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LIVE BLOG: United vs AS Roma

July 26, 2014

Daniel Stapleton

Follow @danstapleton89 on Twitter.

Herrera: I grew up watching Cantona

VIDEO: Roma 2-3 Manchester United

111 Comments

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m09538061 July 26, 2014

I wonder if we'll see Blake Carrington from Dynasty at Carrington soon.
Anyway a win is a win.
Pre-season is already better than last seasons.

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Paschal Agwunobi July 26, 2014

At least, our preseason is already better than previous preseason supervised by Lord moyes. Though, we still need to adress the midfield and Center back positions.

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j sman July 26, 2014

@Jackie- we do need quality. We look at our defense and we have only Raphel at the right and Shaw at the left in the center with smalling Jones and Evans i think we could really use help. We have some players who can play in multiple defensive positions but do you really think this defense can match that of a team we should be on the same level as like real madrid, Barcelona or even Byern Munich?

I think it goes without saying and no argument needs to be made for our midfield.

And as far as our strikers i think that rooney and Van Persie are the only ones worth keeping. I think Wilson should be loaned out to gain experience and as for Welbeck and Chicha i don't think that they are worth keeping. Chicha can't hold the ball and welbeck is fast but he always takes a touch to much and loses the ball or tries something fancy and then loses the ball.

I think there is no question that our team needs rebuilding and a quality signing in each position should do the trick. A lot of people are saying that we need 5 or 6 quality players and i believe that to be the case. We have herrera and Shaw already on board now we need a couple more.

Hummels would help the defense, vidal strootman and or reus would help the middle and a striker would prove invaluable if he can keep both Rooney and Van Persie on their toes and fighting for a spot on the team especially when it comes to helping if their is an injury.

So i don't think I'm a "clown" for saying that we need to rebuild to compete especially with chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool already signing loads of players

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Gary Mitrovic July 26, 2014

Ed claimed we are wiling and have the capabilities to spend £60 million, £70, £80 if need be if the manager identifies a player. That is a blatant lie. I'm not saying I'd condone spending that amount of money on a player, but why lie to everyone.

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j sman July 26, 2014

Gary- we do have money to spend though. We just signed a huge contract with adidas and all ed has been doing is signing sponsorship deals in the background. We may not have the ability to spend 200 or 250 pounds but we do have money.

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Pankaj Saini July 26, 2014

Personally, I'm not too impressed by our new formation. The back three still looks a bit suspect, and exchanging a defender for an attacker hasn't added much more in terms of defensive stability. The pressing overall wasn't as effective and we did have trouble keeping the ball.

I'm also worried about the impact of the new formation on players like Janujaz who are bound to find their game time more limited as well as a lack of pace with RvP, Mata & Rooney not exactly the fastest front three.

Of course, I understand why Van Gaal has gone for this formation. We don't have a midfield destroyer and while Jones/Smalling/Evans are/have potential to be good, we still lack a world class centre back.

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samuel - united WE stand July 26, 2014

Gary - it seems what woodward is great at is boasting and not living up to the words he comes out.. ''we want the best'' but yet still cannot the key areas.. if it is not sorted. it will be united' achilles heel. The attack i feel is sorted, i'm sure more quality can be added if it arises but some top class players are needed in that midfield, due to a lack of quality is why we are constantly on a brink of losing a lead in any game, we never seem to be in control. Herrera is one part, the club needs more.

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warrored July 26, 2014

Some people need to get a grip. It's pre fucking season. We've changed our teams now twice in each half to give them maximum playing time.

Did anyone watch Roma v Liverpool? ...you know the very near title winners?

Roma won in the last minute 1-0.

Today Roma played their best players against our least experienced and some are moaning????
We even played our 3rd and 4th choice keepers lolol #perspective.

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warrored July 26, 2014

Yeah we need re-enforcement's but guess what kids? The window has been open 26 days and has another 35 to go lolol #patience

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warrored July 26, 2014

According to Mitten the Vidal thing is OFF.

According to Steve Bates the Vidal thing is ON.

One of them is a MUST sympathiser.

The other is the son in law of David Meek the ghost writer of Fergie books and programme notes.

I know which one I would believe.

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j sman July 27, 2014

warrored- i don't think it is a matter of freaking out or anything of the sort. I think that it is a matter of it being a discussion that should be had. We do have time in the market but the quality is diminishing as more players are being signed by other teams. We need to be more active to compete in league. We may be able to do alright against teams in preseason but once season starts the games become more competitive. Plus we have to compete with the signings of our rivals in the Premier League not the likes of Roma or Galaxy.

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samuel - united WE stand July 27, 2014

and pre season is the base to analyse the strength of the team and the weaknesses that need fixing in comparison with the quality united will be facing.. that same nonchalant attitude is why this club has dropped in standards.. waiting and twiddling thumbs whilst others are pro-active..

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Marko Maric July 27, 2014

@Warroed we were patient last summer also and what happend? Learn from the past

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Marko Maric July 27, 2014

@Pankaj 23:48, samuel 23:49 agree...we need destroyer...

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Marko Maric July 27, 2014

@Pankaj...i m not impressed either, but LVG getting the best possible with this squad. We miss players, acutally, everything is better then Moyes. When i remeber how true fans were defending him hahaaha guy is claun

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united till i die July 27, 2014

@ Samuel 23:14

I agree that's why I was hoping for Vidal as I think he would compliment Herrera very nicely and I see a Sunday rag is reporting the deal is back on for 36m. Id hate to see us go into the season playing 3 at the back with our current central midfield choices. Id feel a lot happier knowing our three defenders had 2 top midfielders protecting them. We might get away with Herrera and carrick/fletcher against smaller clubs but that won't cut it against teams like Chelsea and city.

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Marko Maric July 27, 2014

t"that same nonchalant attitude is why this club has dropped in standards.. waiting and twiddling thumbs whilst others are pro-active"

Nice said

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j sman July 27, 2014

I think a 433 system would work better for us. I don't think we have the personal to pull off the system he is using and will end up hurting us in the future if we aren't making signings. A 433 will give us security and allow us to use wingers without worrying about our defensive stability.

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Sparkz July 27, 2014

I wouldn't read too much into individual or team performances. It's pre season, fitness and sharpness is still off, and the conditions today were not exactly great for fluid play were they. Don't forget we ended up with 3 young centre backs, a 4th choice keeper, no centre mids and a couple of others out of position!

Apart from Smalling and Blackett, nobody impressed me tonight but as I said - it's the second game of pre season!

With regards to Cleverley - I don't think he's good enough to be a starter but he can be a valuable squad player. You guys do realise that we can't have 5 A+ world class centre mids right? We need those guys who are happy to play once in a while when needed and 'do a job'. And an Academy product like Cleverley will be more willing to do that than most. Look at our most successful sides, we've always had those types of players in the squad. An on form and confident Tom Cleverley (like we saw in the pre-Moyes era) offers quick 1/2 touch passing and good pressing/energy. Nothing more, but he'll do a job, especially in a midfield triangle which we are more likely to see now.

Final point though - I'm not sure 3 at the back works against a team playinf 4-3-3 like Roma were. You basically have no spare man and can get overrun. I was thinking maybe LVG would have shifted to a 4-3-3 himself by pushing Jones into midfield and telling Valencia and James to drop back as normal full backs. But I don't think he wanted to leave Evans and Blackett as the 2 man CB partnership lol.

Eventually, if we sign one world class CB, then we'll see that sort of flexibility. The ability to move from 3-5-2 to 4-3-3 within a game, without needing to make a sub.

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samuel - united WE stand July 27, 2014

if you take the time notice, united are not actually blessed with sufficient top class quality in a very key position in order to afford these vast amount of average squad players and their use.. cleverley is currently in the side as a possible starter.. he will only be a squad player when the team actually possesses enough quality.. Now that's the biggest issue united have, a squad packed with squad players.. it hinders progress.

You are talking hypothetically here, cleverley only showed ''ok'' form during the early part of his career for united, in a couple of games and has gone downwards since.. this is not a confidence issue, top class players may have that for a little time but they recover it because they have the class and quality. you can drum talent into thomas cleverley. you can change the system, carry him on your shoulders and call him the mythical andres iniesta but the lad hasn't got it and as for now, united need influx of quality in the first team not bundles of squad players all over the place and although i do not ignore the importance of good squad players, united have not got enough quality to mask their deficiencies. Too often we are seeing the likes of young, cleverley etc take center stage and playing huge amount of games and that's not based o their quality but the club's lack of it in certain key positions. So before people sing the gospel music of how important squad players are.. ask yourself, are united strong enough with quality to mask these average players?

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samuel - united WE stand July 27, 2014

you cannot drum talent into thomas cleverley*

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samuel - united WE stand July 27, 2014

it's the same with vast amount of younger players.. if you have a very strong first team, it is easy for their development, the pressure is less and their inexperienced can be masked because the team is strong. That same ideology applies to ''SQUAD PLAYERS''. if you have a side like united which has just finished 7th, you need more quality to return the club back to where it aspires to be and also compete with the very best. These current united side has quality no doubt but it also possesses far too many average players for an elite club.. the current side is not strong enough to mask these littered weak players, the club cannot cover them.. the poor displays of these players are constantly evident and they are relied upon more than they should be.. that's the big issue this club faces.

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evered7 July 27, 2014

@ Jackie Spain, That chance was not an offside one and we were only saved by the bounce. Don't quote people if you can't keep up a decent debate. If you just wish to shout out your point, please do by all means.

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John July 27, 2014

I don't get what all this ridiculous fuss is all about. It's fucking pre-season! Manager already said he is analysing players and Woodward is in negotiations with our transfer targets. What it means is that LVG is basically analysing the players those are going to fit into his preferred 3-4-2-1. He works in a squad of 22 or 23 players which means 2 very good players in each position. So this preseason is all about fitness and adapting the players who are going to fit into his plans and giving chance to prove others. It's all about determining who he can sell in this window so that he can make a room for new players. It's not some random thing to do and I am very happy he is proceeding in a thoughtful way he is.

I am all in favour of 3-4-2-1 as our new default formation that can be switched into 4-3-3 if necessary like with holland. He gave Valencia contract as a right wing back. He is most likely shipping out Nani and Zaha because that allows space for a good winger for 4-3-3.

He gave cleverly a chance today. He is giving young players a chance. He is analysing the players at his disposal right now so that he can trim the bunch we have already and make room for new signings.

Even if we had lost 3 nil to Roma and showed guts to stick to new philosophy and new system in the heat of this afternoon, personally, I would trust the new manager.

We are heading the right direction, we are in right hands and we are in right track. That's all that matters.

As for Woodward, there is plenty of time in market (even a month is enough) because the players LVG will bring shall be the ones who can straightaway execute his tactics in 3-4-1-2 and that's why the delay. He is not going to buy random big names but players who fits the profile in his system.

All we have to do is realize that most of the players we have been linked with haven't moved to other clubs neither have they publicly confirmed they are staying in their present club.

So keep patience.

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Sparkz July 27, 2014

@Samuel - us not having enough quality first team midfielders doesn't mean we should sell all the squad player calibre guys though. Buy first teamers (Herrera was a start but another is needed) and then keep a couple of B listers i.e. Cleverley.

At the end of the day - will selling the squad players mean we automatically get an influx of players capable of playing in our first team? No. You're right when you say we're relying on too many squad players in our starting XI (been the case for about 4 years now) - but the only way that can be solved is by buying quality, not selling players.

Also it's not just a couple of games with Cleverley. For much if Fergie's last season he was excellent, especially in the bigger games. I repeat, he's not week in week out quality but I've been watching him since he was 18 and know that he offers useful tools to us. One bad season (where the entire squad was poor) doesn't change that.

The same things people are saying about Cleverley now was being said about Fletcher in 2005. Henderson in 2011. Ramsey in 2012.

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John July 27, 2014

*****3-4-1-2******

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John July 27, 2014

And........Real MIGHTY Madrid with Ancelloti as manager lose against Inter Milan. This Roma side have recently beaten Liverpool/ pl runner up.

So, if people expect just because LVG comes in and brings top players "right now!" and everything is going to be against LA Galaxy then you are going to suffer from clinical depression. :)

It requires time for moyes spoiled players and also bought up in English mentality to understand possession based passing game. Rooney is exception, may be.

It's a new manager in new league. Of course, there are going to be games when we will look clueless at times even with LVG at helm. The most important thing is that even such cluelessness will be a learning curve for trying to do something.

Top 4 is the one we should expect if we are not boneheaded to blow all around depending on the wind/hype. And, from next season we can expect its fruition. This preseason is anomalous to preparing the soil in a right way i.e. new mentality of players. First season of LVG is all about sowing seeds i.e. Top 4 minimum plus right foundation and direction. Then, from there we can challenge on all fronts.

I think it will be wise to remember last summer and thank God or Glazers we have LVG as our manager to moan for the things of our level.

Just my opinion. :(

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Marq July 27, 2014

Didn't watch the game, but reading the comments, I find something hilarious

Here we are, beating the team that just beat Liverpool, and we did so with a run away score until our youth took over. Whilst our friends over at Liverpool continued with their YNWA and in BR they trust as they buy up the Southampton team, we over here are panicking over how shit many of our players are.

If all the Liverpool fans see what our reactions to our own players are like, they should be shitting in their pants!

Anyway, maybe it is just me, but I didn't see LVG playing Cleverley and making him Captain as trust, it feels more like an ultimatum. If I play you where you are best at, and make you captain, and you still can't perform, sorry Bro, you are just not good enough. That kind of feel

Lastly, LVG already came out and said he is only playing this formation because of the players available to him, not because he wants to play 3-5-2. So I wouldn't read too much into our formation flaws just yet. Clearly LVG has something else in mind, and we can only cross our fingers that Ed helps to make it a reality

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John July 27, 2014

And.......re Valencia. It's obvious he is been given new contract as a right wing back, not as a winger. It's a decision of LVG as he most probably was clear that 3-4-1-2 is the formation he is going to use in Manchester United .

It's really nonsense to moan about anything because it is too early for that.

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warrored July 27, 2014

Like I said #patience.

Your all going off on one about not enough quality etc but the window is still a month away from being slammed SHUT as the saying goes.

You're all putting too much energy into the tabloids I've told you before, stop the fucking transfer window madness as it'll send you round the bend.

I read a quote on TEAMtalk earlier about United being constantly turned down by players. Fuck me last summer we were linked with 1.8 Billion YES BILLION worth of players. Stop believing any shit in papers or online as 99% is bollocks.

Last season the press were clearly being fed by Moyes as they even turned up at every game he was scouting. He wanted us all to be so convinced he would get another year. The suits saw otherwise. LVG has clearly tightened the ship again and fuck all is leaking. It's that tight that today one source AS in Spain said we were, weren't, then were again signing Di Maria in 3 hours.

3 fucking hours!!! Lolol this is the madness if it all.

48 hours ago Vidal had said no no in an airport and it apparently meant he wasn't joining United so every fucking paper in the land believed it ran with it and every soft shite with no brain took it as red.

Fastforward 40 hours and the Juve owner says he thinks he can persuade Vidal to stay?? Hey I thought he wasnt leaving? Now the press are saying it's on again.

No fucker knows but so many people get caught up in it all lolol.

Not only that but LVG seems to be getting shit from the experts on here for giving our squad a chance.....

He did that at Barca and Bayern and resurrected or created careers.

Already he has placed major trust in Reece James and Tyler Blackett. He's given debuts to the Keanes too.

Imagine had Pogba still been a kid here.

The fact is, LVG has come here under no pressure. His starting point is 7th and upwards thanks to Moyes

Taking over from Fergie really was the poisoned chalice.

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Red Deviled Yank July 27, 2014

It's apparent that even on this forum several of our fans are only here to see us within 5 or 7 nil. We have scored 10 goals in 2 preseason games! LVG has been manager for less than 2 weeks and already has the squad looking 10 times better than last year.

I'm appalled at some of the ridiculous criticism being aimed at some of our players before the season even begins! Cleverly was a world beater alongside Anderson in midfield three seasons ago before he got injured yet we act like he never had a good game in a United Jersey. Did everyone forget players like John O'Shea and Wes Brown who weren't the best but filled crucial squad roles during many championship seasons?

We could use a couple of more signings to shore up the overall quality of the team but honestly I will take the showings that we have made thus far in the preseason any day over the garbage I watched last year.

I have the pleasure of being able to watch: United and Inter from the sixth row on Tuesday and I couldn't be more excited to see the new United team then I already am. Everbody settle down and let's buckle in for the ride because I have no doubt that this season will be far more enjoyable then the last.

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Paschal Agwunobi July 27, 2014

Things are already getting better after the disastrous reign of Lord Moyes. In LVG we trust, at least we are wining games with our reserves players. Something Lord Moyes only saw in his dreams. Lol.

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Paschal Agwunobi July 27, 2014

Cleverley.. The irony of his name. He's not clever even a bit.

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Paschal Agwunobi July 27, 2014

I'm missing missing our 'messi'. Adnan januzaj, that boy is worldclass. He dribbles past players with ease as if they were never there. His talent is very to come by. He will win ballon d'or. One day, I'm very confident of that. He reminds me of Messi/Robben . He's the combination of them.

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Gary Mitrovic July 27, 2014

Cleverley was never a world beater. Three promising performances in 2011 doesn't give you the tag "world beater"

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Imran July 27, 2014

the negativity is laughable, it was a preseason friendly, we should Atleast wait till everyone settles into the new formation, some of the players are just back from the wc. We'll have to wait and see How this will work out, as it stands we have a lot of defenders and attackers but lack midfielders maybe that won't be a concern in a season where we don't have cl but we'll have to wait and see How this pans out. Some of these players might get a new lease of life. Nani seems like he's had his heart set on leaving and doesn't wanna get injured. He had that one Good season so best of luck to him If he leaves

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Mark Reid July 27, 2014

Xtra Xtra Real In a flurry want to strengthen their midfield, put in a bid for Tom Cleverley and Fletcheroney no object.Anderson too .

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Marko Maric July 27, 2014

People, i dont like here, that you are in debate and not reading other comments. No one said that we moaning, or that we looking for a mistakes, but it is obvious that we have a lack of world class players. WE ARE NOT PATIENT, COZ WE WERE PATIENT LONG ENOUGH! So this is the point Samuel said

"These current united side has quality no doubt but it also possesses far too many average players for an elite club.. the current side is not strong enough to mask these littered weak players, the club cannot cover them.. the poor displays of these players are constantly evident and they are relied upon more than they should be.. that’s the big issue this club faces."

Are worry about signings? Yes! Why? Coz history teaches us that, like last summer.

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SebaLaBrujita July 27, 2014

I'm afraid its the usual culprits who will forever hamper our progression whilst we keep believing that they have the ability and technique to help return us amongst the

If we go into this season with the trio of Cleverley, Young and Nani still featuring and being relied on so prominently then we are fucked. Simple as.

How many different managers do we need to go through before one see's our need for energy, power and precision in the middle of the park? What is the point of playing Cleverley, least of all making him captain? Surely this is some sort of joke? I'm guessing Van Gaal will persevere with this group until his tried and trusted target Strootman returns in January. This is a massive gamble to expect his injuries to heal to the extent that he can recover his strength and ability to drive us on.

With Vidal being dripped poison from the spurned and bitter Tevez and Pogba at Juve about how shit United as a club is, it was inevitable that he'd turn us down so my opinion is that we must move heaven and earth to get Khedira and/or Schweinsteiger. Not much hope with Ed making the same never ending flight as this time last year to tie up a never happening deal. Optimistic about Van Gaal's start so far but the bigger picture is revealing the club stalling before the new season has even begun, with the same old issues looking a million miles from being dealt with.

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Jackie Spain July 27, 2014

@j sman: You said "We need more quality in the team in each position" - now you're back tracking to a "couple". No one is arguing against strengthening the team, but in "EACH position"?

And quoting Liverpool as an example is a laugh; I'd argue Lambert weakens their team. Arsenal has signed two players.

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Sparkz July 27, 2014

Cleverley, Nani and Young will not be "relied on prominently". They'll be squad players, and given that we don't have a heavy schedule this season, they won't be playing as regularly as you think. Heck I think at least one of them (Nani) will be sold.

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samuel - united WE stand July 27, 2014

sparkz - i'm not saying the club should get rid of all the squad players but we also have to realise that the strength of the first team is more important no than ever.. i just think the so called B-listers currently in the side are playing too relevant a role and that only exhibits insufficient quality. of course we don't know when these gaps will be filled out but it is definitely something to worry about when your squad players are overshadowing the side, i think the club is suffering from all the short cuts of ''no value in the market'' mantra.. the key areas weren't being renovated because fergie was of course dragging enough out of the players and winning. in comparison with the sides united are competing with, in the premier league and possibly in europe (that's not going to be an easy entry). i just think the club cannot afford to sit by like a train spotter, constantly the bigger clubs are dragging away from reach and the smaller ones are gradually catching up.. something has to be done to halt that.

regarding cleverley, the issue with him is he plays in a role that does require outstanding qualities added with the fact united are severely lacking there, the spotlight is on players in midfield more than ever and as much as his short passing can be appreciated, he just doesn't have enough variation quality.. of course if united fill the area then he would be a decent squad player but even in that role, i would rather give a younger player with more potential in the youth team than have him in the side.. he just doesn't contribute significantly in any given role, that's the problem. Let's not forget squad players are also there to also challenge the established players and potentially become starters themselves. it seems these players at united are contented with the club still officially printing their name.

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samuel - united WE stand July 27, 2014

The biggest issue is most people can see the problems united are having from thousands of miles.. it is just a point that united are not that far off being the dominant side it can be but the obvious issues right in front of us continues to set a theme of true frustration.. we all know the damn problem but nothing is being done about it..

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Marko Maric July 27, 2014

Atletico bought Griezman...they buying smart, like them.

And little bit about Mourinho

And with van Gaal, Mourinho is even more confident that the competitive part of their relationship won’t be an issue. “You know the first time we played against each other? Champions League final,” he laughs.
Read more at http://talksport.com/football/exclusive-interview-mourinho-chelsea-van-gaal-and-premier-league-title-race-140724103541#a1qTVfF07hEOQC3V.99

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samuel - united WE stand July 27, 2014

after last season's mess, you would think the club would be more pro active than ever but ed is more busy boasting about what we can do than what he's actually done. Another baffling thing is the constant transfer saga the club embroils itself.. can never run a deal smoothly, you just get the sense the glazers are hesitant not as committed in getting the best players like their slogans would make you believe.. hummels? vidal? we are all dreaming.. strootman is the closes

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Gary Mitrovic July 27, 2014

Woodward is a puppet for the Glazers, that much is clear to see, but some people won't have it. Showing concern for the direction your club is heading in is not being a pessimist, it's showing you care. I want the best for United and we're being lied to by the likes of Woodward.

We havient competed for the best players in the world for some years now and yet Woodward arrogantly boasts we're the biggest draw in the world and any player is attainable. We finally were exposed last season with an icomoetent manager at the helm unable to paper over the cracks Fergie did. We still have a desperately average squad right across our defence and midfield and yet fuck all will be done about it again.

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Marko Maric July 27, 2014

@Gary spot on....some fans just dont get it...they dont see difference between pseimism and care...but the good thing is that we are majority :)

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slim July 27, 2014

I can understand fans apprehension, we sorely lacked some quality reinforcements last year and going into the new season we seem to be following the same trend. I just hope LVG puts his foot down and makes sure we get the players we want or at least players who can fit into his plans. Not worried about where they're from, they can come from Australia for all i care.
The inevitable exits are going to happen one way or another. He keeps mentioning how unbalanced the squad is and should he be looking to bring others in the imbalance would only increase. We're cutting it close though but i'm confident deals can still be made. I wonder if fans will still scoff at De Jong 3 days to the end of the transfer window and we have no one in.

Personally i'd take him. He knows the business in that area of the park and will provide the sort of platform we need. Funny LVG also mentions how we "forgot" to keep the ball after going 3-0 up. Its a problem thats plagued us for a while. The warning signs were there in SAFs last season and during Moyes tenure. As important as it is signing players, this aspect of our play has to be massively improved upon. I'd hoped Moyes would get that part right last season but it didn't turn out that way. Massive LOL at the Roma coach who says only a 100 million euros offer will get them to the negotiations table. Who will we be paying the 80 million balance to,the hospital and doctors taking care of Strootmans damaged leg?

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The One July 27, 2014

@warrored @02:55, what you said there made a lot of sense. I'm in agreement with you and, like I've said on another thread, I don't think the media has the slightest clue who we're really after. It's all just guesswork, hoping that one of their links come to fruition and then they can claim that they broke the news. The Herrera signing wasn't picked up by the media until it was almost done. The Shaw deal was also discounted by the media while he as at the world cup and nothing happened for a long time.