For cheaper alternatives there is maybe Zapata, Rojos, Mascherano and Umtiti.
Thomas Vermaelen
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For cheaper alternatives there is maybe Zapata, Rojos, Mascherano and Umtiti.
Huh?
I would stick with Blackett. He has done well on this tour. It would only be fair to give me a chance in the first team especially since we need more central defenders now that we play 3 at the back.
He will cost less than 15m, well i think, i'm maybe wrong.
Unfortunately we're getting down to business way too late this year.. Usually even other clubs are slower getting business done but this year most of the other clubs have got majority of their transfer business done early
Did he start all those games? Did he not have any substitute appearances?
You've probably just proven my point.
Blackett isn't ready to be a starting centre-back for Manchester United. A few years tutelage under Vermaelen would do him well.
Why not? He isn't playing in back 2, in which case he won't be ready. But not when he has 2 other players beside him.
Recent news say United will offer £15m for Vermaelen to push off Barcelona's £10m bid. Imo that's too much. I'd rather go for someone younger then.
Probably, like you i think that Vermaelen can be a good option, if he stays fit.
A couple of impressive pre-season games does not make him ready. He had an unimpressive loan at left-back in the Championship last season. I'm willing to bet we'd be found out more than once in the Premier League should we consistently start with Blackett. There's potential, no doubt, but he's not ready.
He is 28, that's still young for a CB, he still has 4 years in his prime.
Again left back and playing in a back four is different from playing in a back 5. He is a youngster. He might make mistakes and that is how he is going to learn. What if he is our Adnan this year? We haven't been linked with any other defender really other than Vermaelen. We have Evans, Smalling, Jones, Blackett, Keane and we need another defender. Hoping we get an experienced, fit one so we can play:
Jones-----experienced player-----Blackett
Keane-------Smalling-------Evans
So we need an experienced centre-back, you agree? I can't think of many available experienced centre-backs, there's that guy at Arsenal though...
So he's good enough for Barca, good enough for van Gaal but many posters don't think he's good enough to provide cover at our thinnest position?
I'm sorry but Vermaelen at £10-12M is good deal. No he's not a world class CB but he's PL experienced, left footed and speaks dutch. He's also currently better than Keane and Blackett. There is no better option at that price point.
I'm sorry but Vermaelen at £10-12M is good deal. No he's not a world class CB but he's PL experienced, left footed and speaks dutch. He's also currently better than Keane and Blackett. There is no better option at that price point.
I was talking more along the likes of Benatia or Hummels or someone of their ilk. I also mentioned FIT.
I've already pointed out the pros outweigh the cons.
Pros
Pros
- Premier League experience
- Left footed
- Leadership experience
- van Gaal is familiar with the player
- Arsenal captain
- Available and inexpensive
- Ball playing
- As injury prone as Smalling and Jones in recent years
- Arguably no stronger than our current first choice centre-backs
Injury is a huge CON. We already have defenders who are sort of injury prone. We have problems every single year with central defenders being out. Jones, Smalling and Evans could have problems again. And you want to add another player to that list? Why buy a player for him to sit out half the season?
Would being injury prone count as one con for a player like Hargreaves?
Because his great curls are a pro and the two do NOT cancel each other out.
Because his great curls are a pro and the two do NOT cancel each other out.
Should we sell Jones and Smalling then? Most fans appear happy to persist with Rafael.
Exactly!
I don't see how anyone can have a problem with this deal, assuming it goes through. It's seems obvious the van Gaal wants him and he's costing relatively little.
You just know RvP bigged him up to Van Gaal, which is why I think it has a good chance of happening.
van Gaal has expressed numerous times that he likes his players to share his philosophy, so yeah, I'd imagine he'd trust his senior players with player suggestions.
Gonna go against a lot here and say he'll be a brilliant signing for us should it happen.
Barca just signed Mathieu do you think he is good enough for us? Overall Vermaleen isn't as good as our three best CBs plus is injury prone. Pointless signing
I've watched very little of Mathieu so I can't comment on that. Vermaelen is really no more injury prone than any of the rest of CBs.
understandably the don't want to do business with us and sell us another captain.
pretty sure most of them were starts other than last season...but if you are determined to hate then don't let facts bother you eh?
http://www1.skysports.com/football/...nited-now-favourites-to-land-thomas-vermaelen
according to Sky the player wants to join us & we are willing to better the Barcelona bid so...
How is their a bidding war for Thomas Vermaelen right now? Football is weird.
That was true at one point, but Koscielny improved and Mertesacker adapted to the league. At his best he was more prone to mistakes than they are (at their best, current form, etc) and they are more dependable now than he ever was
He definitely has a mistake in him
if we get him for like £12-15m I would be pretty happy tbh
I would be pro Vermaelen but many others aren't judging by your posts..
Poll?
Poll?
I don't get the negativity about this transfer. Is he the best CB out there? Of course not, but he's decent and is capable of fulfilling the role he'd be asked to perform.
We're not getting Hummels and there aren't that many top class defenders out there period. Signing Vermaelen would allow us to give valuable game time to Smalling and especially Jones which will benefit us in the long term.
We're not getting Hummels and there aren't that many top class defenders out there period. Signing Vermaelen would allow us to give valuable game time to Smalling and especially Jones which will benefit us in the long term.
We finally beat Barca and it's for a scrapheap CB. 
LVG wanted to give a chance to all, watching and rate them only after the preseason.
I suppose he'd be an alright signing, but I definitely want another centre back as well. Besides the lack of quality, there just aren't enough players for that area - especially if we want to play 3 at the back.
His passing is awesome, really good technique
Bad defensevely, appaling in the air, but in a defence of 3 he can do the job well
He has a good timing when he is in the opponent box
Just what I want from one of my defenders!
I'll be suprisied and quite impressed if Vermaelen really rejects Barca and immediate CL football for us. If that's the case sign him up Woody.
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