Manchester United Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2015 Mod Note Post #2331

TheDoc

It's around this time of the season the penny dropped last year for Van Gaal and he started playing people in their proper positions, and we put a good run together.

There is no reason he cannot do it again, and comfortably achieve top 4, and even get something going on the title again. The gap isn't that surmountable. I really don't see what can be solved in the Jan window other then a specialist left back, so we can put Darmian back into RB. A top striker isn't going to be available and clubs won't sell.

His selections and decisions ALWAYS leave something open for criticism, always. Last season when his selections were the obvious ones, we were winning games, and crushing teams. Needs to do the same again and stop trying to put square pegs in round holes.

I'd also be looking for Herrera to move in beside Schneiderlan instead of having two actual holding midfielders. The speed at which we link up is too slow, and neither Carrick, Schweinsteiger or Schneiderlan can drive the ball forward. Schweinsteiger did on Monday only for the space he was offered. I'd be putting Herrera in there beside Schneiderlan.

Mata at 10 with Young out wide right. Memphis on the left. Rooney up top. Martial rotating between Memphis and Rooney depending on whose playing worse.

It was around this time last season he ditched 3-5-2 and went back to his bread and butter. And it might high be time to make a significant tactical change again. This 4-2-3-1 with two holding DM's is absolutely dire.

homerjay2005

newballsplease wrote: »

Possibly playing worse now then Moyes season, you could argue that.

there is no possibly about it, the football now is the worst that ive ever seen as a United fans.

the last 3 months has been awful, no other way about it.

sky88

I think top 4 is still up for grabs with the way the league is shaping up anyone can beat anyone. i think this will go down to the wire for the final 2 places as i think Arsenal and city will start to get away from the pack. I think its between us, Liverpool, Leicester and spurs who will be the most likely to get it but its a strange season i could be completely wrong.

I think the europa league needs to be a focus as well with CL qualification through that at least trying to win it needs to happen were most PL clubs i feel always go half hearted at it.

Pro. F

My thoughts on the Chelsea game:

There was some encouraging football, but at this stage most people know better than to be encouraged.

The team were able to push up with not much danger of being countered - because Chelsea are poor and had no striker on top of that - and that helped make things happen in the final third. We had the better of the play and the chances. Against Chelsea at the moment that just isn't a big deal.

Whenever we next face a team with a proper counter attacking threat we'll be torn open if the midfield pushes up, just like has happened so often. So Louis will probably get the midfield to hold back more and the team will go back to creating feck all.

Regarding Rooney's miss, that type of miss happens regularly, even with the best strikers. Lots of people have this idea that the best strikers finish every time they've a clear sight of goal and time to shoot, but it's simply not true. The reality is that they all only score about one in two of the their good chances.

newballsplease

TheDoc wrote: »

I really don't see what can be solved in the Jan window other then a specialist left back, so we can put Darmian back into RB. A top striker isn't going to be available and clubs won't sell.


Mata at 10 with Young out wide right. Memphis on the left. Rooney up top. Martial rotating between Memphis and Rooney depending on whose playing worse.

This 4-2-3-1 with two holding DM's is absolutely dire.

Throw enough money and you might tempt a club to sell...maybe Lukaku.
Liverpool once signed Suarez in January. A good striker is def possible to get this window and is the position we are badly stuck for. Getting rid of Hernandez has really blown back on LVG. Rooney haa only scored i think 6 premierleague goals in 2015. Simply not good enough.

Your point on a left back being required? That is the position we have MOST cover for. Rojo has played there for Argentina,Blind for Netherlands, Shaw will be back in next season if not before. Darmain can cover it,also Young. Theres also the young lad borthwick-jackson who can develop, has done ok when picked.

newballsplease

homerjay2005 wrote: »

there is no possibly about it, the football now is the worst that ive ever seen as a United fans.

the last 3 months has been awful, no other way about it.

I think so aswell but im sure someone would disagree.
Defensivly you could say we are stronger and at keeping possesion !!

homerjay2005

so the lad who had the Ogdan interview has been tweeting this -

Pilib de Brún ‏@Malachians
Woodward & Fergie don't like each other, Woodward excluded him from being a part of LVG hire & sacking LVG would be conceding defeat to SAF.

Pilib de Brún ‏@Malachians
Moyes was sacked for a lot less than what LVG has done this season. Club is going backwards yet internally it's about a power struggle.

Pilib de Brún ‏@Malachians
LVG says stick to the facts. He has less points than Moyes after 19 games, Moyes was still in Europe, LVG spent 250m. Those are the facts..

Pilib de Brún ‏@Malachians
So now MUFC are just a huge corporation that prioritizes profit over absolutely everything else. Some utd fans got what they deserve.

it really depicts a shambles behind the scenes now

Pro. F

Tyson Fury wrote: »

So you're saying a manager who has consistently delivered poor performances and plays a system which doesn't suit the players should to blow more money in January!

That's quite an active imagination you've got there. I didn't say anything like that, nor did I quote any post talking about that issue.

Pro. F

homerjay2005 wrote: »

so the lad who had the Ogdan interview has been tweeting this -

it really depicts a shambles behind the scenes now

So the guy is making arguments for why LVG should go and also revealing inside information about why he hasn't gone. Reads like some itk spoofing to me.

TheDoc

newballsplease wrote: »

Your point on a left back being required? That is the position we have MOST cover for. Rojo has played there for Argentina,Blind for Netherlands, Shaw will be back in next season if not before. Darmain can cover it,also Young. Theres also the young lad borthwick-jackson who can develop, has done ok when picked.

Rojo out injured again for most of this season, quickly become unreliable in that regard. Shaw out for the season. Darmien covering LB means RB exposed, he is a good RB imo and should be there week in week out. Blind has formed what is our best CB pair with Smalling.

Young is a stop gap just like Valencia was. Young would be better utilised playing RW, with his pace and ability to actually beat players.

A LB would allow Darmien to move back to his best position, and also utilise Young properly on either flank.

I don't see how and where we can land a proper striker in january, unless we drop some serious bean on Lukaku. But the reality is the good strikers are at clubs where they are not going to sell in January. So we will probably be looking at another young prospect or some foreign import that isn't getting his game or has problems etc.

homerjay2005

TheDoc wrote: »

Rojo out injured again for most of this season, quickly become unreliable in that regard. Shaw out for the season. Darmien covering LB means RB exposed, he is a good RB imo and should be there week in week out. Blind has formed what is our best CB pair with Smalling.

Young is a stop gap just like Valencia was. Young would be better utilised playing RW, with his pace and ability to actually beat players.

A LB would allow Darmien to move back to his best position, and also utilise Young properly on either flank.

I don't see how and where we can land a proper striker in january, unless we drop some serious bean on Lukaku. But the reality is the good strikers are at clubs where they are not going to sell in January. So we will probably be looking at another young prospect or some foreign import that isn't getting his game or has problems etc.

LB is the one position in the squad (apart from maybe keeper) that we dont need to sign anybody.

TheDoc

Pro. F wrote: »

So the guy is making arguments for why LVG should go and also revealing inside information about why he hasn't gone. Reads like some itk spoofing to me.

Ogdon was making the points on an interview with your man. While he was quick to react to people calling him a spoofer in saying that they are not his quotes, just what Ogdon said, he is getting a good run from constantly tweeting the quotes.

Wondering if M.Ogdon is still going to be around Manchester as a correspondent. Got a new job I believe and pretty risky move for him. Either he is 100% on the money, or he's just pushed himself further out of good books of Woodward

Like, it's a very contrary viewpoint to what Jamie Jackson wrote in his book A Season in Red, that made comment on the structural setup. Although in both cases, not a source or a whiff of anything to indicate where its coming from.

RobertKK

It doesn't say much for the rest if United are so bad yet just 9 points off the top.
Of all the teams in the top 6, United have the most room for improvement. They just need to start winning ASAP.

Owryan

On the latest United We Stand podcast they chat to a united supporter from Dublin.

Any chance they were a boardsie

ronjo

RobertKK wrote: »

It doesn't say much for the rest if United are so bad yet just 9 points off the top.
Of all the teams in the top 6, United have the most room for improvement. They just need to start winning ASAP.

I could be wrong but werent you top 6 weeks ago?

ETA you were 1 point behind Leicester and 1 ahead of Arsenal and City if my calculation are correct.

RobertKK

ronjo wrote: »

I could be wrong but werent you top 6 weeks ago?

ETA you were 1 point behind Leicester and 1 ahead of Arsenal and City if my calculation are correct.

Yes, but considering the poor form, it could have been far worse.

Liam McPoyle

Choo choo.


We are going to get top 4.


Morgan and Ander will start every game and will stay fit for the remainder of the season.

Rooney will find form and go on a scoring streak of no less than 5 games, starting this weekend.

Luke Shaw will return before the end of the season to consolidate our 3rd place finish (behind City and the Arse)

We will threaten to make a tilt at the title but fatigue will take its toll and a comfortable third place finish will be ours.

Choo choo.

sky88

homerjay2005 wrote: »

LB is the one position in the squad (apart from maybe keeper) that we dont need to sign anybody.

with injuries i think a new Lb is needed thats why darmian is covering there. id try get an experienced lb in January. move darmian back to rb and try to get the defence in there correct postions

SantryRed

I'm actually really surprised at the reaction amongst United fans to the Chelsea game. Yes, once again it was a 0-0 draw, but it was nothing like the previous games in this bad run. United had an much more against them against Chelsea. Were more attacking, more willing to get forward. It wasn't the boring sideways passing football of before. They hit the bar and the post in the first 20 minutes too! It looked like a corner had been turned, but if the negativity keeps up, it certainly won't be a corner turned.

Flint Fredstone

SantryRed wrote: »

I'm actually really surprised at the reaction amongst United fans to the Chelsea game. Yes, once again it was a 0-0 draw, but it was nothing like the previous games in this bad run. United had an much more against them against Chelsea. Were more attacking, more willing to get forward. It wasn't the boring sideways passing football of before. They hit the bar and the post in the first 20 minutes too! It looked like a corner had been turned, but if the negativity keeps up, it certainly won't be a corner turned.

Yeah, that's basically how I feel. Go out and play like that until the end of the season and we'll be grand but revert back to what we've been doing all season well then forget about it.


I think people are looking at Chelsea's league position and thinking we should be walloping them, I thought they played with a bit more about them too.

People were complaining it a ball went sideways or backwards saying it was falling back into old habits and what not, it couldn't be full on for 90 minutes.

user2011

I'd give Jackson a run of games at lb see how he fairs move darmien to rb that frees up Young to play either flank. Martial outwide Rooney top Herrera/Morgan and either Basti or Carrick for the last slot in midfield.

newballsplease

SantryRed wrote: »

I'm actually really surprised at the reaction amongst United fans to the Chelsea game. Yes, once again it was a 0-0 draw, but it was nothing like the previous games in this bad run. United had an much more against them against Chelsea. Were more attacking, more willing to get forward. It wasn't the boring sideways passing football of before. They hit the bar and the post in the first 20 minutes too! It looked like a corner had been turned, but if the negativity keeps up, it certainly won't be a corner turned.

Are you not worried about the fact that we cant seem to buy a goal these days? Relying on luck wont get you anywer.
Also LVGs choice of substitutes baffled me. You need to go and get the win, and he brings on Phil Jones. His decsion making sometimes is outrageous.
Wheres Nick Powell since the champions league game?injured or back in reserves?
Another bizarre decision that was.
Blind taking corners is a strange one. Not as strange as Jones taking them last year mind you. Schneiderlin should be starting every game, again daft decision benching him against stoke.

Lord TSC

SantryRed wrote: »

I'm actually really surprised at the reaction amongst United fans to the Chelsea game. Yes, once again it was a 0-0 draw, but it was nothing like the previous games in this bad run. United had an much more against them against Chelsea. Were more attacking, more willing to get forward. It wasn't the boring sideways passing football of before. They hit the bar and the post in the first 20 minutes too! It looked like a corner had been turned, but if the negativity keeps up, it certainly won't be a corner turned.

If you want to talk chances, Chelsea had as much as we did.

Herrera's shot that Curtois saved - Terry's header that De Gea saved.
Rooney fluffing the shot at the end - Matic getting one on one with De Gea and skying it.
Our two shots that hit the post - De Gea's double save.

It shows the level we're at when people are trying to make out a 0-0 draw, at home, to a team 5 points above relegation, who didn't play a striker and were lambasted by their own fans as having a very poor fame, as a positive experience. Had we not been on a run of losses, I think people would have been calling it a very bad performance, but there's no bonus points awarded for "doing well", relative to current form, against a poor team. For all we won, we could have very easily lost as well if De Gea didn't preform.

We needed 3 points. Not 1 and a "Well at least we looked better".

Its the press conference all over again; people are so desperate to be positive about something, they'll blow their load over the least worst aspect of a toxic situation.

Pro. F

SantryRed wrote: »

I'm actually really surprised at the reaction amongst United fans to the Chelsea game. Yes, once again it was a 0-0 draw, but it was nothing like the previous games in this bad run. United had an much more against them against Chelsea. Were more attacking, more willing to get forward. It wasn't the boring sideways passing football of before. They hit the bar and the post in the first 20 minutes too! It looked like a corner had been turned, but if the negativity keeps up, it certainly won't be a corner turned.

There are two modes with this Van Gaal team, positive and conservative. What we saw yesterday - and have seen at other times during the season and more often in the good run last season - was the positive one. It looks great at times, then you realise that it doesn't work defensively. The main reason we weren't bet yesterday is because Chelsea are in very poor form and were without a striker.

Despite all the focus on it, the real problem is not boring sideways passing, it's that Van Gaal can't set-up the team to be effective in both attack and defence. It's one or the other. Yesterday we saw the attacking set-up against a team with a weak counter attack. A lot of PL teams are good on the counter.

sky88

user2011 wrote: »

I'd give Jackson a run of games at lb see how he fairs move darmien to rb that frees up Young to play either flank. Martial outwide Rooney top Herrera/Morgan and either Basti or Carrick for the last slot in midfield.

Youngs delivary has just been terrible lately. its always been patchy but especally bad at the minute not sure hed be better then mata on the wing at the minute.

Mitch Connor

SantryRed wrote: »

I'm actually really surprised at the reaction amongst United fans to the Chelsea game. Yes, once again it was a 0-0 draw, but it was nothing like the previous games in this bad run. United had an much more against them against Chelsea. Were more attacking, more willing to get forward. It wasn't the boring sideways passing football of before. They hit the bar and the post in the first 20 minutes too! It looked like a corner had been turned, but if the negativity keeps up, it certainly won't be a corner turned.

Chelsea were without two of their bigger attacking stars, and one of the replacements, had no actual striker; are in 15th place and have been as bad as us in the last while - and we still couldn't beat them at home.

The first 30minutes was more promising, but after that it wasn't all that great to be honest.

Also, one 'good' performance in a run of 8 or 9 terrible ones does not mean we have turned a corner. Lets see how we do vs Sheff United and Swansea - lets see if the Chelsea game represents some sort of change in the 'philosophy' of LVG or a one off game that the players managed to get themselves up for in spite of him.

In counter to your point, I don't get how everyone thought his time was up after the norwich game but a BS press conference, a terrible performance vs Stoke and a 0-0 against at home to the side in 15th seems to have been enough to change opinion on him.

StringerBell

bucketybuck wrote: »

Tell us more about this rough patch. Just a few weeks is it?

I love when you have no response. Warms my heart.

user2011

sky88 wrote: »

Youngs delivary has just been terrible lately. its always been patchy but especally bad at the minute not sure hed be better then mata on the wing at the minute.

Could be better if didn't have to play fb not having to make lung busting runs up down the flank. Also gives the option of defender holding back a bit because young can take on his man get in behind were mata cant, but I think that line up has more balance has more pace throughout the front four.

sky88

user2011 wrote: »

Could be better if didn't have to play fb not having to make lung busting runs up down the flank. Also gives the option of defender holding back a bit because young can take on his man get in behind were mata cant, but I think that line up has more balance has more pace throughout the front four.

Playing FB shouldnt impact his actual delivery of the ball. id actually say that because mata goes inside so much it drags defenders to him and creates more space for young. The same was happening with valencia but niether could get the final ball in there.

Quandary

A decent 30 minutes at home to a poor Chelsea side, resulting in a scoreless draw is no where near convincing enough. If we drop points to Swansea LVG should be sacked IMO but I don't see it happening.Working at Utd must be a managers dream, any other club in the world would have him out on his ear after having £250m spent along with a season and a half to get his "philosophy" working.

Aside from a decent performance against Everton, this team haven't looked convincing since before Shaw broke his leg. If it were not for DDG and to a lesser extent Morgan Schneiderlin we would be sitting firmly in midtable.

If the 30 minute spell against Chelsea is a turning point and an example of how the team will start performing from now on I would be delighted to eat humble pie but I'm not holding out a lot of hope. I don't mean to sound like a doom merchant but that's just the way I am seeing it.

homerjay2005

sky88 wrote: »

with injuries i think a new Lb is needed thats why darmian is covering there. id try get an experienced lb in January. move darmian back to rb and try to get the defence in there correct postions

Or buy a center back first and allow Daley and Rojo to fight for the position until Shaw is back.

Buying a left back when we are crying out for a CB , winger and striker is extremely short term thinking especially when we have three players who played in that position in the last world cup

bucketybuck

TheDoc wrote: »

It's around this time of the season the penny dropped last year for Van Gaal and he started playing people in their proper positions, and we put a good run together.

There is no reason he cannot do it again

Its absolutely insane that something like that can even be said.

sky88

homerjay2005 wrote: »

Or buy a center back first and allow Daley and Rojo to fight for the position until Shaw is back.

Buying a left back when we are crying out for a CB , winger and striker is extremely short term thinking especially when we have three players who played in that position in the last world cup

Tbh i think blind is a better cb then he is a LB. Hes a lot better as a wing back like he was in the world cup were the left sided cb can cover for his lack of pace.

Is rojo not out for the season i thought? thats why i was thinking getting a new left back.

newballsplease

homerjay2005 wrote: »

Or buy a center back first and allow Daley and Rojo to fight for the position until Shaw is back.

Buying a left back when we are crying out for a CB , winger and striker is extremely short term thinking especially when we have three players who played in that position in the last world cup

Nail on the head. Cant see how people think we need a new left back. A central defender would be far far more important to sign.
A striker, a pacy right winger and central defender is whats needed.

TheDoc

bucketybuck wrote: »

Its absolutely insane that something like that can even be said.

Why? While it wasn't as bad, there was still grumblings and concerns and some outcry this time last year, and the team totally spun it on it's head and went on a really good run that basically secured top 4.

I still hold confidence that this can turn around. He is too good a manager, and our squad has enough talent and ability, to go onto a winning streak of 6,7 even 8 games. As unlikely as you think it will happen given our current state, it's just as likely to happen. Just need to get momentum going. While the Chelsea game was rightly broken down in terms of "lets not runaway with ourselves" that really doesn't matter if the team and Van Gaal can build from it.

While this has been an exciting league with upsets left right and centre, there is a lot of poor teams in it imo, and a lot of bad performances. And the elite teams arn't tearing up trees at the moment. While that goes for ourselves, there is an opportunity here for someone to click and put together a nice run. And why the hell not us?

TheDoc

newballsplease wrote: »

Nail on the head. Cant see how people think we need a new left back. A central defender would be far far more important to sign.
A striker, a pacy right winger and central defender is whats needed.

I guess my feelings are that realistically we will not sign a CB or Striker of any note of calibre that will improve the first IX.

However we can sign a LB that will immediately go into the first IX, allowing Darmian to move to his natural position, and young to become an option in attack as opposed to defence.

Again, Blind is part of our best CB pair, so I don't want him out at LB. And Rojo is out injured, again, longterm. How many games will it take him to get back into action, I don't even know, so I won't be surprised if Van Gaal is just ignoring him for now.

Of course I'd love for Lukaku or a shiny new CB or a proper no.10. But I'm just thinking realistically, and maybe what Van Gaal is thinking, and LB sticks out like a sore thumb to me, not just the position itself, but the effects its having on RB and RW.

Nalz

Solid CB and an old fashion winger (or close to it) should be the priority in the transfer window.

A striker also, although if we bring back Janujaz and\or Wilson back, the new winger comes in and Martial & Rooney stay fit it should be enough for top 4 and a good cup run.

Manchester United in this day and age should be asking for more than that, but those goals are the reality right now.

bucketybuck

TheDoc wrote: »

Why? While it wasn't as bad, there was still grumblings and concerns and some outcry this time last year, and the team totally spun it on it's head and went on a really good run that basically secured top 4.

You don't think its crazy that a year later we still want our manager to do something as simple as play people in their right positions? Or use a tactical plan that suits the players instead of shoehorning people into some bastardised system they have never performed well in?

And lets be clear, that really good run was 3 games. We played well for 3 games, then reverted back to whatever the **** it is that Van Gaal is trying to do. More to the point, it was every bit as bad this time last year, the Arsenal and Southampton games this time last year were as bad as anything I've ever seen and there were plenty of us pointing it out. Which is why its laughable to see certain train spotters trying to pass recent bad results off as just a bad patch.

Coat22

TheDoc wrote: »

I guess my feelings are that realistically we will not sign a CB or Striker of any note of calibre that will improve the first IX.

However we can sign a LB that will immediately go into the first IX, allowing Darmian to move to his natural position, and young to become an option in attack as opposed to defence.

Again, Blind is part of our best CB pair, so I don't want him out at LB. And Rojo is out injured, again, longterm. How many games will it take him to get back into action, I don't even know, so I won't be surprised if Van Gaal is just ignoring him for now.

Of course I'd love for Lukaku or a shiny new CB or a proper no.10. But I'm just thinking realistically, and maybe what Van Gaal is thinking, and LB sticks out like a sore thumb to me, not just the position itself, but the effects its having on RB and RW.

There's got to be some half decent CB out there who would add depth to the squad. Doesn't have to be a Ramos or Hummels but wouldn't be hard to improve on the options there at the moment which includes 2 converted left backs, The Best Young Defender in Europe and eh Paddy McNair to vie for a place alongside Smalling. If (when) Smalling gets injured we need 2 of the above so improving on that shouldn't be impossible.

newballsplease

TheDoc wrote: »

I guess my feelings are that realistically we will not sign a CB or Striker of any note of calibre that will improve the first IX.

However we can sign a LB that will immediately go into the first IX, allowing Darmian to move to his natural position, and young to become an option in attack as opposed to defence.

Again, Blind is part of our best CB pair, so I don't want him out at LB. And Rojo is out injured, again, longterm. How many games will it take him to get back into action, I don't even know, so I won't be surprised if Van Gaal is just ignoring him for now.

Of course I'd love for Lukaku or a shiny new CB or a proper no.10. But I'm just thinking realistically, and maybe what Van Gaal is thinking, and LB sticks out like a sore thumb to me, not just the position itself, but the effects its having on RB and RW.

But do you not think you sound ridiculous when the squad has about 5 players that can cover left back? Sign another ,if he gets injured, sign another?
Shaw will be back next year. There is adequate cover until that.

The Strikers position should be the one sticking out like a sore thumb. The team cant score.... whats the problem do you think?

On Blind.... he is not the answer to a central defence partnership. Likely to make a shocking mistake regularly.
Sign a CD and put blind/rojo/borthwick-jackson/young at left back.

Central defenders we have Smalling/jones/blind/ mcnair??? imagine if Smalling got injured?

Basically a Central Defender is clearly needed ahead of a left back. I dont really think there is any argument to it.

homerjay2005

sky88 wrote: »

Tbh i think blind is a better cb then he is a LB. Hes a lot better as a wing back like he was in the world cup were the left sided cb can cover for his lack of pace.

Daley Blind is a very very average center back who has been made to look better as we have been playing all season with two defensive players in front of him, with one of the best defenders in Europe beside him and one of the world's best keepers behind him.

Majority of teams sit back and allow us to attack them, therefore our defenders at times have very little to do. However, when teams go at us, we look vulnerable and part of this is due to having Daley Blind at center back.

He is too slow and not strong enough to be center back

The_Kew_Tour

It does not matter who we sign, if we got Suarez and Messi we still struggle for goals

We don't need investment on players half as much as we need to concentrate on our way of playing and picking right players.

We do have lot of quality players.

Vic Vinegar

Great news everyone! we have 10 clean sheets in the league, which is the highest in the league.

Feel better now? no, i don't either.

dfx-

Mitch Connor wrote: »

Chelsea were without two of their bigger attacking stars, and one of the replacements, had no actual striker; are in 15th place and have been as bad as us in the last while - and we still couldn't beat them at home.

That's how I saw it. I couldn't see how Chelsea planned to get a goal outside of a setpiece. The last 40 minutes saw Hazard walk around and there was essentially no-one upfront and not even Willian on to put in a good freekick.

They were there to be beaten.

Coat22

homerjay2005 wrote: »

Daley Blind is a very very average center back who has been made to look better as we have been playing all season with two defensive players in front of him, with one of the best defenders in Europe beside him and one of the world's best keepers behind him.

Majority of teams sit back and allow us to attack them, therefore our defenders at times have very little to do. However, when teams go at us, we look vulnerable and part of this is due to having Daley Blind at center back.

He is too slow and not strong enough to be center back

Steady on there Homer - Smalling has had a good 2015 but he's got a long way to go before you can say that about him. The mitigating factors for Blind also apply to him, the style of play, the 2 defensive midfielders in front of him etc.

TheDoc

newballsplease wrote: »

But do you not think you sound ridiculous when the squad has about 5 players that can cover left back? Sign another ,if he gets injured, sign another?
Shaw will be back next year. There is adequate cover until that.

The Strikers position should be the one sticking out like a sore thumb. The team cant score.... whats the problem do you think?

On Blind.... he is not the answer to a central defence partnership. Likely to make a shocking mistake regularly.
Sign a CD and put blind/rojo/borthwick-jackson/young at left back.

Central defenders we have Smalling/jones/blind/ mcnair??? imagine if Smalling got injured?

Basically a Central Defender is clearly needed ahead of a left back. I dont really think there is any argument to it.

Like I said, I'd love a shiny new striker.

But you tell me where we can pickup a striker that is going to fire us 15+ goals in the second half of the season, and would be available.

Tell me where there is a CB that is available in January, that will be willingly sold, that will walk into our first team. Whatever about peoples opinions on Blind(Who I think is an excellent player) there is simply no denying that he has being an essential part of a mean defence this year, that while has blipped lately, is part of one of the best CB pairings in the league.

I'll fully accept people not liking Blind at CB, but I think it's unfair and skewered to discredit him entirely. What started as maybe a short term solution or trying something, has at this stage become something very useful and dare I say a success.

I'm not saying LB because that is my personal choice, I'm saying LB because I believe that is what Van Gaal will be looking at, and what will be a realistic signing.

Pro. F

TheDoc wrote: »

I'm not saying LB because that is my personal choice, I'm saying LB because I believe that is what Van Gaal will be looking at, and what will be a realistic signing.

So what do you think he should do then?

roosterman71

I'm not sure why people are clamoring for a new striker. We need to create chances first and see will the current crop score. Martial and Rooney are capable scorers, but the chances need to be created.

I'm also in the "don't buy a LB" camp. Get Stones in to partner Mike Smalling. Then rotate Darmian/Young/Blind at LB and Jones/Darmian/Young at right back.

I'd move Mata into the middle behind the striker too I think, but that would be in Herrara territory then. I can live with Mata wide right doing what he does best - find space and create things. Let him off the leash a bit. Schneiderlin must start in the middle of the park. His partner of Basti/Carrick is much of a muchness. Wide left is a problem area, so maybe stick with Martial and let him roam a bit (like Henry back in the day). Then Rooney up top I guess (*shudder*), but his role is more to bring others in than run in around the back of defenders

RobertKK

Look at all the chances Fellaini got against Stoke, and we don't need a new striker????

0gac3yjefb5sv7

I think a top CB is the most important. Jones isnt good enough for to play down at the local Sunday league.