Not been impressed at all with Gago at Madrid. He'd have to go undergo one hell of a transformation to be worthy of a place in this line-up which I suppose, given his age, isn't completely inconceivable. Van Der Vaart's the only other one that we should really be batting an eyelid at but, again, there's not much point.
Real Madrid opens the door for Diarra, Lass Diarra, Gago and Van Der Vaart.
- Thread starter TonyMontana
- Start date
He's a good player whos been crowded out by the Madrid seasonal merry go round. The way i see it he only really has to adapt to prem pace as he already has a good physical game on him. He is also a very good option to have as he is almost like a younger more physical version of carrick who can play the same deep lying playmaker role that we will need in scholes absence.
He's a player who has impressed me in spells and i certainly think he would benefit more from a stable environment. I'd be happy to see him take Hargreaves spot in the 25 man squad.
He's a player who has impressed me in spells and i certainly think he would benefit more from a stable environment. I'd be happy to see him take Hargreaves spot in the 25 man squad.
Being a Madrid reject certainly doesn't make anyone a bad player. We've seen countless examples of that.
Van Der Vaart could be worth looking at, but I strongly doubt we'll be buying anyone else this side of next summer.
Van Der Vaart could be worth looking at, but I strongly doubt we'll be buying anyone else this side of next summer.
Lass seems dangerously close to perma-crock status as well. Last year he spent the second half of the season suffering from various ailments and France sent him home from altitude training because of sickle cell anaemia. He's been with Chelsea, Arsenal, Madrid and I've seen him play well, MOTM in some games - but I do wonder if that condition actually affects his ability to handle the two game a week pattern of the top teams.
VdV is an interesting one - he can look wonderful, but comes up disappointingly short in too many games, usually the games against the good teams. Whether that's a team issue or a VdV issue I don't know, I only really know him as a Madrid player. He was excellent against Standard Liege the other night. The reasons why Madrid may sell are that they'll get a good price and (more significantly) they want Canales to get playing time.
Gago usually looks like a non-event to me, whatever talent he's got, he's hiding it well. Interestingly (or not!) the Madrid press are speculating that he's currently part of Mourinho's first choice 11 for the start of the season.
Tevez is the kind of player I never want near this club.
I think we're in agreement. We don't need Madrid rejects. Not these particular rejects anyway. The problem I have with VdV is that I don't believe he is better then Scholes currently, or that he will remain better then Anderson in the future, so what would be the point of getting him? Plus, he doesn't strike me as an industrious player or someone willing to put himself about. If he were available at 4-5 million, it's worth a sniff but he won't be so it's all rather pointless.
Now, if in 6 months we have a chance to get Kaka...then i'll certainly reverse my position on Madrid rejects (yes, I know...some think Kaka is washed up, but I believe he still has a second phase to his career and if Madrid do shunt him like they have done so many others he'd really flourish with a team like United).
We missed the boat on Madrid rejects. We should have insisted on 80 million + Sneijder for Ronaldo. I think Madrid would have made that deal given how desperate they were for Ronny. The guys they want to get rid off now aren't really United quality anymore.
Gago would be great... But guy needs to grow bigger balls if he's gunna make it at any big club.
Van der Vaart would be a very pleasing option. He's one of those players I'd love to watch at United.
Yeah, that's pretty much my take, I think he'd be well worth a punt at 10M.
1999 Jesper Blomquist (AC Milan)
We don't need any of them IMO.
VDV would be welcome only if the lovely Sylvie VDV got a job with Mutv.
VDV would be welcome only if the lovely Sylvie VDV got a job with Mutv.
He joined United after a decent season at Parma. And Van der Sar got his career back on track at Fulham after his Juventus stint. I meant players that joined United directly from a top club that didn't want them, Blanc seems to be the latest one.
No matter what anyone says it would be awesome to get a loan deal for Van der Vaart, and one of Diarra, Gago, Lass!
I am not sure the likes of Obertan are ready this year to make an impact and getting a loan deal would help us strengthen to 2 areas of the squad that seem a little light right now. But unlikely to happen yes!
I am not sure the likes of Obertan are ready this year to make an impact and getting a loan deal would help us strengthen to 2 areas of the squad that seem a little light right now. But unlikely to happen yes!
Not a Fulham reject though.
No. Fulham isn't a top club and I even said Juventus. Didn't come straight from there but a reject nontheless. Same with Owen. Not straight from Madrid but a reject.
While all four would be useful squad players for even the best teams, each of them would probably benefit by joining a second-tier club where they can gather form and confidence. Gago and Van der Vaart both have talent but both have struggled at the cutting edge thus far.
Have to say I think he's got something about him too. His assist here at around 2:30 highlights the intelligence in his play that he's often not given credit for, he's a very perceptive(is that the right word?) player. It's pass and move at it's finest and it's not something just anyone can do despite the simplicity of it all in the end - he pulls off his man, plays a first time pass to Alonso and continues his run, plays another first time pass to Albiol(?) then continues his run forward into the space vacated by Alonso(and his tracker) and he plays a perfectly weight through ball in between the centre backs because one of them was worried about Ronaldo dropping deep. Beautifully simple.
I think he knows his own strengths, his own role, he's just struggled transferring that into the Madrid team because he's being asked to be a player who almost solely breaks up the play because of the way Madrid have something of a broken team - when he played in the three as he did there, which only recently came about, he flourished. He's the one that can tie it all together nicely. They're playing him as a Fletcher when he's a Carrick, basically.
VAN DER VAART TEMPTED BY UNITED
RAFAEL VAN DER VAART has given Manchester United a boost by admitting they are the only team he could ever see himself leaving Real Madrid for.
Sir Alex Ferguson is understood to have made enquiries about the Dutch midfielder, who is one of four Galacticos to have been put up for sale by the Spanish club.
Van der Vaart, 27, said: “I could never play for another club in Spain and the truth is that if you are leaving Real Madrid, there is only one club you can join that is not a step down – and that’s Manchester United.
“They are a huge club and if the reported interest they have in me turns out to be true, then I would really have to sit down and listen.
“If Manchester United could offer me first-team football with the situation as it is at Madrid, it would be very hard to turn down. Alex Ferguson is a great coach and I would never think about joining a team where I didn’t believe I could win things, so all of a sudden that limits your choices.
“At Manchester United you know success is likely and that’s a big factor for me at this stage of my career.
“If [Real boss] Jose Mourinho makes it clear I won’t play much, I see my future in English football.”
Express.co.uk - Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | Sport | Football
RAFAEL VAN DER VAART has given Manchester United a boost by admitting they are the only team he could ever see himself leaving Real Madrid for.
Sir Alex Ferguson is understood to have made enquiries about the Dutch midfielder, who is one of four Galacticos to have been put up for sale by the Spanish club.
Van der Vaart, 27, said: “I could never play for another club in Spain and the truth is that if you are leaving Real Madrid, there is only one club you can join that is not a step down – and that’s Manchester United.
“They are a huge club and if the reported interest they have in me turns out to be true, then I would really have to sit down and listen.
“If Manchester United could offer me first-team football with the situation as it is at Madrid, it would be very hard to turn down. Alex Ferguson is a great coach and I would never think about joining a team where I didn’t believe I could win things, so all of a sudden that limits your choices.
“At Manchester United you know success is likely and that’s a big factor for me at this stage of my career.
“If [Real boss] Jose Mourinho makes it clear I won’t play much, I see my future in English football.”
Express.co.uk - Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | Sport | Football
Cocks out?
This is a come-and-get-me plea if there ever was one
something for the muppets to enjoy till sep 1 then :P
I could see United going for Lass at the right price
Owen?
Owen ran his contract down bell end, Newcastle did not reject him
No chance.
I think VDV is a pretty good player, and the Dutch do seem to bed well at OT
I wouldn't mind Lass. I use to rate VDV but I'm not so sure on him right now.
So basically he is saying he would have to take United's reported interest seriously which he himself is reporting.
Van Der Vaart's next interview. "I think Man Utd are interested in me. Van Der Vaart told me."
This is very reminiscent of Huntelaar a few years ago, and more recently Luis Fabiano; I wouldn't expect anything to come out of this.
I'm the complete opposite!
I used to rate Diarra but as he's played regularly for a big team I think he has somewhat exposed his limitations, as a 'shuttler' in a midfield three I don't think there'd be many better because he's comfortable pulling out wide and he presses well but as a purely central player I think he's a bit weak.
I was very impressed how VDV knuckled down when he was denied the chance to move last season, how he showed a bit of fight and selflessness when he played in a three man midfield to go with his class, but I don't think either side would benefit from a move for him. He'd still not get as much first team football as he probably wants, and he'd be an expensive squad player.
Madrid to United is the only way of not taking a step down
I've heard alot of rumours with him linked to Liverpool. Fit athlete or not, I'd still recommend taking an escalator for that one.
I've heard alot of rumours with him linked to Liverpool. Fit athlete or not, I'd still recommend taking an escalator for that one.
Either way it's nice to hear how he wants to come to United out of all teams.
Still remember Ruud wanting us to buy VDV to play LW.
No he is not. Most of us that rate him, rate him for his ball winning abilities nd energy, nothing else. He is a water carrier but a damn good one.
Gago is another one that gets attention without actually having done much. He is a lazy and awkward player and for a water carrier that spells trouble.
Lass isn't overated, had some great games for Porthsmouth and did really well in his debut season for RM.
His form dropped due being played Full back but still Lass is a very good win-the-ball type of player, quick, strong and lots of stamina, he can dribble thats for sure and they've been times he actually got a few shots on goal and they were pretty accurate.
Should be RM's No.1 DM but I think Mou doesn't really like him, never game him a chance at Chelsea... Don't think he'll start giving one with Khedira just bought.
If Hargreaves is going to be out, I won't be surprised if SAF were to Loan the fella, I don't think he'll buy him though...
Just my thought.
His form dropped due being played Full back but still Lass is a very good win-the-ball type of player, quick, strong and lots of stamina, he can dribble thats for sure and they've been times he actually got a few shots on goal and they were pretty accurate.
Should be RM's No.1 DM but I think Mou doesn't really like him, never game him a chance at Chelsea... Don't think he'll start giving one with Khedira just bought.
If Hargreaves is going to be out, I won't be surprised if SAF were to Loan the fella, I don't think he'll buy him though...
Just my thought.
my cock is already out, ready to be stroked.
We buy players we want, no simply because they want to play for us. We'd have gone for VDV by now, if we wanted him.
As for central midfielders, I'm starting to wonder if Hargeaves is ever going to come back the same, if at all. I can't say I know a lot about the Diarras, but anyone who can help bolster our midfield, especially a ball-winner, would be welcome.
As for central midfielders, I'm starting to wonder if Hargeaves is ever going to come back the same, if at all. I can't say I know a lot about the Diarras, but anyone who can help bolster our midfield, especially a ball-winner, would be welcome.