I'm sorry but I beg to differ about Hummels being a superior player to Di Maria because they are completely different types of players. Plus the supposed figure that has been quoted (which apparently is a complete fabrication) is a starting point for negotiations obviously we are going to try and knock the price down if we are indeed in for him, which at this point is pure speculation!
Angel Di Maria | £59.7M fee agreed I Maybe tomorrow...or the day after...
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Woodward needs to make this happen. He's obviously available and if PSG really have pulled out then we have no excuse not to be trying to get him. The problem is, by the time we get round to making a bid, PSG would have likely cashed in on Cavani so could then wrap Di Maria up. I can see Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool all potentially trying to come in for Cavani soon so we have to hurry things up now, we really do. I'm sure I saw online that the PSG club shop was selling shirts with Di Maria on at one point, if that really was the case then you can be guaranteed it was pretty much agreed and they'll be back in as soon as they get round FFP.
All of us agree that Shaw and Herrera were a great start to our summer signings but should by no means be the end too considering how vital it is we strengthen after last season and with all these new sponsor deals, at the end of the day we can afford to bring these top players in if we want to. It's obvious to everyone how badly we need a top quality winger, it's been the case since Ronaldo left and if we want to get back to the top it's something that simply has to be addressed. Signing Di Maria would do that in my opinion, it would also make up for missing out on Hazard and Lucas Moura too!
It wouldn't be fair to accuse the club of not spending on transfers because with Fellaini, Mata, Shaw and Herrera we have clearly spent a lot, fact is though to get us back to where we belong we need to spend more. After Woodys interview boasting our financial muscle, I will be very disappointed if we don't at least make serious bids for Vidal and Di Maria. If they don't want to join then fine but I simply don't believe van Gaal wouldn't want them, he said how he wanted to sign Vidal in the past and he's just apparently said we lack a world class winger and name dropped Ronaldo and Di Maria......so yeah, Woodward really does need to make this happen.
All of us agree that Shaw and Herrera were a great start to our summer signings but should by no means be the end too considering how vital it is we strengthen after last season and with all these new sponsor deals, at the end of the day we can afford to bring these top players in if we want to. It's obvious to everyone how badly we need a top quality winger, it's been the case since Ronaldo left and if we want to get back to the top it's something that simply has to be addressed. Signing Di Maria would do that in my opinion, it would also make up for missing out on Hazard and Lucas Moura too!
It wouldn't be fair to accuse the club of not spending on transfers because with Fellaini, Mata, Shaw and Herrera we have clearly spent a lot, fact is though to get us back to where we belong we need to spend more. After Woodys interview boasting our financial muscle, I will be very disappointed if we don't at least make serious bids for Vidal and Di Maria. If they don't want to join then fine but I simply don't believe van Gaal wouldn't want them, he said how he wanted to sign Vidal in the past and he's just apparently said we lack a world class winger and name dropped Ronaldo and Di Maria......so yeah, Woodward really does need to make this happen.
I believe Di Maria can play in the wingback role if he is partnered with a number 6 likes William Cavahlo.
LVG has stated if he wants to play a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 he needs a wing specialist and is of course correct in his assessment that the current squad is very unbalanced with the amount of 10's and 9's available. Someone has got to go. Us being in for Di Maria makes perfect sense as LVG had claimed he will only sign a player who can improve the selection and a genuine world class winger does just that.
We're only playing the current 3-5-2 because we have no quality in the wide areas not because LVG prefers this system and he's stated he will change back to a 4-3-3 if the 3-5-2 isn't working. People need to stop drawing up these formations with Di Maria as a wingback and realise if he's included in the side it'll be because Mata/Rooney/RVP has been dropped.
What we see now with the squad is the result of very poor management over a number of years and big decisions need to be made on the future of a few "star" names.
We're only playing the current 3-5-2 because we have no quality in the wide areas not because LVG prefers this system and he's stated he will change back to a 4-3-3 if the 3-5-2 isn't working. People need to stop drawing up these formations with Di Maria as a wingback and realise if he's included in the side it'll be because Mata/Rooney/RVP has been dropped.
What we see now with the squad is the result of very poor management over a number of years and big decisions need to be made on the future of a few "star" names.
in other words, you can only beat the square peg of Di Maria into the round hole of playing wingback by buying other players to make up for the fact that Di Maria is not a fecking wingback.
Jesus, LVG seems to have only mentioned the lack of wingers like Di Maria as one reason (amonst other reasons ) he needs to play 3-5-2 with wingbacks.
So people are trying to draw up fantasy formations pushing Di Maria into a 3-5-2 as a wingback??? It makes no sense.
100%. I see very little chance of United buying Di Maria. But if they do, it certainly won't be to play him as a wingback. It could mean that 4-3-3 comes back into play, or 3-5-2, with one of the above dropped as you say.
We still cannot play 433 effectively even with Di Maria. No quality on the other wing and you have to sacrifice Rooney or van Persie which is daft.
I think the quality and characteristics of our current personnel is as much of a reason for us playing 352 as the lack of wingers. We have three players who are world class/borderline world class and all of them are best used centrally. Sacrifice one of them for a world class winger and you still have the same amount of quality yet you have just spent €50m.
I think Fletcher and Carrick can also work with Di Maria as the wingback, since they are also number 6. Perhaps Carrick moreso than Fletcher.
Adnan can play on the other side and Rooney/RVP have looked terrible in any kind of partnership they're too similar and I'm not expecting great things from them in a 3-5-2 either. For me it's a decision of which one do you play.
You have to sell the other one then. You cannot keep a player of this quality out of the team.
Last season we had Moyes which hindered both, the season before was van Persie's first plus we still won the league with ease. They can work together.
There's nothing in this lads. His name was mentioned as an example of the type of wingers we don't have. It was in the overall context of this being one of the MANY reasons (as well as too many strikers and #10's) why LVG is going with a 352 this season. LVG wouldn't name drop a player if he was a target, as he said himself it drives the price up.
Him mentioning a name as an example doesn't mean he's going to sign him. This is a huge furore that means nothing.
Him mentioning a name as an example doesn't mean he's going to sign him. This is a huge furore that means nothing.
Adnan on the other side is good enough for me. Might have to rotate or drop one of RVP/Rooney though.
This one ain't happening, amigos. Let's all go back now to the Vidal thread!
If Di Maria is signed, he will play the Robben position in the Netherlands 352 team. I imagine then first choice team will comprise front 2 of Di Maria and Van Persie with Rooney in the hole.
What will you do with Mata and Kagawa then?
What will you do with Mata and Kagawa then?
It's not what I will do, it's what Van Gaal will do. I'm not saying I want to sign Di Maria, I said "If Di Maria is signed..." Considering he is quoted in the press today as saying we are lacking a player of Ronaldo or Di Maria ability in the team....he means someone of that ilk, including Robben, who can take the ball with pace, dribble and make things happen...as Robben does for the Dutch and Ronaldo and Di Maria for Real...
His line of thinking on this front has also been consistent considering earlier reports that he had earlier assured Nani or dissuaded him from leaving..presumably to have a look whether he can fill that role...obviously he's been a disappointment on the US Tour, hence this move makes sense.
I agree one should be sold, Rooney should have been sold the summer he wanted out certainly would have been had SAF remained in charge.
Rooney was injured or in such poor form during that campaign he was left out of some big games and ended up putting in a transfer request, him and RVP never formed some great partnership. Di Maria is a world class player in a position we're in dire need of quality. Selling one of Rooney/RVP means we still have a world class forward with good depth in the squad for cover. Like I said some big decisions need to be made going forward and it seems impossible to do so without upsetting one of them.
Januzaj? Lad is a good age to start playing regularly.
LvG probably considers Janujaz to also be amongst the group of number 10s.
Got to be, mata, kagawa, januzaj, and someone..
No way, he'd definitely play wing back imo. Not sure why people think Di Maria wouldn't be able to play the role. The most important thing for playing wing back in this system isn't actual defending, but stamina. In this respect Di Maria is definitely among the best in the world. He may not specialise in tackling, but I'm sure he'd be able to do the job, especially with Van Gaal coaching him in training. Cuadrado's not any better defensively imo, but people don't have any problem with him playing there.
De Gea
Jones, Smalling, Evans
Young, Carrick, Herrera, Di Maria
Mata
Van Persie, Rooney
Judging by pre-season, there is absolutely no way that either Wayne or Mata won't be first choice and one would assume Van Persie will be a starter also. Van Gaal also clearly rates Welbeck very highly so signing another player to play in the front 3 positions wouldn't make sense. Welkeck, Januzaj, Kagawa and Wilson will likely all have to be content with a place on the bench as it is.Jones, Smalling, Evans
Young, Carrick, Herrera, Di Maria
Mata
Van Persie, Rooney
That isn't bad actually. Di Maria was excellent playing in that position for Madrid in the second half of last season
You are following your own logic as if you are managing...whereas I'm using what Van Gaal has done (with the Dutch World Cup team) and said (quoted in the press) to try understand/ imagine what he will think and do....
If Di Maria signed for us, he'd be as frustrating as Nani is. I really don't see him setting the Premier League alight. It would be a poor signing, especially for the price tag.
Van Gaal will not play Di Maria in the role you imagine because he already complained about how unbalanced our side is, in particularily how many numbers 10s and strikers we have.
I believe the 5-3-2 system is only temporary until United can purchase some genuine wide players.
Fix the imbalance in the squad and i think LVG will play 433.
Buying Di Maria would be a step towards that...but i don't believe for 1 second that Woody and Co. can actually pull of a transfer like this one! so moving on.
Fix the imbalance in the squad and i think LVG will play 433.
Buying Di Maria would be a step towards that...but i don't believe for 1 second that Woody and Co. can actually pull of a transfer like this one! so moving on.
Fellaini?
Di Maria is streets ahead of Nani? I'm not sure it's even a worthy comparison right now. Also an odd opinion to see him struggling to set the PL alight when he's been one of Madrid' best players in a star studded team. He'd be a brilliant signing.
Di Maria is on a completely another level to Nani at the present moment and will be there most likely.
I dunno what he is exactly but yes, probably him.
I can't believe people are against us signing Di Maria?? We do not have any quality wingers regardless of which way you look at it, and LVG has already come out and said he will revert to 4-3-3 if he needs to.
I remember people used to say if a world class talent is available you go in for him no matter what. Is it because Mata/Kagawa will potentially be shunted around if we sign him, or do people want to feck wingers off altogether and just have plan A?
I remember people used to say if a world class talent is available you go in for him no matter what. Is it because Mata/Kagawa will potentially be shunted around if we sign him, or do people want to feck wingers off altogether and just have plan A?
So play Rooney or Van Persie outwide? I do not understand why we would switch away from something that has worked so well for us in pre-season. The 1-3-5-2 is the best way to incoporate our more efficient central players. Di Maria can play as a wingback if he is complemented by a number 6. He might prefer playing as a forward, but we will not be adding another to our attack, because of the players we currently have their.
Di Maria is a counter attack power engine for Madrid capable of providing easily over 15 assists in one year. He's a team player.
Mourinho was delighted with him in his days in Spain also because of his defensive skills and quick shifting from defending to counter. You could see that blistering pace also last season.
It would be not only a sign of world class for the team but also huge boost in future return to Champions League. Is Nani capable of providing that kind of impact ? I wish.
Agreed, I do not agree with the comparison. Wingers blow hot and cold all the time, Eden Hazard is a prime example. Even Ribery had a season that flucutated at the best of times, as has Robben for the past couple of years. It's difficult for a winger to consistently play at his best, every single match.
La Liga is a far less physical league and played at a slower pace, the defences in La Liga are poor in comparison. Not to mention they get a winter break, which I think Di Maria would struggle without.
@Blue always red People seem desperate for a signing, any signing, because they think just a signing will improve us; I don't think Di Maria would improve us.
@Van Piorsing Di Maria is fast in a league where most of the teams are defensively suspect... Of course he looks good. Ronaldo and Messi don't score 50+ goals a season just because they're amazing players, the players they are against are also much more inferior.
@moonred Perhaps and I wasn't doing it as a direct comparison. I'm saying I think Di Maria will blow hot and cold in the PL, mostly cold.
10 is his best position.
Di Maria has close to a 100 assists in his time at Madrid.
That's nonsense. EPL Europa league teams always struggle against Spanish Europa teams. Ronaldo and Messi are just good and the teams they play in are streets ahead of EPL top teams.
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