Thomas Vermaelen

Status
Not open for further replies.
Walrus said:
- In the 11/12 and 12/13 seasons he had 40 and 39 appearances respectively, last season he had 21. 100 appearances over the past 3 seasons isnt exactly an Owen Hargreaves case, is it?

- We signed RVP off Arsenal despite his injury record and he has been fine.

- Vermaelen would arguably not even be first choice for us, but simply a backup.

- We will be playing fewer games than normal next season, meaning less intensivity which by all accounts is often what leads to injuries. When we only have 1 game per week generally and less/no long distance travel, yes I think this will have a beneficial effect on our squad.


Ultimately only time will tell, and thats IF we sign him, but as usual the caf is blowing things ridiculously out of proportion.
Click to expand...

RVP's injury record cost us last season. But we took the risk because he would start when fit and there are few better than him. He's worth it.

Vermaelen wont start all the time he's fit and there are a lot of better options than him.

What good is a backup that can't play? We've had this before with the likes of Hargreaves being kept around as a backup, only when we actually needed him he wasnt available. Its not a sound plan.

Yes it'll obviously be beneficial to the squad. Will it benefit Vermaelen who barely played last season and was still getting injured? No.
 
If this was most other players, I'd say something was imminent. By that I mean Wenger admits he has a 'short term' injury so won't play this weekend and that he is likely to leave. To me that suggests he might well sign for someone in the very near future. I still think that might well be the case and the 'injury' was just a way of avoiding a question, such as "where's he going?."

However, it being Vermaelan, he might well just have a short term injury so can't play this weekend.

As I've said on here before, I actually think he'd do quite well for us as one of three centre halves. The injuries however, are a big concern.
 
Is this interest just more confirmation of the dearth of quality CBs in football today? I don't rate him much.
 
ThanksBoss26 said:
If this was most other players, I'd say something was imminent. By that I mean Wenger admits he has a 'short term' injury so won't play this weekend and that he is likely to leave. To me that suggests he might well sign for someone in the very near future. I still think that might well be the case and the 'injury' was just a way of avoiding a question, such as "where's he going?."

However, it being Vermaelan, he might well just have a short term injury so can't play this weekend.

As I've said on here before, I actually think he'd do quite well for us as one of three centre halves. The injuries however, are a big concern.
Click to expand...
I think the same, it may be one of those ryan giggs injuries before wales games. I think he is a good player, certainly was a good defender until arsenal had song in their team. when he went forward song used to sit back. I think that tactic worked for wenger, but when song left vermalin's adventurous nature started costing arsenal. I think he will do well in a 3, also he understands the system of van gaal, he was at ajax when van gaal was there so he knows what he is getting with vermaelen.
 
Can anyone explain how we're being linked with moves for him at a price higher than Arsenal paid for him, despite him having a year on his contract and coming up drastically short of the expectations Arsenal had when signing him?

It would be like us selling Ashley Young for a profit
 
Ekeke said:
Can anyone explain how we're being linked with moves for him at a price higher than Arsenal paid for him, despite him having a year on his contract and coming up drastically short of the expectations Arsenal had when signing him?

It would be like us selling Ashley Young for a profit
Click to expand...
You don't think the transfer market is subject to severe price inflation even over a short few years?
 
Ekeke said:
Can anyone explain how we're being linked with moves for him at a price higher than Arsenal paid for him, despite him having a year on his contract and coming up drastically short of the expectations Arsenal had when signing him?

It would be like us selling Ashley Young for a profit
Click to expand...
Well he has since become Arsenal's captain.
 
Juan't Mata said:
You don't think the transfer market is subject to severe price inflation even over a short few years?
Click to expand...

So we'd make a profit on the £15-20 million paid for Young if we sold him just because prices have gone up a bit?

Usually that only affects good players in high demand who have done well at their clubs and are tied to long contracts.

Not Vermaelen and Young
 
What are the latest prices being thrown around? If he's cheap enough, I don't see how it could be that bad a deal. We need numbers in defence, and while signing Hummels would be the fantasy, signing Vermaelen on the cheap to add a bit of experience as well as boosting the number of defenders is surely no bad thing.
 
Globule said:
What are the latest prices being thrown around? If he's cheap enough, I don't see how it could be that bad a deal. We need numbers in defence, and while signing Hummels would be the fantasy, signing Vermaelen on the cheap to add a bit of experience as well as boosting the number of defenders is surely no bad thing.
Click to expand...

The last twitter price I saw was 15 million euros which sounds crazy

If he was guaranteed to be past his injury problems, in good form and on a long contract I'd expect him to be valued at £10 million max. He's a decent CB with dodgy moments and used to score some good goals showing some ability on the ball.

When we have a player on the last year of their contract we get a pittance for them. But it sounds like if this happens, its going to be expensive considering his ability and condition.
 
Vermaelen would walk into our first team. Looks like this could be happening.
 
surf said:
"V for Vermaelen, V for Vidal, V for Victory" - Winston Spencer Caftard Kermit Churchill
Click to expand...

V for Vidic. Wasn't Varmalean considered the poor man's Vidic? The little brother (they look alike) that's not as good as the elder
 
Ekeke said:
Can anyone explain how we're being linked with moves for him at a price higher than Arsenal paid for him, despite him having a year on his contract and coming up drastically short of the expectations Arsenal had when signing him?

It would be like us selling Ashley Young for a profit
Click to expand...

Not really comparable situations. We obviously want Vermaelen and Arsenal don't want to sell, thus high price. Does anyone want Young at his current wage? (I doubt he would voluntarily take a pay cut)
 
jason93 said:
Vermaelen would walk into our first team. Looks like this could be happening.
Click to expand...

Yea, on crutches.

What's the point in getting another injury prone defender when all of our three starting defenders are injury prone too is just beyond me. It's asking for trouble.

On top of that, he's no 'top defender' that it's worth taking the risk.
 
He was v. good when he first came to EPL but injuries have meant that he is no more at that level. Not sure what to make of it. If he stays fit, he can be handy but that is a big IF.
 
I wonder if van Gaal sees him as a starter or as cover. If a starter, who's place does he take?
 
jason93 said:
Vermaelen would walk into our first team. Looks like this could be happening.
Click to expand...
Absolutely not. He'd be our worst senior centre half by some distance.

Why are people trying to rationalise this? He isn't just injury prone, he's also shit. Even when he was being raved about, it was his ability on the ball and goal scoring rather than his defending. He's absolutely dreadful positionally and quite simply not very good at defending.
 
Ekeke said:
So we'd make a profit on the £15-20 million paid for Young if we sold him just because prices have gone up a bit?

Usually that only affects good players in high demand who have done well at their clubs and are tied to long contracts.

Not Vermaelen and Young
Click to expand...
Bottom line, if we want to sign a player from a rival, we will have to pay a few million extra. It also seems that just being United means we (annoyingl) always way a few mill extra no matter what. The quoted fee of £10-12 mill is fine by me tbh. Its peanuts in this market.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.