The Ongoing Serie A, La Liga, All English Football, Champions League Thread - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Part 26

[BlackFox]

They don't its' to get by with a homegrown players so you don't get fined for failing the FFP. God forbid sticking a youth players name into the squad instead of buying someone on a big contract for a season. .

Ah I see, it all begins to make sense, well not sense, but you know what I mean "cynical business sense" t:

City have more money than China so they can do whatever suits them really, playing a different game to pretty much everyone else in the PL except maybe Chelsea.

 

[Hunter Rider]

I'd be ecstatic if he pulled that one off, but I think he's too invested in Giroud. I could see Cavani winding up at Chelsea, City or even United.

He has got some serious manlove for the hair gel warrior. However I just can't see him at any other PL club as he wants to play central and I don't see him shifting Costa, Aguero, Dzeko, Rooney and RvP. Arsenal are the ideal side for him to come in and claim the #9 spot.

Agreed. I hope we can nab him, I'm not too excited by the prospects of Carvalho and/or Schneiderlin.

Well the latter seems more likely to go to Spurs but there has been some waffle today about you being close to wrapping up a deal for Carvalho.

 

[Thread Manager]

This is a continuation thread, the old thread is [split]482319[/split]

 

[Thread Manager]

This is a continuation thread, the old thread is [split]479553[/split]

 

[Dr. Evil]

Mesut Ozil with a few NBA players:

The NBA players are in order: Kevin Durant (obviously), Derrick Rose and Damien Lillard

 

[Iceman]

I thought he'd look smaller next to them. Are these guys not that big? (compared to the likes of Shaq? lol)

 

[Just_Human]

Ozil with 2 beta males

no surprise here

 

[DeadPresident]

It's true that we haven't played really good attacking football for a few seasons now, we've had periods in Fergie's latter seasons but we scraped through a lot of games in truth. Under LvG I expect the quality of the football to be really entertaining with a much needed shift to a more modern system.

I'm looking forward to the match as the other 3 on the tour so far have been pretty decent. If we win we'll have to play another game instead of getting home and getting some business done though lol.

Yeah, I definitely think a lot of results for United in Fergie's last 2-3 seasons were by the grace of his managerial ability rather than the entirety of the squad being sufficient. I think with LvG there'll be a much more cohesive atmosphere about the team, and God willing we'll get a midfield that can be mentioned in the same breath as "Keane and Scholes" again. I'd also imagine United will be much better equipped to deal with European opponents once they get back into the UCL, LvG will know how to best address teams like Bayern/PSG/Barcelona.

The only true CM we have in the reserves that most feel can make the grade is Ben Pearson, but the general view is that it will be another season before he is ready to step up to the PL. We have Andres Pereira who is a big talent but he seems more of a #10 than a CM to me.

The frustrating thing with Mertens is that he has skill and pace, but his decision making in the final third and need to always try and make the back page with ludicrous shots make him a Belgian Nani.

Ehhh...that's disappointing. If LvG goes into the season without any additions beyond Shaw/Herrera I think 4th is the best that'll be achieved, no way will they outgun the squads Chelsea/City/Arsenal possess. I suppose no foreign games changes the dynamic a lot though, the players aren't unduly fatigued from travel, much the same way Brendan Rodgers mounted a convincing title challenge with Liverpool with a smaller nucleus of players last season.

Ok no then Mertens is the last thing United needs haha, we still need to hope they get rid of the real Nani

You've LVG now who seems to know what he wants, as opposed to the dithering of Moyes. If LVG wants someone, I'm sure he'll make it perfectly clear to the transfer guys at United to go get him. You've already made some excellent sigings thus far, which is better than the stage you were at last season with incomings.

Very true, I hope he insists on some backup. My concern is just that he seems pretty laid back about the squad, his most recent comments were along the lines of "Maybe we don't need any more signings". Perhaps it's just him saying what he wants irrespective of them making deals (hopefully not) or maybe he feels the current squad will suffice for United's less taxing season.

Edit: Nvm, I watched the press conference they took that quote from and I'm gauging by his tone he was being a little sarcastic/evasive about the "maybe we don't need other players" thing.

 

[chamber-music]

Ozil looks like a character from that cartoon show doug

 

[Kaleb]

Cambell and Sanogo busy having fun vs Benifica.

 

[Kaleb]

Sanoga gets his hat trick (4-0)

 

[Hunter Rider]

Good 3-1 win over Real Madrid in front of 109,000 in Ann Arbor Michigan. Real were missing some big names for sure and are a week behind us in pre-season, but our passing and movement was again excellent and we are working really hard as a unit to close down the ball when not in possession.

Jones was excellent at CB and the Fletcher/Herrera partnership looks our best bet in midfield at the moment, we noticeably took a step back in the second half when Cleverley came on as he plays too square all the time.

Young was very good at LWB but so was Shaw in the second half, the RWB spot remains an issue though with Valencia offering very little while Lingard was ok but not a stand out there in the second half. Mata, Rooney and Kagawa also had very good games in attack.

Bale was Real's only real attacking outlet I felt, Isco had some good moments but not the cutting edge you need from him. Nice to see Ronaldo on for 15 minutes and young Raul De Thomas looked a decent young prospect.

All in all an entertaining game and another positive performance for United under van Gaal.

 

[BlackFox]

Sanoga gets his hat trick (4-0)

Sanoga scores four and Ashley Young scores two on the same day. There is something very wrong with our world today, very troubling, have we slipped into some alternative universe. t:

I expect first contact with alien life forms tomorrow

 

[BatmanBeyond]

Jesus Christ, if LvG can get Ashley Young to score twice against Real Madrid (although, yeah, it was only a pre-season friendly), I can't imagine what he'd be able to do with top class players such as Vidal, Hummels or Strootman in our squad.

 

[Fallen Angel]

it's pre season man every one has lost in their last few games your Barca's, Real Madrid's, Man City, Chelsea etc. it's for fitness and money. Did I mention money? Yeah MONEY!.

 

[DoomsdayApex]

Isco isn't a False 9 but with CR7, Jese and Benzema missing, there wasn't much to go on. I don't think Isco will ever grow into that position but it's nice to see he features some versatility. Now that preseason is over, Isco should be moved back to CM.

 

[B]

I thought tonight's performance against Real was very positive, fair enough it's only pre-season, but Madrid still had a strong enough side. Missing a couple of players here & there, but then again so were United & considering they are the Champions League winners & we failed to even qualify for the CL this year, I think it was a very productive result & display of how this formation/system could work, with these players against a strong side.

My only concern is that if we continue to perform well in pre-season & several players continue to somewhat shine in LVG's new system, he might be tempted to potentially be content to keep what he has to give them more of a chance in competitive games.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Yeah, I definitely think a lot of results for United in Fergie's last 2-3 seasons were by the grace of his managerial ability rather than the entirety of the squad being sufficient. I think with LvG there'll be a much more cohesive atmosphere about the team, and God willing we'll get a midfield that can be mentioned in the same breath as "Keane and Scholes" again. I'd also imagine United will be much better equipped to deal with European opponents once they get back into the UCL, LvG will know how to best address teams like Bayern/PSG/Barcelona.

We haven't played truly attractive football in quite a few years but under Fergie there was spirit and drama and success, but plenty of us moaned about how we weren't moving to a modern system and getting left behind, something that showed when we played better sides in the CL. Under LvG I feel we'll more exciting and tactically astute football that will give the players a new lease of life.

Ehhh...that's disappointing. If LvG goes into the season without any additions beyond Shaw/Herrera I think 4th is the best that'll be achieved, no way will they outgun the squads Chelsea/City/Arsenal possess. I suppose no foreign games changes the dynamic a lot though, the players aren't unduly fatigued from travel, much the same way Brendan Rodgers mounted a convincing title challenge with Liverpool with a smaller nucleus of players last season.

Ok no then Mertens is the last thing United needs haha, we still need to hope they get rid of the real Nani

If we go in without any additions I think we'll have a real struggle to get into the top 4 in truth, when you get past the 11 LvG starts with in there games it's clear we are weak in midfield and are patched up at RWB. He's surely too wise and experienced to be fooled by the wins in friendly matches.

Will the real Nani please stand up! I had such high hopes for Nani back in 2011, but between bad man management of him by Fergie and a couple of injuries he's never regained that form.

 

[Iceman]

Jesus Christ, if LvG can get Ashley Young to score twice against Real Madrid (although, yeah, it was only a pre-season friendly), I can't imagine what he'd be able to do with top class players such as Vidal, Hummels or Strootman in our squad.

Even I could score against Real in a pre-season friendly. t: That said I wouldn't be able to get Ashley Young to score. LVG must have told Young he was playing for Madrid for a training exercise.

 

[Hunter Rider]

it's pre season man every one has lost in their last few games your Barca's, Real Madrid's, Man City, Chelsea etc. it's for fitness and money. Did I mention money? Yeah MONEY!.

Did you see us last season mate? I know this is only the warm up and you can see most of us are very cautious, but after last years horror show we actually look like a proper team again which has fans optimistic.

Isco isn't a False 9 but with CR7, Jese and Benzema missing, there wasn't much to go on. I don't think Isco will ever grow into that position but it's nice to see he features some versatility. Now that preseason is over, Isco should be moved back to CM.

Isco isn't a CM either though, he's not strong enough or quick enough to play in the roles that Modric, Khedira, Alonso and Illar play in. He's a inside forward who plays from the left IMO but can also play as a #10 but I think he lacks the vision for that role.

I thought tonight's performance against Real was very positive, fair enough it's only pre-season, but Madrid still had a strong enough side. Missing a couple of players here & there, but then again so were United & considering they are the Champions League winners & we failed to even qualify for the CL this year, I think it was a very productive result & display of how this formation/system could work, with these players against a strong side.

My only concern is that if we continue to perform well in pre-season & several players continue to somewhat shine in LVG's new system, he might be tempted to potentially be content to keep what he has to give them more of a chance in competitive games.

If LvG is as smart as he's supposed to be he'll see the same things that a layman like me can see clear as day when watching these games, we have 3 areas of concern that need to be considered.

CM - Fletcher and Herrera look a decent partnership, if we lose either though we are screwed as Cleverley is ineffectual and Carrick is 33 and injured. We cannot enter the season without another midfielder.

CB - I have been impressed by both our young CB's on tour and Jones, Evans and Smalling look ready to step up, but since we are using a back 3 now it would be crazy to not have 6 CB's, which means we need 1 more in.

RWB - Valencia has lost it completely as an attacker and gets caught out positionally in defense and Rafael is injury prone, this leaves us really short in an important role, maybe Jesse Lingard can stake a claim but LvG might consider buying.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Wenger clearly has Sanchez tapping up Falcao!

 

[Fallen Angel]

Did you see us last season mate? I know this is only the warm up and you can see most of us are very cautious, but after last years horror show we actually look like a proper team again which has fans optimistic.

Oh I did and I know LVG will be a success with you guys can't be any worse than last season. I see pre season friendlies as getting the fitness up and integrating new players/systems. When the season kicks off that will be the real test. Though looking at your opening fixtures you guys should be at the top of the league.

 

[Grommers]

Good game between manchester united and madrid. Manchester looks promising, friendly or not, a lot of promising stuff from both sides. Glad to see them both get a good run about, must say the pace on young is insane. I won't be surprised if we see a lot of him this season. Especially when LVG was telling rooney how to score, no doubt he's telling young. "To look at the keeper than look down than shoot."

A lot of positive things..and I always have to remind myself, that this manchested squad won the EPL 2 years ago, last year was poor coaching who went for a defensive tactic..when they were built to attack.

And they had a lot of untrained youth than, where as LVG will tell the youth exactly what they need to do.

Expect a lot more effort from them this season, I still wonder who they will sign though.

 

[DoomsdayApex]

Isco isn't a CM either though, he's not strong enough or quick enough to play in the roles that Modric, Khedira, Alonso and Illar play in. He's a inside forward who plays from the left IMO but can also play as a #10 but I think he lacks the vision for that role.

We'll have to disagree there. Isco's stats and tape at CM are the reason why he was dubbed as Spain's savior and the new Golden Boy. While he's not fast or strong as midfielders like Modric or Alonso, his instincts, vision, creativity, and passing compensate for his lack of pace and strength. Isco is and always has been a CM.

 

[BlackFox]

Good game between manchester united and madrid. Manchester looks promising, friendly or not, a lot of promising stuff from both sides. Glad to see them both get a good run about, must say the pace on young is insane. I won't be surprised if we see a lot of him this season. Especially when LVG was telling rooney how to score, no doubt he's telling young. "To look at the keeper than look down than shoot."

A lot of positive things..and I always have to remind myself, that this manchested squad won the EPL 2 years ago, last year was poor coaching who went for a defensive tactic..when they were built to attack.

And they had a lot of untrained youth than, where as LVG will tell the youth exactly what they need to do.

Expect a lot more effort from them this season, I still wonder who they will sign though.

Yeah at least their are positive signs from this pre-season tour. Results yeah are meaningless and its those first five league matches that we can really analyse as to Uniteds progress but at least LVG seems to have a togetherness and a bit of belief back in the squad and the body language of the players is so different to last season.

Now the real test will come when we have a bad result, and we will at some stage in the season, how do they respond. Do last seasons nerves come back and we ending up having three bad results in a row or will they have that "bouncebackability" (so long since I used that t that will be the acid test of LVG, but another positive is the way LVG has us playing, short, quick, one touch passing, hopefully United will be fun to watch again at least and entertaining, we havn't had that since Ronaldo and Tevez left.

But this must all be kept in perspective and our manager has already said our squad is unbalanced and lacking if we are going to achieve anything other than just being entertaining to watch we need to strengthen in midfield and defence with proper quality and that still seems to be an issue for us.