the law to pay for sex but it is to pay for sex to someone under the age of 18. I suppose they could argue that the money has gone to the pimp and its actually the pimp that paid her even though its them that are getting done for pimping? Whats the bloody issue when Ribery flew her out to Munich. As far as I can remember Munich was in Germany no matter how much effort the french put in to make themselves a part of Germany in the 40′s. Benzemas a lucky chap anyway as hes in Spain, he gets to fuck 13yos.
The issue surely is what is the attraction to a kid in the first place but in a morally fucked world can we expect any different. Judge gives a token fine, a suspended sentance (which is pointless anyway – someone who commits manslaughter doesnt actually reoffend unless it habitual and then its murder) and his club keeps on paying him and playing him and adidas sucks his arse and throws money down their throats. Everyone idolises the twats as they do with Rooney the whore fucker and whinehouse the junky tramp.
Its good to know the parents of these people told them that with money comes unadulterated x rated partying rather than responsibility – boring.
i think fergie wants RVP for one simple reason. he is a world class striker available at 20 mil or so. he has expressed interest in signing for us over the other money-whoring clubs,. just imagine, having two strikers at our club who can score 30+ goals.
he can also play as a LF. . … i’m sure fergie has an idea about how he wants the team to play. hence this relentless pursuit.. i for one would want RVP around.. who wouldn’t, he’s class..
if he fires us to two titles and a champions league in the 3-4 seasons he has left in him, im sure no one will complain if we buy him for 22 mil..
common guys, we complain when we don’t make a marquee signing, can’t also complain when we’re about to make one..
Btw. This is mainly from a financial perspective….as nowadays any half good striker would cost us 30million,and they’d want 120k a week at least….won’t create as much revenue as an RVP and might as well fail.While RVP is a proven world class striker and he won’t have to adapt to the epl
This is where everyone went to. It was painful to read this. What worked against us is that we had injuries and then lacked a bit of discipline towards the end but we shall be better.
Swissred
Strange way of looking at it my friend. His fee will be covered by shirt sales. The number of United shirt sales wont neccessarily go up because RvP is at OT it will just mean peopel will get his shirt rather than someone elses or have no name on it. Those that are going to buy will anyway and wont buy a second just because RvP on it. So yes his shirt sales cover the fee but now other players shirt sales may not.
We have Berbatov hes more than good enough to mentor Wellbeck and hernandez for one more year.
think of bent 24 mil carroll 35 mil and best of all steven fucking fletcher still unsold after a 14mil bid got rejected.. we’re getting RVP for 22 mil..
now if we get the epl player of the year and the bundesliga player of the year for a combined 36mil that cant not be classed as good business
@eric keane
Nah, the complaint is that we haven’t made a marquee signing where it matters. Buying a 5th striker (6th if you count Berbatov) while the plan is to revert to 4-2-3-1 is excessive. We can speculate all we want about how lethal our front line will be. Meanwhile, Scholes at 38 is still considered a certain starter and we are one Evra injury away from seeing Giggs or Blackett at left back in a crucial game. The squad is completely unbalanced in terms of depth.
samuel – united WE stand
“Hernandez and welbeck are some way off a ‘top’. Both still lacking in their games.”
What better way to bring them up to speed by sitting on the bench watching week in week out RvP and Rooney get the glorey. I thinks it would be a terrible more.
Goat:
I was thinking Rooney from 09/10. He was basically the focal point of all our attacks and scored a fuckload of goals. I’m somewhat confused by what you mean by a No10 here. Surely Hernandez isn’t a 10 as you say? Anyway, Who would you play in the hole behind the striker? Rooney or Kagawa?
And the idea that world class players won’t link up is laughable. They’re clever technically gifted players. They’ll obviously need to gel in training but no doubt that the likes of kagawa, nani, valencia, rooney, maybe van persie would be on the same wavelength. They’re top quality players, they will do some serious damage in competitions.
I see more positives than negatives, you can’t sit still and think united have suddenly become the perfect football team, Opportunity to pick up a class act is there, FERGIE never runs away from taking a gamble.
With all the attackers, united obviously have to put in balance to the team. Michael carrick will hopefully crucial to that, cleverly might also get a deeper position. They’d keep the ball ticking and manipulating possession.
The thing with van persie is, he’s versatile and adaptable. He can be the main centre forward but also drop deeper. He can easily play the lone man as wel meaning he’ll either be one of the 3 behind Rooney in a 4-2-3-1 or in another case, perhaps it’s time Rooney’s position is under threat . I’m not really bothered, wayne has had no real competition since his arrival. With van persie, united’s unpredictability will be back. We’d bamboozle defenders and shift them around.
eric keane
Well said mate, Fergie is not daft, anyone questioning him is though. There are reasons why the boss is after RvP
eric keane
Ive never complained about not making a marquee signing as I believe players become marquee players whilst at United not before. I understand City and Chelsea have to make those type of deals thats because they started with nothing and havent had a manager that can make them big names prefering instead in changing their manager every 15 minutes.
RvP is not a marquee signing, hes a Dirk Kuyt, a Demba Ba. Sure he score 30odd, so did Berba. Whats more amazing is that Rooney hasnt got 40 yet with the style of play and domination we have. If we wanted two 30 goal scores why not put Rooney and Berba together, won us the league!
costas – im not saying we don’t need a midfielder. and yes our squad is pretty unbalanced, but however consider this. rooney gets injured for 2 months. are you sure welbeck and chicho are upto replacing him?? and berbatov will leave this summer, im certain of it. its sad yet true..
as for the midfield i think fergie can’t the right one.. de rossi is not that a great ball player and sahin is quite unproven.. alex witsel has had one good season.. modric overpriced and according to me a bit over-rated.. dembele won’t be a long term buy.. and fellaini is a thug, not what we need for a fluid center midfield.. so i think this season we will give petrucci tunnicliffe powell a chance to impress and buy next season..
tbh if you see our midfielders the list is.. carrick scholes giggs cleverly anderson powell petrucci tunnicliffe.. if the last two guys do steo up we are well covered..
@Cedars
Hi mate. I know he’s your son and everything but what would those reasons be, lol? Because I am struggling to find many positives other than the fact that we will have more options in attack. The negatives outweigh the positives on this occasion. It’s not like we struggled with goals last season.
Goat-well there are a lot of ‘fans’,that follow players from club to club.He’s a marquee signing,which will stir up a lot of attention in the footballing world especially in Asia. I would love for Berbatov to stay but fergie is not willing to play him.Personally I’d much rather sign a LB cover and tiote
eric keane:
But when was the last time Rooney was out for 2months? Then look at how often our midfielders have been injured in the last couple of years.
Costas
Perhaps because he’s one of the best finisher in world football? Could you just imagine Rooney and RvP together upfront?
goat – i have to say when berba signed for us i sure thought they would be an extremely lethal partnership, however our polay is not inventive enough for berba, which is sure to change with the arrival of kagawa.. however i do feel his time at united is up and he will exit once and if we do sign RVP.. RVP and rooney might work better, they might not.. however RVP is more versatile than berba.. he is a great set piece taker.. can play as a left forward.. will offer us another dimension to attack from.. also we can play him up top with rooney a part of a fluid three behind..
im not accusing you of complaining about marquee signings.. it was an extremely generalised statement. kindly do not take offence.
Well that’s my week really fucked up now,just read Sahin who cost’s fuckall but wages is likely signing for Liverpool.Still never mind we will just get another year out of Scholes.Sickening.
diego – could you suggest a ball playing midfielder, who will fit in perfect in our system, ready to play for us, priced at less than 30 mil ?? there aren’t many around..
we sure need a midfielder, im not debating that. but i sincerely doubt fergie will buy for the sake of it.. he’ll put his faith in the youth..
Goat – you can’t go comparing a talented player with a work-man camel like dirk kuyt, he’s several steps ahead of the former liverpool donkey.
Injuries have probably taken away more from van persie than he would have imagined. He is still a great player and that’s something FERGIE acknowledges. He’s not going to let an opportunity disintegrate.
The days of berba at united are evaporating, time to realise that there’s no way back. Another player that simply never fitted into the club. Yeah he topped the goal charts with tevez but in the crucial games, FERGIE never trusted him. He barely played him. That also emphasises the fact that berba is surplus to requirement. The bulgarian showed glimpses and dazzled but not enough to keep you at the highest level in the long term. He’ll leave.
To compare him and van persie is as baffling as you claiming hernandez is a number 10. Welbeck is still erratic and needs more composure to elevate into that top class category.
@eric keane
Not counting on Berbatov either. He’s as good as gone. Rooney getting injured will always be a cause for worry, the way I look at it. Even if RVP joins us, he can’t replace what Rooney brings to the table. Van Persie will be a striker for United. But he won’t be the general on the pitch that Rooney is. So it’s just my 2 cents, but I feel that Rooney will be a huge loss even if RVP joins us.
As for the midfield, if some of these players stay injury free, we might patch up the problem for another season. But I still feel something’s missing. Too many players on the technical side, almost none on the box to box side (other than Fletch). I agree that some youngsters are promising, but I don’t want to put too much pressure on them for this season. Powell in particular who just joined us from Crewe.
Yup, Sahin would have been a perfect addition to our team… It’s just that real madrid thingy with SAF and probably the fact that madrid wan’t him back after one year.
eric keane:
The thing is that if you want someone to fit in perfectly in a system and is good on the ball you’ll have to pay around 30m in today’s market. Dortmund have some excellent midfielders in Götze, Bender and Reus, Sahin would be good too. Moutinho had a very good euros and seems like a very good ball playing midfielder…
Diego
No 10 in my eyes is a striker, out and out, a goal poacher – Pipo Inzaghi, Solskjaer, Hernandez, Owen, Andy Cole etc
No 9 is a hold up man but with a good strike rate. or even a playmaking forward – Hughes, Berbatov, Rooney, Yorke, Sheringham.
Just my preferred way of seeing the strikng set up.
No10 is speedy, nimble, light weight can play on either wing due to his speed even though he may not neccessarily be good enough to be a winger full time, goal poacher and born offside.
No9 bigger in stature, focus for long ball headers, can hold the ball whilst being harrased and pass it off to wingers or No10. Often good long range shot, goes back for opposing corners and due to body size and height.
Who would I put n the hole behind the striker. Has to be Rooney. Im not a fan of his but he is the main man at the club so I have to like it and lump it. Personally I find his close control and short range passing (quick one two) on the edge of the opposing penalty area bloody awful. If I took over from Sir Alex and thus expected to stamp my mark on the club then I would start by selling Rooney and putting Kagawa behind the striker who would be Hernandez or Llorente.
@Cedars
I can mate. Sounds promising, no doubt. But it not exactly what we are lacking. That’s my point. Rooney and Welbeck didn’t look too bad together at the end of the season either.
parry – i doubt fergie would do a loan deal with madrid..
i also heard that arsene asked fergie to promise he wont go for vicktor wanyama next year, which fergie declined.. i don’t know how true this is.. but who is wanyama???
costas – true. no box to box player.. i think fergie wants a very specific type of center midfielder and can’t find the right one.. however thats no excuse to not have bought one for 5 years.. as for left back situation.. fabio has to have a clause which lets him come back in event of evra getting a long term injury. else we are quite screwed in that dept..
also ‘d rather have RVP over moura..
Scott the Red and Danny Pugsley
Thank you sirs!
diego – don’t think dortmund will sell us more of their promising midfielders. just saying.
the perfect midfielder for us currently is schweinsteiger.. but yeah no chance of getting him .
cedars — RVP and rooney upfront with valencia supplying crosses from the wing will be a sight to behold
Fuck City I despise the cunts normally read view from the enemy,have no interest whatsoever what that blue cunt has to say
City turn my stomach,rentboy cunts(spit on the ground)
Goat: “Personally I find his close control and short range passing (quick one two) on the edge of the opposing penalty area bloody awful.”
Agreed. And having said that, don’t you think that is exactly the reason Kagawa was brought in? I just think it would be a waste to put him on the wing (where we are string already) or in a midfield 2. Also, Llorente will be 28 in february so I’d say that the resale value you were talking about is quite low.
samuel – united WE stand
You dont see Hernandez as a No10? where do you put him then, hes enthusiastic and runs and presses but Idont see that neccessarily as the focus of the attack rather than the finnisher, thats just youthful running.
Costas
No doubt young Danny did well with Wazza last season and I love the lad with a passion. But now with Kagawa on board, having a pair of strikers in from of him like Rooney and RvP will mean that we will scare the fuck out of defences
I’ve read clutching at straws ideas for midfielders. From sahin to dembele, from madrid bound modric to tiote (water carrier but not a bad player). People fail to notice that united might actually have players already at the club who are capable of solving whatever issue the midfield may have. FERGIE has incredible faith in youth and yeah, it’s a gamble but it’s just as risky as all the names mentioned to save the day. I’m optimistic, i see top younger talents on the brink of breaking through, they require patience and belief in them.
Giggs and scholes will hardly play this season because i feel a rejuvenated anderson and cleverly could step up. michael carrick will exert his experience. As eric keane mentioned, powel tunni, petrucci are all capable of mounting challenges for a first team role. They simply have to be played with more experienced players that will take some of the responsibility. Positives are there, sahin won’t come, mourinho is already doing what he does best with young players, destroy their careers. Sahin apparently will be turned into a left back.
A whopping 55% of Mancunians follow the Reds, with only 14.8% getting behind Mancini’s men, according to a new poll revealed by The Sun.
Man Utd fans, on average live 95 miles away from Old Trafford.
This is not the furthest average distance though for home fans to travel, with Newcastle fans living 97 miles away from St James park and Liverpool fans 100 miles away from Anfield.
http://www.tntmagazine.com/news/sport/manchester-is-officially-red-as-most-mancs-revealed-to-support-united
on another note, how deluded are the gooners?? check this tweet below
@iPault: “Chamakh is a good enough replacement for rvp. Remember rvp was not so good when Adebayor was there.”
eric keane:
Most likely yeah. But one could always try. We know that Wenger doesn’t want to sell RVP to us, yet we are trying to get him.
Diego
Yes but at the cost of Rooney.? Id prefer a passer in the passers possition but you cant play Rooney up front on his own he has sod all discipline. He will do as he wants, he will come too deep, he wont be the focus of a long ball – which is not the style we want to play BUT if you dont give the option for the defender to clear his lines in a panic you see more and more kicks into touch and clearances straight to opposing players. Always on the back foot, drawing Rooney ever deeper.
eric keane.
Aint got a clue who Wanyama is.But United must be turning into a right bunch of snobs if they consider a loan from Real beneath them.It’s not like they would take players on loan like Larson is it?Perfect opportunity to cure our weak spot and we aren’t even dithering we just aren’t going to attempt to deal with it,something is very wrong.
I don’t think Fergie wants to sign RVP, because Rooney might get injured. If that was the case, you’d have 2,3 options for every position. Injuries are part and parcel of the game. We seem to suffer most, though! It’s clearly a short term thing. The boss has admired RVP from a distance for a long time. There’s negatives and positives from the potential signing of Van Persie. While in the short term he brings goals and creativity to our team. The impact on Hernandez and to a lesser extent, Welbeck is worrying. I’d say the former more. He’s lost that spark, he had in his first season with United. Hernandez will be pushed by RVP coming in. In a sense, he’ll feel Berba’s pain from last year. No doubting United’s firepower if we land RVP. Wonderful player. My concern is the players that always seem to be the fall guys in this situation.
Goat:
Fair enough, it is a difficult one. Add RVP to the mix and SAF will have one hell of a headache.
If I got to choose the United team then it would be
Lindegaard
Rafael Ferdinand Vidic Evra (res:Smalling, Jones, Evans, Fabio)
Carrick (res Fletcher, Anderson, Jones)
Nani Valencia Kagawa Young (res, Giggs, Scholes, Cleverley, Rooney, Berbatov)
Hernandez (res Wellbeck, Llorente)
Hello people!
City? who the fuck are city. wait till you see Utd kick their sorry asses!:D
But in seriousness this has been one of the worst summers. The Pain was unbearable but hopefully we can make that pain as our anger and gets whats truly ours!
Offtopic:
So i was thinking about RVP, in a purely non sexual way.
I’ll leave that to Cedars!:D
I came across this statistic that RVP has scored around 100 goals in 220 matches and 47 assists. This includes all cup competitions for Arsenal and i decided to cut last seasons stat since they might be something of an anomaly. So basically to Sum up RVPs career till last season he has scored a goal almost every 2-3 games and if you take an average you’ll see he has played 30 odd games a season. Of course there were 2 seasons where he played 15 games a season so the stats can be slightly skewed. Its obvious that these stats only become better if you include last season. So keeping that in mind would a 20 million deal be value for money?
I think yes. i was a bit skeptical about it, but the more you think about it more it makes sense. RVP has never been given an opportunity to have 4 talented strikers around him. In Arsenal he was the sole man as a result more wear and tear.And with the right squad rotation i think we can pull it off. Our two recent European Cups have shown us that 4 forwards firing all cylinders is a must.
Over and Out
Goat – you obviously have a different view of the number 10 but hernandez needs more work in his game. I appreciate all his work rate and long busting runs but that’s not enough to keep him in the line up. I mentione in one article that hernandez needs to add more to his game. He’s a willing runner but not as effective with it, he gets caught off side far too much. That means more tactical knowledge needs to be fed to him. His first touch, link up play, passing and general all round skill needs massive improvement. Poaching goals is all well and good but if top defenders nullify you then what else have you got in your locker?. He needs to work out if being a starter is what he wants or a bench player capable of immediate impact. If he doesn’t improve those aspects of his game, a starting place for him will be non-existent.
To give an answer to your question, hernandez is more of a centre forward that needs to improve.
goat i would go for
DDG
rafael rio vidic evra
carrick cleverly
nani kagawa RVP
rooney
nani kagawa rvp can form a flexible 3 behind rooney or RVP can push up aside rooney and we could play 4-4-2.
im no expert on such things but i quite liked this one..
If van Persie signs and if he played an essential role in us winning the title , would he be worth the 20 million ? In my opinion yes. He may be free in a years time but in a tear we may win back or muss the title. Personally I would have loved to see him at for us before now.
Just glad the season is about to start.
If he signs , we collectively need to get cedars over for his first match
Diego
If he does add RvP then as I said, the abilities there, not disputing that, it will mean the end of Berbatov, it will mean less play time for Hernandez and Wellbeck, it will mean the end of value for money , lol, but then Im convinced that Sir Alex will be playing a 4-5-1 next year not a 4-4-2. Yes Rooney and RvP will both play but we all know Rooney is a free floating player and doesnt have the discipline to be an old school No9 and hes no No10 thats for sure.
So really its a 4 – Carrick – 3 – Rooney – 1
I’m hoping this dreadful pre season we’ve had, means we’ll hit the ground running in the league.
I want the premiership trophy back more than anything. Europe is a bonus.
A clients son had two season tickets for arsenal, he’s giving me the sears for the united away leg. How ironic it would be if RVP. Was playing for us and scored. Keep my lips pursed I guess
Willie – intense competition is part and parcel of the game. Yes, players will struggle for a place but why did they join united? to have a cigar and waltz into the first team?. They all need to bulk up their ideas and start showing worthiness of a starting place. Too many players are relaxing, welbeck will have increased wages, time he starts improving and showing why he earned it.
FERGIE can’t please every player or we’d have 22 playing.
Dreadedred – the reason the average Liverpool fan lives 100 miles away is due to overcrowding in Walton prison
eric keane
no valencia? make goat very sad
All this alarm at having potentially 4 top-class strikers.
Don’t see Mancini and City’s fans bemoaning the fact they’ve got Aguero, Tevez, Balotelli AND Dzeko.
For all our apparent strength in depth up front, we missed Rooney painfully obviously every time he didn’t play last season. Having RVP would both provide competition for Rooney’s place, but also hopefully take some of the ‘physical’ pressure off him, allowing him the odd week off, meaning he’s not run ragged over the course of a season.
Just got tickets for Everton vs united. But they are in the everton section. Fuck me
Redbilly
Or giving birth at Great Ormond street hospital london – and buy that I mean the kid is giving birth.
goat — that’s just one of many possible formations mate.. hard to imagine valencia on the bench !! its just speculative
Samuel – That’s sort of my point. If RVP signs, then he plays. Barring injury, of course. I think we can win the title without Van Persie. Hernandez and Welbeck’s chances will be restricted. No matter what way you look at it. Hernandez struggled to get into the side last year. Particularly, second half of the season. RVP won’t be coming to United to sit on the bench. He and Rooney will play the majority of the games. Not sure where Kagawa fit in. Fergie said he wants to play him off Rooney. It’s Fergie’ problem, i guess.
eric keane
In my team I may well even leave out Nani, push Valencia to the right and put Cleverley in the middle alongside Kagawa. Nani can be a bit wasteful at times but due to Valencia is defensively responsible he has to be in there for me.
Lindegaard
Rafael/Jones – Ferdinand – Vidic – Evra
Carrick
Valencia – Cleverley – Kagawa – Young
llorente (or RvP to appease the masses)
Redbilly
Cheers mate, but first match? Been to OT more times than I have had a beer, and trust me that is plenty!
Goat – Leave Nani out? Are you crazy! Lol.
Have any of you signed up for the RoM fantasy football? I would like to pit my wits up against someone I recognise from on here – a fellow poster – rather than whomever from the other side of the world that never posts for whatever reason. Come on people, so much more fun if we can get some banter going!
Redbilly
Unless you meant RvP’s first match! Sorry I am daft at times, in fact I am simply daft
Still don’t understand people who rate Nani over Valencia.
Valencia is phenomenally good at what he does, but is essentially a more limited player. Unless Rooney’s at the top of one of his form peaks, Nani is the most skilful player in our team and has consistently a higher combined rate of key passes / assists / goals that anyone else (bar Rooney).
50 Shades of WillieRedNut
mmm, well he does get on my fucking tits that boy. He was only in my original team as Id like to see Valencia more central, didnt want to loose wing play and I love the idea of three wingers players and lots of interchanging focussing getting particualr players completely fucked.
4321
DDG
Rafael Rio Vidic Evra
Clevs Carrick Anderson
Kagawa RVP
Rooney
Could it work?
No Nani, Valencia, or Young. I don’t envy the boss making these decisions.
4231
DDG
Rafael Rio Vidic Evra
Carrick Clevs
Valencia Kagawa RVP
Rooney
50 Shades of WillieRedNut
United with no wingers – me no like
50 Shades of WillieRedNut
The first team wont work as without wingers the play gets sucked in meaning you only get through with great passers and Rooney cant do close in passing for Toffee. His place would have to be changed possibly put RvP where Rooney is, Join Cleverley with Kagawa and then put Valencia where Cleverley was. Take out Anderson and put him in the fred the red costume (perfect fit more than one way) and shove in a veteran Giggs or Scholes.
————–DDG—————–
RAFAEL/JONES———-RIO/SMALLING—-VIDIC/EVANS———EVRA/BRADY
CARRICK/ANDERSON/T
CLEVERLY/SCHOLES
VALENCIA/NANI——— ———-KAGAWA/YOUNG/GIGGS
ROONEY/KAGAWA
RVP/WELBECK/HERNANDEZ
50 Shades of WillieRedNut
2nd team could work, I kinda like it. Not wingers as such but plenty of those that can be on the wing should the ball find its way there and with a high up 3 then Rooney dropping deep still gives you one or two of the three making breaks into space. A bit like when Park started his runs in and around the box for a period there was some excitement there that took me back to the days of Robson and his little runs.
Goat – Luckily, it ain’t our problem! Fitting RVP into a system will be as problematic, as fitting Veron in, all those years ago. It’s exciting. the balance of the team will be the biggest concern for Fergie. Assuming, he signs! We’re getting ahead of ourselves, again….
And against Barcelona I’d go
Lindegaard
Smalling Rio Vidic
Carrick
Valencia Cleverley Kagawa Scholes Young
Rooney
Only way to beat them is fucking pummel forward and put mascherano busquets and that twat the muskahound under extreme pressure because realistically they are fucking shite at defending, its just everyone plays them by putting 10 defenders on. Need Lindegaard there as we need a vocal goalkeeper especially with one man less at the back.
Looking at another angle, shittys title win last season has made a lot of their fans less bitter. They seam to be much calmer so maybe it was a good thing that they can concentrate on the football side of things than wanting to punch anyone seen in a Utd shirt.
I still however begrudge them their title as they should have been clear winners with the vast amount of cash they spent rather than Utd handing it them on a plate.
It also shows that these same fans are just a load of hypocrites, always slating Utd for ‘Buying’ their success. Now the boot is on the other foot its all OK. They are very lucky that Monsour chose their tin pot shithole of a failing club to invest his money although if they were still at Maine Rd this would never had happened because of the lack of land around the Maine Rd site. Wastelands has so much land around it and Monsour will be developing it. 2 words LUCKY BASTARDS.
Cedars
Glory Glory Man U.
I have heard about Arsenal accepting Utds bid for RVP. Is it around 20 million raising to 22? If true and he stays fit there’s no doubting he is a top class finisher although Rooney is better.
Rooney and RVP up front is rather mouth watering.
50 Shades of WillieRedNut
Veron was a problem, made worse because that fucking Beckham wanted to play in the middle as well. I kind of saw even then that Veron was Beckhams eventual replacement but also realised it would be on the wing???? Great player wrong time!
Imagine even we who follow our team closely can’t even make a good guess what our formation will be like, let alone who plays. How confused will the other teams be trying to figure us out =p
Good read
Cedars- cheers mate. They said I could go home today but now they say I can’t. But I’m out of the intensive care ward and on the mend.
On topic
City won the league on goal difference with almost the last kick off the season when considering the amount of money they’ve spent they should of won it by a about March. They deserve no credit for that.
Blackburn raised the bar in 94/95 with Jack Walkers millions and won the league. The next year United took it back.
Abramovich raised the bar further when Chelsea won it in 04/05 taking spending to a new level and retained it the year after. But the following year United took it back.
Blackburn were Jack Walkers passion and I can respect that. But City and Chelsea only purchased because they were cheap and it would cost too much to buy a big club.
IMO since the start of the premier league the only genuine champions have been United and Arsenal. Fuck City
*were only purchased*
RvP wold be a great additions, even if some think MUFC would pay some 5 mill to much.
Then the player will find there shape.
Mancdub
At least you’re on the mend and you get to oggle the Nurses for longer.
Worked for a Bloke once who actually worked for Jack Walker. Said he was a lovely man and really kind to his workers. Very sad how such a man died riddled with Cancer, he told me he was so ill he wouldn’t let anyone see him. Shame. He was a Blackburn fan all his life so you tend not to begrudge their lottery win like you do Chelscum and shitty. Still hate Shearer though.
mancdub, mend well.
http://www.bitterandblue.com/2012/7/5/3138356/robin-van-persie-a-worthy-target-for-man-city
I know it’s a Man City article. But don’t shoot me. There are some relevant statistics in there about just how brilliant he was last year. Also, at the bottom of that dirty blue page there are reasons for signing him and reasons for not signing him. All of which are valid for any club.
ex Daily Mail – no quotes or references!
“Rio Ferdinand’s FA race hearing has taken place amid top secrecy and the verdict could be announced as early as Wednesday afternoon. Ferdinand was charged with improper conduct by the FA after he acknowledged a comment on Twitter that referred to Chelsea defender Ashley Cole as a ‘choc-ice’.
Sportsmail can now reveal that Ferdinand – who denied the charge – attended a secret hearing in London last Friday and it is understood that the outcome will become known later on Wednesday or, at the latest, Thursday.”
Redbilly – Ha Ha! I thought it was because every bin in England has a dipper lurking near by!
goatinaunitedshirt – I’d like to pit my wits against you.
I have never entered or even looked at fantasy leagues. Does it require close attendance?
What tips are you prepared to give me, considering my greenhorn status?
I’d rather not spend the first few months learning from silly mistakes.
A three one four two could be an option.
It would mean pat at l mid and tony v at r mid scaring shit out of the opposition.
Don’t know why people are so hung up about us potentially signing RVP, I think it’d be a great add to the squad not only domestically but for the CL. Let’s face it he’s the player of the season and any time I watched him last year I was in awe of him. He’s a player that can change games on his own and you can never have enough players like that.
Scrap this holding midfielder carry on and concentrate on the United way of being positive and going forward. Sir Alex knows what he is doing.
People are going on about his age and the fee but let’s be honest it appears he isn’t asking for real top money. If we were to leave it a year and get him for free what agent isn’t going to hike his wages up knowing clubs would happily double it knowing the club has got a bargain. It takes the fee out the equation when you see it from that side because you could end up paying nearly the same but getting a year less out of him.
As well, I like the transfer business we’re trying to do this summer. I think many would agree our style of play has been a lot more conservative the past couple of years and to hear people saying City play better football than United sticks in my throat. With the signings of Kagawa and potentially RVP I think Sir Alex is trying to bring back the All out Attack in us, who can think that is a bad thing?
Ps. We already have a holding midfielder his name is Michael Carrick on that argument and is one the best passers and readers of the game in the league. Don’t write off Fletcher as well yet. If Cleverly stays fit he can easily get a spot in the team. Scholes ain’t bad either
DDG/ LINDY
JE. RIO. VIDA
CARRICK
TONY V TOM C. KAGS PAT
ROONEY. RVP / DANNY.
Not into formations lot has to do with who’s playing well,who Utd are playing and whether its home or away,so predicting formations is pretty redundant,I know a lot of lads like doing it,not knocking it just not into it
If RVP has told the Arse he prefers Utd over City I’ll give him credit for that means he’s not making the move for money,don’t think its really a issue imo Berba should have been picked over Danny and Herenandez in most games and see no different in RVP,he’s a top class striker who’s going to make the team better
Simple as that really
Zibbie – cheers mate.
James- the nurses are still here but the morphine stoped days ago
If Nani shows some consistency, we should not fear anyone but ourselves.
I think RVP should only join us if he was a childhood fan of our team. I remember how I felt when Rooney handed in a transfer request (and looking blue). If this happens at another club full of tradition, like Arsenal is, it’s really painful for the fans.
I watched all the pre-season games and Macheda lacks some confidence, or is it skill?
Also, I’m from Flanders (Belgium) and it’s a pity to see that no-one of the talents has joined Man Utd so far.
Really happy about Kagawa though, as I am a Borussia fan too and I follow all of their games. Maybe Man Utd should try to sign central defender Subotic, he could partner up with Vidic.
@kylelaw84
One of the problems is that RVP, unlike Berbatov, won’t be forced to the sidelines in order for Welbeck and Hernandez to flourish. His arrival is a step back for these two at a time when we should start building the team around them. And that’s on top of signing Kagawa and possibly reverting to 4-2-3-1. And I know people will say that the youngsters will have to fight for their place, but looking at the fee and wages we will pay for RVP, he won’t join us to sit on the bench.
There’s a misconception that the team hasn’t attacked a lot. Not entirely true. I know are tactics were suspect at City and Wigan, but overall, we scored 120 goals in 54 games last season. We had our second best goal tally in the Premiership years. Sir Alex did have us attack all out last year. And it ended up being costly. If anything, it’s our defensive play that we have to improve on. Defence is what cost us the title.
@LORDGAGA
When will people like you get a clue. You will sit there calling the Glazers leaches and claim they are starving Fergie of money BUT ignore the fact that between £120mill and £150mill was in the bank between Ronaldo being sold and September 1st 2011.
Interest rates are awful and have been for years as anyone who has a bank account or an ISA will tell you (You might get an introductory offer that may get you 2-3% for 6-12months but without that you are most likely looking under 0.5%) and its actually below the rate of inflation so money LOSSES value. Now how exactly does letting over 100mill lose value make any sense if the argument is that the Glazers have starved Fergie of money so they can pocket it.
The money was there for Fergie to spend. Fergie was just unable to get the players he wanted either because they preferred another club/country or because a sugar daddy threw stupid money at them. Unless ofc you believe the club goes after players they know they can’t get just for PR which is an equally stupid belief as doing so costs time and money which again doesn’t fit the ‘Glazers are leeches’ claims.
This really is what annoys me about the most extreme anti Glazers, they just aren’t consistent. They contradict themselves over and over again with their ‘beliefs’
@Goatinaunited
It’s not like Llorente is 22, he is 27 so his resale value would be limited as well.
And the difference is RvP is a proven player in the premier league, speaks the language and is settled in England. RvP should be able to pretty much hit the ground running he just needs a few weeks to get used to club and the players. Llorente is a much greater risk and even if he did make it we could very well have to wait 12-24months for him to settle in England & the EPL
And what if on injuries can go both ways. Llorente could get injured and sit out the season and then the extra 6mill it cost to buy him over RvP would look idiotic
@Swissred
Shirt sales covering transfer fees is a myth that Real like pulling out to justify stupid fees being paid. While its possible the total revenue for the shirt sales for the season may exceed the transfer fee in reality the club gets very little of this (Nike have prepaid most of the merchandise income as part of the kit deal. United only get the retailers cut when sold in the physical club shop but not the online store AND a cut of Nikes revenue on merchandise after it exceeds the prepaid figure)
And most importantly most of the short sales would have been made even if the player wasn’t signed. Look at Ronaldo to Madrid, within a few days Real claimed they had recouped the 80mill from short sales. Even if real got the whole £50 from the shirt they would have had to sell 1.6mill Extra shirts. At most the club will get £15 per shirt which means Real would have had to sell in excess of 5.3mill extra shirts.
United and Real sell the most shirts of any club and are said to to sell 1.2-1.5mill shirts a year so obviously these figures are ridiculous
http://www.sportingintelligence.com/2010/08/31/revealed-the-worlds-best-selling-club-football-shirts-310802/
@Costas
I don’t think it will hamper Welbeck or Hernandez. Let’s face they’re only going to benefit from playing with someone like RVP because neither have peaked yet and I believe are the long term future. Plus we’ll be competing in 3 competitions so there will be game time for all, we need them options if we are to compete on all fronts.
I agree though it that is a bit of misconception about our attacking intent, some of football has been wonderful but there have been times when you’d have loved us to really go for throat and we haven’t. All this defensive midfielder talk as well seems to me that we’re running scared of going at teams these days. We basically had the same options a few years ago (bar Hargreaves) when Ronaldo was playing and no one worried about it then. I don’t see why we should in the future if we know for a fact we’re more than capable of outscoring another team. Each to their own opinion though.
Mancdub
Good shit that Morphine had a shot when I had Appendicitis, talk about Lucy in the sky with Diamonds.
Costas – I totally agree, we should be happy RVP is signed, but how is welbeck and hernandez going to break up a partnership of kagwa rooney RVP? those 3 would be guaranteed starters, on the positive note, it could be the 3 prone axis of ronaldo rooney tevez. But welbeck would defiantly be limited to starts, and PPL say he is not a great goalscorer. Maybe the boss saw a signing like RVP to good to turn down, and its a way of sending the fear factor to rivals, that they will have to deal with a front 5 of valencia nani kagwa RVP rooney. But for me, even if we sign RVP, we still need a CB a fullback, and possibly a CM, the holes are still there. But it depends on if we can keep carrick cleverly kagwa anderson fit, and see the likes of powel step up, which say he is going to be a big star, and how Fletcher can regenerate from his illness
Not sure what you’re smoking but YAYA is your best player mate. He’s the pasta and everybody else is just sauce, as blatantly demonstrated when the ACN started. Rodwell, De Jong and Barry are scant CM cover as you’ll probably realise this season. Nasri can’t tackle for shit. Yaya aside CIty have no midfield to speak of and its hilarious more deluded bitters can’t see that.
As for this constant, monotonous call for a battling United CM to counter Yaya, can I ask the faithful how many Cups we’ve won in the last 5 seasons and how many finals we’ve reached?
Surely in that time we’ve faced equivalent maestros? Everybody from Song and Ramires last season to Gerrard and Essien in their prime, oh and of course Fabregas.
You know where im going with this. Im not suggesting he’s delivered single handedly, but we’ve already got a player with the managers trust to man mark our rivals’ CM threats, and he’s delivered in that regard like him or not.
If you judge the lad on all the big games he’s ever played since 18 who can deny he’s delivered a performance in most of them? Thats why he’s selected for top opposition whenever fit. Thats why he’s still seen as the future in CM.
United had 2 bad days at the office against City and the lad im talking about only played at OT. Visibly frustrated, he was subbed after getting a yellow at 0-1 with ten men. Shit happens.
But this season – like the manager – i’ll be backing the lad to outmuscle Yaya, Song and Ramires and keep them all quiet. At 23 I think he’s finally coming of age but you’d think he was 28 the way he’s written off.
Heres a thought fellas. What other enforcer in our midfield is more capable of man marking top opposition CMs, has the strength to muscle them off the ball, and has the vision to thread it through to Kagawa and our strikers?
If you are objective there is only one answer, and thats why the manager rates him so highly. I understand some supporters are easily frustrated but when it starts effecting your objectivity and you start talking bollocks thats when you gotta get a grip sunshine!
kylelaw84 – totally different situation to today, a few years ago like 07/08 season, back then the likes of VDS brown ferdinand vidic evra carrick scholes fletcher anderson and perhaps hargreaves were in peak condition. The spine of the team in VDS ferdinand vidic scholes carrick ronaldo rooney were primed and ready. The current squad if RVP is signed, the only spine I see with the squad is? DDG maybe vidic if he can stay fit, carrick kagwa rooney and welbeck. There are questions over vidic ferdinand jones evans cleverly anderson and fletchers fitness levels. So really the squad is still lacking an established spine, with allot of players who can pick up injury’s unlike 07/08
Mancdub – take care and get well soon! Seasons starting, and we need all our supporters to be fit, healthy and raring to go!
UNITED!
tom cleverly!!!
@Costas 13.16
Spot on.
Basel at home cost us the title.
United till I die: who are you talking of? Ando or Cleverly? Sadly enough, you can’t be talking of Fletch
Jeet, I reckon it was jones
Paul Parker/United Till I Die
Anderson.
@jeet – Anderson
Paul Parker/United Till I Die ?
I missed a lot during my absentees.
@UTID
Agreed. I say it every year but this is going to be his year as long as injuries dont fuck him
New threads up.
@ UTID Of course Man City’s replacements are scant in comparison. Toure is arguably the worlds best all round midfielder. De jong could do the tackling, Silva the flair but no-one has his all round game. You are just stating the obvious. As for facing a similar player to Toure, I’ll say only Gerrard in his 2 year great spell or Viera. Apart from those two, no you haven’t seen a maestro like him in recent years.
If you are referring to Anderson then well, I don’t know what to say. A lot of unfulfilled potential for me, dogged by injuries, doesn’t have enough pace or attacking threat to become a very good United Midfielder. Could he be a DM. of course, but that is his ceiling.
@Diego
Does Sahin actually have the qualities to be ready for this league? It’s very debatable, sure he is technically very good but physically I have my doubts. Everyone raved about Silva last season but look how long it took,for him to be ready for this league and even then he seemed to run out of steam at Christmas so imho still isn’t ready. It’s the problem with European players as our league is different to most of the other leagues in its style and requirements.
Admittedly his education is in Germany which is perhaps a closer league to the English one so I would put more faith in him than a Spanish player but still think physically it’s less demanding (just look at Ozil who physically struggles to complete games in Spain but didn’t have that issue in Germany. I suspect as its a lower pace as Mertasacker has shown)
@parryheid
what’s the point of bringing a player in a key position on loan. If he does well then you have built a team around a player who you may lose and certainly who you will then have to pay through the nose for if Madrid still decide to get rid of (or you could return them a ready made star)
And if he needs time to settle you may never actually see him achieve anything at the club.
United without wingers is like Natalie Portman without hair.
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/qxO0FJxOPXA/0.jpg
Still sexy as fuck, but something very distracting that takes attention from the middle is missing.
Cedars- first home match he plays for us
@shuddertothink – and you’re missing a few points.
Ya is a great player but he ain’t GOD. Song was just as influential for his club last season as were Ramires and Modric, so don’t get too carried away praising his role in CM. Back to my point, if you agree Yaya was central to everything City do wtf are City gonna do when he’s unavailable? De Jong is a donkey, as is Milner (who I forgot to even mention, until the word donkey came to mind) and as is Barry. CIty can’t play another way without Yaya as the solid defence and attack is all based on him. To deny that is to contradict how highly you rate him, so my point stands about deluded bitters who can’t see that.
Secondly, how many CIty goals start with Yaya? How many counter attacks? Silva is a decent player but he RELIES on Yaya as the main player who makes his runs possible, not just by finding him with passes but by making himself available to hold up the ball. Silva is half the player he is when Yaya is absent, and thats why Nani is the better FW as he doesn’t rely on a CM target man. I shudder to think how well supported Nani will now be by our new CM trio.
Finally I agree Ando has “a lot” of unfulfilled potential so considering his career thus far am I wrong to expect more to come? Don’t be daft he’s got his best years ahead of him ffs AND the faith of the manager who knows far more than you or I! Anderson’s injuries since 09 are well documented but the Club admits to rushing him back when Fletcher and Hargreaves were unavailable, and for a player so young that says it all.
By all accounts he wasn’t rushed back for the end of last last season, so he’s fully recovered and had time to strengthen his knee before enjoying a full pre-season for once. Based on the minutes he’s already racked up I’d say his fitness levels are doing just fine before the season starts, some might disagree but Im hopefull he’ll stay fit. But as for you saying he doesn’t have pace or attacking threat??? I take it you missed his entire first season, his start to the season with Cleverly last year, and everything inbetween? Lets just agree to disagree on that one. We’ll all see who’s who and what’s what within the next week.
Mancdub- hope the ticker is ok. Bend there with AF. Need sinus rhythm for the start of the season .
Best of health
Wakey.
If you think there is no point in bringing i a player on loan then what was the point of Larsson?You do not build a team round Sahin,he fills a shortcoming in the existing team and if is a success at United may well refuse to return to Real.Alternatively he would be well worth paying a decent transfer fee for considering in one years time he wont yet be 25yrs old a seasoned Turkish international who you have for a year on wages.And as for maybe not achieving anything,do you consider the likes of Anderson in Five years has?
I am well contented with the squad we have got . Rvp will be icing on the cake aand just imagine to world class strikers and anorher duo on the bench that are sharp and coming up, all those moaning about a midfield signing should just check the options available with Cleverly, Carrick, Kagawa, Scholes, Ando, Nani, valencia and Fletcher back we are stocked and raring to go. The only spot thnat needs attention is the left back position cuz Evra needs a cover that will assist.
I’m moaning about our midfield and you have just provided me with the reasons why.No incomers and we will get slaughtered this season.
@Parrheid
There is a differnce between an experienced player who has been able to perform at the top level both at club and international level as a backup player.
Bringing in a player on loan who is still fairly raw is completely different
As for Anderson atleast as our player you can afford to give him time to settle. With a loan player if they don’t hit the ground running they are leaving by the time they do. If it was a loan from an English club it may be differnt as perhaps that player would have less to be concerned about in terms of settling in the league. Would make more sense signing Sahin rather than loaning if a fair price could be negotiated
Jeet – Redbilly
Cheers lads
Wakey.
Well we are only days away from a reality check.fortunately there is still a little time on the transfer window to prevent my doomsday scenario.
@ goatinaunitedshirt
August 15, 2012 – 12:06
Yeah mate join the league I’ll keep ya company with the banter! Not to worry I’m an Irish man so piss taking is a character trait that’s been instilled from young age!
Always good laugh pal! Keeps the league interesting when united aren’t playing anyways! Consider your wits pitted!!!