Manchester United Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2017

Cantona's Collars

Cantona's Collars wrote: »

A gem from the Spurs v Liverpool match thread.
Beaten 4-1 and and this gets posted:
"I still think we can get ahead of United in the next 5 games, or at least close the gap considerably."

I've actually seen worse in there to be honest, and don't think that statement in itself is the wildest work of fantasy.

We have some tough games coming up. Never mind the Top 6 games, Jose himself says that he's at a loss to explain why the players crumbled to newly promoted Huddersfield yesterday.

If we pick up a few draws in our next 5 games, say against Spurs(H), Chelsea(A) and Watford(A), Liverpool could catch us or even get ahead if they make the most of their next 5 games. They do have a more favourable run in those games than we do.

Look, even though a draw would have suited United better in the Spurs-Pool game earlier, of course I take temporary delight in seeing Liverpool take a beating. However, I wouldn't be laughing at them too much yet and/or thinking we're home and dry in terms of finishing above them.

It's still early days all around. The last few games have shown that we have a bit to be concerned about in our own house. If we don't sort that shít out soon, Liverpool could be there or thereabouts with us by the end of November. Arsenal too.

Cantona's Collars

johnpatrick81 wrote: »

You still think Ye are title contenders? The next 5 games will show things so much clearer.... I think spurs and city will already be comfortably away from the pack by then.

I said the top 5 in my post.

johnpatrick81

Cantona's Collars wrote: »

I said the top 5 in my post.

You didn’t say where though. Glad to hear you’re realistic, see Ye in the battle for Trophy Quatre

0gac3yjefb5sv7

limnam wrote: »

Maybe you can get a job as a united scout.

Save us a fortune.

Well this is a discussion forum and I do watch every game so people can make a judgement on what they see and not just hope that a guy who hasn't looked to the standard at all will rise to the world class required.

Cantona's Collars

johnpatrick81 wrote: »

You didn’t say where though. Glad to hear you’re realistic, see Ye in the battle for Trophy Quatre

Better than the Joy of Sixth.;)

limnam

Pheonix10 wrote: »

Well this is a discussion forum and I do watch every game so people can make a judgement on what they see and not just hope that a guy who hasn't looked to the standard at all will rise to the world class required.

Why would he be required to be world class?

We haven't had a world class defender for years....

Smallng's not world class

Jones is not world class.

Tony is not world class (you could debate that he is)

Eric is not world class.

Shaw is not world class.

We haven't had a world class left back since Denis Irwin.

You get the point.

posturingpat

limnam wrote: »

Why would he be required to be world class?

We haven't had a world class defender for years....

Smallng's not world class

Jones is not world class.

Tony is not world class (you could debate that he is)

Eric is not world class.

Shaw is not world class.

We haven't had a world class left back since Denis Irwin.

You get the point.

That a wind-up? Evra was no doubt World class.

sReq | uTeK

Well at least Liverpool went for it.

posturingpat

sReq | uTeK wrote: »

Well at least Liverpool went for it.

:pac:

0gac3yjefb5sv7

limnam wrote: »

Why would he be required to be world class?

We haven't had a world class defender for years....

Smallng's not world class

Jones is not world class.

Tony is not world class (you could debate that he is)

Eric is not world class.

Shaw is not world class.

We haven't had a world class left back since Denis Irwin.

You get the point.

Bailly is getting there and has shown the signs. Valencia is excellent. Of course we should be aiming for world class.

Cantona's Collars

Just saw an interesting stat,we drew or lost any game that Mata didn't create a chance in.

limnam

posturingpat wrote: »

That a wind-up? Evra was no doubt World class.

At instagram maybe.

He was no irwin.

limnam

Pheonix10 wrote: »

Bailly is getting there and has shown the signs. Valencia is excellent. Of course we should be aiming for world class.

This discussion is pointless.

bangkok

limnam wrote: »

At instagram maybe.

He was no irwin.

Dont be talking crap, evra was world class, one of the best left backs in the world at his prime

sky88

Evra, rio and vidic were all world class at times during there united career

limnam

sky88 wrote: »

Evra, rio and vidic were all world class at times during there united career

Rio and vidic were not left back's

sky88

limnam wrote: »

Rio and vidic were not left back's

Read it as you were saying defenders in general.

Al Capwned

Patrice Evra was one of the best full backs in the world at his peak at OT.

limnam

Al Capwned wrote: »

Patrice Evra was one of the best full backs in the world at his peak at OT.

I disagree

But as soon as I enter any discussion with the phrase "world class" I instantly regret it.

As far as attacking flair going forward evra was outstanding

As far as defending he was suspect but it was mostly ignored because he was so good going forward and the way united played you didn't need to worry about it so much. But I never felt comfortable with him going backwards.

Anyway

Lets return to the current crop of bangers.

Liam O

Towards the end Evra was suspect defensively without a doubt.

In his prime he was excellent defensively. He pretty much shut down Messi over 2 legs in 2008 which was no mean feat.

bassy

Pheonix10 wrote: »

Bailly is getting there and has shown the signs. Valencia is excellent. Of course we should be aiming for world class.

Only thing is valencia couldnt cross hes legs.the amount of times he checks back.........

Trigger

limnam wrote: »

I disagree

But as soon as I enter any discussion with the phrase "world class" I instantly regret it.

As far as attacking flair going forward evra was outstanding

As far as defending he was suspect but it was mostly ignored because he was so good going forward and the way united played you didn't need to worry about it so much. But I never felt comfortable with him going backwards.

Anyway

Lets return to the current crop of bangers.

That’s like saying Roy Keane was a defensive midfielder..

Straight shooting here. I'm glad.
TBF he looked to protect Lindlelof and Mata for the mistakes.

Cantona's Collars

M!Ck^ wrote: »

Straight shooting here. I'm glad.
TBF he looked to protect Lindlelof and Mata for the mistakes.

I can see the 2 of them starting tomorrow night. Rashford needs a break, don't think he's fully fit since international duty.

Giggsy11

M!Ck^ wrote: »

Straight shooting here. I'm glad.
TBF he looked to protect Lindlelof and Mata for the mistakes.

It's good to talk all that but everything comes from manager. Why did he start Lingard instead of Rashford or Mkhitaryan? Considering we have league cup against Swansea where Lingard could have played.

Looks like Jose himself underestimated opponents.

Giggsy11

Giggsy11 wrote: »

It's good to talk all that but everything comes from manager. Why did he start Lingard instead of Rashford or Mkhitaryan? Considering we have league cup against Swansea where Lingard could have played.

Looks like Jose himself underestimated opponents.

I feel this was an appropriate response to Mikis poor form.
IMO he was deservedly dropped. Was dreadful when he came on as a sub too.

Rashford had a niggling issue with his knee? And gave Martial the nod over him.

Giggsy11

Rashford finished in 3rd place for Golden boy award, behind Mbappe and Dembele.

Giggsy11

M!Ck^ wrote: »

I feel this was an appropriate response to Mikis poor form.
IMO he was deservedly dropped. Was dreadful when he came on as a sub too.

Rashford had a niggling issue with his knee? And gave Martial the nod over him.

Rashford played from 46th min, which means he was fit enough for the game. We could have gone with strongest team and later sub out players who needs rest.

Giggsy11

Giggsy11 wrote: »

Rashford played from 46th min, which means he was fit enough for the game. We could have gone with strongest team and later sub out players who needs rest.

The only choices were really Lingard for Miki or Rashford for Martial

Young has been starting and been doing well recently

And again Miki was dropped and this was the correct decision

Crimson King

Any indication of when players are due back from injury? Pogba, Bailly, Rojo in particular.

Kerrydude1981

Crimson King wrote: »

Any indication of when players are due back from injury? Pogba, Bailly, Rojo in particular.

I got a notification off an app saying Pogba wont be back till December

Kerrydude1981

Kerrydude1981 wrote: »

I got a notification off an app saying Pogba wont be back till December

Don't be messing with me

posturingpat

Pogba back in the next fortnight what I was hearing last week.

Giggsy11

M!Ck^ wrote: »

The only choices were really Lingard for Miki or Rashford for Martial

Young has been starting and been doing well recently

And again Miki was dropped and this was the correct decision

Out of form Mkhitaryan creates more chances than Lingard. Disagree with that?

Mitch Connor

Giggsy11 wrote: »

Out of form Mkhitaryan creates more chances than Lingard. Disagree with that?

Yes - out of form miki puts every pass into the defenders shin, if he doesn't get tackled before trying the pass.

jayo26

I really don't know what story is with pogba he has been posting videos of him doing sprinting work for past two weeks but looks to be still with the specialist? Surely if he is sprinting and all he can't be that far off recovered.

bangkok

Hope we put out a reserve team in the cup. Last thing we need is more injuries. A lot of the players look like they could do with a rest

Giggsy11

Giggsy11 wrote: »

Out of form Mkhitaryan creates more chances than Lingard. Disagree with that?

Yes I do disagree. Miki has been woeful.

Out of interest how many chances has Mkhitaryan created in the last 3 games?

Mitch Connor

jayo26 wrote: »

I really don't know what story is with pogba he has been posting videos of him doing sprinting work for past two weeks but looks to be still with the specialist? Surely if he is sprinting and all he can't be that far off recovered.

I worry there is something no right behind the scenes.

Jose mentioning at the presser on Friday that he had no idea when Pogba would be back, while pointedly pointing out that Ibra is at United recovering under their control... it feels like there is something going on there and it worries me.

TheDoc

adox wrote: »

Anyway thank fook I missed that.

Sounds like it was a horror show.

It really was.

There is such a disjointed and "headless chicken" attitude when Pogba doesn't play it's actually frightening.

Giggsy11

Mitch Connor wrote: »

Yes - out of form miki puts every pass into the defenders shin, if he doesn't get tackled before trying the pass.

And somehow still create goal scoring chances in the game, which is better than playing Lingard who messed up every attack or can't create anything.

Lingard instead of Mata would have been better, but not instead of Mkhitaryan who at least picks up the ball deeper and runs at defense.

bangkok

bangkok wrote: »

Hope we put out a reserve team in the cup. Last thing we need is more injuries. A lot of the players look like they could do with a rest

Jose stated the team will be a strong one.
I'd agree tho. Would prefer a second string team altogether given the current injury crisis.

Giggsy11

M!Ck^ wrote: »

Yes I do disagree. Miki has been woeful.

Out of interest how many chances has Mkhitaryan created in the last 3 games?

Not sure and won't be surprised if he created nothing against Liverpool considering we played completely defensive game.

TheDoc

jayo26 wrote: »

I don't want to sound like Bangkok here but a few weeks ago i said about pogba been a loss to to us and I was called out on if as a lazy opinion....... yes I'm looking at you!!!!!!

Only 2 or 3 other people agreed with me then but looking at it now how many actually thinks he is a massive loss for us???????? I would go as far as saying he is the heartbeat of the team for creating chances and taking the pressure off the defence.

I don't think saying Pogba out of the team would hamper us, I'd say anyone who felt we would be fine without him, was in the general minority.

what has transpired is just pretty obvious, our best midfield and one of our best players is out injured, and we are struggling big time.

He drives the attacks and moves from midfield, Herrera and Matic have failed to do that in his absense. Hererra I've been really annoyed about, he has been poor. We should be beating most teams without him, lets not kid ourselves, but its just beyond obvious he is the lynchpin to our really productive and good attacking displays.

bucketybuck

Giggsy11 wrote: »

And somehow still create goal scoring chances in the game, which is better than playing Lingard who messed up every attack or can't create anything.

Lingard instead of Mata would have been better, but not instead of Mkhitaryan who at least picks up the ball deeper and runs at defense.

Come on, you can't make any argument for keeping Mkhitaryan in the side, he has been awful and there comes a point where a player needs dropping no matter what the other options are.

Kerrydude1981

M!Ck^ wrote: »

Don't be messing with me

Seems to be story most of the online rags are going with today

TheDoc

bucketybuck wrote: »

Come on, you can't make any argument for keeping Mkhitaryan in the side, he has been awful and there comes a point where a player needs dropping no matter what the other options are.

He was rightly dropped for the game (Mhiki) but for some reason Lingaard played at 10 and not Mata. Baffling. Lingaard isn't good enough to play centrally in a game where we will dominate. His touch is lose, his passing is slack, and his strengths are his pace on the counter and his "instinctive" interplay that happens in tight areas.

He should be an option on the RW and nothing else.

I guess the arguement for Mhiki is play him through the bad form till he picks up, because his understudy isn't really grabbing the chances and so massively inferior (in the cases where Mata isnt played at 10)

Giggsy11

bucketybuck wrote: »

Come on, you can't make any argument for keeping Mkhitaryan in the side, he has been awful and there comes a point where a player needs dropping no matter what the other options are.

When the alternative is Lingard, that itself is an argument to keep Mkhitaryan in the team.

TheDoc

M!Ck^ wrote: »

Yes I do disagree. Miki has been woeful.

Out of interest how many chances has Mkhitaryan created in the last 3 games?

Last three games he has had two shots and made 3 key passes, with no assists. His general stats and performance levels have gone of a cliff when you look at his whoscored rating for example.

But then everyone else is hardly burning it up either. He has been obviously poor, but then when the attack itself is piss he is hardly going to be amazing. Debate is likely if he is the lynchpin for the attacking cohesion, those around him, or those behind him?

Mitch Connor

see talk that we are going to be bringing Soler, Valencia CM, in at the end of the season.

Anyone know anything about him - I know he is yougn, and highly rated, and that is it. Would he be a compliment to Matic and Pogba?