No chance. We're trying to put together a team to challenge for the title next season. No way will people accept an unknown as a starting RB. In fact an unknown wouldn't even start ahead of Valencia most likely, and Valencia should not be starting next season.
Nathaniel Clyne | Signed for Liverpool
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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.
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No chance. We're trying to put together a team to challenge for the title next season. No way will people accept an unknown as a starting RB. In fact an unknown wouldn't even start ahead of Valencia most likely, and Valencia should not be starting next season.
Very talented but wouldn't classify him as world class. Potential to be though but hasn't done enough yet to warrant that "title".
Danilo would have been bloody perfect and make so much sense. But we all know what happened there 
Ok I gotcha now, it is starting to seem as if we don't intend to give him any encouragement to not sign a new deal so maybe LvG has someone else up his sleeve or to the Caf's annoyance he's sticking with Valencia.
I thought that was the whole reason for our interest, that Rafael had constant fitness issues.
Bang on target there Rover. He has just been unlucky with injuries with a heavy last season before he signed for us. I can certainly see him making that spot his own for the coming years. He is solid as a defender and will grow in to the attack with more games.
Probably i must have missed out but why isn't Coleman in those list of suitors? Did he sign a contract or something or commit himself to Everton? I still think Clyne is a good solid buy and can play out LVGs game
not sure about his performances these days, maybe he is not performing as well as he was a year or two ago perhaps?
I'll be very surprised if there isn't a better RB out there who we could get.
We need to be building a team full of technical players, not hearty, run-all-day, get-stuck-in, English-Lion-brave, players.
The marginal benefit of adding Clyne to the team does not make up for a 20m+ transfer.
Absolutely none of that would accurately describe Clyne.
Maybe. Maybe not.
I'm irreversibly prejudiced against English players that aren't called Carrick.
Well he does run a lot, I guess. He's fitness is what you'd expect from a wing back. But don't most people describe Clyne as a reasonably technical footballer anyway? He's not Dani Alves but who is
United moving for him before the season was out strongly suggests that other clubs were after him. And the fee, like his wages seems heavily based on what the papers said. As above it is likely to be heavily reliant on how the players performs and nowhere near what was actually reported in terms if what's been paid upfront.
And in terms of longevity his staying here is much more likely than not, if he performs to the level expected. English players rarely go abroad from big clubs and if he did he would likely do so for a sizeable fee. Unlike foreign players who (as we're likely to see with De Gea) are much more likely to move on and head to big European clubs. I'm prepared to wager he'll form a regular part of The first team here for a significant amount if time.
The reality is everyone in the game you hear speaking about Shaw talk about what a talent he is and what he can achieve. People who know far more than you or I. On that basis I have no issue with us signing quality young players in whatever position.
You're entitled to your opinion, but I maintain if you can't see the quality in his performances at the back end of this season then I find that bizarre.
Indeed. He looks a mature head on young shoulders which is a sign of a top player in the making.
I think the impact of moving to a big club shouldn't be understated for a young lad. He's been told to get a bit fitter and its probably been a bit of a shock. But he looks to be settling now.
His defending is top notch and he can be a constant threat going forward. He's as close to a nailed on success as any young player I've seen since Rooney.
Shaw is massively overrated and the fee reflected that. At United he's getting away with alot of things just because he's British. Unfortunately there's UEFA/FA rules that need to be taken in consideration so we've got to have X amount of English players. We might as well get the best of the crop
That's why I am in favor of Clyne. He is English, he's versatile, he shouldn't cost a fortune and he's decent.
That's why I am in favor of Clyne. He is English, he's versatile, he shouldn't cost a fortune and he's decent.
People seem to take a default position that because he's English he can't be "technically" good and that there must be a better player playing in Spain or on the continent.
It ignores the fact that continental full backs are often just wingers in disguise. The two Spaniards Liverpool have bought look distinctly hit and miss to me in terms of defending and getting caught out.
The fact is every time I've watched Southampton he's impressed. Solid in defence, covers the ground quickly and gets up to support the attack.
There's also the huge bonus that he's already playing in the PL and can hopefully hit the ground running, rather than take time to settle. I suspect that's a factor Van Gaal values given the likely other changes in the squad this summer.
This.
This is the bit that worries me with him. I don't actually think hes that good defensively. His pace bails him 8/10 times but that's not a solid basis for any defender looking to progress to the top level.
Then again there arent many good defensive fullbacks out there but if we go down that route its not like hes contributed a whole lot in an attacking this season either.
With those concerns and the fact we'll end up getting rinsed transfer free wise I think we'd be better looking elsewhere.
this is what people keep saying, but... where? there just aren't many available RBs at the moment, who also don't have potential weaknesses in their game.
Just like Shaw you mean ...
Yes. Barring the injuries, he's looked every inch a United player in his performances on the pitch. If you think he hasn't played well then I really don't know what you've been watching.
Truth. Only injuries can stop Shaw becoming a world class fullback. Unfortunately it's not looked good on the injury front so far...
Full backs seem now to either be very good offensively, or very good defensively. That seems to be the way it is now, in the same we now have "defensive" or "attacking" central midfielders when we used to just have central midfielders.
Unless we're going to go and spend £40 million and buy Phillip Lahm (who doesnt actually seem to even play full back a lot of the time) then we're looking at a limited pool of players. I think to do well at full back in the PL you need certain traits that might not suit a lot of continental wingbacks. The last think we need is player who's more interested in getting forward than defending. You need to be quick and can get away (potentially) with not being that technical.
I can't see that there's a great deal of players out there who'll fit that mould. Alves perhaps, but he's the sort of player who could look his age very quickly in the rough and tumble of the PL. I don't see the sense in dishing out long term contracts to 32 year olds who've been moved on from other top sides seemingly because they're on the way down.
On that basis, signing a young English lad with a lot of potential seems a solid and sensible decision.
Especially when LVG was hyped for his work with young players. We have shipped out most of ours with those remaining (Adnan etc) seeing little game time. Would be nice if we can get back to buying afew players with potential.
agreed. Alves would be a far bigger gamble given his age and lack of PL experience than Clyne. plus with Clyne, if he does well, won't have to be replaced in a few years.
a) from what I've seen Clyne is neither very good at attacking or very good at defending, he's more of a solid all rounder with room to improve in both areas and b) I wouldn't say he has a lot of potential, certainly nowhere near as much as a genuine talent like Shaw.
Decent defender, decent attacker, decent potential, decent signing.
I'd be happy with the signing of Clyne. Good solid defender with decent potential to improve.
As long as the transfer fee is acceptable I don't know why people are moaning about it.
As long as the transfer fee is acceptable I don't know why people are moaning about it.
And in reality as long as Woodie or LVG doesn't come out after the fact saying we would have been after one or two other players if not for the fee we paid for Clyne, then the fee is not really an issue. As long as the fee doesn't prevent us from going after our actual targets, don't care that much about it.
I think that's right. We all want to see the best players but I don't want to see some kind of scattergun policy of buying big names with no idea of how they'll fit into a system. Van Gaal seems to have very definate ideas as to what he expects and as such if we do sign this lad he must have an idea if what he can do and how he'll fit in. Evidently nothing is done by accident or because a player is highly hyped. I suspect he's been watched for most of the season.
That may be the case. Solid is the word I'd use as well and on that basis people are unlikely to expect him to pull up trees and that lack of pressure can only help. Sides are not built with 11 superstars and this is a position we seem to be struggling to fill and the teams of the past have had players just like him - decent players who come in, up their game a level and do very well over a long period.
Someone who liked to totally ignore context and jump to conclusions, yes.
Valencia has had a decent season and was improving until the last few games, so is Clyne really good enough to displace Valencia?
Gary Neville was a solid RB. But his link up play (especially with Beckham) was outstanding, and decision making was good. I think they are also important factors to consider.
He's nothing amazing but he's far better than Valencia.
Indeed - it highlights the point. A team is better than the sum of its parts and whoever Van Gaal brings in will have to fit in to his system and play a part.
Good point.
Even if he is just merely solid, they're the players you want in the squad. If a star RB becomes available in the years to come, Clyne would be an excellent back up given he can also play on the left.
How good is he on the left? I'm pretty sure I've only ever seen him play at RB.
was it not to do with the agent and the fees?
If we do end up getting him, the RB position will be sorted for years.
So rumours on twitter are suggesting the deal is off because he's changed agents? Surely that would make a deal for him more likely.
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