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

[Iceman]

Oh I have it in the other room, cool thanks.

 

[DeadPresident]

You're right about that. oh well least we will try to get a win. Need to start somewhere. Ando is in the bench lol with Young starting.

AFC Ajax (English) ‏@AFCAjax_EN · 49m
Ajax and Manchester United reach agreement for Blind;

How much? And United in for Carvalho..... Don't know much about him.

Blind's numbers are ranging between £14m and £18m. Carvalho is a very traditional CDM, just hovers around the back 4 waiting to intercept or tackle and then spread passes to midfielders near him or out to the wing.

I doubt the Carvalho talk has much merit though, he seems like far too one-dimensional a player for LvG to consider, but he's available and can probably do his job relatively well. My bet is he won't come to United though, Arsenal seem to be closer to signing him.

Di Maria looks our best player already, some nice touches and two chances created already, but having a minor heart attack everytime the ball goes near our own box, shakey.

Di Maria is hands down creating the most, considering his reputation as a creative 10 Mata hasn't really been doing much creating lately. I'd put that down to not having space to work with though.

Agreed on the defense, I suddenly develop an arrhythmia each they cross a ball in or head down the wing.

 

[DeadPresident]

Have United ever played as many long balls as they're playing now? The CBs keep trying to find the wing or RvP with long balls, it's becoming a little vexing at the moment.

 

[Iceman]

What's Utd's total spend so far this summer? At least the higher ups are properly backing LVG and it'll be great if the Di Maria transfer pays off.

 

[DeadPresident]

What's Utd's total spend so far this summer? At least the higher ups are properly backing LVG and it'll be great if the Di Maria transfer pays off.

IIRC:

Luke Shaw £30m
Ander Herrera £28m
Marcos Rojo £16m
Angel di Maria £60m
Daley Blind (inbound) £16m (I'll average the highest and lowest quoted prices for him)

So, total: £150m. That's a ****ton of money for 5 players, but they're in no position to be haggling or splitting hairs. LvG will need to add to that spending at least once more for United to compete this season.

 

[BlackFox]

This game could go either way, both sides pretty even and both had one or two decent chances.

 

[Iceman]

IIRC:

Luke Shaw £30m
Ander Herrera £28m
Marcos Rojo £16m
Angel di Maria £60m
Daley Blind (inbound) £16m (I'll average the highest and lowest quoted prices for him)

So, total: £150m. That's a ****ton of money for 5 players, but they're in no position to be haggling or splitting hairs. LvG will need to add to that spending at least once more for United to compete this season.

Wow, yeah...thanks. Who else do you think they might get? And by compete do you mean for 4th or better?

 

[DeadPresident]

This game could go either way, both sides pretty even and both had one or two decent chances.

The chat just replayed the Evans back pass, I think he's angling for a move away too

I do want to say though the square ball from di Maria that Mata duffed was the best opportunity, if that was RvP he would have buried it. Would you make any subs?

 

[BlackFox]

The chat just replayed the Evans back pass, I think he's angling for a move away too

I do want to say though the square ball from di Maria that Mata duffed was the best opportunity, if that was RvP he would have buried it. Would you make any subs?

RVP had an even better chance but the keeper stood up well.

As for changes I'm not sure there's much on the bench to really make big difference. Mata has been quiet, probably the most likely to come off at the moment. Welbeck might be worth a go when the game gets stretched later on.

 

[DeadPresident]

Wow, yeah...thanks. Who else do you think they might get? And by compete do you mean for 4th or better?

To be honest I'm not sure, the only other names being mentioned with anything approaching validity are de Jong and the Inter midfielder Fredy Guarin. To be honest I think both names are just convenient clickbait. I think de Jong is being talked about just because he's a Dutch player, and I think Guarin is superficially similar to Vidal (relatively quick and combative midfielder).

The talk around Guarin though might have some truth because he tried to get a move away from Inter last transfer window but it fell through, and now Zenit St Petersburg have allegedly made an offer, but Guarin is supposedly not keen on Russia so he's holding out for potential offers from other clubs before committing. The Carvalho talk is pretty much leaning in favor of Arsenal right now, but a lot might change depending on today's result.

Hmmm, interesting question. I think with another central midfielder in addition to Blind's versatility, United can compete for 4th assuming the rest of their squad stays fit. Shaw-Rojo-Jones-Rafael/Smalling would be my first choice back 4, a midfield 3 of Blind/Fellaini/Herrera would be passable. A lot also depends on how Liverpool manage to juggle CL and PL football and if they adapt well without Suarez, and also if Arsenal add quality to their squad. If Liverpool struggle and Arsenal don't make additions United can make top 4 I think, but they need a work horse midfielder.

 

[DeadPresident]

RVP had an even better chance but the keeper stood up well.

As for changes I'm not sure there's much on the bench to really make big difference. Mata has been quiet, probably the most likely to come off at the moment. Welbeck might be worth a go when the game gets stretched later on.

Oh yeah, off di Maria's long ball.

Yeah, I feel the same. I'd maybe give Januzaj a go as the 10, his pace could contribute on some counter attacks.

 

[Iceman]

Welbeck warming up. Di Maria does look to have some energy about him, something this team needs.

 

[Iceman]

To be honest I'm not sure, the only other names being mentioned with anything approaching validity are de Jong and the Inter midfielder Fredy Guarin. To be honest I think both names are just convenient clickbait. I think de Jong is being talked about just because he's a Dutch player, and I think Guarin is superficially similar to Vidal (relatively quick and combative midfielder).

The talk around Guarin though might have some truth because he tried to get a move away from Inter last transfer window but it fell through, and now Zenit St Petersburg have allegedly made an offer, but Guarin is supposedly not keen on Russia so he's holding out for potential offers from other clubs before committing. The Carvalho talk is pretty much leaning in favor of Arsenal right now, but a lot might change depending on today's result.

Hmmm, interesting question. I think with another central midfielder in addition to Blind's versatility, United can compete for 4th assuming the rest of their squad stays fit. Shaw-Rojo-Jones-Rafael/Smalling would be my first choice back 4, a midfield 3 of Blind/Fellaini/Herrera would be passable. A lot also depends on how Liverpool manage to juggle CL and PL football and if they adapt well without Suarez, and also if Arsenal add quality to their squad. If Liverpool struggle and Arsenal don't make additions United can make top 4 I think, but they need a work horse midfielder.

De Jong or Guarin could improve the squad even if it is just crap. When everyone's back fit it could be interesting. Utd have to start picking up points soon though, they have their easy run right at the beginning of the season and a lot of getable 3 points will pass them by which will much harder to get later in the season.

 

[DeadPresident]

Welbeck warming up. Di Maria does look to have some energy about him, something this team needs.

RvP could go off, besides his first chance he's not really contributed much.

De Jong or Guarin could improve the squad even if it is just crap. When everyone's back fit it could be interesting. Utd have to start picking up points soon though, they have their easy run right at the beginning of the season and a lot of getable 3 points will pass them by which will much harder to get later in the season.

Yeah, anything is better than what United don't have at the moment. Very true, this run of 6 games should have been at least 14-16 points in the bag. At the moment they'll struggle for 7-10 points.

Scratch that, Anderson is coming on. Abort season, I repeat, abort season.

 

[BlackFox]

Di Maria off, Anderson (Chunk) on.

 

[DeadPresident]

Di Maria off, Anderson (Chunk) on.

Has there ever been a substitution where the difference in talent is that great?

United will draw at best now, di Maria was their only outlet that looked like contributing.

 

[Two-Face]

Welbeck is on as well. that Move by Mata to Valencia was class. just wished that finished by a goal.

 

[DeadPresident]

Holy ****...Valencia's crossing is puke-worthy.

 

[Fallen Angel]

Well that was crap. Well done Burnley.

 

[BlackFox]

Well I didnt expect much from this game but it gave me even less. We have problems, not going to repeat myself with what they are but two shots on target all game pretty much sums it up.

 

[DeadPresident]

Yep, it's a waiting game now. Those 10 injuries need clearing up. I heard something about an international break soon, anyone have any idea when it starts?

 

[Fallen Angel]

After this round of games. So next week is international week.

 

[DeadPresident]

After this round of games. So next week is international week.

Ah ok cool, thanks. Hopefully that gives a few of the players time to rest and for some of the injuries to clear up then.

 

[chamber-music]

Have United ever played as many long balls as they're playing now? The CBs keep trying to find the wing or RvP with long balls, it's becoming a little vexing at the moment.

Big Sam is loving it

 

[Hunter Rider]

Well that was two points dropped for Burnley.

Di Maria was our only bright spark in attack, RvP and Rooney can't play together, Fletcher is finished and Evans cannot play in a back 3, Jones is the only CB we have who isn't crapping himself constantly in this system. Why Anderson came on instead of Januzaj was the biggest WTF moment of the game by far though.