Manchester United transfer news and rumours for summer 2014

Here's a question. If LVG goes and buys a couple of Dutch guys, or tries to, will he get the same stick as when Moyes went in for Fellaini and Baines? I suspect not somehow. Though I do remember people saying it was a sign of weakness that he was just sticking to what he knows, something LVG has often done when he turns up at clubs.
 
Brophs said:
Here's a question. If LVG goes and buys a couple of Dutch guys, or tries to, will he get the same stick as when Moyes went in for Fellaini and Baines? I suspect not somehow. Though I do remember people saying it was a sign of weakness that he was just sticking to what he knows, something LVG has often done when he turns up at clubs.
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You cant really compare the two situations as there is more to it than that.

Moyes spent world class player money on Felliaini and is someone who barely qualifies having the term "footballer" in his job description.

He also wanted to spend nearly 20 million quid on a full back who is a couple of years younger than the one we already have, who isnt objectively better at defending, but chucks in a nice cross.

If LVG brings in 3 or 4 dutch player who are at least competent in their positions, then he will of done better than Moyes first transfer window.
 
Brophs said:
Here's a question. If LVG goes and buys a couple of Dutch guys, or tries to, will he get the same stick as when Moyes went in for Fellaini and Baines? I suspect not somehow. Though I do remember people saying it was a sign of weakness that he was just sticking to what he knows, something LVG has often done when he turns up at clubs.
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If his signings for the summer were, say, Blind and Clasie, I'd be equally as pissed as when Moyes only brought in Fellaini. But I'd do it more quietly, because I'd have less evidence to back up my opinion that Clasie and Blind are nowhere near United-quality players than I did that Fellaini was wrong for us.

Strootman I like. He's no Kroos, Vidal or Fabregas, but he's amongst the next tier of midfielders who we should be looking at given that we're unlikely to get one of those top set.
 
Ducklegs said:
You cant really compare the two situations as there is more to it than that.

Moyes spent world class player money on Felliaini and is someone who barely qualifies having the term "footballer" in his job description.

He also wanted to spend nearly 20 million quid on a full back who is a couple of years younger than the one we already have, who isnt objectively better at defending, but chucks in a nice cross.

If LVG brings in 3 or 4 dutch player who are at least competent in their positions, then he will of done better than Moyes first transfer window.
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Course you can. He was going after two proven PL players. I was never a fan of Fellaini but Baines was arguably the best full back in the league at the time.

If LVG brings in some guys from Holland the only difference is the benefit of the doubt that'll be afforded to him. Even though they'll be unproven the sheer fact that LVG will have chosen them and not Moyes means that people will assume they'll be great for us. Even though a large proportion of players coming from Holland turn out to be turds.

I'm not disagreeing that LVG hasn't got more of a track record and thus will be more likely to justify the faith in him, I just think it's an interesting double standard.
 
Brightonian said:
If his signings for the summer were, say, Blind and Clasie, I'd be equally as pissed as when Moyes only brought in Fellaini. But I'd do it more quietly, because I'd have less evidence to back up my opinion that Clasie and Blind are nowhere near United-quality players than I did that Fellaini was wrong for us.

Strootman I like. He's no Kroos, Vidal or Fabregas, but he's amongst the next tier of midfielders who we should be looking at given that we're unlikely to get one of those top set.
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As I said to the other fella, I trust LVG more than I did Moyes in bringing in players, but one of the sticks used to beat Moyes was his sticking to to what he knew/the comfort blanket criticism. One that can arguably be levelled at LVG almost everywhere he's gone. If, as is quite possible, he does that and is successful, people will forget they were so opposed to it in the first place, even though it's essentially the same thing, albeit with a different manager.
 
Brophs said:
As I said to the other fella, I trust LVG more than I did Moyes in bringing in players, but one of the sticks used to beat Moyes was his sticking to to what he knew/the comfort blanket criticism. One that can arguably be levelled at LVG almost everywhere he's gone. If, as is quite possible, he does that and is successful, people will forget they were so opposed to it in the first place, even though it's essentially the same thing, albeit with a different manager.
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True, in general I'd trust LvG's opinions more simply because he's more proven, and comes across as a more accomplished manager.

If he brings in Dutch players in general (particularly uninspiring sorts like Clasie et al), then I agree there'll be a touch of comfort zone to it. I honestly don't think the Dutch talent pool has been as weak as it is now for a very long time, so it makes little sense to focus efforts there. I can pick a more promising Belgian talent to match any Dutch prospect, for example. But Strootman would actually fit our requirements (and do so in a way which both Fergie and Moyes have neglected to for five seasons or so), so I don't think it would be fair to level the 'comfort zone' accusation at him if he brought Strootman in.
 
Brightonian said:
True, in general I'd trust LvG's opinions more simply because he's more proven, and comes across as a more accomplished manager.

If he brings in Dutch players in general (particularly uninspiring sorts like Clasie et al), then I agree there'll be a touch of comfort zone to it. I honestly don't think the Dutch talent pool has been as weak as it is now for a very long time, so it makes little sense to focus efforts there. I can pick a more promising Belgian talent to match any Dutch prospect, for example. But Strootman would actually fit our requirements (and do so in a way which both Fergie and Moyes have neglected to for five seasons or so), so I don't think it would be fair to level the 'comfort zone' accusation at him if he brought Strootman in.
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No, me either, as there are very few really good midfielders around and potentially available, much less that actually want to join us. But I suppose you could argue that buying someone like Strootman, a good player at a good age, isn't massively different to trying to bring in the best left back in the league, who is at his peak, to replace your own left back who is on the wane, albeit the ages make it slightly different.
 
Ducklegs said:
He didnt have anything lined up, stop believing every thing you read.

You think any manager in the universe would pull the plug on two all the way down the pipeline nailed on quality midfield signings seconds after taking the job at United?

Hey there Louis, do you want to take over the club with 2 new world class midfielders taken care of, or the selection of sub par rubbish we currently have on the roster?

I'll take the sub par rubbish every time please, I love a challenge and want to have as little chance as possible of winning anything during my time with United as possible.

:wenger:
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How the hell do you know that he had nothing lined up? So he'd spent 6 months travelling round Europe watching games, sending scouts here, there and everywhere and had nothing lined up? Seems utterly preposterous to me. He was desperately trying to hang on until this window so he could get the players in, and yeah I reckon that we would have had Carvalho in at the very least by now had Moyes still been in charge. I think Kroos was unlikely however.

Rightly or wrongly Van Gaal doesn't trust Moyes judgement on the targets and wants to go his own way. I have no problem with that, although I worry about his track record of bringing sub-standard Dutch players to clubs. However to suggest that the fact we've brought no players in so far is Moyes fault seems stupid to me. People want to be blaming him for everything. It'll be global warming next.
 
Brophs said:
No, me either, as there are very few really good midfielders around and potentially available, much less that actually want to join us. But I suppose you could argue that buying someone like Strootman, a good player at a good age, isn't massively different to trying to bring in the best left back in the league, who is at his peak, to replace your own left back who is on the wane, albeit the ages make it slightly different.
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Agreed, and I was all for the Baines signing. He's not at all comparable to Fellaini.
 
Can we not rename this thread 'the daily the press has no idea who we are after so just pick names who are half decent on football manager out of thin air to get traffic to their websites from desperate caftards' ??
 
No, it needs renaming "lots of guys speculating on nothing".

Pages and pages of nothing, no rumours, no news. Nothing but guys talking shit, arguing over the shit and shit.
 
Nytram Shakes said:
unreasonable expectations is going to bayern munich, real madrid and Barcelona and expecting to sign thier best players. basing a summer around that is just ridiculus the kind of thing schools boys come up with.

out of intrest who are you suggesting we go after?
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I have no idea who you are referring to to be honest.

The only players we've been linked with seriously from those clubs are Toni Kroos, who isnt Bayern's best player and who is out of contract in 12 months and was therefore a viable target, and Fabregas, who again isnt their "best player" (or probably considered anywhere close to it) and who might be available at the right price.

I dont see where anyone is suggesting going out and buying Ronaldo, Bale or Lionel Messi. Those players I referred to above are of the standard that the club should be looking at, being regulars at top sides and more than realistic targets.

Those specific players may not be part of Van Gaal's plans per se - but they are of a level that we should be going for. There is a huge difference in targetting a player of Cesc Fabregas' experience and quality and buying a young lad from a rank average league who may be no better than we already have.

The likes of Reus, Hummels and possibly even Vidal are at clubs where they are highly valued, but we could probably offer a large fee and double or possibly triple their wages. Specific deals like that may not be possible in the end and it all depends who Van Gaal wants to take the club forward, but those type and level of players may very well be interested in a move given what the club can offer, both financially and in terms of its future plans.

The basic point I was seeking to make is that we can, and should be looking to bring in players of established quality where required.
 
backofthenet said:
How the hell do you know that he had nothing lined up? So he'd spent 6 months travelling round Europe watching games, sending scouts here, there and everywhere and had nothing lined up? Seems utterly preposterous to me. He was desperately trying to hang on until this window so he could get the players in, and yeah I reckon that we would have had Carvalho in at the very least by now had Moyes still been in charge. I think Kroos was unlikely however.

Rightly or wrongly Van Gaal doesn't trust Moyes judgement on the targets and wants to go his own way. I have no problem with that, although I worry about his track record of bringing sub-standard Dutch players to clubs. However to suggest that the fact we've brought no players in so far is Moyes fault seems stupid to me. People want to be blaming him for everything. It'll be global warming next.
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And you think on the other hand, a vastly experienced multi title winning manager would dismiss, out of hand, the imminent signings of two top quality midfielders so he could take his chances on signing someone better, with no ground work, with half a transfer window left?

The same way as we didnt get anywhere near signing Thiago, Fiberglass, Carvalho, Herrera or the ghost of George Best last year, he wasnt anywhere near signing anyone of that ilk this year.
 
Ducklegs said:
And you think on the other hand, a vastly experienced multi title winning manager would dismiss, out of hand, the imminent signings of two top quality midfielders so he could take his chances on signing someone better, with no ground work, with half a transfer window left?

The same way as we didnt get anywhere near signing Thiago, Fiberglass, Carvalho, Herrera or the ghost of George Best last year, he wasnt anywhere near signing anyone of that ilk this year.
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Point me in the direction of where in my posts I'd suggested that we were getting two top quality midfielders. I suggested that Kroos was unlikely although perhaps we were in with a shot. Maybe Kroos doesn't fancy working with Van Gaal... he's worked with him before after all but was previously prepared to take the shedloads of money on offer from the club. Who knows. The point I am making here is that is seems incredibly unlikely that there was not a single player lined up by Moyes, seeing as how he was desperate to restructure the squad. Do you honestly think so little of the man that he was be so incompetent as to go into a major summer window knowing how fecked up the previous one was with no central midfielder lined up?

Perhaps Van Gaal has spent very little time looking at the Portuguese league to know anything about William Carvalho. There's not a lot of Dutch players there so why would he? He would go with the devil he knows... Dutch players. Maybe German players. Or even English ones, although there is very little quality available there. At a push the Spanish league as he's previously worked there but not for a while.

Again, I'm asking you how you know that we weren't going to sign a top quality player? Do you work for the club? Are you an Agent_ITK_0017_PleaseLoveMe#? How can you be that certain that we would go into the transfer market completely unprepared? Moyes didn't, in the end, have the wherewithal to run this club. I'll bet he gave it his best shot though... you don't get the top of the profession if you don't. So what makes you think that he was going into the summer pissing in the wind?
 
backofthenet said:
Point me in the direction of where in my posts I'd suggested that we were getting two top quality midfielders. I suggested that Kroos was unlikely although perhaps we were in with a shot. Maybe Kroos doesn't fancy working with Van Gaal... he's worked with him before after all but was previously prepared to take the shedloads of money on offer from the club. Who knows. The point I am making here is that is seems incredibly unlikely that there was not a single player lined up by Moyes, seeing as how he was desperate to restructure the squad. Do you honestly think so little of the man that he was be so incompetent as to go into a major summer window knowing how fecked up the previous one was with no central midfielder lined up?

Perhaps Van Gaal has spent very little time looking at the Portuguese league to know anything about William Carvalho. There's not a lot of Dutch players there so why would he? He would go with the devil he knows... Dutch players. Maybe German players. Or even English ones, although there is very little quality available there. At a push the Spanish league as he's previously worked there but not for a while.

Again, I'm asking you how you know that we weren't going to sign a top quality player? Do you work for the club? Are you an Agent_ITK_0017_PleaseLoveMe#? How can you be that certain that we would go into the transfer market completely unprepared? Moyes didn't, in the end, have the wherewithal to run this club. I'll bet he gave it his best shot though... you don't get the top of the profession if you don't. So what makes you think that he was going into the summer pissing in the wind?
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Thats the gist of the argument though isnt it?

You on the one hand believe we had deals, for top quality players (or just players) lined up by Moyes.

You also believe that a proven top quality manager has simply pulled the plug on all (or some) of these deals because reasons, despite the fact that we are seriously lacking in all areas of the pitch bar the keeper and our forwards.


I believe on the other hand that true to form Moyes probably did spend a lot of time looking at players last season, but again true to form, was fannying around backwards and forwards in his own head about signing them and actually making no physical progress in getting the deal done.
I also believe that if the reports in the media are true, that Moyes was a dead man walking for the last 3 months of his time at united, so that time would of been spent in vain.
I've watched Toni Kroos live, I was probably as close to making him an offer to sign for United as Moyes ever has been.
 
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Ducklegs said:
Thats the gist of the argument though isnt it?

You on the one hand believe we had deals, for top quality players (or just players) lined up by Moyes.

You also believe that a proven top quality manager has simply pulled the plug on all (or some) of these deals because reasons, despite the fact that we are seriously lacking in all areas of the pitch bar the keeper and our forwards.


I believe on the other hand that true to form Moyes probably did spend a lot of time looking at players last season, but again true to form, was fannying around backwards and forwards in his own head about signing them and actually making no physical progress in getting the deal done.
I also believe that if the reports in the media are true, that Moyes was a dead man walking for the last 3 months of his time at united, so that time would of been spent in time.
I've watched Toni Kroos live, I was probably as close to making him an offer to sign for United as Moyes ever has been.
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Yes, I do believe that Van Gaal pulled the plug on a couple of the deals at least, and I'm quite glad in some ways as I suspect that between Moyes and Woodward they were itching to buy a big name centre forward that we just don't need. Moyes cos he wanted Van Persie out. Woodward to show that he's the big man and for commercial reasons. Forwards are where the money is cos they score the goals.

I believe that we want to, as a club, make a splash this summer, again partly for commercial reasons. If that meant over-paying to get a world class player like Kroos then I can imagine that we might have done it because of the kudos it would bring back. Van Gaal doesn't need that kudos. His ego is too big to worry about that. He'd rather go for his own approach. He might think that Kroos and Fabregas and the likes would not fit his preferred method of playing. He maybe, like Mourinho, wants all action bruisers in the centre of the park. As long as they can play I don't mind. But I refuse to believe that a decent man and good manager, albeit ultimately out of his depth at the top level, would not be prepared for a major transfer window after repeatedly stating the areas of the side he wanted to strengthen.
 
Edin Hazard to Napoli for £6million. What a steal!


But seriously, I hate this "Summer" already - and we haven't even left Spring yet, let alone started the official transfer window :lol: We seem to be linked with every Tom, Dick and Harry and the next day we have a "Player X doesn't want to go" or/and a new name is linked.

The sooner the World Cup starts the better.

I trust Van Gaal and Woody to make the right signings. I'm not that worried. I just wish we'd sign someone before the World Cup, and even though there is still two weeks or so until then I just can't see it happening.
 
Hernandez - BFA said:
Edin Hazard to Napoli for £6million. What a steal!


But seriously, I hate this "Summer" already - and we haven't even left Spring yet, let alone started the official transfer window :lol: We seem to be linked with every Tom, Dick and Harry and the next day we have a "Player X doesn't want to go" or/and a new name is linked.

The sooner the World Cup starts the better.

I trust Van Gaal and Woody to make the right signings. I'm not that worried. I just wish we'd sign someone before the World Cup, and even though there is still two weeks or so until then I just can't see it happening.
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Van Gaal is not involved with transfer until Holland finishes their world cup campaign. Van has maybe produced a list, but he has no involvement with negotiations as like he said he is fully consentrated on Holland. Tbh i doubt we'll see a signing until Van Gaal finishes the world cup, this guy likes to get involved and has a say before any agreement. so any talks with players has probably been put on hold till Van Gaal finishes the world cup. It looks like that at the minute..
 
JaapStam1986 said:
I beg to differ. NewsNow has provided a link suggesting we have signed Miranda....

http://www.offthepost.info/blog/2014/05/man-utd-sign-atletico-madrid-defender-miranda/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed: offthepost/TLAa (Off The Post)

However, I will, as should everybody, take it with a pinch of salt!
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"suggesting" being the clue there. The word we're looking for, and not seeing is "confirmed"

And saying "We can confirm that Giggs 3rd uncle's post man has suggested that we might sign Kroos" doesnt count either!
 
Yaya Toure to Hull City for £62m :lol:
 
Messi to Hull City for 5m :P

A friend got Bobby Zamora to Man Utd for 83m. With Woody anything is possible :wenger:
 
BW.k said:
Messi to Hull City for 5m :P

A friend got Bobby Zamora to Man Utd for 83m. With Woody anything is possible :wenger:
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Messi to Hull City for 36 million.. get your facts right :P
 
He was getting rave reviews last night following the game on Twitter. Know it wouldn't be long before we were being linked with him, but probably more likely to end up signing Quincy Jones...
 
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