Manchester United Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread - Mod Note in OP, 13/8

irishfeen

20 days until we kick off the new season... Plenty of days for a few quality signings to go through if the cogs are already in motion - fully expect a good signing this week, without one I'll be very disappointed and a bit fearful of what's happening.

Mikeyt086

You can't be disappointed we didn't move for De Vrij lads, nobody will have known him better than LVG and he didn't feel the need to make a move, so he clearly wasn't ready.

bucketybuck

Giggsy11 wrote: »

City can but I doubt Chelsea can. Injury to Costa and they are back to square one.

Chelsea have badly mismanaged their strikers but they certainly do have quality there. They have Demba Ba, Eto, Drogba and Lukaku never mind Torres and Costa, there are a lot of clubs would love to have those options. Losing Costa would not be anything like the blow of us losing Herrara or any of our five senior defenders.

Mikeyt086

bucketybuck wrote: »

Chelsea have badly mismanaged their strikers but they certainly do have quality there. They have Demba Ba, Eto, Drogba and Lukaku never mind Torres and Costa, there are a lot of clubs would love to have those options. Losing Costa would not be anything like the blow of us losing Herrara or any of our five senior defenders.

No they don't.

Lucas Hood

bucketybuck wrote: »

Chelsea have badly mismanaged their strikers but they certainly do have quality there. They have Demba Ba, Eto, Drogba and Lukaku never mind Torres and Costa, there are a lot of clubs would love to have those options. Losing Costa would not be anything like the blow of us losing Herrara or any of our five senior defenders.

Ba & Eto'o are gone.

bucketybuck

Lucas Hood wrote: »

Ba & Eto'o are gone.

Really, when did that happen? Out of contract?

Lucas Hood

bucketybuck wrote: »

Really, when did that happen? Out of contract?

Eto'o out of contract , Ba to Beskitas last week.

MagicIRL

It was floating around here during the WC that de Vrij to United was already signed, sealed and delivered. How long will it take the rags to run with "LvG pulls the plug last minute on de Vrij deal"?

All my hard work teaching TheDoc how to spell it correctly and all. - You can only assume we're in for some CB. Van Gaal is complaining about his lack of players for defence and midfield, so I just can't see the window closing without more players coming in. Blind seems like an ideal fit, but who knows? Vermaelen and Hummels too, although those rumours seem to have died down a little it seems?

I also read that Strootman is being valued at 79 million pounds! :rolleyes:

Manchester United have been told they will have to pay £79m for Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman, 24, despite the Dutchman being sidelined with a cruciate knee ligament injury since March. Sun (subscription required)

Also,

Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria, 26, wants to join Manchester United as the £45m-rated Argentina international does not want to return to the Bernabeu and is frustrated by Paris St-Germain's attempts to secure a loan deal. Daily Star

and

However, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti expects Di Maria to be back at the European champions on 5 August. AS

Meanwhile, the transfer of Di Maria from Real Madrid to PSG could be announced next week in a £51m deal. Marca

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/gossip/

They haven't a clue!

Blatter

Lukaku looks certain to leave as well.

Zico

Mikeyt086 wrote: »

You can't be disappointed we didn't move for De Vrij lads, nobody will have known him better than LVG and he didn't feel the need to make a move, so he clearly wasn't ready.

Let's hope he isn't signed on the last day of the transfer window for £4m more than he'd have cost this week.:p

advertsfox

From Sky Sports - http://www1.skysports.com/transfer-centre/

Reports from Italy in Gazzetta dello Sport claim that Arturo Vidal’s agent is due to hold talks with Juventus officials to discuss Manchester United’s interest in the Chile international. The Premier League club are said to have tabled a 60million euros offer for Vidal and are ready to offer him a four-year deal at Old Trafford, although Juve remain determined to keep one of their star men.

Giggsy11

bucketybuck wrote: »

Chelsea have badly mismanaged their strikers but they certainly do have quality there. They have Demba Ba, Eto, Drogba and Lukaku never mind Torres and Costa, there are a lot of clubs would love to have those options. Losing Costa would not be anything like the blow of us losing Herrara or any of our five senior defenders.

Like few have mentioned, Ba and Eto'o are gone, rumors are that Lukaku is also leaving. So they are left with Drogba, Costa and Torres. If Costa is injured then they have Drogba and Torres to rely on which is just like previous seasons. Tbf they have done reasonably well with that strike force but I don't see them as title contenders without Costa.

Also I forgot to mention Schurrle can also play as striker but not sure how good he is as lone striker.

Crimson King

€60M is £47M plus. So what was all the £32M or £30M and Nani sh*te talk during the WC?

Vidal is one of those type of signings that will make me smile, would love to see him and Mata link up. However my gut feeling is the papers really have no clue and I would not be surprised if United have no interest in signing the player.

redbaron_99

Vidal is worth his weight in gold. I don't give a damn what we spend to get him. He is the player we NEED.
Great tackler, hard worker off the ball, can pick forward passes, good engine and an eye for goal.

But most importantly, he will provide leadership from the midfield. Something that's been lacking for a very long time.

The_Kew_Tour

Give them 60 million and say no more.

Hope the interest is true.

dahat

Strootman at €100 came from a loose comment by Roma manager, likely being tormented by journos on whether Strootman is staying or going.

MagicIRL

Rafael has been sent home.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28520579

The Brazilian suffered the problem during training in Denver on Friday ahead of the 3-2 win against AS Roma.

In Rafael's absence, Antonio Valencia started in the right wing-back role, with Ashley Young taking over in the second-half.

United open their Premier League campaign against Swansea at Old Trafford on 16 August.

"As he was unlikely to participate in the remaining tour games, returning to the training complex affords the best overall option for his recovery in time to continue pre-season preparation when the team returns," said a United statement on their website.

dahat

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

Give them 60 million and say no more.

Hope the interest is true.

Massive bluff by the club if it is, really fits with the theory that English media are being kept at arms length.

kippy

MagicIRL wrote: »

It was floating around here during the WC that de Vrij to United was already signed, sealed and delivered. How long will it take the rags to run with "LvG pulls the plug last minute on de Vrij deal"?

All my hard work teaching TheDoc how to spell it correctly and all. - You can only assume we're in for some CB. Van Gaal is complaining about his lack of players for defence and midfield, so I just can't see the window closing without more players coming in. Blind seems like an ideal fit, but who knows? Vermaelen and Hummels too, although those rumours seem to have died down a little it seems?

I also read that Strootman is being valued at 79 million pounds! :rolleyes:



Also,


and





http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/gossip/

They haven't a clue!

About 2% of all transfer "news" that is published anywhere has an inkling of truth in it. The rest is made up on the spot.
The 2% that are truthful are generally the ones from the clubs officially announcing the transfer as being complete........

MagicIRL

Interestingly, the BBC lists the first team squad as:

Manchester United Squad


Goalkeepers
1 de Gea
13 Lindegaard
40 Amos
50 Johnstone

Defenders
2 Rafael
4 Jones
6 Evans
12 Smalling
30 Varela
38 Keane
Shaw
James
Blackett

Midfielders
8 Mata
16 Carrick
17 Nani
18 Young
23 Cleverley
24 Fletcher
25 A Valencia
26 Kagawa
29 Zaha
31 Fellaini
32 Powell
35 Lingard
44 Januzaj
Anderson
Herrera

Forwards
10 Rooney
14 Hernández
19 Welbeck
20 van Persie
21 Henríquez
34 Lawrence
47 Wilson
48 Keane

Mitch Connor

MagicIRL wrote: »

Interestingly, the BBC lists the first team squad as:

Manchester United Squad

What is interesting about that?

MagicIRL

Mitch Connor wrote: »

What is interesting about that?

Wouldn't consider quite a few of those players as first team or anything like it. Squad looks very thin if you remove the Keanes, Henriques, Velera, Lawrence, Wilson, Johnston, James, Blackett, Powell, Lingard, Anderson.

I'm all for giving the young lads a chance, but I can't seem all of them playing next season.

homerjay2005

Rafael news is really disappointing, brings home the need for investment for a good back up option there.

We are already screwed for numbers in defence, this makes it worst.with Carrick out, thats 2 players from already weak starting 11 injured 2 weeks into preseason.

Lucas Hood

MagicIRL wrote: »

Wouldn't consider quite a few of those players as first team or anything like it. Squad looks very thin if you remove the Keanes, Henriques, Velera, Lawrence, Wilson, Johnston, James, Blackett, Powell, Lingard, Anderson.

I'm all for giving the young lads a chance, but I can't seem all of them playing next season.

They're only listed there because they've been given a squad number or are on the tour.

Zico

With so much other stuff going on, I'd almost forgotten Rafael was made of glass.

Wait till LVG looks at his injury history.:)

RobertKK

Rafael is far too brittle, he seems to be getting worse as he gets older.

FutureGuy

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

Give them 60 million and say no more.

Hope the interest is true.

I'm of the same opinion. Ed said that the cash is there and we are very lucky that we don't seemingly have any competition for his signing. Give Juve £47 million and begin a clearout to recouperate some of the cash. I think it's painfully obvious that Fellaini is not going to have a place under LVG, even after just two games. Cleverly is probably safe until Christmas given the injury to Carrick. Young/Nani are wingers, and although both could also play No10 at a push, they just do not fit into the new system.

I'm cool as a breeze about Vidal - he'll sign or he won't. I am pertty certain that in 12 months time, with a full season and 2 further transfer windows behind us, we will be looking at a squad oozing with quality.

markcahill1985

Actually really excited to have Mata playing centrally behind two strikers this season, if he is allowed a run of games there he will be awesome for us once he builds a proper understanding with RVP and Rooney, that front three will really have oppostions afraid, heres hoping they can all stay fit.

ElChe32

My return to the thread surely signals the signing of at least 3 signings in the next 2 weeks.

Professional Griefer

Would love to get a solid answer on Vidal today, yes or no just be done with it already and move on.

MagicIRL

Professional Griefer wrote: »

Would love to get a solid answer on Vidal today, yes or no just be done with it already and move on.

Mitch Connor

ElChe32 wrote: »

My return to the thread surely signals the signing of at least 3 signings in the next 2 weeks.

Whatever about your return, I would be surprised if LVG wasn't demanding that some targets be brought in for the return to Carrington a week from now - and with the home game vs Valencia on the 12th I can see United wanting to use that as a debut for a star or two.

Maximus Alexander

Professional Griefer wrote: »

Would love to get a solid answer on Vidal today, yes or no just be done with it already and move on.

No.

There you go, you can take that to the bank.

Professional Griefer

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

No.

There you go, you can take that to the bank.

You're too kind Maximus.

Headshot

Professional Griefer wrote: »

Would love to get a solid answer on Vidal today, yes or no just be done with it already and move on.

Yes, No, Maybe, I dont know. Can you repeat the question?

advertsfox

:P

The_Kew_Tour

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:eek::eek:

Backstreet Moyes

Mitch Connor wrote: »

could have turned out to be another average squad player- which arguably Evans, Jones and Smalling are - if we are signing defenders (and we should) they need to be an immediate and obvious upgrade on the players we already have in that position, and based on what I saw at the WC De Vrij doesn't fit the bill, imo.

We have 3 senior defenders with a manager who wants to play 3 at the back and 2 of them are injury prone. De Vrij would cost nothing and would be an extra body who is also used to playing the system.

I don't know what world cup you watched if you think De Vrij didn't fit the bill. HE was fantastic and is only young i am pissed off we didn't sign him.

Mr_Red

I think United are looking better now in Pre session but.......

im looking forward to Van Gaals players coming in who are bought just for the system he wants to implement

Then we should see drastic improvement within the team

Mitch Connor

Nuts102 wrote: »

We have 3 senior defenders with a manager who wants to play 3 at the back and 2 of them are injury prone. De Vrij would cost nothing and would be an extra body who is also used to playing the system.

I don't know what world cup you watched if you think De Vrij didn't fit the bill. HE was fantastic and is only young i am pissed off we didn't sign him.

didn't think he looked comfortable on the ball.

I'm not saying we shouldn't buy defenders, i'm saying MAYBE it is the right call not to sign De Vrij, that I think Smalling/Jones/Evans can be as good as him, and any CBs brought in should be an immediate, obvious and significant upgrade on the centre backs we already have.

Gadge

advertsfox wrote: »

:P

Giggsy11

Mitch Connor wrote: »

didn't think he looked comfortable on the ball.

I'm not saying we shouldn't buy defenders, i'm saying MAYBE it is the right call not to sign De Vrij, that I think Smalling/Jones/Evans can be as good as him, and any CBs brought in should be an immediate, obvious and significant upgrade on the centre backs we already have.

I'm not sure you looked at the right player. He is extremely comfortable on the ball, that's his best asset.

This is the stat I posted few days ago. IIRC he has completed more dribbles than anyone among CBs.

jimmytwotimes 2013

Giggsy11 wrote: »

City can but I doubt Chelsea can. Injury to Costa and they are back to square one. Striker who can't score goals. Injury to Matic or Fabregas they are back to playing Mikel in the team or Ramires which is same as last season.

It's same for every club unless you sign 2 or 3 players for the same position.

Costa, Drogba and Schurrle not too bad for striking options though?

Ramires, Matic and Fabregas for two of the midfield places is better than United too. Mikel is muck alrite.

If you were combining a Chelsea/ United team what would people pick?

Personally I'd have maybe Shaw in defence, maybe Herrera in midfield but other than that I'd struggle to get another United player in and then strikers you could pick two from RVP, Rooney, Costa.

Backstreet Moyes

Mitch Connor wrote: »

didn't think he looked comfortable on the ball.

I'm not saying we shouldn't buy defenders, i'm saying MAYBE it is the right call not to sign De Vrij, that I think Smalling/Jones/Evans can be as good as him, and any CBs brought in should be an immediate, obvious and significant upgrade on the centre backs we already have.

Who are these players who can be got that are a significant upgrade. I am happy to give Jones and Smalling a chance this season and get in some competition.

De Vrij and Vlaar know the system very well and would cost peanuts. I would be happy with Jones, Evans, Smalling, De Vrij, Vlaar and Keane as our options.

Backstreet Moyes

jimmytwotimes 2013 wrote: »

Costa, Drogba and Schurrle not too bad for striking options though?

Ramires, Matic and Fabregas for two of the midfield places is better than united too. Mikel is muck alrite.

If you were combining a Chelsea/ United team what would people pick?

Personally I'd have maybe Shaw in defence, maybe Herrera in midfield but other than that I'd struggle to get another united player in and then strikers you could pick two from RVP, Rooney, Costa.

Mata would walk into the Chelsea team if it was any other manager besides Mourinho.

TheTownie

Vidal update! :pac:

Sport Witness ‏@Sport_Witness 3m
Vidal UPDATE from TMW: He's having lunch with his teammates. He'll then have his knee checked out.

Has to be the most ridiculous saga at this stage. We're getting updates about when the man is eating now.

Giggsy11

jimmytwotimes 2013 wrote: »

Costa, Drogba and Schurrle not too bad for striking options though?

Ramires, Matic and Fabregas for two of the midfield places is better than United too. Mikel is muck alrite.

If you were combining a Chelsea/ United team what would people pick?

Personally I'd have maybe Shaw in defence, maybe Herrera in midfield but other than that I'd struggle to get another United player in and then strikers you could pick two from RVP, Rooney, Costa.

Not sure if you read earlier post, it's about if they lose Costa and one of Matic or Fabregas due to injury as the post I was replying to was talking about injury to our summer signings.

ericzeking

Defenders are of far more pressing a concern than Vidal...

Every day I come in here and see this fact being largely usurped by 'concern' over the fact we are not spending the big bucks that Ed said we have on Fantasy football players.

We are one more injury away from not being able to field a full set of defenders in our managers chosen formation.

We need to get in a couple of defenders and after that if Vidal or whoever comes, well and good but I won't get too hot and bothered about it.

Of course I have full confidence LVG will sort it all out in the end.

RayCun

TheTownie wrote: »

We're getting updates about when the man is eating now.

BUT WHAT DID HE ORDER?!?!?!

MagicIRL

TheTownie wrote: »

Vidal update! :pac:



Has to be the most ridiculous saga at this stage. We're getting updates about when the man is eating now.

"Vidal spotted eating a slice of cheese pizza. Said to be the favourite food of #10 Wayne Rooney. He's on his way boys!!" #Vidal #United #Saga #Football #Clueless