The Ongoing Serie A, La Liga, All English Football, Champions League Thread - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Part 37

[Hunter Rider]

I wouldn't be surprised if we see it starting some time after Christmas already, after his displays for England I see a few articles and pundits already raising questions about his current state. IMO the axing will probably occur in the summer, but rumblings are going to start soon.

Yeah, the whispering's are starting to mount up and more questions are finally being asked, Keown even said he reminds him of RvP and Falcao last season.

Yeah, when he's been vocal for the last 2-3 seasons it's usually just to **** on his team mates or to have a go at the ref. I don't see him leading so much as I see him complaining a lot. In his defense, his work rate for a forward is second to none, and I can understand frustration if he doesn't see something similar from his team mates. But I still don't think he's the right player to captain United, Smalling has made it abundantly clear that privilege should go to him after his start to the season. Agreed on dealing with Madrid though, after the De Gea debacle it's going to take something extraordinary to get them around a table again.

Making him Captain was definitely a big error, it's created this undroppable situation, and in tr5uith while they say off the field he's got the teams support and is good in regards to the dressing romm leadership, on the pitch it's not worked out, he's veered from shouty anger to being a mute and he looks like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders at times. I agree on Smalling, he's made a big case for himself to be the next United Captain.

It's a matter of time IMO, I'm sure they're chomping at the bit but they'll get their opportunities come December. Considering United's small squad and the amount of fixtures in December everyone is going to play, I wouldn't be surprised to see Varela or Fosu Mensah get time in the C1C or FA Cup rounds either. I haven't seen a lot of Mustafi to be honest, but the fact that's he's German probably points to him going to Bayern, particularly with their defensive problems. I like Laporte quite a lot, I think due to Bilbao's good recent displays he's been playing against high quality opponents more frequently than the other defenders his age. Stones is probably still the ideal, since he's English and familiar with the PL, but that's up in the air. We'll have to wait for the summer to see how that pans out.

It will be interesting to see how deep into the youth team LvG digs with the cups, I think he's probably a bit conflicted as he knows we have a better chance of winning one of them than the PL, so he might be thinking of putting everything into just getting a trophy under the teams belt as a lot of our current crop have never won anything at we could build off it like we did in the mid-2000's with the Ronaldo/Rooney led team. I'm not really all that familiar with Mustafi either and I'm with you on Stones and Laporte, they should be our top 2 targets when it comes to buying a long term CB partner for Smalling.

Yeah, fair point on Sterling, a lot of that was just his prodigious ability. I think without the transfer committee Rodgers wouldn't have been sacked, if he had the authority/pedigree to dictate those decisions he might have been a little better off. At best though he had topsy turvy transfers, got good deals like Coutinho for £8m and Sturridge for £12m but then undid all that by bringing in Allen for £15m and a bunch of £20m players that are worth less than £10m. Klopp will in all likelihood be far better at remolding the squad.

It was always difficult to gauge where the credit/blame went with Rodgers transfers, I mean I remember the word was that he never wanted Balotelli but was forced to take him by the board. Klopp certainly has the cache to attract better players though, no dobut about that.

In all honesty I think the Klopp hype is deserved up to a point, but I'm hesitant to put too much stock in how his methods transfer over to England. I very much see Klopp's style as the attacking opposite to Mourinho. Dortmund's style of playing was physically extremely taxing, and I wonder if the meltdown at Dortmund wasn't something similar to what we're seeing at Chelsea, where the team was just worked into the ground for too long. That kind of approach would be suicidal in the PL, because like you say the PL is too competitive for it. I'm intrigued to see if he's got the foresight to adapt his methods, because that frantic back and forth Dortmund showed for Klopp's successful seasons is liable to get a team punished against some of the PL's giant killers. Palace, Leicester, West Ham or Southampton won't baulk if teams try to go at them like that, while I think in Germany at that stage every club was rolling over for Bayern and Dortmund.

That's a great point, the high pressing style is draining on the players and certainly played it's part in Dortmund's dramatic fall last season, similar happened with Atletico Madrid and Simeone has been wise enough to alter things, it'll be interesting to see what Klopp does as the PL is more physically demanding in general.

[/quote]He and Pep are definitely in their own echelon, along with Simeone probably, in terms of young managers. I think Pep has been quite shrewd in the style he's implemented at Bayern though, because I think it spares his players. The upper crust of European teams are playing 55+ games nowadays and playing no-holds barred attacking football is asking to burn a team out, and Pep is one of the managers that seems to set Bayern's default at a slower pace because it preserves his players. Klopp may have to do something similar, especially with Liverpool in the EL.[/QUOTE]

Agreed, while Klopp is my favourite of the 3 I think Pep is the undisputed #1, with Klopp and Simeone on similar footing behind him in the ranks of young managers.

 

[Hunter Rider]

That's all understandable. Considering the state of United, we should have a manager that is capable of grooming young players.

If we don't get Pep I am starting to warm to the idea of Simeone, his Atleti side are playing better football this season and he has a winners mentality. The stumbling block will be his personality I imagine, fans would love him but his touchline antics would probably not go down well with the corporate side and the old guard.

Luckily LFC have Moreno, but he'll need to stay fit now, I guess Jose Enrique is still an option too? It's a bit worse in Ings's context because he seemed to be stepping into games better lately.

I'm sure it's just because there's the internet and social media and such that's shining more of a spotlight on it now, but I feel like serious injuries have been on the rise. I'm probably wrong, and it's still about the same, but for the life of me I don't remember players getting 6-9 month layoffs as frequently like 5 years ago. Especially not young guys, I can understand if a guy Pirlo's age does his ACL, but 18-25 year olds? Sheesh.

Ings was also in with a decent shout for a trip to the Euros, so I can imagine he's pretty gutted about it himself. I drop my partisanship when it comes to injuries, it's never pleasant if any team starts losing players long term, and at the minute it looks like injuries are way more relevant in determining a team's success than it should be, for whatever reason.

I don't think you're imaging it but it has probably seemed on the rise due to a glut of long injury lay-offs happening so close together. The biggest worry I think is the amount of man before ball tackles we are seeing these days, and with players getting faster we will see more bad injuries I think before it gets clamped down on.

 

[DeadPresident]

Yeah, the whispering's are starting to mount up and more questions are finally being asked, Keown even said he reminds him of RvP and Falcao last season.

Really? Yeah, I mean, it pains me to have to say it, but there's a decent amount of evidence pointing in that direction. Last season I remember a lot of fans complaining about Falcao's first touch and abject weakness when holding up the ball, and RvP was very hot and cold. If Keown's saying it I'm fairly sure other pundits are going to start speaking up, and once that happens the fans will follow suit. Rooney is one of my favorite forwards, I started watching the season he went to United, but his fitness and quality are just not adequate for a team that wants to win the league.

Making him Captain was definitely a big error, it's created this undroppable situation, and in tr5uith while they say off the field he's got the teams support and is good in regards to the dressing romm leadership, on the pitch it's not worked out, he's veered from shouty anger to being a mute and he looks like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders at times. I agree on Smalling, he's made a big case for himself to be the next United Captain.

Yeah, honestly if he wasn't captain I could see him being exclusively a bench option this season. Bring him on for the last 20 minutes, when the opposition defense is a little leggy. I'm sure he's a great personality in the dressing room, for all the flak he gets I've never thought he seemed like an unpleasant or snide person, but his form is hampering his ability to lead. If it was a vote tomorrow, I'd put Smalling down twice, seems to have taken his bad form last season and turned it around, and he seems like a great professional.

It will be interesting to see how deep into the youth team LvG digs with the cups, I think he's probably a bit conflicted as he knows we have a better chance of winning one of them than the PL, so he might be thinking of putting everything into just getting a trophy under the teams belt as a lot of our current crop have never won anything at we could build off it like we did in the mid-2000's with the Ronaldo/Rooney led team. I'm not really all that familiar with Mustafi either and I'm with you on Stones and Laporte, they should be our top 2 targets when it comes to buying a long term CB partner for Smalling.

My shouts for the players he'll go with are Lingard, McNair, Pereira, Johnstone (hopefully), Varela (Kind of touch and go on him) and Wilson. That's half a team, and should spare the older players enough. I agree that since a Cup seems more likely he might be reluctant to go full youth team, especially once we start getting to quarters, etc, but yeah - it'll be interesting to see. From what I hear there are a couple of academy prospects like Callum Gribbin and Fosu Mensah that are knocking on the door?

I'm hoping January has some activity

It was always difficult to gauge where the credit/blame went with Rodgers transfers, I mean I remember the word was that he never wanted Balotelli but was forced to take him by the board. Klopp certainly has the cache to attract better players though, no dobut about that.

Oh really? Geez, in that case it sounds like that board were stacking the deck against Rodgers and still expecting him to win trophies. It makes me wonder how much other dead weight he was forced to deal with *cough* Allen/Toure*cough*...To be fair Klopp also signed a couple of players that didn't quite work out, like Immobile, but on the whole I think he's got good talent-spotting ability.

That's a great point, the high pressing style is draining on the players and certainly played it's part in Dortmund's dramatic fall last season, similar happened with Atletico Madrid and Simeone has been wise enough to alter things, it'll be interesting to see what Klopp does as the PL is more physically demanding in general.

IMO the football Dortmund played is absolute lunacy in the PL right now, not only is he going to have to adapt to a new league but he's going to have to implement something different to make it work. Spot on about Atletico too, they had a "You attack, we attack" mentality and it began to hurt them. The advent of possession football is a little tiring to me, I much prefer direct football where each player is capable 1v1, but with the average quality level rising teams have to respect possession far more than in the past, and Pep is very comfortable with that.

Agreed, while Klopp is my favourite of the 3 I think Pep is the undisputed #1, with Klopp and Simeone on similar footing behind him in the ranks of young managers.

Yeah, I do think Pep was given fairly good teams to start with at both Barcelona and Bayern, but overall his style seems the most sustainable. Klopp or Simeone might win a few things, but it might come at the cost of the squad - a la Mourinho.

 

[Parker Wayne]

https://***********/ManUtd/status/654988165560860672
McNair is unavailable but Rojo and Herrera have done some rehab and are fit, although possibly not enough to play 90 minutes. #MUTV


https://***********/ManUtd/status/654987796101337088
Louis van Gaal tells #MUTV that Rooney & Carrick are fit to face Everton despite missing England games during the international break. #mufc

https://***********/ShamoonHafez/status/654990492841676800
Interesting from Louis van Gaal on Wayne Rooney. Says he is fit to play "if selected". Previously said the captain is "undroppable".

 

[DeadPresident]

The Rooney shift might be occurring already. LvG's conference makes me about as optimistic as one can be after getting dismantled by Arsenal. I'm just praying that Schneiderlin starts.

 

[Iceman]

It had to happen at some point.

 

[Parker Wayne]

Paddy McNair is out for a month and Ashley Young is out for Everton. With Rojo still not fit enough for 90 minutes, this defence is depleting fast.

The Rooney shift might be occurring already. LvG's conference makes me about as optimistic as one can be after getting dismantled by Arsenal. I'm just praying that Schneiderlin starts.

I don't think there's any doubt that Schneiderlin starts.

 

[BlackFox]

Thank goodness the Prem is back this week.......................oh damn we are away at Everton.

Tough game but Spurs V Liverpool up first today, see what the Klopp factor does in the Prem.

 

[Fallen Angel]

Lad's a favour. Could you vote for me in my deathmatch? Appreciate it.

http://forums.superherohype.com/showthread.php?t=505365&page=2

 

[kit1982]

RIP Howard Kendall, his Everton side of the 80's were an absolute class act.

 

[Iceman]

Spurs Liverpool 0-0 at half time in Klopp's first game.

 

[Fallen Angel]

RIP Howard Kendall, his Everton side of the 80's were an absolute class act.

Heard this now.

RIP

 

[DarthSkywalker]

You want to know how bad Blind was last match? Phil Jones and Rojo are playing ahead of him.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Smalling making things happen in the box again, and one of the new guys score. t:

 

[DarthSkywalker]

We play our best player, and he produces. I love Herrera so much. 0-2 to United.

 

[TheCommissioner]

Spurs Liverpool 0-0 at half time in Klopp's first game.

im not put out by an 0-0 draw

half the squad is hurt, Klopps first game, however I did like them being a lot more aggressive

 

[Parker Wayne]

United looks much better without Memphis starting.

And Ander has been freed. :')

 

[Iceman]

Rip.

 

[Iceman]

im not put out by an 0-0 draw

half the squad is hurt, Klopps first game, however I did like them being a lot more aggressive

First game never means too much. But nice to at least not lose. Yeah I think Klopp will make them fighters very quickly.

 

[Parker Wayne]

You want to know how bad Blind was last match? Phil Jones and Rojo are playing ahead of him.

Considering Memphis isn't playing either, Van Gaal is taking the dutch not making Euros to heart.

Also, I could use your guys votes in a deathmatch. Help a brother out!

 

[Parker Wayne]

Good goal by Rooney!

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Rooney scores at Goodison. Hell has frozen over.

That is his 236 goal in United colors.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

We are so lucky Smalling has come of age this season.

 

[DeadPresident]

I'm not watching the game sadly but it sounds like United are dominating? Perfect result before City at least.

 

[bapi]

Hattrick for Sterling and two for Bony. Good. Unfortunately Yaya, KDB, Nasri, Fernando and Fernandinho didn't look 100% so hard to say who'll be available against Sevilla and UTD.