Man Utd - The Gaalacticos thread

[Ent]

First topic message reminder :

Can see the same thing happening with Kroos, when Bayern stump up the wage & then the pressure will be on Moyes massively, after constantly telling everyone that he's been given the nod by these agents that these players wanted to come to United.

He shouldn't be saying things like that IMO. Just making things harder for himself.

[Ent]

Big couple of important weeks coming up now for united.

£750 million kit deals and pre season crowds in excess of 100k count for nothing unless they're reinvesting the money from those into a very poor squad.

I would hope thatthe announcement from Adidas that the kit deal value drops without Champions League Football so it might force the Glazers hand and we sign players (still not buying into without Champions Leaguie football nobody wants to come.....money can and will talk)

Unfortunately the one big stumbling block seems to be Ed Woodward, who in his third transfer window still seems out of his depth. Quality at making money, rubbish at spending it

I agree completely, Ent can bang on about no CL football hurting our pulling power but it really doesn't, we just need to stump up the cash and players like Vidal and Di Maria will join us, we can offer wages very few teams can thanks to FFP. We could spend I believe in excess of £300mil and it still wouldn't put us in danger of failing FFP.

Our inability to attract players is down to not offering the asking price, Vidal has said nothing to suggest he wouldn't be interested in joining, in fact his comments suggest the opposite that he is interested but won't force a move. All we need to do is bite the bullet and spend big on these players, until then we're not going to get anywhere.

Right...

Infact you stated all players would move anywhere for a 200% increase in wages and that money was the sole issue and sole attraction.

I'm being realistic. We need a centre half and a cm, we have some good players in the position Di Maria plays - signing him would be doing an arsenal.

[Hammersmith harrier]

What good wingers do we have then? Apart from Januzaj i'm struggling to see what threat we possess on the flanks and if we rewind three months then our wingers were something that needed upgrading.

[Ent]

Di Maria played centrally in his beat year for Madrid!!

We aren't currently playing with wingers in a 352!!!!!

[Hammersmith harrier]

We won't be playing 3-5-2 going forward I wouldn't have thought, Van Gaal when he stated he didn't have world class wingers like Di Maria obviously wasn't thinking about playing him centrally.

[Ent]

If we go 433 then we have Rooney, rvp, januzaj and mata to fit into 3 never mind di Maria.

He is a good player but is he what we need I am not sure.

[Hammersmith harrier]

We have those players to fit into four positions so all will get plenty of game time; you'll have Di Maria and Januzaj on the wings then you have the option of either Rooney or Mata behind Van Persie or Mata behind Rooney. Do think this signals the end for Hernandez, Young, Kagawa and even possibly Welbeck, we really do need to start selling these players off.

[Guest]

-Rafael---Evans---Rojo---Blind-
-----Herrera------Carrick-------
Januzaj----Rooney-----Di Maria
-------------RVP---------------

Nobody will touch Young, Kagawa is now 2/1 for Dortmund I believe, Welbeck will probably be forced out to Hull or Sunderland for £12m. Hernandez is a ?, probably to Italy.

[Ent]

Don't think lvg has played 4231 before although that is my preferred formation.

No mata or shaw in that side, 70 million quid of talent in reserve. Back four still looks dodgy.

Have to keep one of welbeck or Hernandez as 3rd striker.

Intriguing times.

[Guest]

Off topic, nani misses a penalty on his first game back in lisbon

[Ent]

Shame for him.

Hope he has a great season, he can either come back into the side or make himself valuable.

Bit of a wasted talent story, such a pity he got that series of injuries when he was playing very well in 2011.

[Hero]

Ent seriously what would make you happy?
I genuinely wish you'd support another club as you're just the most melancholic fan I've ever known.

[Ent]

Being realistic isn't being melancolic.

It is using your brain.

[Ent]

£75 million being reported for Di Maria today.

Big test for Woodward this, he should tell them to do one and see if they come back with a realistic request. We shouldn't be held to ransom and shouldn't be financing their galactico transfers.

Time to grow a set.

[Hammersmith harrier]

Where on earth are you getting these figures from, everybody seems to be reporting it's £50mil, you've latched on to one little comment and gone with it.

[Ent]

Being reported on eurosport, sky sports, daily mail (cough) and in the Guardian today.

Obviously not a guarantee but it is being reported by several mainstream outlets.

[Hammersmith harrier]

You know the difference between Euro's and Pound's yes?

[Ent]

Yes and it conveniently states them in the reports from the sources I listed if you read them.

SSN/eurosport £75 million €94m

guardian £60 million + €10 million add ons, €75m approx £68 million

[Hammersmith harrier]

I have both the Guardian and Sky Sports articles open and neither of them state the figures you've fabricated.

[Ent]

That would be because you are reading articles from yesterday evening.

On SSN now.

https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/premier-league-real-madrid-di-maria-asking-price-102757244--sow.html

https://twitter.com/DTguardian

https://twitter.com/skysports_bryan

Nothing 100% factual but I haven't made these numbers up as you suggest.

[Hammersmith harrier]

The ever reliable twitter, if it's on there it must be true.

[Ent]

The ever reliable twitter, if it's on there it must be true.

So did I fabricate these numbers or not?

[Hammersmith harrier]

To be honest I don't really care you're just a prat who isn't happy unless he's unhappy about something.

[Ent]

To be honest I don't really care you're just a prat who isn't happy unless he's unhappy about something.

I'd rather not get personal and just discuss the transfer rumours if thats alright.

[Ent]

£64 million + add ons apparently agreed now.

Gulp.

[Hulking_up]

Crazy money.

[Duty281]

It probably goes without saying, but that is far too much to spend.

Forty million should have been the absolute tipping point.

[Ent]

It probably goes without saying, but that is far too much to spend.

Forty million should have been the absolute tipping point.

That would require common sense.

[mystiroakey]

£64 million + add ons apparently agreed now.

Gulp.

Wow...

Suraez went for that price.....

[Duty281]

According to the Telegraph, United are looking at selling Danny Welbeck to either Tottenham or Everton, and utilising the talent of Januzaj through the middle of midfield.

[Ent]

£64 million + add ons apparently agreed now.

Gulp.

Wow...

Suraez went for that price.....

James, Neymar, Bale for not much more.

This deal is bat Poopie crazy, someone needs to hand woodward a stiff drink and get him out of Madrid.

[Ent]

“That is not good enough for Manchester United. Our passing let us down, we need more creative passing. You need creative passing in the last third but our balls were not so good. We were dominating without creating chances. There were so many chances we didn’t create. And that’s disappointing. The players are very disappointed because we had thought we would win today but we have only one point. We are training every day in passing and kicking. But we have to improve and we have to work a lot.

“In the first half we played an equal match with Sunderland. We didn’t create so much but scored a fantastic goal. We played much better in the second half and could have created more, but in the last third we lacked creative passes and we gave away a lot of set-pieces and they scored from one, which is disappointing. Football is played for creating chances and making goals. We haven’t created so many chances today. We probably had more ball possession and were more dominant than the last match but you have to win your game at that moment and we couldn’t, so that’s a pity."

Agree with most of what he has said, gives me confidence he will get it sorted.

[mystiroakey]

According to the Telegraph, United are looking at selling Danny Welbeck to either Tottenham or Everton, and utilising the talent of Januzaj through the middle of midfield.

he must be worth 16m minimum..

but they promised not to sell to a rival..

those two are there closest rivals..

[Ent]

Be a mistake to sell welbeck.

Think moving Hernandez is a more sensible option.

[mystiroakey]

It seems odd to sell welbeck over Hernandez especially when welbeck is actually the one that can almost play as a wing back and striker.

When he has played on the wing. His defensive duties are very good , and when he plays as a striker he scores .

Not sure why he isn't one of LVG most prized assets as a utility player.

[Crimey]

I'm guessing it's because Welbeck has said he doesn't want to play in those positions any more and wants to be used as a striker and not be a bit-part player.

[Ent]

If he wants to go then fair enough, just think he adds something different to the side compared to Hernandez.

[Bull]

Hernandez >> Welbeck

[Ent]

Hernandez >> Welbeck

Think Welbeck offers a different option and more to the squad.

[Bull]

Never been a fan of Welbeck in all honesty. But I can see where you are coming from.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Hernandez is really not very good

[Bull]

Neither is RVW

[NickisBHAFC]

Hernandez is class.

[Ent]

Hernandez is really not very good

Great goal scorer, average all round player.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Hernandez is really not very good

Great goal scorer, average all round player.

Offers nothing bar goals, and in Utd's current state they need there forwards to be better all round players

[Trebs]

Welbeck should be kept at all costs for me, he's young, and has great ability, pace and power. The only thing he doesn't have is the shooting ability, but he can develop that. I'd be interested to know his scoring rate in just games he's played upfront. Hernandez is a good impact sub, but I wouldn't start him in games. He can get goals and cause problems against a tiring defense. I'd be more inclined to let him leave though if one was to go.

[Liam]

I'd love to keep Welbeck as I actually think he's quite underrated. However, I think if he wants to reach his potential he needs to leave utd and play regularly as a striker. I can sort of see the similarities between him and Sturridge. Sturridge had to leave Chelsea for regular football and to play down the middle where he felt was his best position. Since moving to Liverpool he's flourished and I feel Welbeck would do the same tbh. Anyway, I'd like to see Wilson promoted to the first team squad. Serious goal scorer with bags of potential.

[Ent]

Think he offers pace in behind, willingness to run the channels and strength to hold the ball up. No other player in the squad offers that. Yesterday and in pre season we looked better with him up front than without.

Tottenham is his rumoured destination - swap deal for Vertongen or Dembele perhaps...?

[owen10ozzy]

So a worse start in the opening two games than David Moyes last year;

Trying to keep the fan spectacles off what are people's genuine assessment of what's gone on at Utd so far this season in terms of formation being played, performances thus far and transfer dealings..

It's clear that the board room are operating much better than they did in their first summer together, although again at 64 million for Di Maria you could argue they are being pushed into higher dealings than necessary just to make a splash in the window. It's odd to me that Moyes got slaughtered for going back and overpaying for Fellaini yet they don't seem that fussed about the fee for Di Marie...that's without the thought process that at least Fellaini represented a position Utd needed to try and improve in.

It's looking like another summer where Utd aren't looking to improve in the middle of the park; is it just the fans and media who see this being the key area? Do people at Utd think they are fine in that area...given the lack of movement on this front that must be the case?

Also given LVG statement that he takes 3 months to settle in, that a title would take a miracle this season and that fans need to be in it for the long haul, how long are you willing to give him?

[Liam]

Think he offers pace in behind, willingness to run the channels and strength to hold the ball up. No other player in the squad offers that. Yesterday and in pre season we looked better with him up front than without.

Tottenham is his rumoured destination - swap deal for Vertongen or Dembele perhaps...?

They'd never sell us Vertonghen but how about Sandro? I really like Dembele also so either would be welcome additions to the team. Sandro wasn't in the squad on the weekend and it seems Bentaleb and Capoue are Pochetinno's chosen partnership so there's a real chance of playing Levy's own game and getting a better deal for us through the use of Welbeck.

[Ent]

Very different mentality in the squad this year after coming off a miserable season. Players nervous.

Lot of departures/injuries who would be starting if fit compared to last year - Vidic, Evans, Carrick etc

Have bought a central midfielder who looks like he can play in Herrera.

Think people are concerned about the Di Maria fee, but given the desperation of last season fans just want to see a good player who can attack, create and score goals with pace so they are tolerating the huge fee.

It's been prolonged discussions over him whereas Moyes last year messed about with Thiago and Fabregas for ages then in desperation went in on deadline day for an absolute dog turd of a player he should have never signed for more than his release fee was a few weeks earlier.

Rojo, Shaw, Herrera and Di Maria is great transfer activity for us any year really, never mind after a bad year - spent about £70 million too much though. which is nothing to sniff at as you could get a super star for that fee or two top class players.

LVG needs time to get the good players fit and playing, he knows what he is doing and is identifying areas of concern in pressers rather than talking absolute crap saying we played well like Moyes did.

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