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Robin van Persie

VIDEO: Van Persie and Rothwell's goals for U-21s

April 28, 2015

Robin van Persie and Joe Rothwell both scored two goals in United’s U-21 win over Fulham’s U-21.

Scott Patterson

Scott is the editor of RoM and has a season ticket at Old Trafford. He started The Republik of Mancunia in March 2006. Follow @R_o_M on Twitter or @R_o_M7 on Instagram.

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37 Comments

Xyth X April 28, 2015

Thank you Brucie!
You just made our Sunday's defeat more bearable!

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Dan Young April 28, 2015

so looking at the way things are possibly shaping up, we are likely going to need 3 strikers next season

1st choice - rooney
2nd choice - ???
3rd choice - wilson

it looks like we will need a second choice striker. what i cant decide is if we will need a senior striker happy to play second choice but yet be at a high enough level to step in if rooney gets a 2/3 month injury, a youngster who is a proven goal scorer or a striker/CAM capable of playing as a striker (someone that may already be in the squad)

senior options - RVP (cheaper contract), falcao (cheap fee+wages), higuain, huntelaar, jackson martinez

youth options - berahino, benteke, lacazette, kane

alternates - depay, fellaini, januzaj

i believe we can sign any of the names listed above but when it comes to what we need from them, the only options that makes sense for us and the player are RVP, berahino and benteke.

perfect option (for me anyway), get rvp on a £100k a week contract, have him accept a lesser role for the next 1/2/3 seasons .. whilst rooney gets towards his mid 30's we look for a strong competitor to compete with wilson in the future. if harry kane carrys on the way he is currently going, then he would be my option to bring in in a couple of seasons.

iv slated rvp all season, and he has been very out of form, but hes still class, has scored us some very important goals, and i think with just him rooney and wilson competing it will get him more focused and raise his form. i almost feel that seeing falcao come in gave rvp a bit of a dent in his confidence and maybe made him wonder what his role is. also im not quite ready to let him leave cause his celebrations after scoring against arsenal are one of the best sights in football. in short he still has plenty to offer, just not at £250k a week!

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ashtheking April 29, 2015

I know Di Maria has been off colour but if he is in the plans for next season, I think its high time to start him. I appreciate Ashley Young's performance but I think lvg should mix it up with him and ADM now for remaining 4 games. We all saw an in form di maria is deadly and we need to encourage him, Top 4 is all but secures as we just need 5 points even if pool wins all their remaining game. I would love us to finish in top 3 but it seems a bot tough now considering even if we win our 4 matches city and arsenal need to lose a game. Arsenal have an easy outing apart from the game against us and city may drop points against spurs but they also have an easy ride. A top 3 finish would give us a great belief .

Honestly prior to everton game I felt we deserved to be 3rd or even 2nd but everton game gave me a major jolt. I think there has to be loads of work to be done starting with buying some quality players. Let us end the season on high and the best way to do that would be to beat Arsenal. We cant afford to lose that match even if the match is of no consequence. We already lost to them in a idiotic fashion , now time to correct the wrongs and beat them. I hope the everton game was just a one off and the boys dont panic. But LVG may drop Mata and bring Di Maria , droppin mata wont be correct as I think he should be in our long term plans with herrera. But would be onteresting to see how we line up against WBA

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NairobiRed April 29, 2015

Ashtheking
The problem i have with starting DiMaria without Carrick is that the team completely looses its ability to keep possession with him in it as he rushes the play and looses possession easily. This exposes the team and since he plays close to the midfield, it opens up the defence.
Di Maria is quality but he needs a solid base behind him, not the likes of Smalling, Mcnair, Valencia and Jones. LVG has done well to bench him as he has lowered both the fans expectations from Di Maria, and has hopefully lifted the weight of him to carry the team, and hopefully this works to show him he needs to integrate and work with the team and not think its built around him. I hope the scouts have done a solid job finding atleast two defenders, and a right winger. As for strikers, get Benteke in, he is the strogest option available for cheap.

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ashtheking April 29, 2015

Nairobi

I am looking for long term, Di maria is our long term and he is class so why not slowly start him again. I am not over confident but I think with scouse losing today top 4 is almost secured so time is right to rejuvenate di maria's career here.

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NairobiRed April 29, 2015

With 5 games to play, and the scouse 4 points away, we have arsenal, and they have chelsea, the other 3 games are more or less equal. If we both loose our big games, that leaves 3 games where where united might be playing with a 4 point lead. One loss and it becomes a very tight run in, do you really want to risk an off form player for a future that is not secure.

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Marq April 29, 2015

@Nairobi

Liverpool are 7pts behind with a significantly poorer GD. We just need 1 win and a draw to secure 4th. I hope the players wake up their ideas and really fight for second, which is well within our grasp.

You gotta laugh at Liverpool. Wasn't it just a few days ago that Rodgers was just saying he is sure he is the one to end their title drought? So much have been made about how much we have spent, but they have spent loads too. Looking at the players brought in and considering they had CL and we didn't, kinda puts to bed where they stand in world football at this moment.

On ADM

Some might disagree with me, but the only player worth building our current team around is Di Maria (provided LVG deems him adaptable to our league)

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ashtheking April 29, 2015

Nairobi

I dont know which league table you are following but I still believe DI Maria has not performed that badly like people are saying. He still produces the best crosses which none of other players do. You need to trust players like him

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Marq April 29, 2015

Hummels was very good against Bayern in Dortmund's win. There may be doubts about his suitability for the English league, but he has shown he can cut it against the powerhouses in Europe

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RedOne April 29, 2015

@Dan

My choice is Berahino but would give RVP a chance to become a humble man. Oh and I think Depay is coming anyway...to play the wingman...

@Ash

Agree on Di Maria, he should play now....after the 2-0 lead against West Brom till the end of the season. Seems like things are settled, all we need to do on Saturday is confirm it as we really don`t want to keep them alive till the end now do we?

Oh and shitty do have to play against soton also so we could jump ahead...I hope. I`d start RVP if Rooney is injured and ADM instead of Young. Rojo or Jones and Carrick need to return though.

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Mirainashe April 29, 2015

I don't know why people think 4th place should be the target. We can still make second and that's the best target. Second place you don't go for qualifiers. We don't need qualifiers. We want to secure the CL spot before the end of the season. That's the most important thing. Forget Liverpool. The target should be City and Arsenal. We are two or three points behind. We should target winning all remaining games. Of course the other teams will have to slip up along the way but if that happens we need to be in a position to take full advantage

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Mirainashe April 29, 2015

Di Maria is my biggest hope for next season believe that. But come on. He has to earn his way into the team. So far with his small cameos he has not done anything to suggest we should ditch either of Mata or Young. The only way he comes in is if it's in place of Rooney. If it's based on merit at least. The most likely thing though is Van Gaal will revert to his twin striker formula with Falcao and RvP.

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trevor knightsmith April 29, 2015

Mirain,

I've lost all hope with Di Maria and think we should cut our losses, one league goal in six months is a very poor return for our "Marque" signing, and the UK's most expensive footballer to boot .

It really is time he did something to earn his money, and the same goes for Falcao .

On another note I hope there is some truth in this:

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/manchester-united-win-battle-for-david-de-gea-with-offer-of-200000perweek-deal-10211022.html

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Dan Young April 29, 2015

redone - nice choice and its likely with the fact he was spotted at old trafford when we played arsenal in the fa cup earlier in the season. same can be said of depay, i see that as a very likely signing. its the press wanting to shit on us saying liverpool are in pole position, why would he play europa league when he can run out at a full old trafford every weekend

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trevor knightsmith April 29, 2015

Dan,

Can't see him going to the dippers in a million years. Logic says he will come to united .

Told him you have got a crate of beer in for him

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NairobiRed April 29, 2015

@Marq, ashtheking
You guys are right, I looked at the table on sunday and simply assumed Liverpool would win their game in hand, realised later they had lost so it good for united to have a seven points gap. I still wouldnt put Di Maria over the players who have ensured united are atleast in forth with a realistic third in sight. It's not that I don't like or rate Di Maria, its the fact that in my opinion, he excels when he supports another main character or characters, ie Ronaldo for madrid, Messi for Argentina. So the team cannot be built around him and so united have buy other quality plauers that the yeam is built around. Falcao could have played that role but he has convinced no one, not even his team mates.
There is talk that Depay met liverpool agents, but I think its a question of if united want him and can give him game time. He should be a united player but if he chooses looserpool thats fine. If rumours are true, Gundogan and hummels may be in this summer, probably the reason Klopp bailed, I mean, the club keeps selling all his best players every single season, the guy cannot build on anything and after the shock this year, the club still doesn't learn anything and sells two of his best. I'd leave too, its like they are determined to not win amd keep weakening themselves at every given opportunity, madness.

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RedOne April 29, 2015

Depay himself has said that the rumors are simply bollocks...he hasn`t met any agents yet. He also said that he is not prepared to talk about his plans until the end of the season. His agent however did meet with us and it was thought that agreement has been reached for him to join United. So either these rumors of his agent meeting dippers are made up or he wants a better deal for his client. Don`t know why would he want to join them over us...only playing time perhaps.

If I were LVG I would snap him right now, would personally fly to Netherlands, visit the lad and convince him. The guy is going to be better than Bale and we only need to pay 25-30 mil and significantly less in wages. Seems no brainer to me. Bale is nothing but a waste of money, he prefers white color so let him get abused in Madrid week in week out.

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Mirainashe April 29, 2015

I'm just one of those that maybe has too much patience. I still think, sometimes from nothing but hope, that players can always rediscover their potential. I know we can't be banking on sentiment alone but there's also a bit of pragmatism. To be fairly honest I can't really quantify why Di Maria and Falcao are playing crap. Yes they need time to adjust. In Falcao's case I'd really attribute things like rustiness and confidence but there's also maybe a lack of fortune. But still he is very far from the devastating striker he was before coming to United. I can't deny that. But until a logical explanation can be found for how he could have simply lost such big ability in such a short time then I still have hope that he could come good. Maybe not at United though.

But Di Maria is even more of a mystery. A puzzle in fact. I don't think it's the physicality of the league or anything. His problems are incredibly basic it's almost impossible to accept. He can't shoot for crap. Most of his crosses are not bad. They are completely ridiculous. He can't dribble anymore not even past a single player. He can't even complete a basic pass. In fact, he really is not doing much right in the most basic way. I mean he has been incredibly poor. It's like we did not buy Di Maria but Bebe. Is it a mental thing? That's what I'm thinking. Worst case scenario is he has not been happy from day one. Like Ozil last season who was really inconsistent and at times shocking. Maybe he is still not accepting the idea that he is no longer a Real Madrid player. I think it could have had a traumatic effect kind of. Or maybe he thought he was going to waltz it in the Premier League. Or he feels he has gone backwards in his career and he may be taking it badly. Then again when you watch him play his body language seems opposite to all that. He, like, Falcao seem to be working very hard on the pitch. Maybe Van Gaal's philosophy is not easy for both players and they are struggling with the idea of not being specialists and the demand to be tactically versatile. I don't know. But I don't think for one minute a player can for no good reason go from world class for five years or more then suddenly zero in a few months. That's why I'd be happy if they get another shot next season. See if they can con be back mentally balanced and physically in top form.

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Marko Maric April 29, 2015

Croatian newspapers saying that Bayern signed astonishing contract with adidas 15 years 900 mill euros hahahah

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slim April 29, 2015

I remember being anxious when we signed ADM, first off we've had little luck with South American players and secondly to be honest i wasn't all that impressed with him at Madrid. I thought he did absolutely fantastic in the champions league run in but overall i wondered what the fuss was all about. I think the manager will give him some time, unless of course he's haggling for a move , in which case the move for depay could be on

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Marq April 29, 2015

Trevor

Whilst I can understand your disappointment in ADM, please don't buy into that 1 goal in 6 months bullshit from the ABU media. Don't forget he was injured for a good chunk of that 6 months. He hasn't hit the heights expected, but not many players hit the ground running, especially in this league. Why do you want to ditch the only player we have that can change a game? For what? Are we cash tight? No we are not. And who to take his place? Januzaj, who has been worse than championship level? Any anyone who comes in might have the same problem, so why not just hold on to ADM and let him fight with Depay for the spot?

I see no logic whatsoever in selling ADM this summer, all cons and no pro

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Marko Maric April 29, 2015

Is Eden Hazard bad player coz he aint scoreing like other players in his position?
If ADM will be best assistent without goals, i will be happy. Coz then you have Mata and ADM to assist. Assist or goal, to.me it is the same. Assist means that we creating chances

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trevor knightsmith April 29, 2015

Miran,

They say patience is a virtue, I do not have any .

With Falcao I think it is his injury, and at his age I don't think he is going to recover, a bit like Torres, it is not his skill that is lost, just ability due to the injury.

With Di Maria, he as been shocking, and Marq, it is not bullshit, it is one goal in six months in the league, for the UK most expensive player his return has been diabolical, How much time do you want to give him ?
A player that can change a game? well it's about time he showed us then?

Who can take his place I do not no, but let's hope we can sign someone who can, I agree about Januzaj, which is another huge disappointment.

If we get a good offer , I think we should get shot.

He is meant to be a world class player who is earning a fortune . It is about time we had a return.

If you're happy with Di Maria so be it. I hope you're right

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Marq April 29, 2015

Trevor

I'm not sure which part you don't understand about the 6months he only scored one goal included a chunk of time out with injury. That is like saying Ronaldo couldn't score any goals for 3 months during summer. And you say you do not know, and thats the thing, so why sell? For all you know even Messi might struggle. So why do you want to ditch an unknown for another unknown? I'd rather have two unknowns to choose from than one. Here we are complaining about only having Carrick and only having Rooney, now you want us to end up with we only have Januzaj? We have the luxury to do so, so just do it. Suarez was a joke during his first season. Do you want to risk having ADM shine for another team against us? It is not even about patience, its about having a choice.

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ashtheking April 29, 2015

I have defended di maria enough and all I will say is he deserves to stay for one more season. If he doesnt prove come next season too then yeah ship him out. But as of now he deserves time.

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samuel - united WE stand April 29, 2015

Really impressed by Andreas Pereira yet again. Elusive, quick minded, positive, dynamic, creative, good passer. General top notch technique. Playing with the first team is improving his overall game and I'm hoping he will nail down a new deal and push to be a first team player. I still don't know what is going on with the contract situation though but I've always reiterated the fact he is one of United'a top talents and the club must push hard to keep these players.

Thought Januzaj played well too. No convinced he is an out and out wide player. He has so much more to his game yet he's restricted out wide where pace is an absolute must. Think adnan needs a much free role, like the one mata currently occupies on the right.

Regarding van persie - it was a good performance at that level but I still think United need a couple of new jet heeled forwards with trickery, pace and technique.

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samuel - united WE stand April 29, 2015

I don't get the hoo ha around di Maria. I don't think I ever considered him world class even at real Madrid. He has one stand out season amongst a litter of up and down ones. He is a talented footballer but erratic. His style means his displays are bound to be like a roller-coaster ride. He is no different nani. Wise men play on the edge and are unpredictable. They can either produce or not. A team has to adapt to the characteristics of its players.

After saying all that, he is a 60mill supposed marquee, pressure should be intensely mounted on him and if he hasn't got the mentality to rise above that and come good then what good is he?. I think the notion of adapting to a new league can be exaggerated at times, more so with di Maria who has a Manchester packed with fellow Spanish speakers etc. The premier league is tough and I'm surprised players don't psych themselves up before setting a foot there. He needs to get his act together. This season and probably the next will be all he gets and then the possibility of an exit won't be out of the picture. I hope he comes good but no one in the premier league will be holding his hand.

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samuel - united WE stand April 29, 2015

What logical explanation could you have regarding Falcao under than a striker racing into decline than most?. Perhaps he peaked too early, moved to Monaco in an atmosphere which did not significantly challenge him. He was a good predatory striker but his all round game was always lacking and those players always eventually get exposed.

At athletico Madrid & Porto.. the system was pretty much built to his benefit. His all round technique wasn't significantly highlighted because other players filled that gap. At bigger clubs however, he is challenged to do a lot more. If his goal scoring is drying up then he needs are more to his game. The Falcao we are seeing is not even a shadow of his former self. His touch, technique, finishing are no where to be found. He has had enough game time to fix this issue but hasn't cut it.

Some people have blamed lack of chances being created but top strikers hunt for their goals. You don't see aguero or Suarez hanging around waiting. They have that individualistic approach. That ability to make a brilliant run, a dribble, to basically carve something out of nothing. That's what separates the top forwards from the rest. I think Falcao he been found out big time

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WeAreUnitedd April 29, 2015

DiMaria's stats this season
3goals and 10 assists in PL

His last seasons with Madrid, for you who say he does not score goals, a reminder that he's a provider, not a scorer
4 goals and 17 assists 13/14
7 goals and 6 assists 12/13
5 goals and 15 assists 11/12
6 goals and 11 assists 10/11

Benfica last season
3 goals and 5 assists

As you can see, he's done quite well all in all even though he's had a rough patch

In his first 11-12 games he had 3 goals and 6 assists as a LCM, then he has been moved around etc and all the stuff we know.

anyway. peace

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GenomexSoldier April 29, 2015

Di Maria deserves another season. Falcao should go for me.

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Marko Maric April 29, 2015

He has almost the best stats this season and when you account how many games he was injuried and didn t play...that is top stats per game.
When he fit in PL he will be class

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WeAreUnitedd April 29, 2015

ALSO

you know what's funny

go look at http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Features/2015/Apr/Vote-Manchester-United-Goal-of-the-Season-2014-15.aspx

goals of the season

from 10 goals, DiMaria is involved in 6 of them. some weren't easy one and the scorers had to do a lot of the job, but no matter what, only in tap ins or in 1-1 the striker has the easy job, usually the goal is on scorers hands to make the most of it

so don't come and complain and say this and that, Ronaldo scores tapins and in barca and bayern the ysusually do it, but most of the assists aren't that great.

no he does not deserve anothwer one, BUT we must do everything that he feels great and special, because he's a player we have craved after Ronaldo's departure, he's a world-class player and when our transfer targets sees the likes of rooney dimaria mata RVP in our team they immediately feel good.

anyway. peace

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WeAreUnitedd April 29, 2015

no he does not deserve another one, he deserves more than another one.***

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ashtheking April 29, 2015

WeAreUnited

Amen to your posts. I am tired of defending Di Maria. People want instant success, the problem is people are reacting because of the 60 million thing ( as if its their own money). Its like sell him and buy bale and depay, then if both dont become instant success sell both of them and buy some one else. Glad none of them are managing the clubs finance.

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Dan Young April 29, 2015

people are so harsh on di maria. but i have no doubts you will all eat your words.

all di maria is missing is a herrera. mata has herrera, and the 2 play together and make eachother look top quality. di maria has, with respect, fellaini. fellaini has been great and will continue to do so, but hes not doing for di maria what herrera is doing for mata. herrera is deeper and makes alot of movement to help mata get much needed space, and majority of the time mata is the more advanced of the 2. fellaini on the other hand is more advanced and is very often the more advanced of him and young. when di maria has gundogan alongside him on that left side we will see him at his best.

this isnt me shitting on fellaini atall, its just fellainis support is not suited to di marias game. he has to be the more advanced so that the majority of whats infront of him is space or an opposition player to beat. with fellaini more advanced there is the opposition RB, aswell as 2+ players man marking fellaini making it difficult for him to use his pace

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Marq April 30, 2015

For all the dissing of ADM, nobody has yet given a footballing reason why he should be sold. Yes we have the largest wage bill, but our wages to revenue ratio is one of the healthiest and in line with FFP. With the new TV deal kicking in, it is only going to get better. So I reiterate. If ADM hasn't agitated for a move, there is no reason whatsoever to sell him. Because as of now, after him, we only have Januzaj, and even if Depay comes in, there is a certain Young that can be knocked off the team.

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Marko Maric April 30, 2015

@ash amen...many people want instant succes and buy and sell players mode...like stocks and bonds....

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