And here is his best moment while playing with LvG (+ bonus celebration with Louis 
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) go to 10 min 30 secBastian Schweinsteiger | Signed for MUFC - confirmed.
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Might also add that you can lead without playing in every game. It´s not just their natural skill that sets apart the greatest from the rest. Extra shifts after normal practice. Set an example. Look at all the tennis players that hire former all-time greats basically to have a chat about pressure in big moments,how to prepare for it and deal with it. You can´t talk about what the pressure of playing in a World Cup or Champions League final feels like, if you have never been to one.
True, but regardless, the club needs short term success as our business model is increasingly dependent on being regularly successful.
Would have to disagree about a Fergie type signing, he had a serious man-crush on Blanc dating back several years prior, Larsson was almost a freebie 6month type for peanuts, so that leaves RvP as really the only main exception to the rule over his 20+ odd year reign, and we got... 1 good year out of RvP and now disgarding him at the age of 31, the same age Bastian Schweinsteiger will be when he takes the field for us for the first time.
Our other *high profile name* signings, Falcao and ADM have both turned out to be appalling purchases when comparing outlay + wages, thats some food for thought, even if there are many positives in Bastian's case, such as possessing prior knowledge of LvG's system.
Amazed how any United fan could be anything but delighted with this signing.
If a player like Bastian fecking Schweinsteiger doesn't unite fans then it just goes to show that you can't please everyone all of the time.
If a player like Bastian fecking Schweinsteiger doesn't unite fans then it just goes to show that you can't please everyone all of the time.
Team and trophies will be presented at 3pm German time, so 2pm GMT according to Bayern's official website.
Should have kept Anderson then, he has 3 CL finals experience lol. I know what you mean.
His brother must be very happy
now many people are ignoring the elephant in the room. If there's a person who claims to understand, trust and utilize Bastian in the best way possible, Aloysius Paulus Maria van Gaal is the one who has every right to challenge that claim.
Some fans want us to prioritise the average age of the squad over its ability to actually win things seemingly. LVG buys one player over the age of 30 and suddenly the scaremongering starts about long term potential.
Why all the panic cause of one buy over 30 years?
Fergie made a lot of mistakes in his purchases too, esp in his last few years as manager..
It's bizarre. This place is divisive for the absolute sake of it at times.
Most of the posters tend to judge posts as pro and anti arguments.
I am happy if we get Bastian. He's one of the finest midfielders in the world, he knows LVG's tactics inside out and he's the leader we need. We've got too many boy scouts in midfield and I had been saying that for quite some time. Bastian will give composure and steel in midfield and his leadership will solidify both defense and midfield which is crucial considering that DDG will probably leave this summer.
Having said that, he'll be 31 soon and he had been pretty unlucky with injuries in the past few years. Also with Carrick being 33 and Bastian being 31 we would be at risk of losing our best midfielders in 1-3 years time. That will hit us hard especially since we would probably be busy replacing LVG and probably Rooney too while at it.
Id say lets get him however we need to add more staff with him. For example Schneiderlin would be perfect for us. A 3 men CM wouldn't be too overcrowded with Schneiderlin, Bastian, Carrick, Herrera, Fellaini and Blind in it especially if DM is moved in the RF.
I am happy if we get Bastian. He's one of the finest midfielders in the world, he knows LVG's tactics inside out and he's the leader we need. We've got too many boy scouts in midfield and I had been saying that for quite some time. Bastian will give composure and steel in midfield and his leadership will solidify both defense and midfield which is crucial considering that DDG will probably leave this summer.
Having said that, he'll be 31 soon and he had been pretty unlucky with injuries in the past few years. Also with Carrick being 33 and Bastian being 31 we would be at risk of losing our best midfielders in 1-3 years time. That will hit us hard especially since we would probably be busy replacing LVG and probably Rooney too while at it.
Id say lets get him however we need to add more staff with him. For example Schneiderlin would be perfect for us. A 3 men CM wouldn't be too overcrowded with Schneiderlin, Bastian, Carrick, Herrera, Fellaini and Blind in it especially if DM is moved in the RF.
How would Carrick and Swinestiger work together? Carrick deeper?
I'm a bit weary of the signing. He's been a great player but older players from foreign leagues who come into the EPL rarely do well.
Exactly.
Januzaj had a great breakthrough season under Moyes, then we bought Di Maria, and now we have bought Depay. Sterling was regarded as a similar prospect a couple of years ago, but he is now being touted for a £50m transfer to City, whilst Januzaj has regressed. I would prefer not to derail the thread too much by discussing all our failed youth prospects, suffice to say that I feel that signings like Di Maria, Falcao and Schweinsteiger create a major obstacle for any youngster trying to break into the first team. It reminds me of when I was trying to get a job when I left Uni in 2008 - but everywhere wanted experience, and all the jobs were snapped up by older, experienced workers who had been made redundant. Again not a perfect analogy, but if we fill our first team squad with galacticos then how are the youngsters meant to break through and sufficiently get a chance to prove that they can make it here?
Perhaps. I do think that if you look at a lot of the more successful sides recently (Chelsea, Barca, Madrid, even Liverpool 2 seasons ago) they have all had a settled first choice XI. The mass rotation seems to be something quite specific to United. Its not necessarily a problem, but not really a benefit either.
I guess for me I just dont see how Schweinsteiger is the difference between finishing 4th-7th and not. I have always rated Schweinsteiger but again, he is 31 in August and has quite a physical playstyle (unlike Carrick) which implies that age may be a bigger issue for him. Others in this thread (@Wade3) made points about him being used to a winter break, not being used to the PL etc...
I am aware that I am very much in the minority - but unless Carrick is leaving (which he obviously isnt) then I just dont really see the great value in this signing.
You make some good points, but the bolded area in particular is pretty much supporting what I am saying - that the situation we have had over the last 5+ years has often been one where our so-called talented youngsters have not been given chances in the first team due to these 'geriatrics'. Even the much maligned Cleverley showed potential, but we preferred to play Giggs and Scholes practically into their 40's. Fabio was meant to be the more talented twin, but he couldnt get a sniff in with a 30+ year old Evra. Wilson couldnt get gametime ahead of RVP and Falcao for most of last season...
Januzaj is the most prominent example as he is the player who did get a chance in the first team (under bloody Moyes, no less) and showed what he could do. Every year we have people waxing lyrical about some of the prospects in the youth team, but we never see them. Lets face it, Blackett and McNair weren't even the highest rated prospects, and you can argue they only got gametime last season due to injuries initially - but McNair played his way into contention, which again is fundamentally the point I am making: that young players need opportunities in the first team before we can judge whether they are good enough or not, and ultimately that buying players like a 31 year old Schweinsteiger will not allow that.
in the most perfect case both will play together. realistically they will either be injured or respect each other enough to rotate the duties
It's not so much panic, it's a combination of the emphasis on wages with his age that's unsettling, if you'd asked 4 years ago that we'd get him, I would be dribbling all over my keyboard as much as anyone here, just now at this stage, there's room for a small amount of concern, that's all.
He may well give us 2-3 good years of service, I'd be happy to be wrong and hold my hands up.
Poor post.
Your argument about why Fergie wouldn't make the signing doesn't add up. How is Fergie having "a man crush" on Blanc any different to Van Gaal having history with, and great respect for Schweinsteiger? How does the fact that Van Persie is leaving this year change the fact that Fergie signed him?
Neither Falcao or Di Maria were "appalling purchases". Falcao because we very shrewdly didn't sign him. He was a world class player coming off an injury. We weren't sure if he would recover so we minimised our risk with a loan. It didn't work out so we turned down the option to buy. That's great business all round in my book. Di Maria is still a United player. He started the season well and then struggled as he came to terms with a new country, a new league and some very new tactics. To write him off as a terrible buy is massively premature.
His wages are not that huge.
Anyway I dont really care about his wage. Dont understand why people do care in any case.
If its not astronomical of course.
I guess if there is one thing you can trust LVG with, it is his ability to recognize and utilize young talent. If he thinks there is a 20 year old player X that is as good as 28 year old player Y, the 20 year old will get his opportunities.
Well Januzaj yes, we're yet to see how much game time he'll get. but as for midfield position, one which Schweinsteiger will occupy we dont have any youngsters ready to burst into scene. You yourself have said it I think.
And you dont see a point in buying him cause we can get a few more years out of Carrick.
But as I asked, what happens if Carrick is injured.
I'm shocked at how many are seemingly against this transfer. On form he is still one of the best midfielders in world football, and certainly an upgrade in Carrick (as much as I love him).
£15m is probably slightly over what we should be paying considering he is in the last year of his contract, but seriously, who cares.
£15m is probably slightly over what we should be paying considering he is in the last year of his contract, but seriously, who cares.
The main difference between this and Falcao for me is, We are signing Bastian in the first week of the transfer window. Falcao seemed to me like a last minute deal, Mendes kind of went 'Hey I got Falcao, you guys fancy him?' on the last day of transfer and we said why not.
Injuries, those teams you said there can guarantee around 8 of their first team XI will always be available. Through luck or bad preparation, we have had horrible injuries recently. LVG showed last year though, when the winning formula clicked, he stuck with it. Our most expensive and probably most talented player was sitting on the bench.
Injuries, those teams you said there can guarantee around 8 of their first team XI will always be available. Through luck or bad preparation, we have had horrible injuries recently. LVG showed last year though, when the winning formula clicked, he stuck with it. Our most expensive and probably most talented player was sitting on the bench.
Herrera or Fellaini
Dont think so, Schweini has the potential to be more forward minded and he's done that in the past. Pep's a little bit more obsessed with control of the match, think Schweini could play box to box / deep lying playmaker.
Short term accusations would be justified if we were spending close to record money on him, but as we are not if he gives us 2-3 years and we win a PL/CL then what's not to like?
2-3 years is a very long time in football. 2 years ago Barca lost 7-0 against Bayern, 2 years later they win the treble.
We'll probably have a new manager in 2-3 years anyway who can then buy a couple of his preferred players if needed. Good squad management is building a team long term as well as being flexible and capable of competing at present.
The only scenario where this could be seen as a negative signing would be if because of him we give up on Morgan. Otherwise there's absolutely no negative here.
Comparisons with Falcao are laughable. Among all other differences a year ago Falcao rushed to get fit for the WC (which had a negative influence on his later recovery) and missed it anyway, while Schweinsteiger bossed 120 minutes of the WC final while being fouled again and again by some Argentinian thugs.
2-3 years is a very long time in football. 2 years ago Barca lost 7-0 against Bayern, 2 years later they win the treble.
We'll probably have a new manager in 2-3 years anyway who can then buy a couple of his preferred players if needed. Good squad management is building a team long term as well as being flexible and capable of competing at present.
The only scenario where this could be seen as a negative signing would be if because of him we give up on Morgan. Otherwise there's absolutely no negative here.
Comparisons with Falcao are laughable. Among all other differences a year ago Falcao rushed to get fit for the WC (which had a negative influence on his later recovery) and missed it anyway, while Schweinsteiger bossed 120 minutes of the WC final while being fouled again and again by some Argentinian thugs.
Will only be satisfied with this signing if we get Schneiderlin as well.
I've just woken up.. I can't believe this. Holy feck. 
Do we know when his flight is yet?
I was responding to the argument that you and others made that if we get 2-3 years out of a signing then that is good enough.
My argument with Schweinsteiger particularly is that I just dont see what he adds to the squad that we dont already have, apart from depth - and I would rather we achieve depth through the introduction or purchase of promising youngsters than elder statesmen.
My opinions on Fellaini are pretty well known at this stage I think. Personally I see Herrera as a #8, not a #10, which is perhaps why my views on our midfield balance are different to most. Herrera can play the more advanced role in a midfield three, but I feel it wastes a lot of his potential when in fact I think he has all the tools to be a fantastic #8, and I think a great #8 is far harder to find than a #10, so that is where he should play.
If Herrera is to be used at #10 then so be it, obviously that is up to LVG, and if that is the case then it is reasonable to suggest that Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger and Carrick can compete for the two holding roles, but I felt that our midfield last season had a fantastic balance and shape to it, with Carrick in the holding role and Herrera/Fellaini both operating as advanced box to box players.
Thinking about it and based on this signing and potentially Schneiderlin, it does look as though Van Gaal wants to move more towards a 4-2-3-1 with two holding players and one more advanced, in which case this signing makes more sense. I just think it would be a shame to change a system which I thought looked so promising.
Again, its not about numbers but simply what does Schweinsteiger add to the squad that Carrick doesnt already provide?
The best case scenario is Schweinsteiger gives us 2-3 good years, but that is the best case and is assuming that he does not physically decline, that he adapts perfectly to the PL, that he doesnt pick up injuries etc...
That's such an unbelievably unfair statement. Van gaal has so much young and up coming talent it's frightening. He's signed Shaw a teenager, Herrera, Rojo, Blind di Maria all in their mid 20s. Memphis is 21. Darmian is 25. We have probably the youngest team in the league thanks to lvg. Say what you want about BS signing but don't tell me lvg and Woodward have some galatacos hard on and stop makin it seem like we are signing an entire first 11 of past it stars. That's just simply not true
Again completely wrong.
The problem hasn't been giving players not good enough less chances. It's been not strengthening he's squad.
Cleverley simply wasn't good enough. If you think the chances we gave him were sufficient I don't know which player you watches. Scholes playing ahead of him wasn't the obstacle. His performances were.
Wilson? Really? He looked completely out of place last season. He has a lot of work to do.
Fabio has done squat so far in his career not even impressing at QPR so I'm not sure what that's all about.
This is probably the first time I'm hearing that our issue is not giving young players a chance. Very strange.
Because Sir Alex tried to sign Blanc several times before, it was only at the end, Blanc agreed, past the age of 30, and did horribly I may add.
I agreed Sir Alex made the RvP signing, but I point out it was the exception to the rule, rather than anything of the norm, which is basically what you're saying in regards to going for older players for big fees/wages, in an instant fix.
Falcao was an appalling bit of business yes, his loan fee and his 200k+ a week wages cost us up to 15mill in total for his 1 year at the club.
Di Maria if he doesn't come good for us, will be lauded as one of the biggest, if not the biggest flop in Premier League history given the 60mill outlay, if he continues to perform as poorly as he did over the last 6months of the season, obviously I hope his form gets back on track.
My point is, on signing high profile players for big fees/wages, so far, we've seen questionable results.
Fantastic signing if it happens. Short term yes but it's just what we need. Haven't had a proper midfielder for ages and I include Carrick in that statement.
He'll bring lots of leadership to the dressing room as well, something we've been sorely lacking since the old guard left.
He adds that he can jump in instead of Carrick when Carrick is injured and he can play nr. 8 too. Not to mention leadership, winning mentality and so on..
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