They have sold all the Di Maria shirts they were going to.
Angel Di Maria | £59.7M fee agreed I Maybe tomorrow...or the day after...
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Park was quick enough, he was also industrious. He provided energy to the side, added to the tempo of our play. Mata v Tevez? there is only one winner in that duel - not even a contest when it comes to ability to run with the ball at speed.
Bastian and Lahm, are mobile midfielders and technically gifted.. then you have Kroos who is a Scholes/Fabregas type talent, those guys are the few group of players who get away with lack of pace, because they're playing deeper in a CM role and have enough energy to keep involved in a game throughout. Rarely go missing and hence why they're capable of tacking up insane number of passes in a game.
Carrick in terms of speed of thought is not in their league and he isn't as gifted on the ball either, hence why he can't cope with being pressed.
I agree that quick thinking is really important, but you can have a team full of quick thinkers who might be slow and you'll never frighten teams. RVP, Mata and Rooney are incredibly intelligent footballers.. as a trio you'd be hard pressed to find more gifted footballers in terms of game intelligence. Compare them to Bale, Ronaldo and Benzema... and you'd say our trio is the more intelligent, better passers of the ball, less selfish etc... but on the pitch, the latter trio is miles ahead because two of them are absolute forces of nature with enough talent and intelligence to apply it to devastating effect.
Valencia sadly just has their physique and pace, but with none of the talent and intelligence. Ashley Young.. well lets not bother even discussing him.
In summary, Januzaj and Di Maria as a wing pairing.. should be pretty brilliant..and no way would I advocate Mata and Rooney on the wings, but in the long run, I think Januzaj is best served slipping into the number 10 role and we buy a proper right winger.
That was also one of the major reasons why his Bayern side took the upturn they did. AdM for me is Van Gaals Robben type player.
Matter of time really. Last wek we bought him a friend for 16 million.
Di Maria has just had probably his best season playing behind Ronaldo and Benzema in CM, his classification as a winger is due to his previous use. It is however not his only use and we all recognise that it's time to move away from the traditional winger system, even Moyes tried it after the signing of Mata.
The €75m isn't coming from Spain. It's coming from rumours from PSG and City. But it's very unlikely Madrid will be selling (or even talking) for €50m. The Spanish press think we're looking at €60m to €70m.
Madrid do some straightforward deals: Ronaldo, £80m cash, for example. But they also do immensely complicated ones as well. How many years, what currency, appearances, trophies, even things like a player ending up on a Ballon D'Or top three. The key thing is Madrid (Perez) pulled him out of the Supercopa squad because he thinks United are in the right ballpark.
I'd be surprised if Di Maria's purchase led to a formation change. Van Gaal told the Sundays if he switched to 4-3-3 he'd have to drop RVP or Rooney, which he doesn't want to do.
Di Maria will probably play in centre midfield, as he did for Real Madrid last year. There will obviously be games where Van Gaal changes it and he plays wide. However, I think Di Maria is being bought to give us drive in midfield.
Di Maria will probably play in centre midfield, as he did for Real Madrid last year. There will obviously be games where Van Gaal changes it and he plays wide. However, I think Di Maria is being bought to give us drive in midfield.
Di Maria was amazing last season for Real playing in that position. I actually cannot wait for this to be finalised and buy my shirt!
I like this. Di Maria and Herrera would provide plenty of energy in the centre, with the former playing as a midfield shuttler with freedom to drift to the left wing, like he's excelled at doing with at Madrid. Rooney, RvP and Mata stay in their best positions. Would definitely need another DM, someone like De Jong would be smart and could make a huge difference.
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So funny listening to some other supporters attempt to discredit Di Maria's influence for Real last year. For me, he was their most consistent performer in all the key games. His workrate and creativity were phenomenal.
He was also the best player on the pitch when Madrid came to OT a couple of years back. Guy is an absolute menace!
He was also the best player on the pitch when Madrid came to OT a couple of years back. Guy is an absolute menace!
What motive do either of those sides have for leaking rumours about a player neither can afford because of transfer restrictions?
PSG won't even see you in any competition this season, for example.
Agree! The knives are coming out, as predicted. Sod em!
I've dabbled in this thread a bit but after seeing a few slightly odd oppo posts I guess its time to throw my full weight behind a post about this potential signing and what I think about it.
First off he's a world class player, we all should know that, however there seems to be a small divide between the fans here from what I can see.
There's those who have become disillusioned with the way the club has gone in the past few years (despite winning a title) and to whom signing a world class player has become something of an oracle, the idea of signing this player who was one of the best in a Real Madrid side that won the CL is a dream for those, despite the fact he is a world class player he has instantly become in the top 5 in the world to those and money is no object throw whatever they want at them, just sign that world class name.
Then there are those who are a bit more level headed and are concerned about what implications this has for the future.
United have been struggling lately in the transfer market, and almost every signing made has been vastly overpriced. They also have not been selling that well either so not a lot has been coming in, in the future clubs will know they can sell United average or decent players at a premium whilst top players can go for astronomical fees.
Had United bought Vidal and Benatia for say 80 or 90 million, I would have said it was very very good business and actually tip United as comfortable favourites for the top four at least as in the past 3 or more seasons these two areas have been the weakness for United.
I feel personally Di Maria is more of a statement than actually a player United are craving, a way of showing power over building the team in the correct order, this almost always leads to problems.
He will improve the side no doubt, but now it seems the thought is that with this world class player we can plug the other gaps with mediocrity such as De Jong and Blind and that's job done, I'm not so sure.
Its easy to dismiss any rival fan looking negatively upon this transfer as jealousy, which to some it may be, but not to all, there is clearly an element of truth to what some oppos say, in the same way there would be if we were to sign him. Yes he would improve our team too, but when you have the array of attacking mid-fielders we do, by how much?
Plus theres no guarantee he will make the transition quickly or easily and then will people get on his back because of his huge price tag and wage bill?
In short it's a bit of a risk, you pay a lot of money for a luxury player in the hope that the whole team will click better and that he will continue last seasons form seamlessly. Of course it may happen that way, theres no saying it wont, but it might be worth some being a bit more humble and not losing themselves too much, hes a great player but remember its team first then names on paper.
First off he's a world class player, we all should know that, however there seems to be a small divide between the fans here from what I can see.
There's those who have become disillusioned with the way the club has gone in the past few years (despite winning a title) and to whom signing a world class player has become something of an oracle, the idea of signing this player who was one of the best in a Real Madrid side that won the CL is a dream for those, despite the fact he is a world class player he has instantly become in the top 5 in the world to those and money is no object throw whatever they want at them, just sign that world class name.
Then there are those who are a bit more level headed and are concerned about what implications this has for the future.
United have been struggling lately in the transfer market, and almost every signing made has been vastly overpriced. They also have not been selling that well either so not a lot has been coming in, in the future clubs will know they can sell United average or decent players at a premium whilst top players can go for astronomical fees.
Had United bought Vidal and Benatia for say 80 or 90 million, I would have said it was very very good business and actually tip United as comfortable favourites for the top four at least as in the past 3 or more seasons these two areas have been the weakness for United.
I feel personally Di Maria is more of a statement than actually a player United are craving, a way of showing power over building the team in the correct order, this almost always leads to problems.
He will improve the side no doubt, but now it seems the thought is that with this world class player we can plug the other gaps with mediocrity such as De Jong and Blind and that's job done, I'm not so sure.
Its easy to dismiss any rival fan looking negatively upon this transfer as jealousy, which to some it may be, but not to all, there is clearly an element of truth to what some oppos say, in the same way there would be if we were to sign him. Yes he would improve our team too, but when you have the array of attacking mid-fielders we do, by how much?
Plus theres no guarantee he will make the transition quickly or easily and then will people get on his back because of his huge price tag and wage bill?
In short it's a bit of a risk, you pay a lot of money for a luxury player in the hope that the whole team will click better and that he will continue last seasons form seamlessly. Of course it may happen that way, theres no saying it wont, but it might be worth some being a bit more humble and not losing themselves too much, hes a great player but remember its team first then names on paper.
New schweinsteiger perhaps?
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If we sign Di Maria, I believe we have to go 4231.
Mata through the middle for me, would excel with some pace and quality on the wing. Di Maria seems a very direct play, it will hopefully speed our play up, and cutting inside, Mata could find many passes to him.
I see a lot of people throw Mata out wide with how they would play, but I dunno, he just isn't the same player as he is through the middle
Just because some of the more senior players are on more wages, it feels like no matter what, we have to play them.
For me, as it stands, nobody has a better touch, and ability to beat a man at our club right now than Januzaj. When he receives the ball, he makes things happen. He has the confidence to run at people, he has the skills to get passed people also. For me, Januzaj would be a starter a lot for me.
Mata through the middle for me, would excel with some pace and quality on the wing. Di Maria seems a very direct play, it will hopefully speed our play up, and cutting inside, Mata could find many passes to him.
I see a lot of people throw Mata out wide with how they would play, but I dunno, he just isn't the same player as he is through the middle
Just because some of the more senior players are on more wages, it feels like no matter what, we have to play them.
For me, as it stands, nobody has a better touch, and ability to beat a man at our club right now than Januzaj. When he receives the ball, he makes things happen. He has the confidence to run at people, he has the skills to get passed people also. For me, Januzaj would be a starter a lot for me.
Di Maria was late more than 30 minutes to training, And he left 5 minutes ago. My friend is in Valdebebas.
I agree with you partly. I think too we need a new CM and a CB, but Di Maria isnt a statement, he's a kind of player we need too, we lack pace in the attack and our wingers are lousy. On top of that he can play in the mid too. Of course he isn't a solution for our midfield problems but he is a player who will lift us of course if he'll bit in a kind of form he was last year.
Sure buying him is a risk but every purchase is a bit of risk.
Although Blind or De Jong are not wc players or they're mediocrity as you say if LVG will know how to use them ( if we buy one of them of course ) as a unit it will come good. As you said teams comes first, then the names, and if LVG can make all those names click like a proper team we'll come good.
Our signings haven't been vastly overpriced, they've been overpriced surely but with crazy prices going around that isnt so strange.
So why the disapproval of having Mata on the left side of a 3 behind the striker, citing his pace as the reason for it?
Apparently he wanted to sign for City. Hope this isn't true.
Only thing is he is NOT a luxury player. No idea why so many of you think that. United have always had wingers who would be able to pin the opposition defense back. Players with pace and guile. We have missed that a lot of the last 2-3 seasons. That is why we see difficulty in breaking down defenses. We don't have players who will beat their opposition FBs for fun and bring that element of creativity from the wings along with pace (barring maybe Januzaj but he is still far too young to be solely relied upon). Di Maria will bring that. He can be played as a proper winger/a wide forward/a CM in an advanced position who can also drift wide while our other attackers move centrally. He is a phenomenal player who will bring a quality which has been missing from the United side for 2-3 years running. He will help lift the whole team and the fans and give much needed impetus.
So many thought last season that Ozil was an unnecessary signing by Arsenal but he helped them a lot. Had Ramsey not got injured and Arsenal not imploded, like usual, I could see them actually having a fair crack at the title. I think this signing will have a similar impact on us. Do we still need improvement in midfield/defense. Absolutely. No one denies that. But I think you are misguided if you think getting a quality wide man is not something we need. We have needed that since Valencia became crap and Nani became a perma crock. Obviously no one rates Young and he is like a mill around our neck for the time being.
That basically sums up my thinking.
It reminds me a bit of Arsenal buying Ozil last year. They were in dire need of strengthening in 3 or 4 positions, and they ended up buying a world class player in a well-stocked area. It was a huge statement, and it gave them a lift. Ultimately it wasn't enough to improve upon their previous league position.
I'm still very excited by us signing him - who wouldn't be? I'm just not exactly sure it's the most thought-out transfer, especially given that it's unclear where he'll play.
Think that has been brought up by Castles. Now I am not aware of his work but many here who are say he is a known bs monger.
If I understand correctly he was offered to City but didn't want to go there.
Saying goodbye?
I can assure you this has crossed the minds of a lot of United supporters as well.
Signing Di Maria is a dream deal, a muppet show-off, and I can't deny I'll be ******* myself silly if/when this is completed.
However, he doesn't really address the gaping hole that used to be our central midfield. Nor does he bring that bit of experience and class which our central defence needs.
If the idea is to go to a LVG style 4-3-3, then signing Di Maria makes a lot of sense, even if we have to shunt Rooney wide or bench one of him and RvP.
But that still leaves our central defence and midfield.
I think Di Maria is a bit of an ego-trip conducted by Woodward. Obviously no sane coach would say no to Di Maria, but he's not what should be our priority. It reminds me of signing Kagawa and RvP in the same window while ignoring our CM.
Did he train or was it just a 'pop-in session'/goodbye?
I think a manager like LvG wouldn't be this naive to sanction such a huge outlay on a player and not know where to fit him in. So I don't think that is a concern a fans should be too worried about. Moreover, if we did get someone like Vidal, there will be question marks over where we fit him in as well since we already bought Herrera for a big sum and both are quite similar in their style of play. If anything, we need someone of the ilk of Kroos more than Vidal since we already have Herrera who can hassle the opposition up front and is a real box-to-box midfielder.
However, I am sure that everyone over here would wet themselves, including me, if we somehow managed to get in Vidal as well.
I don't think it's clear whether he wanted to got City or not, but City turned down the chance to try and sign him. Similar how City and United turned down the chance to sign Ozil last summer.
Did not train. And looked rather pissed off according to my friend, did not acknowledge the fans outside the complex, not on his way in nor out.
Massive upgrade to our team, be it on the wing or in a midfield 3 the guy is world class. Our midfield as rightly been the centre of attention in the past few years because it's been so poor but the wingers have hardly been much better, I mean how many good games have Young, Valencia and Nani had between them in the last 2 years? there's really not many all 3 are bang average.
Our team as always operated with at least 1 top quality wide player, we have missed that in the past 2 years and when Di Maria is taking the piss out of the opposition and making assists for fun we will look back and wonder why Valencia/ Young have been in our first team squad for the past 2 seasons.
Our team as always operated with at least 1 top quality wide player, we have missed that in the past 2 years and when Di Maria is taking the piss out of the opposition and making assists for fun we will look back and wonder why Valencia/ Young have been in our first team squad for the past 2 seasons.
In any case, who cares.
I honestly don't care. I'm sure most of the Chelsea and City players would love to play for Real Madrid if they had a choice. As long as he bosses it for United it's fine.
Even if he did, who cares as long as he signs for us now?
The fact that LVG name checked him suggests to me he is not just a flash signing, but a key component in LVG's vision of how he wants United to play. He's also one of those rare players you just know will be an instant hit due to his style of play.
My initial thought. He's definitely leaving. There's no turning back from this.
I do worry that Di Maria's performances last season were down to him playing in a unique role which suited his skillset to a tee because we definitely won't be able to recreate that role in our team. In every other season at Madrid he was much more like the player we saw in the World Cup - a constant threat but certainly not a world-beater. No matter what he has qualities that our team is crying out for but when you spend £50m+ on a player you want to be able to get the best out of him and I'm not entirely sure we're going to be able to do that. The thing is with Sir Alex you know that he would've just bought the player regardless and figured out how to slot him into the team after but you'd think van Gaal already has a clear idea of how he fits in so here's hoping. He can play as a wingback, a midfielder and a forward in the 352 or a winger and a midfielder in the 433 so we won't struggled to fit him in but I've no idea where he's going to excel.
If we were singing him I think the concerns would outweigh the benefits, obviously its slightly better United signing him due to lacking that much quality in the first place. If we were offered Di Maria for 40 million or Benatia for 28 million it'd be a no brainer, Benny every time.
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