Harryseaess Posted July 28, 2015 Author Share Posted July 28, 2015 If we're going to compete then the CBs we have really need to kick on a gear (if we don't sign anyone). I wouldn't be against Carrick playing CB. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cms186 Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 What fuss? It's all been speculation. He turned up for training early unlike Di Maria.. the stuff his agent said at the end of last season like "Nico wants to leave Valencia and is going to do everything possible to achieve it.": http://www.skysports.com/football/news/12691/9865037/man-utd-target-nicolas-otamendi-wants-to-leave-valencia-says-agent he said that in a Valencia radio interview a couple of days after the season ended, you dont burn your bridges that openly without the serious interest of another club Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmy Howard Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 I had never seen that before, well hopefully this is just some tactic to try and get the price down then... Not to say Valencia aren't using us to get interest from other clubs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sebsy Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 I'll be pretty disappointed if we go in to the new season without improving our CB choices. I love Evans to bits, Smalling really grew on me in the second half of last season but Jones is utter ****, just constantly a disaster waiting to happen. Rojo can be goodt here, too, but it would really be nice to have one top class CB. To think of some of the partnerships we've had there and now it is a constantly rotating Evans/Smalling/Jones due to injuries. As good as our buys have been so far, it will be pretty disappointing to not improve on what was our weakest area last season. At least we've got a proper RB now, although if the rumours are true and LVG is going to pick Valencia ahead of Darmian (which personally I don't think will be true, at least I hope). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky Button Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 Evans is the worst of the lot now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
managerdude_66 Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 I think the main issue is not a top class CB available in the market like Ramos or Hummels. Otamendi is good, certainly better than what we have here, but is not world-class. We brought in Rojo to add to the numbers last season and LVG probably doesn't want to buy one for the sake of it again. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmy Howard Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 If that is the case we should be looking to the future. There are younger CBs out there who are better than what we have now and which have the potential to be world class in the future. We'll have the same problem next year and the year after. Surely it's the job of the scouts to identify these players earlier rather than waiting a couple of years (with average defenders) to see who becomes the world class player we need. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddidiodion Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 Same position we're in for an attacker essentially. Think we're going to need another year of developing the squad before we'll be ready for a title challenge. I'm not sure we have the strength at the back or weapons up front to get 85~ points, we'll probably fall short in a few too many games and end up in the high 70's. I think the team has been nicely improved on this year and we've done lots of good business that will see us well into the future but ultimately you can't buy what isn't on the market. We don't need to do what we did last year and buy average players to fill in the gaps this year because the squad is good enough for top 4 without any, so if LvG doesn't think Otamendi is of the necessary quality to allow us to push for the title then fair enough. We've brought in Depay who might potentially develop into the attacker we need, I can't really see a defender out there who would do the same and who is available other than maybe Laporte and by all accounts he hasn't had quite such an imperious year last season as the season before. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
managerdude_66 Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 Smalling is 25 and Jones is 23. They are not 100% developed themselves. What we do need is a commanding presence in the backline (ie like Vidic/Rio/Evra were) and that sort of aura doesn't come in younger CBs. If we do sign someone like Laporte, we would be none the better. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmy Howard Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 Jones will never be a top class defender, ever. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
managerdude_66 Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 A world class, commanding, left footed, ball playing defender isn't someone you come across everyday. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adhikapp Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 If that is the case we should be looking to the future. There are younger CBs out there who are better than what we have now and which have the potential to be world class in the future. Isn't this exactly why we signed Smalling and Jones in the first place? Ferguson and his scouts knew this exactly when Rio and Vidic eventually leaves that the defense needed someone to hopefully pair up with Evans as they took the risk of losing Pique and Shawcross. Well they haven't become that world class defender yet, but I'm afraid both Smalling and Jones are running out of time to do so, which is why we should be looking for that one world class and tailor made CB like Ramos rather than going for a John Stones. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy_T Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 The thing I find strange is Smalling being in the second team in pre-season. I would not be surprised if Van Gaal starts with Jones and Blind to cure his left foot fetish. If he is going to persist with that then we need whoever is the best left footed centre back available because Smalling/Jones are much stronger than Rojo/Blind. or he just plays smalling and the left-footed rojo again which would be good. blind wouldn't be there if rojo was. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pangaea Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 Smalling is 25 and Jones is 23. They are not 100% developed themselves. What we do need is a commanding presence in the backline (ie like Vidic/Rio/Evra were) and that sort of aura doesn't come in younger CBs. If we do sign someone like Laporte, we would be none the better. This tbh. We have the numbers and they aren't as sh*t as made out. This season we'll have better protection from an improved midfield too, which should help. No point in buying a new CB unless it's an improvement on what we have, so he'll start every game when fit. Ramos would obviously be such a player, but if he's not available then we may as well stick with what we have. Last season we crumbled every time Carrick was injured, but now we have Schneiderlin and Schweinsteiger too, so that should not be such a pressing problem (almost literally). The best defence in the world will still falter without proper midfield protection, with attackers freely running at them and being outnumbered. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
managerdude_66 Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 Pique wouldn't be too bad right about now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adhikapp Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 Pique would never be the defender he is now if it wasn't for Guardiola imho. Thought it was a Puyol thing but he's got his act together now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pangaea Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 He wouldn't have got many games ahead of peaking Rio and Vidic either. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmy Howard Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 The whole left footed obsession becomes a bit absurd when you consider both Ramos and Otamendi are right footed. What was he going to do player one of those with Rojo/Blind? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
themadsheep2001 Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 The whole left footed obsession becomes a bit absurd when you consider both Ramos and Otamendi are right footed. What was he going to do player one of those with Rojo/Blind? Precisely that, though Ramos has a good left foot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonahno6 Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 Always wondered why we've never been strongly linked with Laporte from Bilbao, he'd be ideal really. A top quality ball playing left footed centre back who's still young. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
themadsheep2001 Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 Always wondered why we've never been strongly linked with Laporte from Bilbao, he'd be ideal really. A top quality ball playing left footed centre back who's still young. Because as soon as he was linked with us they offered him a new contract with a 50m euro release clause, it was already 42m euros before that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adhikapp Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 We're never getting Laporte I guess with him being a Bilbao player and his definitely high release clause. If we won't activate Otamendi's clause, can't see why we want to do so for Laporte. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddidiodion Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 Laporte isn't what we need anyway. He's still a project at the back, we have enough of those. Sure he'd be an upgrade on what we have, but we need something different, not upgrades on the same. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmy Howard Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 If we can't get what we need, an upgrade is still an upgrade. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddidiodion Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 If we can't get what we need, an upgrade is still an upgrade. It's an upgrade but not a big upgrade. Laporte isn't going to turn us from a 4th place team to title challengers, he's a small upgrade for a massive price and if he doesn't develop how we hope we're stuck with an even more exaggerated problem than we have now. A leader at the back is what will make the difference for us in defence, not a 20% improvement in Rojo's performance. If there isn't that leader available then our defensive issues aren't going to change much either way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pangaea Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 Milinkovic-Savic doesn't have international clearance yet I don't think. In better news Callum Gribbin has signed his contract to stay with us. 4 year contract - scholar until he turns 17, then 3 years pro Zak Dearnley and Ro-Shaun Williams have also signed their contracts finally Fosu Mensah has signed a 3 year deal too. Great news. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rio_V Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 So the last match of the tour is tomorrow and have yet to see Rojo has joined the team. Seems like a legitimate concern at this point. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pangaea Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Rojo won't come to the US due to the passport and visa issue. Also fined two weeks' wages for it I read. More annoyed at where di Maria is tbh. Very unprofessional of him to pull a 'Sterling'. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
themadsheep2001 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Rojo won't come to the US due to the passport and visa issue. Also fined two weeks' wages for it I read.More annoyed at where di Maria is tbh. Very unprofessional of him to pull a 'Sterling'. Going to be pretty awkward for him too if PSG don't match the reported £50m we want for him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superman_uk123 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Fosu Mensah has signed a 3 year deal too. Great news. Have we also signed up Tuzanbe up on a long-term deal yet? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icelander83 Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Going to be pretty awkward for him too if PSG don't match the reported £50m we want for him. Well, with reports saying they offered 28m... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heartwork Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Will Januzaj be able to switch national allegiance if Platini gets his way and sticks Kosovo in FIFA once he's elected? It's well known he has strong pride in his Kosovar heritage so may ditch Belgium if he can play for Kosovo. I'm pretty sure players can switch allegiance if a new country joins FIFA - in which case imagine the potential Kosovo side that could result from it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSB Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Given that Kosovo were already organised and pushing for recognition at the time he started accepting Belgium call-ups I doubt it. Think he wants to play at the highest level. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pangaea Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Have we also signed up Tuzanbe up on a long-term deal yet? Not heard anything about him yet, but as other young promising players have extended (and getting pro deals), hopefully that is the case with Tuanzebe too (you had a rather unorthodox spelling ) Given his age it may not happen until next year, however. Depends what deal he is on now I suppose. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
metal_guitarist Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Not heard anything about him yet, but as other young promising players have extended (and getting pro deals), hopefully that is the case with Tuanzebe too (you had a rather unorthodox spelling )Given his age it may not happen until next year, however. Depends what deal he is on now I suppose. We're not as concerned with losing Tuanzebe as we were the rest so I don't think there'll be a rush. He'll sign in tme Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pangaea Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 Looks like this is the team: De Gea; Darmian, Jones, Blind, Shaw; Carrick, Schweinsteiger; Mata, Depay, Young; Rooney Carrick+Schweinsteiger. Interesting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonahno6 Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 Does Phil Jones actually bring anything positive to the team? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roseboy64 Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 Jones and Blind as a CB partnership getting shown up here Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott MUFC Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 can we buy some defenders in this window. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pangaea Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 Not the best half that. 0-2 down after leaving them WAY too much room to run inti time and again. Good play from us at times going forward, with flicks and 1-2s, and Memphis should perhaps have scored on the good pass from Rooney. Looks like they've been instructed to stand high, but it was too easy for PSG to hit us on the counter with almost half the pitch behind our defence. Hopefully we improve in the 2nd half. DDG almost had a horrible assist as well Thank goodness they blew that one over. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pangaea Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 The 2nd half was crap unfortunately PSG basically sat back and controlled the game, and United didn't find a way through. Some half chances both ways, but boring overall. Poor finish to the tour. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmy Howard Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 Preseason yes, but if Jones' performance didn't highlight the need for a new defender it's going to be a long season! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torminator Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 Maybe its just me, but why don't they just trigger Otamendi's release clause? It would be the best signing for Utd, even at that price. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmy Howard Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 Poor last night.Defensively we were exposed for every weakness there is, time and time again relying on a wingback to cover. I almost feel sorry for the goalkeepers too(even though DDG should have done much better) because PSG were allowed to play balls into an incredibly difficult area for the keeper to sweep but they had to come because Jones and Blind weren't getting there. I wouldn't start Jones or Blind in my best United defence. LVG has already confirmed it will be Blind and one of Smalling or Jones. Kane's going to have a field day. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sebsy Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 Does Phil Jones actually bring anything positive to the team? He tends to make the odd good tackle when making up for a problem or mistake he has caused? That's the best I can do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rio_V Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 LVG has already confirmed it will be Blind and one of Smalling or Jones. Kane's going to have a field day. He didn't even mention Jones. And, therein lies the problem. Tho I think Smalling is ok with a veteran. Like Hummels! In other news, the papers report that we will not be getting Ronaldo back after all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icelander83 Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 In other news, the papers report that we will not be getting Ronaldo back after all. WHAT?? how can we not be getting Ronaldo? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gizzy Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 Just watched the match, two really poor defensive mistakes handed PSG the match. Second half would have been more exciting at 0-0. Basti looked better, and Rooney got his touch back. Mata's offside goal was fantastic. Some points from the whole of pre season: DDG looks shaky Darmian is GNev brought back to life Shaw looks fit and has played well Disappointed we didn't try Depay on the left at some point, he needs space. Kept getting over run in the middle. Not enough Herrera Blind is not a CB what has Smalling done to deserve being back up to Jone and Blind. Was our best defender last year Jones is going backwards. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sid1984 Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 We should offer Atletico to swap de gea for oblak. That's a win win for all parties. Atletico get an upgrade of keeper, United get a very good keeper and de gea gets to live in Madrid. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
el sid Posted July 30, 2015 Share Posted July 30, 2015 I wish you were on United's transfer committee Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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