Yep, besides I Think LVG is happy with Rojo/Blackett for now. I think 1 of Evans/Jones/Smalling will be offloaded sooner than later and perhaps another not long after to make room for a stronger and more consistant option at RCB.
Manchester United - January transfer window 2015 (twitter blacklist applies)
- Thread starter Devil may care
- Start date
Yep, besides I Think LVG is happy with Rojo/Blackett for now. I think 1 of Evans/Jones/Smalling will be offloaded sooner than later and perhaps another not long after to make room for a stronger and more consistant option at RCB.
Thanks for the tip on Vlaar, sully. I thought all he had was a knock or two, but if it's more serious than that we just don't need another physioroom regular on the squad.
As for Herrera, my only concern with him is that he's a bit light to be a physical presence in midfield. I have no doubt Herrera will be a leader on the squad but I just don't see him being the kind of guy who can pick up his teammates when they're down or get on their back when they need a good bitch slapping. I could be wrong, though.
That's a fair point but I think we'll assess that in the summer, right now we only have Blackett as competition for Rojo so LCB would be where to strengthen in January IMO.
Do we think any players may leave in January?
Perhaps someone like young or valencia who seem to be on the fringes - possibly Anderson if he could get a club now rather than wait till the summer or youngsters who seem to be someway from the squad and who are of an age where they will start to take up a squad place next year - keane (s), thorpe, vermijl, Lingaard - a keeper possibly Amos or Johnson (especially if Valdes stays with us)
LVG does not strike me as sentimental - nor does he strike me as a total cnut so if he has had a good look at a player and decided they are not going to have a future will be do the decent thing and tell them if they can find a good offer he wont stand in their way. - afterall its not like we have league cup or european games for people to be involved in
Perhaps someone like young or valencia who seem to be on the fringes - possibly Anderson if he could get a club now rather than wait till the summer or youngsters who seem to be someway from the squad and who are of an age where they will start to take up a squad place next year - keane (s), thorpe, vermijl, Lingaard - a keeper possibly Amos or Johnson (especially if Valdes stays with us)
LVG does not strike me as sentimental - nor does he strike me as a total cnut so if he has had a good look at a player and decided they are not going to have a future will be do the decent thing and tell them if they can find a good offer he wont stand in their way. - afterall its not like we have league cup or european games for people to be involved in
Don't forget about Evans who has been the most impressive in the past of all our CB options (although his form and injury record has been poor of late)
Not sure about any of our CB options to be honest - not one of them are close to the levels of Rio, Vidic or Stam
The potential that Jones and Smalling have is continuously undermined by injury to the point where it's hard to imagine them being available for 8/9/10 games in a row
Also unsure whether Rojo is built for the physicality of the Premier League
Personally I'd wait for the right CB to become available - someone of Rio/Vidic quality and who can be a consistent part of our spine
What do yu guys think of Howedes? Played as a LB for Germany but he's right footed and can play all across the defense.
Schalke is his level.
We should grab Song and Verthongen
We need a leader at the back.
I think we will have to make some room and sell at least one CB, to me Evans is the most likely to be moved on as he's the oldest and has been treading water for a while now.
I am not totally sold on any of our CB's either and there really aren't many options out there right now, but I don't think we can wait around hoping a Vidic or Rio level CB pops up, we need to identify a CB who can become a Rio or vidic level CB,e essentially what they were when we bought them, that could well be someone like Laporte.
I'd replace one of Jones/Evans/Smalling with a world class centre back in January, someone who can instantly have a impact and command the defence. A big fee will probably be required but hey we bought Rio for £29million in 2001/02 so maybe we can strike gold again. At this point I'd bid big ££ for any world class centre backs including Hummels, Thiago Silva, Kosielnly (Not world class but a very good player).
Also I'd snap Laporte up in the summer, he looks the real deal. I'd buy him and loan him back to Bilbao (That clubs weird, so dunno if they would accept that).
What I'd really love though is if McNair had a run of games when he's back, he looks like a very bright prospect as well, he's got great composure.
A perfect January would be....
Vidal
Hummels
With those two, we'd really have a spine good enought for the PL title, De Gea-Hummels-Vidal-Rooney-Falcao. Wouldn't really post such things, but after signing Falcao on deadline day, getting Hummels and Vidal should be a walk in the park for Woody.
Also I'd snap Laporte up in the summer, he looks the real deal. I'd buy him and loan him back to Bilbao (That clubs weird, so dunno if they would accept that).
What I'd really love though is if McNair had a run of games when he's back, he looks like a very bright prospect as well, he's got great composure.
A perfect January would be....
Vidal
Hummels
With those two, we'd really have a spine good enought for the PL title, De Gea-Hummels-Vidal-Rooney-Falcao. Wouldn't really post such things, but after signing Falcao on deadline day, getting Hummels and Vidal should be a walk in the park for Woody.
Yeah I'd love song here, but is Verthongen really even that good? Tottenham will absolutely fleece us!
He would be an upgrade on all the defenders at the club. I think he would be a great option, but I don't think he'd leave Schalke.
Who would you play beside Vidal in midfield? This is the thing, I think that adding Vidal or Strootman to the team will just make us more unbalanced unless they're replacing Herrera, so I'm not sure why either should be our prime midfield targets atm.
Vidal is a massive upgrade on Herrera, But I think both of them can easily play together as they are both pretty dynamic and have good engines, Add someone like Fellaini in there who is also a massive physical presence, then I think we can really bully teams. This would mean Di Maria pushes further forward, but hopefully we are back in Europe and can look forward to 60 odd games a season again, we should easily be able to accommodate Vidal in our team, especially as he would be our best midfielder by a country mile.
Fellaini, Herrera and Vidal in midfield would certainly be dynamic but not particularly balanced I'd have though, we'd be better off with a proper DM instead of one of them (an upgrade on Blind as such). Plus moving Di Maria out of his best position would be a big no for me, why would you do that to your best player?
So you'd rather we moved Blind to the bench and buy another DM to play in a midfield 3 with Di Maria and Herrera/Rooney?
I think he might end up on the bench (or left back) when Carrick is fully fit anyway
In January I reckon we should bring in Valdes, Darmian and Depay. Obviously we can get Valdes signed up beforehand if that's what he wants to do. If Rafa or Shaw get injured long-term we are fecked, and Darmian looks a talent and can ably cover both full-back roles in a way that Valencia and Rojo/Blackett just can't. I love Depay's ambition, arrogance and professionalism and believe he could be special for us. I don't think we'll be able to get the CB of the calibre we need in January, and a stop gap signing like Shawcross or Vlaar may not be necessary if Rojo can forge a decent partnership with someone.
Now, going a bit OT here, but over the next two windows, I'd love to see this. It would take substantial investment, but for me it would complete the rebuild and would set us up quite nicely in terms of having two good players for each 4-3-3 position, although there are obviously those who can play in a few positions like Di Maria, Januzaj and Rooney. This is assuming we make the CL of course!
I think that could be a title-winning squad in 15/16.
Now, going a bit OT here, but over the next two windows, I'd love to see this. It would take substantial investment, but for me it would complete the rebuild and would set us up quite nicely in terms of having two good players for each 4-3-3 position, although there are obviously those who can play in a few positions like Di Maria, Januzaj and Rooney. This is assuming we make the CL of course!
In:
Jan
Valdes
Depay
Darmian
Jun
Falcao permanently
a top winger (Reus? Cuadrado?)
a top number 8 (Vidal? Strootman?)
a top LCB (Chiellini? Laporte?)
Out:
Jan
Lindegaard
Anderson
Young
Jun
Fletcher
Valencia
one of Mata or Fellaini (JM will want first-team football but I don't know if he should be starting for us... as much as I love him and want him to be a success here)
one of the injury-prone RCBs (Evans?)
Six and a half in, seven out. That would leave us with:
De Gea (Valdes/Johnstone)
Rafael (Darmian) - Smalling (Jones/McNair) - LCB (Rojo/Blackett) - Shaw (Darmian)
BBM (Fellaini/Pereira) - Blind (Carrick/Pearson) - Rooney (Herrera/Lingard)
RW (Januzaj) - Falcao (van Persie/Wilson) - Di Maria (Depay)
Jan
Valdes
Depay
Darmian
Jun
Falcao permanently
a top winger (Reus? Cuadrado?)
a top number 8 (Vidal? Strootman?)
a top LCB (Chiellini? Laporte?)
Out:
Jan
Lindegaard
Anderson
Young
Jun
Fletcher
Valencia
one of Mata or Fellaini (JM will want first-team football but I don't know if he should be starting for us... as much as I love him and want him to be a success here)
one of the injury-prone RCBs (Evans?)
Six and a half in, seven out. That would leave us with:
De Gea (Valdes/Johnstone)
Rafael (Darmian) - Smalling (Jones/McNair) - LCB (Rojo/Blackett) - Shaw (Darmian)
BBM (Fellaini/Pereira) - Blind (Carrick/Pearson) - Rooney (Herrera/Lingard)
RW (Januzaj) - Falcao (van Persie/Wilson) - Di Maria (Depay)
I think that could be a title-winning squad in 15/16.
He already announced he's leaving and I think his contract is running out. Don't think Verthongen would cost more than £8M.
Vertonghen is okay but has more blunders in him than an episode of Curb. He'd make me far more nervous than the newbie Rojo. I genuinely think we can do better.
Agree and in Blind and Rojo we already have that versatility
He'd be a decent value signing when we need to buy a leader - an experienced top quality CB
Agreed. He makes far too much mistakes for my liking. He'd be nothing better than anything we already have. Laporte I feel is an unneccessary risk. He's playing well but he's only 20. We need an older more experienced leader in the back.
Maybe not in terms of ability but surely he wouldn't spend as much time on the treatment table as Evans, Smalling or Jones. I dont think he's the answer but just being fit and available on a regular basis would mean he's an upgrade.
I'd imagine United could be approached over a few players this January. The fact none of them will be cup tied in Europe might make certain players look like attractive propositions.
We won't sign Vidal in January but if he comes, it gives us more quality in the squad and gives the manager the option to use a range of formations. Moreover, we don't really have a true ball wining B2B, Vidal will instantly solve that problem.I don't agree it will make us "unbalance" at all. Signing another striker or #10 then yes, Vidal, No.
Carrick is 33 and Blind has been really good. He's no more an automatic starter.
Ezequel Garay would be an ideal January signing for me.
If Carrick get back to 80% of his best he will replace Blind imho. Blind is a very good signing but we need an upgrade if we want to get serious (look at him in comparison to Matic)
Whose place would Vidal take in midfield? You either have to A) move Di Maria out of what is by far his best position, B) remove Blind in which case you are definitely making us more unbalanced or C) replace Herrera which seems a bit unnecessary given we have other issues.
Blind is the midfielder we would most benefit from upgrading and neither Vidal or Strootman are that sort of player.
I'll have no problem moving Di Maria to the wing, he'll be fine there and has played there for most of his career. Vidal as a DM is as good as any I've seen, but he offers even much more. My point is, if we have him then it increases our options in midfield. Last time Herrera got injured, we couldn't field any decent midfielder, adding one of top quality won't make us unbalanced. They won't all be playing or fit all the time. I also think by the time LVG is done, he'll move us to 4-3-3 formation, Vidal, Blind and Herrera is a combo that's nearer to perfect.
No thankyou. Complete waste of his talents.
You can't be so sure, because Carrick has to get back to his best or something close to it, and he's 33 and after 5 months out, that's not a guarantee.
I don't think its a waste of his talent at all. I'd rather have a true CM in CM.
He's the perfect attacking midfielder for a 3 man midfield. It's absolute nonsense that he isn't a "true CM".
Exactly - I see Blind ending up as a utility player capable of competing for a number of roles and playing a big part next season both in defence and in midfield - but in order for us to compete at the very top and push chelsea for the PL as well as fight for european titles we are going to need something more in midfield - if only we still had pogba - not sure who it will be but given the comments at the weekend from Neville about LVG being surprised how physical the PL is I think a strong midfielder capable of imposing himself on the opposition (be that physical strength or through work rate and attitude or better still all of them) will be a priority - and capable as blind is I don't think he will fill that role long term in key games. (nor will carrick given his age either so a spending we will go - carvahllo?)
Di Maria did play most of his career out wide but was nowhere near as good as he became once he was moved into midfield. Any formation that has him playing outside the midfield three is one that wastes the talents of our best player.
Restricting Vidal to a DM role would also be a waste of his talents. He can play there but, like Di Maria, he is at his best in a different role. Why would we sign two of the best midfielders around and play them in a way that will certainly fail to get the best out of them?
I don't have a problem adding extra quality in midfield but I'd quite like us to sign the right sort of midfielder too rather then going for the biggest names we can get. A proper DM in the Matic mold would improve us more than the likes of Vidal and Strootman so why not go for that sort of player instead?
The point here is that if we manage to bring Khedira, Strootman or Vidal this January, does it necessary mean that we’ll play Di Maria out wide? Does it mean also that we’ll put one of Blind or Herrera out of the starting XI?
For the moment, Blind is one of the top performers in our team, and it would be difficult to put kick him out, especially when our 3 targets arm ox box to box midfielders. And it would be harsh to Herrera to bench him because he’s really really promising
And giving the fact that we have no other winger, Di Maria playing here gives us more balance between attackers and midfielders. I didn’t like the 3-5-2 and with the diamond we are a bit too fragile and exposed out wide.
I still think that we need to get another top box to box midfielder but for the moment, I’m very happy with what Blind and Herrera give, and would stick with Angel, even if I know that he would be better as a free midfielder.
--------------------------------Blind/Carrick---------------------------------
-----------Strootman/Vidal/Khedira----------------Herrera--------------
Januzaj/Rooney---------------Falcao/RVP-----------------------Di Maria
Or we have to change or future recruitment and focus on one or two wingers, in order to re balance the team, and then playing Angel in the middle
For the moment, Blind is one of the top performers in our team, and it would be difficult to put kick him out, especially when our 3 targets arm ox box to box midfielders. And it would be harsh to Herrera to bench him because he’s really really promising
And giving the fact that we have no other winger, Di Maria playing here gives us more balance between attackers and midfielders. I didn’t like the 3-5-2 and with the diamond we are a bit too fragile and exposed out wide.
I still think that we need to get another top box to box midfielder but for the moment, I’m very happy with what Blind and Herrera give, and would stick with Angel, even if I know that he would be better as a free midfielder.
--------------------------------Blind/Carrick---------------------------------
-----------Strootman/Vidal/Khedira----------------Herrera--------------
Januzaj/Rooney---------------Falcao/RVP-----------------------Di Maria
Or we have to change or future recruitment and focus on one or two wingers, in order to re balance the team, and then playing Angel in the middle
Who is this player?
I have absolutely no idea.
Here's the thing.
Di Maria is our best player. By far. He should therefore play in what is by far his best position. Whatever signings we make should be with this in mind, even if that means going for targets less muppetastic than Vidal/Strootman.
Every time I see a theoretical formation with Di Maria pushed out of position I wince. We finally sign a world class midfielder after all these years and now people want to push him out on to the wing? Please no.
Di Maria is our best player. By far. He should therefore play in what is by far his best position. Whatever signings we make should be with this in mind, even if that means going for targets less muppetastic than Vidal/Strootman.
Every time I see a theoretical formation with Di Maria pushed out of position I wince. We finally sign a world class midfielder after all these years and now people want to push him out on to the wing? Please no.