So why would he spend so much on a player he didn't rate
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So why would he spend so much on a player he didn't rate
And what of Di Maria? Would him and Januzaj be playing on the wings? I like this idea in theory but it worries me that Di Maria hasnt really shown the quality of his early games since he moved out of midfield.
Not worried in the slightest about Herrera, that lad's quality and was a regular starter until his injury so I'm sure he'll be back in sooner rather than later.
Would have been harsh on Fellaini to bring Herrera back in for the Palace game given how well he played in the Chelsea and City games.
Would have been harsh on Fellaini to bring Herrera back in for the Palace game given how well he played in the Chelsea and City games.
Another example of general overreaction, he's probably not 100% fit yet, that's it.
Obviously rumours of Herrera being unwanted will surface if he's been benched for 3 games, but I don't think it's true. Give him these next 2 weeks to fully recover from his rib injury and he'll be back in the team.
It's very debatable whether Herrera was van Gaal's signing or not. From what's been said it's pretty evident that we had already as good as signed him (and Shaw) and that when van Gaal was appointed he just "signed off" on them both.
So yes you can say that van Gaal must have liked him to sign off on him but I wouldn't go as far as to say that he's a van Gaal signing.
Exactly. Coupled with the fact that Fellaini has been playing well.
Typical Spanish media bullshit.
It is not his money, but the clubs money. He was the best CM we could get, he trusted our scouting department. The deal was probably as good as done and he just gave his ok. I dont think he doesnt rate him, but if Fellaini keeps him out of the team, that means something. I personally like Herrera, but after that West Brom performance, he lost his spot. He wasnt fit, but he shouldnt have played. Even if Fellaini is in good form, LvG has a clear philosophy and Fellaini doesnt suit that. So i could imagine that Herrera would be better for that, so he really isnt fit or he doesnt rate him anymore. Lets hope he palys against Arsenal.
Unlikely - everyone knows that the best way to beat Arsenal is to bully them off the park and Fellaini is perfect for that job
Others say we dont need Fellaini, because Arsenal dont play with longs balls and big men. I think both could play. But i think we will see a 4231 with the same midfielders and strikers that played against Palace
I bloody well hope not. If that is the case, it would serve LvG right if he signs Strootman and he breaks down, I know I shouldn't say that but it would just serve him right.
Im sure this business about Van Gaal not liking Herrera is a complete red herring. His absence is only in line with the originally anticipated recovery time, he's just waiting for him to be fully fit and rewarding Fellaini's performances. Herrera will get his chance again sooner rather than later and his quality will shine through and ensure he keeps his place.
Ah!, now it is Herrera, after Fellaini, Shaw, De Gea and Rafael. Who is the next ?
I find it criminal that no journalist asks the question, i am pretty sure van Gaal would answer it.
He's been injured and is recovering and therefore hasn't been featured. Sounds reasonable though Marca can't figure this out?
Bullshit.
Bullshit.
That's fair enough, but different to what some are suggesting, still, for what he brings, we have nothing better. I just suppose it's a question of tactics
That's backwards logic, he's held accountable and judged on what he spends, and also is known for not just "buying" to fill a hole, he won't panic.
Even assuming Ander is 100% fit, all it means is LVG wanted a different approach.
If one bad game could kill a player, Fellaini wouldn't be afforded these opportunities to do so well now.
After cracking his ribs against West Ham Ander Herrera was meant to be out for six weeks (link). By my calculations the West Ham game was six weeks (and two days ago). So there's nothing strange about his absence.
What's strange is that the media seem to have forgotten Ander's diagnosis, and expect him to continue to play thanks to a corset. It sounded a desperate idea when it was floated, and a desperate performance from Herrera at West Brom showed it was silly to rush him back.
What's strange is that the media seem to have forgotten Ander's diagnosis, and expect him to continue to play thanks to a corset. It sounded a desperate idea when it was floated, and a desperate performance from Herrera at West Brom showed it was silly to rush him back.
I said yesterday that if LvG can get defenders who stay fit, then you can be more expansive with you midfield and attack. At the moment we are having to be pragmatic. The defenders cannot even get through a game before coming off. He might get his chance in the F.A. Cup as well. If LvG is ignoring him then he is foolish. I want to see attractive football, not Fellaini putting himself about. When did that become a skill?
The fact LvG actually took the risk, maybe shows he needed him and was desperate for him to come back. He just struck it lucky that Fellaini actually contributed when he came on. At least Ander now has another two weeks to get himself right. The way our luck is one of our players will get injured while away with their international teams.
Was just going to say this. If you rush him back to the point of having him wear a corset then obviously he must be in LVGs plans. Fellaini just took his opportunity well.
I wouldn't worry about it too much, we saw it with Shaw that LVG is OTT when it comes to fitness. Plus Herrera was our best player before injury, one of them anyway.
LVG is giving everyone a chance to impress. Januzaj just started the last 4 games for god sake. He is still looking for the balance, if you look at the squad, almost every player has played a few games in a row. Maybe Fletcher aside, no one can say they haven't been given a fair chance to play.
Why do we let Marca get to us like this?
Januzaj isn't doing himself any favours to be fair either.
Yup. Di Maria and Januzaj wide in a front three. Not playing as wingers, as such. Which might help their form. Less defending required.
I can. His rib is still bruised and when Van Gaal played Herrera with his rib not fully recovered against West Brom, Herrera looked awful.
I must say though I am slightly worried that Van Gaal has convinced himself that he has to play Fellaini for his physicality. He's talked about physical presence a few times in his pressers. This would mean that Ander will play much less. Which would be silly because he looks like our best allround midfielder.
I don't understand why a player who's played so few games and was terrible in at least one of them is so highly rated on here.
Blind's been a more influential player thus far and Carrick was absolutely class in his first start of the season. Even Fellaini hasn't actually had a poor game yet.
Herrera has been very good in 2 or 3 games so far this season but his reputation has obviously been boosted by a combination of not playing in the more defensive formation we've used in recent weeks and being on the pitch during the turkey shoot against a hopeless QPR team. Some good vibes also due to opening period of the Leicester game (combined with a touch of amnesia about his role in the subsequent capitulation).
He's a quality young player who's got a better eye for a through ball than our other CMs and loves a tackle but he's still got a lot to learn if he's going to be considered our best CM. How to pass the ball a lot more consistently for starters.
i dont know why you are offended by the statement that he is our best all around midfielder, thats what he is. Blind is versatile and excellent, but he isnt better allround than Herrera. Also Blind played poorly against Leicester, to discredit Herrera in saying he was on the field in that game is just wrong. Our whole team went to pieces, not just Herrera. I agree with his passing consistency though.
For a minute there I thought you was talking about Blind... he also capitulated against Leicester
He was part of that capitulation, agreed. He had an impossible task, though. Having to cover for both fullbacks who were consistently getting caught upfield with zero cover from Di Maria or Herrera. Not to mention being sucked into the absolute chaos in our central defence.
The fact Blind has been such a consistent performer with better disciplined players in front of him shows what a clusterfeck the Herrera/Di Maria central midfield would be against anyone half decent. Hence Van Gaal's obvious reluctance to repeat it. Which is not what you'd expect from a combination of Angel Di Maria and "our best all round midfielder".
The boring as shit International break has the journos scrambling for sensationalist United stories to sell their rags.
That midfield combination performed well against West Ham and Everton too.
Your talking about Blind consistent performances whilst at the same time critising a player (Herrera) who has played badly for 30 minutes of a game, in which the whole team fell apart... whilst at the same time making exuses for Blind in the same game....
The truth is THAT midfield 3 played very well together, ALL of them performed well together.
What happened around them was a cluster feck but that combination of players in midfield worked a treat, its a shame we didn't/wasn't able to play it against Chelsea IMO (even if that meant dropping one of the Strikers and playing Fellaini in there too to be slightly more defensive)
Blind has been brilliant don't get me wrong, but Herrera has done his fair share of defensive work in midfield when he has been fit, Blinds job is actually alot easy IMO when he plays in there with Herrera who seems to be on his wavelength and adds the required tenacity and legs in the middle of the park.
EDIT: I will also add that Herreras ommision from the team lately has been very noticable IMO
I'd be very disappointed if he weren't in LvG's plans and it'd be plain ridiculous but his omission from the last 3 games despite making the bench is indeed pretty weird and telling. I liked him in previous games apart from Chelsea and would feel truly sorry for him if he was to be benched permanently, van Gaal seems to be of the same ilk as Ferguson though i.e. quite stubborn (perhaps not as much) so if something like this was to happen at one point I'd not be shocked.
I think he'll win his place back. Not like he has much competition.
I think he'll win his place back. Not like he has much competition.
From what I've seen he likes to defend, has bags of energy, is box to box, can press and win the ball high up the pitch, good in possession, can play a decisive through ball and has an eye for goal.
Hence the term best "all round". I don't think any of our other mids offer all of that as a package.
Looked good for just over an hour against Everton, who were in the middle of a horrendous run of form. Had our arses handed to us in the closing stages though.
West Ham dominated us from even earlier in the game. Long before Rooney's red card.
And you can add the 45 minutes against WBA to be the list of not good performances. All of which probably adds up to not far short of the total minut in the list of good performances.
I rate Hererra and think he'll be a good player for us but he's been nowhere near as consistently good as you'd think from this thread. He's had a mixed bag of performances so far. Great going forwards and makes a lot of tackles but often careless with his passing, gets knocked off the ball fairly easily and positional sense leaves a lot to be desired. No way is he our "best all round midfielder".
Interesting, what are you basing this on? Ive reached the opposite conclusion, he doesnt seem stubborn he seems pragmatic - or if you want to frame it in a more negative light, borderline flaky / lacking in conviction (hence the constant tinkering).
All of these other explanations seem considerably less plausible than the simple one based on a broken rib a matter of weeks ago, coupled with some good form from one of our other midfield options.
LVG has said it with every player thats been out injured...... no one is guaranteed a spot when fit. He's giving Fellaini a chance based on his performances which I think is fair.
At the end of the day there are 25 players in the team and only 11 can start. Not everyone can play all the time.
At the end of the day there are 25 players in the team and only 11 can start. Not everyone can play all the time.
That statement went too far (he has alot to prove before you want to go and call him that) especially when we have a player like Di Maria
However your assesment of his performances are a little on the harsh side. Someone even said he looks soft, he clearly isn't, he gets knocked off the ball a bit (but its usually a foul when he does in fariness as he plays on the edge of balance when moving with the ball, a bit like D Silva)
I think Bayern fans have said he was very stubborn in his approach there, he was heavily criticized for team having too much possession without doing much with it and he made some bold decisions (dropped Klose and Toni to play Muller if I remember correctly?). At United so far it was his insistence to play 352 which although short has cost us points plus van Persie being in the team despite playing poorly.
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