Stefan de Vrij

If we are to sign de Vrij along with Vermaelen surely moving to 5-3-2 would be non-negoitable. Five players for two centre back positions is overkill, despite three of those defenders having questionable fitness and injury records.

We have had 5 CB the last 3 seasons...
 
Looked half decent during the World Cup - so far at least. Also £8 million isn't a lot.

Could signal a move to 5-3-2? Would give us more cover if so.

Doubt it, we need a centre back anyway, we only have 3. LvG only played 3 at the back because Holland were weak there so I'd be surprised if we pick up anyone from their back line. He's really not that good.
 
The fact that no one in the media knew about our interest in Herrera shows that this summer Woody is playing his hand with his cards close to his chest. All the links to Dutch players are most likely nonsense. Out of the loop journos adding two and two and getting about twelve different names so far.
 
De Vrij will not be negotiating or even talking about his transfer during the world cup. Especially when his national team manager has banned transfer dealings of his players during the WC and our new manager - both being Van Gaal - having said that all United talk comes after the WC.
 
The fact that no one in the media knew about our interest in Herrera shows that this summer Woody is playing his hand with his cards close to his chest. All the links to Dutch players are most likely nonsense. Out of the loop journos adding two and two and getting about twelve different names so far.

I think that has more to do with van Gaal. Before he signed the likes of Ogden came out every day claiming to know who our targets were (ie Kroos). They were right, however were told that Kroos was no longer a target and were never told of van Gaal's targets.
 
Doubt it, we need a centre back anyway, we only have 3. LvG only played 3 at the back because Holland were weak there so I'd be surprised if we pick up anyone from their back line. He's really not that good.

I have three reasons to change the system. The injury to Strootman, the fact we don't have enough quality left backs and because I want to play with a minimum of three creative players at the World Cup

Nothing about weak CBs. And while I agree they're not top class, the two 22-year-olds' potential is there for all to see.
 
If we are to sign de Vrij along with Vermaelen surely moving to 5-3-2 would be non-negoitable. Five players for two centre back positions is overkill, despite three of those defenders having questionable fitness and injury records.

We currently have 3 CBs who can barely remain fit (Smalling, Evans and Jones) and an EPL untested CB (Keane). On top of that we expect our CBs to act as cover/competition for Rafael whose hardly renowned for remaining fit either.

We need at least 1 CB. Hopefully we would add also a right back cover
 
I said a few days ago that I don't understand the Martins-Indi hype, as I think De Vrij looked much better than him in the groups. I expected/hoped for someone more high-end like Hummels or Benatia but I'd pleased if we get this guy instead of fecking Vermaelen.
 
Just sign him this summer and sign someone else high profile next summer if one of Evans, Smalling, Jones, De Vrij don't work out. I mean if the amount is around £5-7m then it aint that big of a risk at all.
 
If we are to sign de Vrij along with Vermaelen surely moving to 5-3-2 would be non-negoitable. Five players for two centre back positions is overkill, despite three of those defenders having questionable fitness and injury records.
Doubt that, can't see Van Gaal lining up a 5-3-2 as his default formation unless if it's for a few tough games. I see him as a purist who has been forced out of his comfort zone by his team's weaknesses but this is club football so he will have better options and deep pockets to solve any issues that might prevent him from playing his favoured formation and style.
 
If we are to sign de Vrij along with Vermaelen surely moving to 5-3-2 would be non-negoitable. Five players for two centre back positions is overkill, despite three of those defenders having questionable fitness and injury records.
I think we will sign only one central defender. Whether its Vermaelen (God I hope not!), De Vrij or Mangala, its only going to be one me thinks.
 
Could we possibly be going for both?
Well actually as mentioned above if we're to move onto 5-3-2 then makes sense to buy 2 CB. But again only LvG knows...
I don't rate Vermaelen that much defensively and this guy I don't know bar this WC. Wondering if he's decent to be fair...
 
Well at least he's younger than Vlaar who seems to be a LVG favourite. If we can't attract Hummel's or Mangala then so be it.
 
BTW, Thorpe and Keane are 21, de Vrij is 22 (11 months older than both), so I'm not sure they're in different stages of development.

I mean in terms of senior football experience (you know what I'm talking about).It's not really their fault but a system fault.

I can't tell who is a better talent since I haven't really watched de Vrij that much but M.Keane strikes me as a potential first teamer and Thorpe is an exciting to watch CB so in my biased viewpoint we should give them a chance or two before recruiting someone else from abroad who undoubtedly will block their path and not really that experienced to improve our defence straightaway.At least LVG should watch them in pre-season before deciding whether he should splash the cash.
 
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I said a few days ago that I don't understand the Martins-Indi hype, as I think De Vrij looked much better than him in the groups. I expected/hoped for someone more high-end like Hummels or Benatia but I'd pleased if we get this guy instead of fecking Vermaelen.

Me too.
 
A lot reports saying this is a done deal in the region of 7M. Have to say I have only seen de Vril play at the World Cup where he has looked a decent CB. LVG should know him well enough and seems to have trust in him, so he maybe a good fit at United. Still feel we need a commanding CB who can organize our young defense and be the leader back there. Hopefully Hummels can be pried away from Broussia Dortmund.
 
He's right footed, isn't he? I thought LvG wanted a left-footed CB (I can't remember where I read that).
 
would be a great signing imo, young CB with plenty of potential and rumoured cost is less than £10m as well
 
His better than Vermaelen I guess :rolleyes: Still think we can do better.
 
If the decision is him or Vermaelen as back-up I go for the younger. None of them can be considered as the world-class replacement we need for Vidic's exit.
 
he's 22 and could further develop. At £8m we can do nothing wrong I think. We lost 2 defenders and if he is a squad player at best to cover our injury prone defenders, why not.

He look good on the ball so that will fit LvG. Don't know about his tackling and positioning but I will have a look at him later against MEX.
 
He isn't, Clasie took over from Pelle as captain (was due to be De Vrij but Koeman had second thoughts) after Pelle got sent off once. They've changed quite a bit.

Thanks, I didn't know that, I had just heard De Vrij had been stripped of the captaincy at one stage but didn't know he was given it back. Was it when Koeman left that he got the armband again?
 
Thanks, I didn't know that, I had just heard De Vrij had been stripped of the captaincy at one stage but didn't know he was given it back. Was it when Koeman left that he got the armband again?

I deleted that after as I mixed myself up. :lol: Not sure who's there 'official' captain as it seems to say different things. I know Koeman planned to have De Vrij take over from Pelle but decided against it and picked Clasie instead. De Vrij has captained them quite a bit still and was made captain by Koeman, he was stripped of it when he played shite though. Dunno who their set captain is now as I'd imagine Pelle was stripped of it after he was suspended again in March.
 
I'd say he had a good game today.

And his Long range pass to find RVP looked like one from Rio ;-)
 
I'd say he had a good game today.

And his Long range pass to find RVP looked like one from Rio ;-)

Agreed. He made another nice one later too. Looked aggressive and confident stepping up to win the ball, too, but that's partly due to having a sweeper to cover for him.
 
Up to £10m I would buy him. Young enough to get better under LvG and had an injury free season contrary to Vermaelen or our 3 remaining CB's. We can't do much wrong if not to expensive.

I'm pretty sure Hummels is not availbele this year. Benatia has never been mentioned and Garay is off to Zenith. Mangala seems overrated. It doesn't look like we are getting an instant Vidic replacement, a top-class defender.

Therefore we maybe should be after a potential star. Are there any english defender besides John Stones who fit in that categorie? Where does M.Keane rank amongst them (targets like de vrij, Martins Indi, Vermaelen)?
 
Up to £10m I would buy him. Young enough to get better under LvG and had an injury free season contrary to Vermaelen or our 3 remaining CB's. We can't do much wrong if not to expensive.

I'm pretty sure Hummels is not availbele this year. Benatia has never been mentioned and Garay is off to Zenith. Mangala seems overrated. It doesn't look like we are getting an instant Vidic replacement, a top-class defender.

Therefore we maybe should be after a potential star. Are there any english defender besides John Stones who fit in that categorie? Where does M.Keane rank amongst them (targets like de vrij, Martins Indi, Vermaelen)?

Jaamal Lascelles looks good.