Manchester United Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread

lordgoat

To write Chelsea off is very foolish. Essien back is like a completely new signing as pointed out. He makes there team tick and gives them defensive cover and attacking drive. Plus it's not like they have a bad team/squad.

Tyranax

Zhirkov will be a great buy for Chelsea, I think he's a quality player. Pace and skill, and bundles of them. Great engine too. He'll play on the left of the diamond, and he'll play well there. Nani or Zhirkov on the left? No comparison.


I just don't know this season. The team could be liberated with not having to shape around Ronaldo, or we could miss his pace on the break horribly. I'm not sure that we'll line up as a 4-4-2, especially in Europe. I think that it will still be a three in midfield, from Fletcher, Anderson and Carrick. I really hope that Hargreaves comes back properly, if we had him in the side, fit and fully healed, he'd just give us so much reassurance in terms of cover, and give us more licence to get forward.

Headshot

ShoulderChip wrote: »

one further point, our opening 6 fixtures are a complete joke they are so easy, so we should get a little head start.

i wouldnt call fulham v chelsea an easy match

it is a local derby after all

ill bookmark this too

curry-muff

But wheres essien gona fit in for this diamond formation, ancelotti has already stated that it will be mikel in the defensive midfield position, if you play him on the right, that rules out the beloved joe cole.

ShoulderChip

curry-muff wrote: »

But wheres essien gona fit in for this diamond formation, ancelotti has already stated that it will be mikel in the defensive midfield position, if you play him on the right, that rules out the beloved joe cole.

It is great that Mikel will play at the base allowing Essien more freedom to move forwards or back from the right midfield position.

true J.Cole will not have a starting position but will be likely to be used as the first sub in the 60 min region, a handy sub to have if you ask me,
and yeah he could be used int the top right or left of diamond are high up on pitch as a supporting striker,

unfortunately for him there is too much class in the Chelsea side for him to start but he will still make a great contribution.

He can also come on for Mikel, and shift essien to the dm to have a midfield of Essien, Zhirkov, Lampard, J.Cole

SlickRic

so...utd then...

Tyranax

is right. I have no idea how we'll fair this year, or, as I just said, how we'll line out. In one way I'd love for us to just go 4-4-2, all out, two touchline hugging wingers, two strikers up top banging them in. 1999 revival baby, yeah!! But I don't think that kind of approach would reap rewards in the bigger games, or in Europe. Also, our midfielders are the weakest of all the top ranked teams in Europe. Chelsea, Barcelona, Liverpool and Inter all have stronger, for starters. And who could we buy to change that? Will we even buy again this summer? It's still early August though, nothing set in stone yet.

SlickRic

Tyranax wrote: »

is right.

i was referring to the Chelsea discussion that's been going on for two pages. twas odd.

but yeah, 4-2-3-1 looks likely for me, with berba or owen playing up top depending on fitness and form. rooney needs to be more involved now ronaldo's gone, which means he needs to be central. valencia and park/nani on the wings.

i wouldn't be surprised to see 4-4-2. it would still beat most teams. you can always go more compact in the big games. it remains to be seen.

what have utd been playing in pre-season?

Dave!

442

Between Berbatov, Rooney, Owen, and Macheda pretty much

Tyranax

I think that we've been playing 4-4-2 mainly. Tosic, Nani and Valencia mainly on the wings. Do we have the personnel to play 4-2-3-1? You need a pure destroyer, so to speak. We have Hargreaves for that, but how he'll come back is the question. Fletcher can do a job in that role, but I'm not sure if he could make it his own, he's more of a hardworking CMF than a pure holding DMF. You also need a time-piece passer, somebody who can run the tempo of the game. Is Carrick up to that? Has he got that sense of rhythm? I'm not sure he does. He's got the range, it's the brain that I'm worried about.

SlickRic

Dave! wrote: »

442

Between Berbatov, Rooney, Owen, and Macheda pretty much

that's me wrong then.

as i say 442 will still beat most teams.

in terms of personnel for 4-2-3-1, you've been doing it for the last couple of years. 2 of carrick/fletcher/scholes/hargreaves, then a front 4 involving rooney, ronaldo, tevez, berba, giggs, nani, park etc. i didn't think it was a big jump to suggest you'd keep going with it.

Boggles

ShoulderChip wrote: »

Joe Cole has never played on the left hand side for Chelsea, well he did once, but he plays on the right, (left side for england)

grames_bond

I was watching premiership years 98/99 today my god what a season, even though i knew we won it is still edge of the seat watching! i can see us this season heading back to the traditional 4-4-2 with wide wingers again, valencia to take up the new beckham role! Really excited to see what happens!

Could someone send me the code for the fantasy football league we were talkin about before! cheers!

Paul Tergat

grames_bond wrote: »

I was watching premiership years 98/99 today my god what a season, even though i knew we won it is still edge of the seat watching! i can see us this season heading back to the traditional 4-4-2 with wide wingers again, valencia to take up the new beckham role! Really excited to see what happens!

Could someone send me the code for the fantasy football league we were talkin about before! cheers!

Immense season.

Although I think Valencia is going to be a very different player to Becks. For me Tosic seems like a better comparison (albeit on the other flank)

Smegball

Ancelotti actually sees Joe Cole as a classic Number10 player at the tip of the diamond, he will provide excellent back up to Lampard.

We shall play 4-4-2 for the majority of the season and revert to 4-5-1 for the big games I think, well the away big games, the home games I can see Fergie trying to blitz the teams with a 4-4-2.

Can't wait for Sunday now lads, although I'm not sure how we will fare. Will be interesting to see how Chelseas new formation works against our more traditional style.

curry-muff

grames_bond wrote: »

Could someone send me the code for the fantasy football league we were talkin about before! cheers!

Sent

Pro. F

David Silva: If we do go for him then the left wing is the only place I can see him playing for us. He would probably do well for us there.
But do we really want another Iberian who is going to be hankering after the sunny weather all the time and being linked with the big Spanish clubs every summer. Hasn't he already said that he doesn't want to leave Spain whatever happens? Personally I'd rather that Nani and Tosic were given the chance to step up. If they both fail miserably during the coming season then Park can hold the fort until we get someone in next summer.

Tyranax

Pro. F wrote: »

David Silva: If we do go for him then the left wing is the only place I can see him playing for us. He would probably do well for us there.
But do we really want another Iberian who is going to be hankering after the sunny weather all the time and being linked with the big Spanish clubs every summer. Hasn't he already said that he doesn't want to leave Spain whatever happens? Personally I'd rather that Nani and Tosic were given the chance to step up. If they both fail miserably during the coming season then Park can hold the fort until we get someone in next summer.

Please, please, please let us not buy Silva. Too lightweight, overrated, and like you said how long would he be at United? I am praying that this one doesn't go through. Ribery for 35Mill one the other hand is something that, if possible, we should move heaven and earth to bring to fruition. Hard working, skillful, can play as an AM or WF. But he's already said that he wants to go to Madrid above all. so I just don't see that happening. If we can't get the quality this summer, we should keep our powder dry. I totally trust SAF anyway, he'll see us right.

jesus_thats_gre

Boggles wrote: »

He rarely plays on the left. People keeping posting that he plays on the left on the FF thread how Zhirkov will have J. Cole to contend with. He played from the right wing for the majority of games last season:

http://www.football-lineups.com/footballer/118/

dor83

Reports that Barca are after Evans.

Barcelona are ready to test Sir Alex Ferguson's resolve with a €14 million (£12m) bid for Manchester United star Jonny Evans, according to reports.

The Daily Mail is suggesting that the Spanish club may be weighing up a move for the 21-year-old centre-back as they look to improve their options in defence.

Juventus are currently in advanced talks with Pep Guardiola's team regarding the loan signing of Uruguayan defender Martin Caceres, which suggests that the Catalans may be in the market for a replacement.

Reports earlier in the summer had claimed that Barca were chasing Evans' Manchester United team-mate Nemanja Vidic, but those rumours were put to bed when the Serbian's agent insisted his client is happy at Old Trafford.

Evans, who spent the entire 2006-07 season on-loan at Sunderland, enjoyed an extended run of games in the Red Devils' first-team last season and he looks set to be an integral part of the United squad again this campaign.

Gerard Pique was the last United defender to swap Manchester for Barcelona, winning the Primera Division title and Champions League with the club since his move in 2008.

If reports are to be believed, the Nou Camp outfit will now turn their attentions to Northern Ireland international Evans as they seek to defend their Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey crowns.

Loomis

Tyranax wrote: »

Please, please, please let us not buy Silva. Too lightweight, overrated, and like you said how long would he be at United? I am praying that this one doesn't go through. Ribery for 35Mill one the other hand is something that, if possible, we should move heaven and earth to bring to fruition. Hard working, skillful, can play as an AM or WF. But he's already said that he wants to go to Madrid above all. so I just don't see that happening. If we can't get the quality this summer, we should keep our powder dry. I totally trust SAF anyway, he'll see us right.

If we buy Ribery and play him as a right winger doesn't that make Valencia a reasonably expensive sub? Which Nani has been for years already?
The only way to play Ribery and Valencia is to put one on the left wing and leave Tosic out which defeats the point in getting the player in and makes Tosic another sub.
I don't see him being played behind the front men either. SAF has bought a few wingers in the last year or so indicating he wants to play as such, 4-4-2. Brining in another winger just complicates things. If he wanted Ribery he would have bought him and not 'wasted' money on Valencia, Tosic, Ljalic...

Headshot

Good auld Q. Fortune signs for doncaster .

Always had a soft spot for quinton ,just injuries ****ed him up

Headshot

dor83 wrote: »

Reports that Barca are after Evans.

Evans to barca, lol that's a good one

Loomis

Birmingham agree fee with United for Republic of Ireland international O'Shea.

http://football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_5472213,00.html

Sorry...

Tyranax

Mr. Anderson wrote: »

If we buy Ribery and play him as a right winger doesn't that make Valencia a reasonably expensive sub? Which Nani has been for years already?
The only way to play Ribery and Valencia is to put one on the left wing and leave Tosic out which defeats the point in getting the player in and makes Tosic another sub.
I don't see him being played behind the front men either. SAF has bought a few wingers in the last year or so indicating he wants to play as such, 4-4-2. Brining in another winger just complicates things. If he wanted Ribery he would have bought him and not 'wasted' money on Valencia, Tosic, Ljalic...

I have rather large doubts about Nani. This is his last chance this season I think, with SAF anyway. I remember last year, he was trying to build Nani up a bit before the game at Villa Park. Nani didn't get a kick. He wasn't picked for any game of magnitude after. If I haven't forgotten that....

What'd be wrong with playing Ribery on one wing and Valencia on the other anyway? You'd have pace and skill and a real threat from both wings then, in different ways. Both'd do a nice wee shift for you too defensively. Tosic is unproven, totally. He won't see much game time this year either, I think, unless Nani really screws around and Park is injured. It's not worth talking about Ribery anyway, really, we won't sign him, no chance. Wants to go to Madrid before anybody else anyway. Nice to dream though.

jesus_thats_gre

Headshot wrote: »

Evans to barca, lol that's a good one

Especially not for 12m pounds.

Pro. F

Mr. Anderson wrote: »

If we buy Ribery and play him as a right winger doesn't that make Valencia a reasonably expensive sub? Which Nani has been for years already?

Ribery does well on the left too. I'd be very happy with him except for the fact that he's obsessed with Madrid. Can't see it happening anyway.

ShaneU

Headshot wrote: »

Good auld Q. Fortune signs for doncaster .

Always had a soft spot for quinton ,just injuries ****ed him up

Woah just remembered I had a dream about him scoring twice for united last night, weird.

Headshot

jesus_thats_gre wrote: »

Especially not for 12m pounds.

Yap more like 30m

PHB

Exactly. Pique was an absolute steal at the price they got him for. Evans would be a steal at 12 million. He is a future United stalwart, and I've no desire whatsoever to see him go. But I do worry that his head will start to get turned if he doesn't keep getting games, but I think he'll get enough to keep him there until Ferdinand and Vidic retire.

Mr Moon

Mr. Anderson wrote: »

Birmingham agree fee with United for Republic of Ireland international O'Shea.

http://football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_5472213,00.html

Sorry...

Close the door on your way out :rolleyes:

Mitch Connor

i don't see Evans going. No chance of it IMO.

I don't think he will push for it either - I think nailing down first spot at United holds as much, if not more, attraction to him as doing so at Barcelona would. He is a United fan.

Certainly not certain that he would be first choice there either - Puyol would be ahead of him for a start, and would Barcelona drop Pique/Milito etc for him? Not sure on that.

Not worried about him leaving, at all.

Headshot

Anybody hear this

Fletcher rejects plea from scotland boss George Burley to miss the community shield
Burley had requested that fletcher be rested ahead of scotlands world cup game in norway

Burley has some nerve i'll give him that

nicklauski

See Park was left out of the Korea Squad to due to his United Commitments! Now thats how you do it

herbieflowers

Headshot wrote: »

Anybody hear this

Fletcher rejects plea from scotland boss George Burley to miss the community shield
Burley had requested that fletcher be rested ahead of scotlands world cup game in norway

Burley has some nerve i'll give him that

Can understand where he's coming from to be fair. You wouldn't want your best player picking up an injury for a crucial qualifier in a pointless curtain-raiser.

3hn2givr7mx1sc

nicklauski wrote: »

See Park was left out of the Korea Squad to due to his United Commitments! Now thats how you do it

He told them that he didn't want to play.

Mikeyt086

Arnt South Korea already qualified? So it doesnt matter at all.

Scotland on the other hand need a win.

Headshot

Real madrid are unreal ,i dislike them now i dont mind them

Na no really, still hate them with a passion but im

Mitch Connor

Mikeyt086 wrote: »

Arnt South Korea already qualified? So it doesnt matter at all.

Scotland on the other hand need a win.

Fletcher is still going to play for Scotland, he simply isn't going to skip out on United when it is not required. There are a number of Championship players that are also not meeting up wioth the Scotland squad on Thursday.

Mitch Connor

Headshot wrote: »

Real madrid are unreal ,i dislike them now i dont mind them

Na no really, still hate them with a passion but im

i'd be waiting to see what Liverpool do with the cash before I start thanking Real. I don't think Liverpool will sit on the cash on the pretense that they neither need to spend or think they can't spend it well - like United have.

herbieflowers

well seeing as the Championship starts this weekend, it's understandable. Pointless Community Shield match on the other hand...

Im_No_Superman

Hows tricks lads? Man this new thread has really rattled along since the weekend!

I personally would like to see Silva at club although the 30 million fee sounds abit steep. An attacking midfielder (who can play on the left comfortably id needed) is exactly what we need imo. It will be very interesting to see how he gets on tomorrow against us.

Headshot

Mitch Connor wrote: »

i'd be waiting to see what Liverpool do with the cash before I start thanking Real. I don't think Liverpool will sit on the cash on the pretense that they neither need to spend or think they can't spend it well - like United have.

They just lost a proven great PL player and the way the americans work ,i wouldnt be too confident if i was a pool fan and if a player does come in,no preason for them

herbieflowers

Headshot wrote: »

They just lost a proven great PL player and the way the americans work ,i wouldnt be too confident if i was a pool fan and if a player does come in,no preason fo them

It's a loss but Liverpool to me are more of a machine than a team based around individual players. As good as Alonso is, the sale isn't gonna to greatly diminish their title credentials imo. 30m is good business and I'm sure Benitez has someone lined up to take his place, it's not like it came out of the blue or anything. The Americans would be foolish not to let him spend at least some of that cash in finding a replacement.

3hn2givr7mx1sc

herbieflowers wrote: »

It's a loss but Liverpool to me are more of a machine than a team based around individual players. As good as Alonso is, the sale isn't gonna to greatly diminish their title credentials imo. 30m is good business and I'm sure Benitez has someone lined up to take his place, it's not like it came out of the blue or anything. The Americans would be foolish not to let him spend at least some of that cash in finding a replacement.

Do you honestly think that this 'machine', as you call it, would be any good without Gerrard OR Torres?

jesus_thats_gre

Omar Quaint Metropolitan wrote: »

Do you honestly think that this 'machine', as you call it, would be any good without Gerrard OR Torres?

As a United supporter, you should know quite well how Liverpool coped without Gerrard and Torres..

Sully

jesus_thats_gre wrote: »

As a United supporter, you should know quite well how Liverpool coped without Gerrard and Torres..

Ah now, to be fair they didnt cope that well. If your making a remark at the United - Liverpool game, we all know United were simply not on form as for two very good teams in the league, to walk away with that score line indicates that.

3hn2givr7mx1sc

jesus_thats_gre wrote: »

As a United supporter, you should know quite well how Liverpool coped without Gerrard and Torres..

You couldn't base a whole season on the outcome of one game in which United were all over the place. Yes, Torres was injured for parts of the season but if he or Gerrard left Liverpool they would struggle badly if they didn't get a replacement of the same quality, which would be very tough.

Mr Alan

In addition to JTG pointing out the obvious, i would also like to point out to Headshot that the game at Old Trafford this year, it was Lucas & Mascherano who schooled your midfield. Alonso was injured.

Mr Alan

baz2009 wrote: »

You couldn't base a whole season on the outcome of one game in which United were all over the place. Yes, Torres was injured for parts of the season but if he or Gerrard left Liverpool they would struggle badly if they didn't get a replacement of the same quality, which would be very tough.

will people be saying the same about Ronaldo & Tevez & Utd next summer? quite possibly.