Unpopular Opinions Thread

[sizzling sausages]

We have no flair or creativity in our squad

(apart from ADM, who would seem to be on his way out)

Agreed, I wouldn't actually think it's that unpopular of an opinion tbh.

 

[Speak]

Both Januzaj and Wilson won't make the grade at United.

I share this opinion.

 

[markhrad]

No offence but I've fixed that for you so it makes more sense.

Thanks but I did say maybe they are all past it. I would have liked to have given them one more year but I must move on,

 

[bosnian_red]

We have no flair or creativity in our squad

(apart from ADM, who would seem to be on his way out)

Memphis especially, Mata, Herrera, Januzaj, Pereira and Schweinsteiger are all creative and most play with flair (so is Carrick actually, just from a deeper position). It's just hard to pull off those creative passes when you don't have many runners in behind, but now with Memphis and potentially Pedro, we will have those players with pace running in behind. You don't need too many players who have those qualities, but we needed somebody like Memphis in the team to take the attention away from the likes of Mata on the ball and to give him an option when he's running in behind. Think we have a pretty nice balance now personally.

 

[Sam]

Yes , the midfield is very strong and will surely be very compact but I miss some magic. A top creative attacking midfielder and a top organizer/assistant. Mata could be that attacking midfielder but he miss something, besides I don´t understand his position on the right

I think thats a very fair assessment. We certainly miss that one 'magic' player.

That player, of course, should be Di Maria, but we all know whats happening there.

 

[Roman Bellic]

With LVG (and his philosophy) changing a lot of things at the club, the next guy is also going to have to rebuild for another season or 2 which might potentially mean 5-6 seasons without winning the league or the CL.

 

[finneh]

Third or fourth would be a good finish next year, especially with a decent CL/FA cup run. You can't buy a projected 11 first team players in 12 months and expect the squad to be competitive straight away.

Personally I think Van Gaal has made a big mistake in trying to do too much, too soon and just like AVB at Chelsea he may end up failing miserably because of it.

 

[redevil2]

Third or fourth would be a good finish next year, especially with a decent CL/FA cup run. You can't buy a projected 11 first team players in 12 months and expect the squad to be competitive straight away.

Personally I think Van Gaal has made a big mistake in trying to do too much, too soon and just like AVB at Chelsea he may end up failing miserably because of it.

I tend to agree. He's not only trying to do too much, he's trying to change too much for his own purpose. Hes also trying to change the United culture which used to set us apart from other clubs and be successful. Only time will tell how it works but I am looking forward to one day when Giggsy is in charge.

 

[Roboc7]

I think thats a very fair assessment. We certainly miss that one 'magic' player.

That player, of course, should be Di Maria, but we all know whats happening there.

Very true we are definitely lacking that type of player, Chelsea have hazard, arsenal have Alexis and City have aguero. We don't have a player in that class and that includes di Maria, our best player by a mile is de gea and he won't be here for long.

Those types of players win you titles because they turn draws and defeats into wins, like RVP did in his first season.

 

[Alock1]

I'm completely indifferent to marmite.

 

[bosnian_red]

With LVG (and his philosophy) changing a lot of things at the club, the next guy is also going to have to rebuild for another season or 2 which might potentially mean 5-6 seasons without winning the league or the CL.

The big difference is that whoever takes over will be in a much better position, not every time there is a manager change is there a big transition. Van Gaal is setting a very good foundation and our overall squad quality is a lot higher now then when he took over, so only minor adjustments will probably be made by the next manager (like Heynckes at Bayern after Van Gaal). We needed a huge transition from the Fergie era, and because the Moyes appointment only made things worse, but we won't need any big change like the last few years again for the near future IMO.

 

[finneh]

I tend to agree. He's not only trying to do too much, he's trying to change too much for his own purpose. Hes also trying to change the United culture which used to set us apart from other clubs and be successful. Only time will tell how it works but I am looking forward to one day when Giggsy is in charge.

Unfortunately I think the United culture was just Busby and Fergie (the two have merged because of the c. 2,500 games managed between them). We're very unlikely to be able to replicate their success or model for success again in the modern era.

I think Van Gaal has put all his eggs into the basket of every singing this Summer instantly clicking and propelling us to a good season. What happens if 9 games in we're on 12 points? Does he get the sack? Do we give him until Christmas? I think he'd have been wiser to make 4 key signings (CB, CM, RB, winger) and keep some continuity; whereas at the moment it seems he'll be making 6-7 and preying they integrate better than last season.

In terms of Giggs taking over: he needs to do what Fergie did at Aberdeen. Go and do something very impressive at a smaller club and come back to United once you've proven yourself.

 

[Xaviesta]

I tend to agree. He's not only trying to do too much, he's trying to change too much for his own purpose. Hes also trying to change the United culture which used to set us apart from other clubs and be successful. Only time will tell how it works but I am looking forward to one day when Giggsy is in charge.

He is but surely United would have been aware of that possibly happening. At the risk of upsetting you, he was never going to stick the Ferguson blueprint - van Gaal has his own, and it's been successful throughout his career and might be successful at United. Perhaps it might be for the better.

 

[Dreaded]

If Di Maria stays he will be worse than last season and it wouldnt be LVG's fault.

He isn't best suited to the EPL, isn't as good as some people feel he is, he doesn't want to live in Manchester and he isn't the best player for the system that is best for the rest of the team.

Anything over £45m and we should accept.

 

[MDFC Manager]

Rooney will score 30 goals this season.

 

[Macabre Wolf]

He is but surely United would have been aware of that possibly happening. At the risk of upsetting you, he was never going to stick the Ferguson blueprint - van Gaal has his own, and it's been successful throughout his career and might be successful at United.

Whatever happens it can't possibly be as bad as Moyes season of hell, I quite like that Louis is doing things his way and I'm sure when we get a new manager he will be pleased that the team has a new spine and not saddled with the likes of Nani and Anderson.

 

[AltiUn]

We're massively underrating ourselves due to a dodgy pre-season.
Wilson, Januzaj, Pereira and McNair all have a chance of making it at United.
With Mata, AdM and Depay we have a lot of creativity.
Shaw will be considered the best defender in the league in 2 years time.

 

[PSingh]

I'm confident Rooney will score over 20 goals this season. He still has the quality and has been the constant in all of our strike forces since we signed him.

 

[Roman Bellic]

The big difference is that whoever takes over will be in a much better position, not every time there is a manager change is there a big transition. Van Gaal is setting a very good foundation and our overall squad quality is a lot higher now then when he took over, so only minor adjustments will probably be made by the next manager (like Heynckes at Bayern after Van Gaal). We needed a huge transition from the Fergie era, and because the Moyes appointment only made things worse, but we won't need any big change like the last few years again for the near future IMO.

That's the point, LVG is setting a good foundation for himself, the team is tailor made (or will be) for LVG, the new guy might not buy into the whole philosophy thing which would mean another transition period.

 

[JohnnyLaw]

That's the point, LVG is setting a good foundation for himself, the team is tailor made (or will be) for LVG, the new guy might not buy into the whole philosophy thing which would mean another transition period.

I Think that the squad as it stands today is a very versatile one. So i'm not worried about that at all, all of the players in our squad are experienced with or eduacated in a different style than the one they are currently being taught by LVG.

 

[Roman Bellic]

I Think that the squad as it stands today is a very versatile one. So i'm not worried about that at all, all of the players in our squad are experienced with or eduacated in a different style than the one they are currently being taught by LVG.

Versatile...yes, but versatility doesn't always mean quality - take Blind and Rooney for example.

 

[JohnnyLaw]

Versatile...yes, but versatility doesn't always mean quality - take Blind and Rooney for example.

Rooney won't last much longer than Van Gaal so wouldn't see him as an issue. LvGs philosophy is a possession based one, kind of tiki-taka I suppose but I really don't Think that the squad we had Before him taking over nor the players that have been brought in since are typical to that style of play (Perhaps excluding Blind as you say). And if quality is what you are worried about we have a lot more of it in the squad today compared to when SAF left.

 

[Roman Bellic]

Rooney won't last much longer than Van Gaal so wouldn't see him as an issue. LvGs philosophy is a possession based one, kind of tiki-taka I suppose but I really don't Think that the squad we had Before him taking over nor the players that have been brought in since are typical to that style of play (Perhaps excluding Blind as you say). And if quality is what you are worried about we have a lot more of it in the squad today compared to when SAF left.

I think you're missing my point, i am well aware of the number of quality players in the squad, my main problem is maintaining that quality all through various systems, which i believe led you to mention the versatility of the squad - which i acknowledged, but then questioned (using two of the most versatile players in the team as examples) if the players would actually be as good as they are in their primary positions in their secondary positions.

For example, how would a new manager execute a 4-4-2 system with the likes of Memphis,ADM,Mata etc and still ensure that the team is as good as any other side in Europe.

 

[Getsme]

Manchester United fans are just as ridiculous as any other Clubs fans.

 

[Scorpy]

We'll announce the Van Persie transfer to Fenerbahce.

 

[Roman Bellic]

Manchester United fans are just as ridiculous as any other Clubs fans.

Probably worse.

 

[Moby]

Manchester United fans are just as ridiculous as any other Clubs fans.

We have loads of absolute idiots.

 

[JohnnyLaw]

I think you're missing my point, i am well aware of the number of quality players in the squad, my main problem is maintaining that quality all through various systems, which i believe led you to mention the versatility of the squad - which i acknowledged, but then questioned (using two of the most versatile players in the team as examples) if the players would actually be as good as they are in their primary positions in their secondary positions.

For example, how would a new manager execute a 4-4-2 system with the likes of Memphis,ADM,Mata etc and still ensure that the team is as good as any other side in Europe.

I don't Think that I am, I was speaking versatile not as in being able to play in different positions but in different systems. 4-4-2 is a formation you really don't see much of anymore, it's mostly 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 with smaller variations but completely different end goals in terms of keeping possession or counter-attacking etc. I Think that we could play any style of football we wanted by just swapping out 1-2 players.

 

[JohnnyLaw]

We have loads of absolute idiots.

Well we're bound to considering we have one of the largest fan-bases in the world.

 

[Roman Bellic]

I don't Think that I am, I was speaking versatile not as in being able to play in different positions but in different systems. 4-4-2 is a formation you really don't see much of anymore, it's mostly 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 with smaller variations but completely different end goals in terms of keeping possession or counter-attacking etc. I Think that we could play any style of football we wanted by just swapping out 1-2 players.

I agree, but would the quality of the squad remain?

 

[Moby]

Well we're bound to considering we have one of the largest fan-bases in the world.

Yep.

 

[Siorac]

I think you're missing my point, i am well aware of the number of quality players in the squad, my main problem is maintaining that quality all through various systems, which i believe led you to mention the versatility of the squad - which i acknowledged, but then questioned (using two of the most versatile players in the team as examples) if the players would actually be as good as they are in their primary positions in their secondary positions.

For example, how would a new manager execute a 4-4-2 system with the likes of Memphis,ADM,Mata etc and still ensure that the team is as good as any other side in Europe.

The only way around that would be to appoint a director of football. As long as the manager has free rein, this danger is always there.

 

[Getsme]

Well we're bound to considering we have one of the largest fan-bases in the world.

Yep, I think some fans think that they are far more knowledgeable than they are because they support United.

 

[MDFC Manager]

We're massively underrating ourselves due to a dodgy pre-season.

Dodgy pre season is fine I guess. Better than last season's, where we were flying (until we landed back in Manchester anyway).

 

[redevil2]

That's the point, LVG is setting a good foundation for himself, the team is tailor made (or will be) for LVG, the new guy might not buy into the whole philosophy thing which would mean another transition period.

This is the exact problem few on here had in mind. They keep saying LvG has his successful way before and he would be successful with United, whether it be 3 or 5 years down the road or not.

My issue is, he will go away soon (and unlikely to be with us for more than a few years since he's already talking about life after retiring when he joined us).

Whoever taking over from him might (and it's highly probable) need another few year transition.

Someone pointed out LvG is never going to adopt Fergie's model which is true (and I doubt if he is able to even if he tries simply because he's such a strong character and probably doesn't have Fergie's charisma in terms of man management.)

At the end of day as long as LvG is in charge he would keep replacing players who do not fit in his philosophy, instead of giving players an honest chance (to use rvp's description) to prove themselves. We will surely be constantly in the transfer market news in the years to come for sure.

I don't want that but I am coming to terms with facing the reality

 

[Speak]

Yep, I think some fans think that they are far more knowledgeable than they are because they support United.

I've actually never got that impression about United fans. At least no more so than for fans of other clubs.

 

[KGBhoy]

Lingard will have a better career than Januzaj.

I think I already wrote something bad about Januzaj in this thread before. But I don't have a personal vendetta against him. He just doesn't impress me.

 

[bosnian_red]

I think you're missing my point, i am well aware of the number of quality players in the squad, my main problem is maintaining that quality all through various systems, which i believe led you to mention the versatility of the squad - which i acknowledged, but then questioned (using two of the most versatile players in the team as examples) if the players would actually be as good as they are in their primary positions in their secondary positions.

For example, how would a new manager execute a 4-4-2 system with the likes of Memphis,ADM,Mata etc and still ensure that the team is as good as any other side in Europe.

I think you're reading too much into things. Every club goes through a tiny transition when they change manager, we had a huge one because we had Fergie in charge for 27 or 28 years and the squad quality had deteriorated a bit. Now we're just like every other club and that's perfectly fine. New managers will come in, bring in a couple of their own players and put their own style on the team, just with the added bonus that our players are trained to be calm and composed on the ball and we won't rush things.

 

[AltiUn]

Dodgy pre season is fine I guess. Better than last season's, where we were flying (until we landed back in Manchester anyway).

I expect us to do well when the new league season starts and pick up some wins right off the bat this time round, starting with Spurs.

 

[Roman Bellic]

The only way around that would be to appoint a director of football. As long as the manager has free rein, this danger is always there.

Yes, but replacing a manager as bureaucratic as LVG, would be tougher - he estimated that it would take him 3 years to perfectly indoctrinate his system, which is all well and good and we might very well win a trophy or 2 in his 3rd season, but that's also going to be his last season, meaning we have basically given a really complex individual the power to practically reconfigure the whole team(not just the squad), which might not suit the next man.

I'm not anti-LVG by the way, just questioning the stability of the club post-LVG.