Manchester United 13/14: Mid-table or Bust
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This thread has gotten markedly better the last few posts. Meanwhile, Gollum, the fucking manager of MANCHESTER UNITED, had the balls to say this today
Also, whomever is running this twitter account deserves a medal https://mobile.twitter.com/Moyes_Must_GoThe Chosen One said:
teddykgb said:This thread has gotten markedly better the last few posts.
Meanwhile, Gollum, the fucking manager of MANCHESTER UNITED, had the balls to say this todaythe chosen one said:
I keep hearing he's going out on loan.Zomp said:
Meanwhile Tom Cleverley plays all the time. I'm not complaining, obviously, but it's fucking weird.
Anderson to Fiorentina.
Though he hasn't featured much in the past 2 seasons, I am sad to see that he never fulfilled his incredible potential here. His first season, as an 18 year old, was a revelation with the club. He was strong and quick, making powerful runs from deep and defending very well.
Unfortunately after his first season, he played well in spurts but not much more than 2 or 3 games per season. His signing will go down as a bust.
Though he hasn't featured much in the past 2 seasons, I am sad to see that he never fulfilled his incredible potential here. His first season, as an 18 year old, was a revelation with the club. He was strong and quick, making powerful runs from deep and defending very well.
Unfortunately after his first season, he played well in spurts but not much more than 2 or 3 games per season. His signing will go down as a bust.
Zomp said:
He won the Silver ball at the '05 U-17. Anderson, Dos Santos (Gold), and Sahin (Bronze) haven't lived up to expectations.
Interesting. He was signed through the end of next season, so there wasn't much urgency to sell, and I doubt his wages were that high considering his negotiating leverage when he signed his last contract (Dec. 2010). Maybe Fiorentina saw a player who was better suited for Serie A (which would make sense; he's always seemed a tad slow for the EPL) and made an offer based on that.
Rooney and RVP missing for the Chelsea game. You can obviously question Moyes' tactics so far but he has had shit luck.
So David Luiz body checks Phil Jones, and takes out Hazard as well, and Dowd calls a foul on Jones.
Bright start for United so far, but they've done that before and fell off a cliff....need to maintain intensity.
Bright start for United so far, but they've done that before and fell off a cliff....need to maintain intensity.
Just awful defending by United on the second goal. They've actually looked pretty good this half too - shit luck and one bad moment basically.
Damn i wanted this one to be a draw. Can't see Utd coming back from two down. They seem out classed.
The image of Evra slowly jogging back as a ball goes into the net happens way too often this season.
Mata to United rumors are crazy right now, as a supposedly Machiavellian stroke by JM to strengthen ManU ahead of their games with City and Arsenal, but it makes little sense to me from either perspective. Mata has no real place in a 4-4-2 with Rooney and RVP up front and if United want to change systems in the middle of the year just to accommodate him that's not going to help them finish Top 4. For Chelsea, its a lot of money but when did Roman start caring about money and deliberately strengthening rivals? He has no place in the starting XI right now but if they lose Oscar for a stretch they really have no cover and Mata could be critical given that they're in three competitions this spring. My guess is that there's a little interest but that its largely bullshit.
For me, the smart move for United is just to wait until the summer, really reevaluate where the squad actually stands, and then spend money when the best players and best long term fits might be available.
For me, the smart move for United is just to wait until the summer, really reevaluate where the squad actually stands, and then spend money when the best players and best long term fits might be available.
I think Moyes' default formation this season has been a 4-2-3-1. With Mata, they'd essentially have three players playing the No. 10 position. They could always tuck the wide players in, work on overlapping the outside backs. IIRC, Mata played on the left when he first got to Chelsea. So Mata could play on the left with Rooney in the No. 10 and Kagawa in Dormund and someone else on the right. However, someone still has to get them the ball. Their biggest problem is linking the defense to the attacking players. Carrick and Cleverly et al. have not been adequate.
I don't really see Mata as being a need. They need a LB, and a CB and a dynamic box-to-box midfielder to pair with Carrick in the holding midfield role. Problem is that they're looking less likely to make the top-4 and the stench of the Europa League cannot make it easy to attract top talent.
I don't really see Mata as being a need. They need a LB, and a CB and a dynamic box-to-box midfielder to pair with Carrick in the holding midfield role. Problem is that they're looking less likely to make the top-4 and the stench of the Europa League cannot make it easy to attract top talent.
I agree with this post pretty much entirely, especially regarding their real needs. I'm skeptical of Mata on the left though as the biggest reason he is in Mourinho's doghouse is that he doesn't track back enough. Whether we call it 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1, they depend on their wingers to put in a defensive shift and already have issues with RVP/Rooney on the pitch together and neither being a natural fit for dropping into midfield and closing down when the other team plays three in the middle. Adding an offense only player on the wing to that mix seems like a Galactico move that grabs headlines, adds flair, but concedes goals.EP Sox Fan said:
We haven't really played a 4-4-2 at all this season, just 4-2-3-1.
While Mata may not be a need, like Van Persie was last season, if a player of his caliber is available and wants to come here you sign him up. Mata won player of the year for Chelsea while switching between the 3 attacking midfield positions under Rafa. He can absolutely do that for United and do it very well.
--------------RVP---------------
Mata-------Rooney-----Januzaj
is a great front 4 and moves the players who shouldn't necessarily be everyday players (Young, Nani, Valencia) back to being impact subs where they are more likely to make a difference. The nice thing about playing Mata and Rooney together would be their fluidity with their roles.
I understand you could substitute Kagawa for Mata and you basically have a post from last year's thread, but Shinji just hasn't cut the mustard here. He looks slow and overwhelmed.
I'd gladly take Juan Mata on United and I'm sure most fans agree.
Rumors are also circulating about Dante from Bayern...
While Mata may not be a need, like Van Persie was last season, if a player of his caliber is available and wants to come here you sign him up. Mata won player of the year for Chelsea while switching between the 3 attacking midfield positions under Rafa. He can absolutely do that for United and do it very well.
--------------RVP---------------
Mata-------Rooney-----Januzaj
is a great front 4 and moves the players who shouldn't necessarily be everyday players (Young, Nani, Valencia) back to being impact subs where they are more likely to make a difference. The nice thing about playing Mata and Rooney together would be their fluidity with their roles.
I understand you could substitute Kagawa for Mata and you basically have a post from last year's thread, but Shinji just hasn't cut the mustard here. He looks slow and overwhelmed.
I'd gladly take Juan Mata on United and I'm sure most fans agree.
Rumors are also circulating about Dante from Bayern...
Adding a 40M player is always going to improve your squad so in that sense United fans should be glad to have Mata. If there are resource limits in play, however, then I'm not convinced he's the best buy for this team. I have no idea how much Moyes really has to spend over this and the summer window. If its something ludicrous like 150-200M then why not buy Mata. If its more like 80-100M then I can't see the logic of blowing half that on an offense-only attacking midfielder played on the wing in a system that, unlike Arsenal's for example, isn't really designed for that.
If they strongly believe that they will have to sell Rooney this summer then I can better see the rationale for the move as Mata just naturally inherits the #10 role.
If they strongly believe that they will have to sell Rooney this summer then I can better see the rationale for the move as Mata just naturally inherits the #10 role.
Are there two things Jose loves fucking with more than Man U and Juan Mata? OK, Rafa Benitez. But after Rafa...
All I'm saying is I don't believe a word of this until Mata is getting a medical.
All I'm saying is I don't believe a word of this until Mata is getting a medical.
I can't believe you guys are doing this to yourselves again. Guess you'll have to settle on Leon Osman
Chelsea online forums are in full blown meltdown over this rumor.
Whatever happens there should be some entertaining fallout.
Whatever happens there should be some entertaining fallout.
It would have been better for sunderland to go to penalties down 1-0 rather than the way it went down.
Nick Kaufman said:
That's the rule for the FA cup. Extra time if tied, away goals only after extra time.
Edit: League cup, that is.
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