I think Hummels has already agreed to join us, as well as Depay.
I'm really looking forward to seeing who LVG acquires as our new CM.
I'm really looking forward to seeing who LVG acquires as our new CM.
Mats Hummels
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) and Imran (@Annihilate Now!) are here to discuss Amad saving our blushes in a win against Southampton as well as our now annual loss at home to Brighton. They discuss Amorim's post-match comments, revisit how mid-table we may or may not be, and discuss some transfer news.
That'd make for a beautiful Summer if it were announced early on. I hope we can wrap this up before July rolls on, I doubt we will be able to sort out Hummels though and I think he will extend his deal at Dortmund while we go for another defender (Dragovic or Otamendi). Not sure I want Hummels over them anyway.
Could be possible of course. Wasn't there a rumour that we have already "signed" 3 players? If it's true, I would bet good money on Hummels, Depay and Clyne. The midfielder is the one we most likely haven't signed yet, because there isn't really one concrete name, just a lot of rumours. Schneiderlin, Pogba, Verratti, Gündogan. I doubt LvG has already made a decision on this position, for the other ones it looks pretty clear.
I heard weeks ago we made a £37.5 Million bid for Hummels and it was accepted, then all of a sudden Hummels is saying that he is "reevaluating his future" and "more will be revealed in the upcoming weeks".
Hummels isnt a man to talk crap like that to get a new contract, he sees BVB trending down and in the not in the champs league and MUFC is ascending. IMO he has already verbally agreed to join us, as well as Depay who PSV has confirmed is leaving.
For RB I would have preferred Coleman but Clyne is good as well.
LVG has stated he is looking for a special CM and to me that means Pogba, Veratti or Gundogan, personally I am hoping for Veratti but I think we may land Pogba.... I think this summer would be our best since '08 as we will get the exact type of player we are looking for in the positions we require them to fit.
It will be a great summer if we can get both Hummels and Gundogan. 
Reus saga was exactly the same, lots of rumours about bids being accepted and contracts being signed and eventually the only contract that got signed was the one prepared by Dortmund.
Reus was never coming to us, he wanted barca or madrid. We never bid for him and he never made statements alluding to him leaving the club.
I'm not talking about Reus moving to us, I'm talking about him possibly leaving Dortmund (seemed highly probable or even inevitable at the time) and signing a new deal instead.
Well the transfer ban wouldn't help either.
Let's just trust Van Gaal's judgement on this transfer. If he wants him, then that's good enough for me.
Both looked a bit slow against Bayern the other day, not sure whether that was because of the way the team was set up or just them, one thing is for sure they both have outstanding quality on the ball, maybe thats what LVG likes in a player ?
I meant to say Hummels & Gundagon
I don't understand the fascination with pace. He would have one of Rojo, Smalling or Jones who are all quick next to him. Which would compliment him very well.
I think him and Smalling would make a very good partnership.
I think him and Smalling would make a very good partnership.
Defense and defenders is the most difficult position to judge as it is the one most reliant on the team IMO. It's simpler to judge attacking players whereas with defenders it's mostly about the system, the position of their full backs and the general strength of the team. In fact, when was the last time a top team bought a top class established defender who then went on to become an unqualified success? Ramos and Pepe were promising players when they joined Madrid. Boateng was far from a success at City and Dante was an unknown. Piqué couldn't get a place for us and Mascherano was a midfielder and I don't need to go on about the English clubs. Maybe Thiago Silva fits that criteria, but my point is that it's wishful thinking to expect any defender to come in and sort us out. Defense in the modern game and especially the way Van Gaal likes to set his team is all about not even putting yourself in a position where you need to defend. For that specific task, there aren't really better fits than Hummels.
Some saying Rojo is a terrible player here. On this season's evidence he is superior to Hummels who has been genuinely awful. One of the most overrated players in Europe.
Probably been asked by can't find easily - how is his English? Assuming he'll be in with at least Shaw + Jones or Smalling, really important I'd of thought if we're relying on him as the 'organiser'.
Alternatively, how's his Spanish? Stick him in with Tony, Rojo and Dave and force the English boys to learn it (the thought of Chris Smalling learning spanish...)
Alternatively, how's his Spanish? Stick him in with Tony, Rojo and Dave and force the English boys to learn it (the thought of Chris Smalling learning spanish...)
He can speak English pretty well. I remember someone posting a video from Youtube from some interview in English.
From one extreme to the other. Rojo hasn't been terrible and Hummels hasn't been genuinely awful.
I agree with you, there is Walter Samuel and Thuram, maybe.
I don't thing that we should spend a huge amount on a centreback, ours are good and the only reason to sign one would be to get rid of one of our injury prone defenders, and Hummels isn't great in that department.
For the new CB, I think that we should forget about reputation and concentrate on finding the right profile for what we need.
Excuse the naivety here but as I've not seen much of hummells how much better his he than mertesacker if any better at all ?
Im just looking for someone to gauge off ?
I know mertesacker plays next to a quick player in koscielny and rarely gets shown up exept for Stoke away this season .
Im just looking for someone to gauge off ?
I know mertesacker plays next to a quick player in koscielny and rarely gets shown up exept for Stoke away this season .
Pace is overstated, similarly pace is not only why hummels is doubted. Would love him still though, cause of his ball playing abilities and a bit of a clutch feel associated with him. Can't be disappointed either way.
I am pretty sure that's what we do. Hummels ticks all the boxes, left-sided-CB, very good on the ball, tall, strong and a leader, would also complement Smalling very well. Evans will be most likely gone and we can't rely a season on Rojo, Jones and Smalling, not even together with Evans. We did that already this season and then we had to play Blackett and McNair, I don't want to see that again in the CL against Bayern, Real or Barca.
Thiago Silva would be a example, Benatia another one, main problem is that their aren't many top individuals, it's the same in the fullback area too. The 3,4 standout candidates are often already at top clubs and everyone else has to look for someone young, who could develope into a good one.
He has the profile, but is he less injured than our current players and will he cost a lot of money ? Can't we find someone cheaper ?
I say cheaper because with centrebacks, you never really know what you get.
Whoscored seems to disagree. I'm aware their rating system isn't solely dispositive of how well a player has performed, but i can't see how a player who ranks second in defender ratings could be considered to have played "genuinely awful". Their ratings aren't THAT busted. Perhaps you're putting too much responsibility for the team'a poor performance on hummels? As another person posted, CBs are so dependent on the team it can be tough to judge them properly.
Hummels top level is much better than Mertesacker imo. If Hummels is at his best he is one of the best 5,6 CBs outthere. Mertesacker is a level below. Hummels is slow, but not as lame as Mertesacker and he is great on the ball, something you can't say from Mertesacker. Hummels as individual is better without a doubt imo, but it's really difficult do judge a CB as individual. A lot of CBs are not really that great imo, but work pretty well in a settled unit. For example I don't think anyone of the Southampton defenders is outstanding and if a top club will sign Fonte or Alderwhatever you will see it. The belgian guy with the weird name for example looked like a liability for Atletico every time I saw him, because he wasn't a good fit for them. Cahill is another example, who is not that great, but looked like a worldie for Chelsea here and there.
Varane will prob be cheaper and given we already have the 3rd best PL defence (and thats with a PL injury record this season)....I don't think the urgency for the finished product is as many would have us believe. We need someone not injury prone of quality. Thats it really.
How is Gundogan since coming back from injury? IT's been a while since I've had the time to watch Dortmund.It will be a great summer if we can get both Hummels and Gundogan.
Exactly, a good player with a good potential and cheap. Our central defense isn't in terrible condition we don't need to take any risks on the market.
Edit: Or a veteran.
Sahin has been the more impactful player, Gündogan is still trying to find the form which made him so sought after in 2013.
His injuries are also the biggest issue for me, but it looks like kind of every player will or can have injuries when he joins us^^
When we talk about money, I don't think we can find a similiar CB for less money. I would love Godin, but he would also cost 30 million at least. Varane and Laporte wouldn't be cheaper either and both are pretty young too. Most other players would be a drop in quality and probably not better than what we have, I am not sure LvG wants to add another player like that. As an Austrian I would love to see Dragovic here and he is the best CB from our country in the last few years, but I am not sure if he is ready for a top club and better than our current 3 CBs.
I don't think that 30m will be enough for Dortmund, and I think that Bonucci, De vrij or Dragovic can also be good options, and probably a lot cheaper.
Like I said Dragovic is decent, but I am not sure if he is good enough for a top club, but yeah he would cost the half. He is also a right-sided CB for both Austria and Kiev, can use both feets, but is more comfortable on the right, I would (LvG most likely too) prefer a left-sided CB. I don't think Bonucci would be that cheap to be honest, but yeah I like him too, but I am not sure if he will ever leave Juve. And with De Vrij I will trust LvG, he knows him better than everyone at the club, if he thinks he is a candidate, then fine. With the dutch 11 it's a little bit similiar to what I described in the former message, I don't think anyone of them is a standout defender and they just worked well in the back 5 as a unit. Especially Indi Martins looks awful everytime I watched him outside the World Cup and it has most likely a reason why van Gaal hasn't signed anyone of them so far, I don't know if De Vrij would suit our team.
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I wouldn't put much stock in whoscored's ratings system, particularly with regards to defensive positions; they currently have Pantilimon as the best goalkeeper in Europe's top 5 leagues, Naldo is the best defender, and Coquelin and Jedinak are the best 2 holding midfielders. Phil Jones remains the highest rated player in United's entire squad.
Stones of Everton is a good shout for me.
Wouldn't be too upset if we lose out on him to be honest, but then again there aren't many available alternatives around..
Hummels and his agent seem to be dropping plenty of soundbites around. Looks like he's trying to ease his way out, so I can see this one happening this summer.
For anyone worrying about his physical characteristics compared to say Jones and Smalling, how many times have you moaned about either of their distribution or recklessness?
Hummels is class, however tricky his season has been.
For anyone worrying about his physical characteristics compared to say Jones and Smalling, how many times have you moaned about either of their distribution or recklessness?
Hummels is class, however tricky his season has been.
He isn't playing for Dortmund tonight is he? Injured?
Yes, Reus and Hummels injured. Nothing serious.