Exactly. It's almost as daft as if someone suggested getting another forward in.
Manchester United - January transfer window 2015 (twitter blacklist applies)
- Thread starter Devil may care
- Start date
Exactly. It's almost as daft as if someone suggested getting another forward in.
I think Schneiderlin would be a reasonable gamble. He's brilliant defensively and not bad with the ball at his feet either.
This.
No matter how is sounds...Schneiderlin is my dream target. Ive been a fan him for a while now, hes seriously underrated imo.i would be very happy if we got him
So is the suggestion that Schniederlin would play in place of Blind with Di Maria and Herrera as the box to box CM's?
You are not alone with this. He's the midfielder I would want us to sign more than anyone.
What I would hope for sooner than later.
de Gea
Rafael - Jones - Rojo - Shaw
Schneiderlin
A. Herrera - di Maria
Januzaj - Falcao/Rooney - Reus/Firmino/Depay
Rafael - Jones - Rojo - Shaw
Schneiderlin
A. Herrera - di Maria
Januzaj - Falcao/Rooney - Reus/Firmino/Depay
Personally I wouldn't have an issue with this but it lacks options for the right wing and I don't see either Rooney or Falcao accepting a rotation role, and that's not including the fact you left RvP out altogether.
Is Laporte left footed? Also how has he done so far this season? He is playing in a struggling Bilbao side so I can't imagine he is setting the world alight.
Firmino and Reus can play on the right, too, I think. Di Maria isn't wasted on the wing either. It's something I would like to see 2 years from now or so. It's also a formation I would want us to use in big games. Otherwise in the immediate future I'd hope for this:
De Gea
Rafael - Jones - Rojo - Shaw
Firmino/Reus - A. Herrera - Schneiderlin - Di Maria/Januzaj
Rooney
Falcao/van Persie
Rafael - Jones - Rojo - Shaw
Firmino/Reus - A. Herrera - Schneiderlin - Di Maria/Januzaj
Rooney
Falcao/van Persie
Not as good as last season so far, but the whole team is struggling. He is left-footed.
Is Schneiderlin such an "upgrade" on Blind?
It's not daft though. It's something many managers have done. It's not a silly proposition seeing as he played there most of his career and he's primarily recognized as a winger by almost everyone in football. Yes, he has shown in the last season that he's really good in CM, no question about that. My opinion originally anyway is that someone like Vidal would be ideal as I like Blind in the starting 11, you can have Di Maria, Blind and Vidal as a 3 in the diamond with Herrera at the tip, and play 2 strikers. Adding a player of Vidal's ability isn't some sort of luxury and wouldn't make us unbalanced as sullydnl seems to think.
Ok, that's not my original point anyway. You couldn't name that proper DM you're wanting, but there's a world class one that would massively improve us, you might not like the idea but Vidal is in no way a muppet signing or a luxury. He can play along with Di Maria and Blind as a midfield three, that's infact more balanced [defensively] than having Herrera there. Herrera can always play at the tip of that diamond. As I said before, it gives us quality options, even beyond the starting 11. You know, we can have 2 world class midfielders in the starting team, I can't see how it is unbalanced at all.
I dont understand why we didn't go after Diego Godin in the summer. He ticks a lot of checkboxes for what we need. Obviously not a realistic January target, but imo, we should go after him next summer.
I'm sure we were linked with him at some point, weren't we? Or was that another Atletico defender?
It's ridiculous to think of Vidal as someone who would be a luxury signing. It doesnt matter which midfield role you put him in, Vidal will excel in any role. That is a testament to his all around skillset. He would be a great DM, a great b2b CM, and he can even play an advanced midfield role. Nevermind the fact that he would be a big upgrade on any of our midfield options, excluding Di Maria.
That was Miranda.
Anyway, Godin is in many ways what we are looking for. Experienced at the highest level, leader at the back, a quality all around defender, and in the prime of his career (28)
Brilliant post for me! This is exactly what we should be doing. We have had our splurge in the summer and now we need to tidy up and buy players to specific roles/positions rather than keep trying to shoe horn top players into a certain formation that is not so effective.
Schneiderlin is a fantastic footballer has really impressed me and I think he would be great here. However, why would Southampton sell him especially with the excellent season they are having plus Koeman and Van Gaal have 'beef' don't they? So I can't see this happening at all. Although I do really like him and think he would be a great addition.
Have to agree, he didn't look half as effective against Chavski playing so wide, I much prefer him coming inside more.
Need for a midfielder depends how Carrick beds back in. But I wouldnt be adverse to adding another one, allowing for the deadwood to go in Jan or the summer. Fellaini still has a lot to do to win me over as a useful midfielder as opposed to a impact player that main attribute is giving us a physical presence.
Think if there is a top defender going better than what we have then this would / should be our priority.
Think if there is a top defender going better than what we have then this would / should be our priority.
Playing Di Maria on the wing is like putting Schweinsteiger back on the wing despite him playing the best and most consistent football of his life in central midfield.
If we want a winger/inside forward, you can't go wrong with Reus. Just keep Di Maria in the middle ffs!
But first before all of that, we need at least ONE defender in January and probably at least ANOTHER in the summer. I have not one bit of trust in our current defence.
If we want a winger/inside forward, you can't go wrong with Reus. Just keep Di Maria in the middle ffs!
But first before all of that, we need at least ONE defender in January and probably at least ANOTHER in the summer. I have not one bit of trust in our current defence.
According to Sport.es we are going to bid for Pique in january, alongside Chelsea and Manchester City. Would love him to have him back at the club.
Di Maria has played like only 4 months of his carrer in the center, not enough time to draw conclusions about the "most consistent football of his life", at least that's how I see it.
That's exactly my point. I get the idea that United fans generally derive more joy when we sign lesser players and hope they turn good. I think we lack leadership in that midfield, not just in central defence, we lack a true ball winner and someone who can break up the oppositions' play, and we need someone with quality who can combine with what we have and stand up to most/or any midfield in world football, I'll look no further than Vidal. A midfield 3 of Di Maria, Blind and Vidal is as balanced as any one I could think of.
There seems to be an awful lot of talk about Gerard Pique around.
I think we'd do well to sign him. People scoff at Gerard and his relatively weak run of form as of late. But the same could be said of Cesc to an extent, and he looks the world and a half at Chelsea. Pique would offer two things we lack sorely lack in defense - experience and a degree of composure. Just needs a change of scenery and time to refocus on football matters methinks, sometimes stagnation can wear you out mentally. Who better to help him along than Van Gaal ?
Selling him would be quite mad from Barca though as they can't buy a replacement for him in the next two transfer windows and aren't exactly stacked with good defenders to begin with.
Can't imagine Shakira wanting to settle in Manchester. If he goes anywhere in England it'll be London.
You cannot dismiss how bad he's been for 2 years now. Fabregas wasn't a bad player at Barca, he just wasn't world class. Pique has been plain bad for a while.
He'd be a risk and isn't what we need anyway. He isn't a leader, or a solid type of CB. If anything he needs that exact type of player to get the best out of him.
Fair enough, he has been rather poor for about 18 months or thereabouts now, but don't most players go through lean phases ? But does that necessarily imply that they're finished at the highest level or that he's lost the talent which made him one of the best defender around ? I think it's a bit premature to write him off completely as a potential liability were we to acquire him. From what I can see, Gerard and the whole Barcelona team to an extent seem to be in a state of flux at the moment and have been so for a while. It's all a mental problem stemming from complacency and mental exhaustion, and unlike limitations in technique or skill it can be ironed out in due time. Sometimes you need a fresh start after reality hits following unprecedented success like he had with them. I for one believe, rightly or wrongly that a strict disciplinarian like Van Gaal could provide some serenity to him game and make him mature as a player while he enters the second and what could very well be the prime phase of his career.
I never said I could name the DM I want, I'm not a scout. That doesn't mean that player doesn't exist though, or that he isn't the type we need. In fact I'd sooner have the right type of player even if they're not world class yet rather than a world class player who doesn't fit as well. I doubt many were saying Matic was world class before Chelsea signed him back either.
Agree that a Vidal/Blind/Di Maria midfield would be balanced, I said that in the first post you quoted. My point is that I'd sooner get a balanced midfield by upgrading Blind than by upgrading Herrera as I think Herrera is the better player. I also don't like the idea of pushing Herrera to the tip of the diamond as we already have several players better than him for that role.
So basically I'd prefer Herrera/DM/Di Maria to Vidal/Blind/Di Maria. Both balanced enough but the second option has Blind as a relative weak spot. All of this is assuming Blind doesn't go on to prove he's a top class DM, which might happen I guess but I doubt it.
Different players imo. I would play Blind when we are more likely to attack, Sheniderlin when we need to defend more.
No more central players unless it's a center back.
Phase 1:
We need a wide player with pace and skill. Preferably Reus, and a fullback to cover both sides like Azpilicueta does for Chelsea. Let's say Darmian. Then we can play like this against meh teams:
-----------Rooney(Wilson)------Falcao(RVP)----------
--DiMaria(Mata)-------------------------Reus(Januzaj)
-------------Blind(Carrick)---Herrera(Fellaini)---------
Shaw(Darmian)------------------------Rafael(Darmian)
--------------Rojo(Evans)---Smalling(Jones)----------
and like this against big ones:
------------------Rooney/Falcao/RVP-------------
---Reus(Januzaj)----------------Mata(Rooney/Januzaj)--
----------DiMaria(??)----------Herrera(Fellaini)---------
------------------Blind(Carrick)--------------------------
Shaw(Darmian)------------------------Rafael(Darmian)
--------------Rojo(Evans)---Smalling(Jones)----------
Then, in the summer, Phase 2:
-One of Mata, RVP, Rooney or Falcao goes. Wilson properly joins the first team.
-Fellaini goes, new CM to rotate with Di Maria and Herrera comes in.
-If we can sign a top CB, we sign one.
Phase 3 (January 2016 and Summer of 2016):
-Carrick is replaced by a top DM and Blind gets competition/becomes cover.
-If the CB's haven't worked and we haven't signed one, we bring one in.
Basically, the team looks like this going forward, for me:
--------------RVP/Rooney/Falcao--------------(one goes, one is backup/plays when we have 2 up top against shit teams, Wilson is here too)
--NEW LW---------------------------Januzaj---(New 3rd Winger or one of Lingard/Zaha makes it)
---------Di Maria--------Herrera---------------(New CM we sign. Presumably Strootman)
-----------------Blind---------------------------(upgradable, but only if we can get a Mascherano, Carrick is fine for 1-2, then replaced with star)
Shaw---------------------------------Rafael----(Love the starters, just need one competent 2-sided fullback for cover along with Blackett and youth)
RCB: Smalling/Jones/Evans Deathmatch for this spot. We really should get a starter here, though who knows.
LCB: Rojo vs. Himself, and if he loses, we replace him with the best, most expensive CB leader we can find. LVG seems obsessed with a left-footer here, which reduces options.
GK: I love De Gea but sadly I think Madrid or Barca will swoop for him this summer. I'm a big Lloris fan. The Italians supposedly have a swath of great young keepers. Maybe one will separate himself and be worth it.
God, Reus fits perfectly. He can play LW and come central when Di Maria goes wide.
Phase 1:
We need a wide player with pace and skill. Preferably Reus, and a fullback to cover both sides like Azpilicueta does for Chelsea. Let's say Darmian. Then we can play like this against meh teams:
-----------Rooney(Wilson)------Falcao(RVP)----------
--DiMaria(Mata)-------------------------Reus(Januzaj)
-------------Blind(Carrick)---Herrera(Fellaini)---------
Shaw(Darmian)------------------------Rafael(Darmian)
--------------Rojo(Evans)---Smalling(Jones)----------
and like this against big ones:
------------------Rooney/Falcao/RVP-------------
---Reus(Januzaj)----------------Mata(Rooney/Januzaj)--
----------DiMaria(??)----------Herrera(Fellaini)---------
------------------Blind(Carrick)--------------------------
Shaw(Darmian)------------------------Rafael(Darmian)
--------------Rojo(Evans)---Smalling(Jones)----------
Then, in the summer, Phase 2:
-One of Mata, RVP, Rooney or Falcao goes. Wilson properly joins the first team.
-Fellaini goes, new CM to rotate with Di Maria and Herrera comes in.
-If we can sign a top CB, we sign one.
Phase 3 (January 2016 and Summer of 2016):
-Carrick is replaced by a top DM and Blind gets competition/becomes cover.
-If the CB's haven't worked and we haven't signed one, we bring one in.
Basically, the team looks like this going forward, for me:
--------------RVP/Rooney/Falcao--------------(one goes, one is backup/plays when we have 2 up top against shit teams, Wilson is here too)
--NEW LW---------------------------Januzaj---(New 3rd Winger or one of Lingard/Zaha makes it)
---------Di Maria--------Herrera---------------(New CM we sign. Presumably Strootman)
-----------------Blind---------------------------(upgradable, but only if we can get a Mascherano, Carrick is fine for 1-2, then replaced with star)
Shaw---------------------------------Rafael----(Love the starters, just need one competent 2-sided fullback for cover along with Blackett and youth)
RCB: Smalling/Jones/Evans Deathmatch for this spot. We really should get a starter here, though who knows.
LCB: Rojo vs. Himself, and if he loses, we replace him with the best, most expensive CB leader we can find. LVG seems obsessed with a left-footer here, which reduces options.
GK: I love De Gea but sadly I think Madrid or Barca will swoop for him this summer. I'm a big Lloris fan. The Italians supposedly have a swath of great young keepers. Maybe one will separate himself and be worth it.
God, Reus fits perfectly. He can play LW and come central when Di Maria goes wide.
That's a fair point.
So assuming we go into January looking for a new CB, then who should we be looking at? Keep in mind that it will be mid season and most top defenders won't budge.
Edit: Garay, anyone?
Edit: Garay, anyone?
Start drawing out lists for realistic CB's because we need them. I'm sorry but Fergie really left some shit at the back.
Thiago Silva, Laporte, Garay, Chiellini, Vlaar, Wes Morgan, Micheal Dawson, my 78 year old Aunt, take your pick.
Just throw the bank at Everton and Bilbao, and comeback with Stones and Laporte.