Fair point, I mean I think you could probably throw Rojo on the bench as well which is another spot, although the likelihood of us having all of them fit at once is surely slim.
Memphis Depay | PSV confirm deal with Man Utd is agreed!
- Thread starter GledTheRed
- Start date
- Status
Fair point, I mean I think you could probably throw Rojo on the bench as well which is another spot, although the likelihood of us having all of them fit at once is surely slim.
We need 4 wingers, so the real question is, who is it gonna be Young or Januzaj ? If It's Young then a loan for Januzaj should be a good idea.
This is why I think if we could get a player that can play, both as a striker and winger, then we'd be fine.
Di Maria
Mata
Januzaj
Striker/Winger, i.e. Cavani, Lacazatte
And I think that it would be absolutely stupid to miss on Depay ,because of Januzaj. He is still only a potential, he hasn't shown anything to suggest that he could be a genuine top player (only good player), Depay did just that.
Because Januzaj is talented I think that we should give him the best opportunities, we send him on loan and see what he can do or we give him the 4th spot, but he doesn't deserve the 3rd.
Honestly, I don't understand the Depay links. Is there anything to this beyond the fact United has supposedly had him watched, and he used to play for Van Gaal?
Man Utd is one of Europe's elite clubs, it has hundreds of scouts watching up and coming players across the world at all times. I'm sure scouts from other big clubs will have watched Depay too, just like they will have followed all the top young talent. However, the idea we're actually thinking of moving for him makes little sense.
Right now we have Mata, Young, Di Maria, and Januzaj fighting for two places. Unless we can find a buyer for Nani we'll have five international wingers on our books. Buying a sixth would be illogical unless Van Gaal is looking to gut the side in the summer.
Man Utd is one of Europe's elite clubs, it has hundreds of scouts watching up and coming players across the world at all times. I'm sure scouts from other big clubs will have watched Depay too, just like they will have followed all the top young talent. However, the idea we're actually thinking of moving for him makes little sense.
Right now we have Mata, Young, Di Maria, and Januzaj fighting for two places. Unless we can find a buyer for Nani we'll have five international wingers on our books. Buying a sixth would be illogical unless Van Gaal is looking to gut the side in the summer.
Well, if we get a centre back, again, that would mean leaving someone out, which I doubt Van Gaal will want to do. Therefore, unless we get rid of one, I personally don't think we need a centre back. Yes, the haven't got the greatest injury records, but I'm not sure we can go into the season thinking that because if we were to get another centre back and all of our current centre backs were to stay injury free for most of the season, it would mean one, or even two, getting very little playing time.
People seem to have short memories. He was arguably our only bright spark in a very poor season for us last season. To add to that, he was only 19 and it was his first season with the first team. He showed that when played often, either on the right or left, he can and will produce.
I haven't watched a massive lot of Depay, but doing it in the Dutch league is nothing like doing it in Premier League.
Exactly what I'm thinking.
I appreciated his performances but irrc he barely played in the second part of season, he wasn't very good just before his disappearance and wasn't good in the cameos he had after.
I am pretty sure Januzaj would burn the dutch league as well.
And who's to say Depay would be any better?
I'm sure that he could be very good there and a season in Eredivisie would maybe help him develop his decision making and end product.
Depay is a top talent we should always be in the market for those. And we will play a lot more matches next season and competition for places is always good.
Going to the Eredivisie will not help him to progress. If we're going to loan him, it will need to be someone in the Premier League.
That's a fair point.
I prefer to see our young players play for coaches who rate technique and intelligence, I also think that it's better to play for top team in Eredivisie or Ligue 1 than play for a shit team in premier league, but that's just me.
Well since we've shown interest in Marquinhos and we've got 3 injury prone defenders I think he'll want to strenghten there. This is ofcourse if one leaves, since 5 CB's would be too much, 4 is fine.
On Memphis getting a spot, this is obviously depending on players leaving too. We currently got Januzaj, Di Maria, Mata, Young, Nani and Lingard on our books. Mata can play in midfield at 10, so can Di Maria and Januzaj. If we get another defensive minded midfielder (which we are, van Gaal confirmed this) Mata can be used as 10, van Gaal likes multifuntional players and said he left Mata out for the balance of the team (defensive balance). Since van Gaal likes inverted wingers:
RW: Di Maria, Januzaj, Mata
LW: Young, Nani, Lingard
Memphis is a left winger, I doubt Januzaj's spot will be in danger from him. It'll be Mata if he retains his place on the right. We've got plenty of matches and he wouldn't be a guaranteed starter, competition is good imo. I'm sure 1 or 2 will leave, the most obvious would be Nani since he got loaned out.
Like I posted 3 pages ago, he will choose us if given the option:
He had attitude problems in the past. Van Gaal brought him to the national team and this helped him. Van Gaal is a man who cares alot about the mental state of his footballers, they have a great relationship. After this he got over his problems, I'm sure van Gaal was a part of that.
He favorited 2 tweets which linked him to us.
His close contacts all suggest he's coming - Source: Voetbal International, a 100% trusted Dutch football website. They've got their own dedicated PSV journo Thijs Slegers, who also said we've shown serious interest.
He's money driven. He used to show off alot, although he doesn't do this anymore I'm sure it's a big factor for him.
He doesn't want to go to a midtable team, only to a top team. He confirmed this himself.
He's the biggest Dutch attacking talent there is at the moment. He has everything: mentality, physicality, speed, eye for goal and a great shot. Overall a good team player and he's improving at a massive rate.
PSV confirmed he's leaving. They're willing to agree to a transfer, he would cost 22m.
Last edited:
We apparently shown interest in centre backs in Januzary, and were going to buy one until Van Gaal rubbished it. Can't always listen to rumours.
If we have 3 injury prone defenders, then like I said, we should get rid of one and replace with someone more reliable. I would personally be happy with Smalling, Rojo and Jones as our three first team centre backs, as most teams have. We can't go into next season think they're going to be injured. If they are, we've got players like Blind, Carrick, Blackett and McNair who can fill in. I mean, we've coped perfectly fine this season, and I very much doubt we'll have an injury hit season next year.
Like I said before, you have to think about matchday squads. I mean, how many of those wingers will be in the matchday squad every week? Normally three. Two starting and one on the bench. Possibly Mata, Januzaj and Di Maria - the latter two being able to play on the left and right. If Depay does come, then it means he'll take Januzaj's position on the bench.
We have to be realistic. This isn't fifa. We can't just add players to our squad without thinking about what we're going to do with the other players. For example, unless we sell Young, it will be pretty pointless leaving out the squad every week, especially when he's only the wages he's on.
I obviously have no idea what Van Gaal's thinking is but, personally I still think we should just sell Young. He is on big wages and almost 30.
I dont believe Di Maria will still be here next year, he looks bereft of confidence and his wife is no doubt wanting him to reconsider his options, perhaps Nani also looks likely to be moved on, leaving Young, Januzaj and Mata for 2 spots, Young has had injury issues dating back several years and poor Januzaj looks to be experiencing some growing pains, so.. another pacy wide player you would think would be on the cards.
I dont think Depay would come in and immediately be a superstar, but hes certainly someone who looks to have the talent to progress into a very productive player for a top tier team given time.
I dont think Depay would come in and immediately be a superstar, but hes certainly someone who looks to have the talent to progress into a very productive player for a top tier team given time.
I disagree and think Di Maria will be here next season. He started the season well but is going through a iffy patch, i cant see us selling in the summer given the amount we spent on him. I think its more than likely Nani will be sold and we will get a replacement for him.
LvG teams usually play with two pacey wingers. Mata doesnt suit that mold so i can see him moving further infield (perhaps a midfield three of Mata-Herrera-Blind?) and LvG buying someone pacey like a Depay (or Sterling). A pool of Young/Di Maria/Januzaj/Depay (and or Sterling) would be a good bunch to pick from
Ya, dont get me wrong, personally I would like him to stay, even this season where his form has been all over the place hes had a bundle of top quality assists, you would imagine if he could regain his form in our teams style that we've been playing lately, he would once again be an assist machine.
But from all accounts his wife doesnt appear happy, if PSG showed interest in the background this summer, you (or at least I) could see his wife getting in his ear and wish to move on,
Otherwise I agree with your post, LvG will look to add a bit more pace to the front 3, and Depay fits nicely into that mould.
You could be right (we're all just speculating here) but i think the emphasis we place on "the wife wanting a move" is taken to some extremes. For years we heard Vidics wife hated Manchester but he stuck around.
Still given the break-in a few months back i understand how their image of England would be tarnished.
So would I, to be honest.
People saying no to signing Depay because of Young, Januzaj and Mata? 
First of all young is 30, and while in good form this year he doesn't really score or assist enough to be 1 of the forward 3 IMO.
Januzaj needs to get his form back together and try to get passed Mata first, but I do think he will play plenty next year. I think he could even do fellainis job in midfield when he gets older and more responsible.
Mata while playing well still doesn't convince Me on the wing, he is a little too slow to really attack a defender by himself, and relies on teamwork to work a space. That's fine and everything but when the team isn't playing well sometimes you need individual quality too.
Depay though has everything, you can't miss out on signing 1 of the worlds best young players just because you already have somebody in that position doing a half decent job.
First of all young is 30, and while in good form this year he doesn't really score or assist enough to be 1 of the forward 3 IMO.
Januzaj needs to get his form back together and try to get passed Mata first, but I do think he will play plenty next year. I think he could even do fellainis job in midfield when he gets older and more responsible.
Mata while playing well still doesn't convince Me on the wing, he is a little too slow to really attack a defender by himself, and relies on teamwork to work a space. That's fine and everything but when the team isn't playing well sometimes you need individual quality too.
Depay though has everything, you can't miss out on signing 1 of the worlds best young players just because you already have somebody in that position doing a half decent job.
People saying no to signing Depay because of Young, Januzaj and Mata?
First of all young is 30, and while in good form this year he doesn't really score or assist enough to be 1 of the forward 3 IMO.
Januzaj needs to get his form back together and try to get passed Mata first, but I do think he will play plenty next year. I think he could even do fellainis job in midfield when he gets older and more responsible.
Mata while playing well still doesn't convince Me on the wing, he is a little too slow to really attack a defender by himself, and relies on teamwork to work a space. That's fine and everything but when the team isn't playing well sometimes you need individual quality too.
Depay though has everything, you can't miss out on signing 1 of the worlds best young players just because you already have somebody in that position doing a half decent job.
You can laugh all you want, but you've just mentioned three players. Add Di Maria to that and that makes four players competing for two spots. If we were to add Memphis, it would mean five players. Like I said, this isn't fifa. You have to be realistic. If we are to buy Memphis we would have to get rid of at least one winger (preferably Young). Even then, that would mean one winger missing out on matchday squads quite often, and it seems that would be Januzaj, which would mean slowing down his progression.
I'm sure Depay can be accommodated next year. Januzaj really needs a year long loan if he's going to develop, as its quite obvious another year on the bench won't benefit us or him. Ashley Young would obviously also be a prime candidate to move on at some point, since 30 year old wingers are on borrowed time.
You count Mata as a RW only though. If that's so we'd only have 4 midfielders left. The new CM (van Gaal confirmed we're after one) who can make up defensively for him means he could play at 10 - meaning we have 2 players for each role in midfield. Mata is multifunctional to play on the wing though. Van Gaal likes that in players, that's who Januzaj's competeting with, not Memphis. He likes inverted wingers.
We'd then have Young and Memphis on the left, Di Maria and Januzaj on the right. Young isn't going to stay much longer, but I think he'll stay another season. We need to think about replacing him, Memphis is perfect for that.
Young will be gone in 2-3 years IMO, and you forget di Maria usually plays as a midfielder. 2 of them could easily pick up injuries and then we would be down to 3 players for 2 spots. Add in CL football and a better cup run, and then good and bad form. You certainly need more than just 4!. Why worry about januzajs progression, if he is good enough he will have to earn his place. So far this year he hasnt done that.
I don't only count Mata as a RW, i'm just saying with him, we have a choice of four wingers. Five if we add Memphis. Way too many.
What would your first XI and bench be next season?
Realistic too.
Last edited:
We will be playing in Europe next season(hopefully the CL) so there will be a lot more games next season. And anyone following the club knows there will be a lot of injuries. It will not be a huge issue finding all playing time for all these players.
ST: Rooney, RvP, Wilson (not sure on RvP)
RW: Di Maria, Januzaj, Mata
LW: Young, Memphis, Lingard
CAM: Fellaini, Mata
BTB: Herrera, Schneiderlin (complete guess, new CM)
CDM: Carrick, Blind, Schneiderlin
LB: Shaw, Rojo, Blind
LCB: Hummels, Rojo, Blackett
RCB: Smalling, Jones, McNair
RC: Valencia, Clyne, McNair
GK: de Gea, Valdes
Not sure what his preferred midfield (or defence, but that's for another discussion-just throwing names in) would be. Carrick-Fellaini-Herrera, Blind-Schneiderlin-Mata or a combination of both. This would have at least 2 players competing for every position, with surplus of youngsters. In a year with CL that should be fine.
No idea who would be on the bench, that would depend who's in the XI and I could name many different ones with these players. A winger will be left out, but that's always the case when you've got 4.
Anyways: regarding Januzaj and Memphis, I don't think they'll be competing much anyways (maybe for a place on the bench). Van Gaal mostly uses inverted wingers so I think Di Maria will be his biggest competition, with Mata as a tactical variation when he wants to flood the midfield.
I personally think that's too many players. Pretty sure I read something that said Van Gaal likes a squad of 20 players.
Players shouldn't be left out of the squad on a regular bases, especially players on big wages, who expect to play, otherwise they'll end up leaving, i.e. Salah, De Bruyne and Schrulle. Like I said before, if we can kill two birds with one stone and get a player who can play as a winger and striker, then that would be ideal, in my opinion, as it'll mean we would always have two winger options on the bench.
You mentioned Van Gaal likes inverted wingers, and I already know that this is the case, but I guess he'll have to make the decision on Januzaj then, in terms of what he's going to do with him. Ideally we would like two right footed wingers and two left footed wingers.
If we had:
Di Maria (Left)
Mata (Left)
Young (Right)
New Winger/Striker (Right)
Then that would be perfect, in my opinion.
Last edited:
Don't think Van Gaal sees him as a midfielder, though. He bought him to play on the wing.
What teams in the EPL, or Europe for that matter, have more than four first team wingers?
Loan Januzaj to psv for a year as part often Depay deal?
There's no way I see us starting next season with two nutters and the still uncertain Smalling as our only CB options, we desperately need real quality and leadership back there to get it working, if Smalling gets injured we'd be fecked as Rojo and Jones are a recipe for disaster.
The issue is that LvG isn't using actual wingers and sees the front 3 as forwards. now bar Mata none of the others offer much in the way of goal threat, I guess that is the idea behind Memphis as if he can replicate his goal scoring from wide in the Dutch league here, then he'd fit well with the system as I doubt Rooney will be rested all that often regardless of how many games we play.
I agree here, way too many people trying to work things to play Di Maria or Mata in midfield despite the fact we are much better without either of them there. Mata lacks the strength and ability to get back and help Carrick to play in the midfield 3, and LvG loves possession based midfield, you are not going to get that with Di Maria in there.
- Status