Manchester United

[AtW]

It's going to be a test of Moyes' resolve and character

Nah, it's a test of Glazers really ...

[Doggy Styles]

Maybe Fergie will come back next season...

Indeed - and there is a small but growing clamour for that!

[doodab]

Spending that amount of money, on a player that plays in the same position as Rooney, and possibly also Fellaini's strongest position, was absurd. Mata has now been shunted out to the right wing. It's going to be a test of Moyes' resolve and character - it has to be either play Rooney in midfield or wide and let Mata play in the 'hole' or watch him go to waste and be labelled as a flop. Considering Wayne's now calling the shots, I can't see that happening.

Really? I think that attitude shows a lack of ambition TBH. No one looks at Chelsea, Man City, Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich and considers it absurd that they have more than one decent player for a particular position do they.

The problem isn't that they have three players competing for two starting places. The problem is that is the only place on the pitch where they have the sort of strength in depth needed to be serious contenders. Hence my assertion they need to spend £200 million or more. They need another striker, at least three midfielders (one or two of whom can actually play well out wide), three centre backs and two full backs, assuming Evra and Rafeal stay. I don't even think the players are out there to be bought TBH, and I don't see them coming through the ranks, which is why I think it will take 2-3 seasons or more before they are back near the top of the pile.

Contrast that with say Liverpool, who also lack the strength in depth in defense but have a good first choice back four, four good attacking midfielders, two great strikers and several academy graduates coming through and getting game time, or City and Chelsea, both of whom have spare teams that are good enough to finish in the top six.

[GazCol]

Really? I think that attitude shows a lack of ambition TBH. No one looks at Chelsea, Man City, Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich and considers it absurd that they have more than one decent player for a particular position do they.

They don't, but nor do they look at those teams and say they really need a new centre-back, left back, right back, box-to-box midfielder and a winger. If you've got a limited time to buy, coupled with a limited budget, why strengthen the one area that doesn't need it at the expense of those areas that do. It's a panic buy, and, if Moyes remains in charge, it's going to end in tears for all involved.

[BoredBloke]

I can't understand Moyes and how he goes about things. In the summer United were offering comedy money for world class players. Their starting bid for Fabregas was less than the amount the paid for Felani, who is tulipe!! Our only player who came out the preseason, which was a sign of things to come, was Zaha. A player that Moyes then gave no pitch time to, while playing Young time after time. Even the Mata purchase doesn't make sense. It would do if they were letting Rooney go, but they are not. It would do if they were trying to mould Rooney into a central midfield player, which they don't seem to be doing. Evra is past it and is on his way out at the end of the year, as is Rio and now we hear Vidic is going also. Letting Vidic go at 32 is a mistake. Jones and Smalling are not up to it and Evans is only good in fits and starts. Carrick is too slow and Fletcher is not at his best - even when these 2 play to their maximum ability they are still way behind Scholes and Keane having a bad day!

It also annoys me that people say that he shoudl be given time and compare his start with Fergies. The trouble with that is Fergie didn't take over a side that had just romped to the title. Moyes has taken a team which probably over performed last year but which now loses and struggles against the worst teams in the league.

[doodab]

If you've got a limited time to buy, coupled with a limited budget, why strengthen the one area that doesn't need it at the expense of those areas that do.

Because you can only buy the players on the market. There weren't any top notch defenders, defensive midfielders or wingers available in January, if there were I'm sure they would have been in. As it is I don't see a problem having Rooney in the hole & pushing Fellaini into a more defensive role which he might not like but he's reasonably good at, which leaves room for Mata in an attacking role in the middle alongside Fellaini and another more defensive player.

The trouble with wingers is that Giggs is well past his best, to the point he's not even a winger anymore, Ronaldo left and Beckham, although a different sort of player, is a distant memory. Neither Valencia, Young or Nani offer the same sort of threat and they are going to struggle to find someone who does. Who is there they can buy in the summer exactly? So perhaps they need to forget about it and start hustling the central midfield with Mata, Rooney, Van Persie and another skillful attacking midfielder (there seem to be a surfeit of those around these days, I blame Barfelona) doing the merry go round and relying on the full backs for width.

[GazCol]

Because you can only buy the players on the market. There weren't any top notch defenders, defensive midfielders or wingers available in January, if there were I'm sure they would have been in. As it is I don't see a problem having Rooney in the hole & pushing Fellaini into a more defensive role which he might not like but he's reasonably good at, which leaves room for Mata in the middle alongside Fellaini and another more defensive player.

Matic moved to Chelsea, Fernando was available from Porto as was Mangela. Mata doesn't have the engine to play in a midfield with Fellaini - that lack of mobility would just be the same issue that they have now with Cleverley/Carrick and is why teams like Fulham can cut through them at apparent will on the break, besides, by playing him deeper you're losing his best attributes. Draxler was, according to Schalke available but Arsenal wouldn't match the fee. This doesn't just go back to January though, it's a summer of mismanagement and laughable transfer bids of £30m for every household name that can play in midfield.

The trouble with wingers is that Giggs is well past his best, Ronaldo left and Beckham, although a different sort of player, is a distant memory. Neither Valencia, Young or Nani offer the same sort of threat and they are going to struggle to find someone who does. Who is there they can buy in the summer exactly? So perhaps they need to forget about it and start hustling the central midfield with Mata, Rooney, Van Persie and another skillful attacking midfielder doing the merry go round and relying on the full backs for width.

Whatever happens it's going to cost a fortune to fix. The team that started for United yesterday was more expensive than that of Chelsea or City's the week before; and if that shower of tulipe cost that amount, god knows how much it'll cost to fix.

[doodab]

Whatever happens it's going to cost a fortune to fix. The team that started for United yesterday was more expensive than that of Chelsea or City's the week before; and if that shower of tulipe cost that amount, god knows how much it'll cost to fix.

Maybe that's part of the problem. For all his undoubted prowess as a manager, it has to be said that Fergie bought more than a few duffers, and a lot of them are in the current first team. He also got lucky with the golden generation. The players who have come through the youth ranks since haven't been of the same calibre, with the possible exception of Fletcher.

[Doggy Styles]

Maybe that's part of the problem. For all his undoubted prowess as a manager, it has to be said that Fergie bought more than a few duffers, and a lot of them are in the current first team. He also got lucky with the golden generation. The players who have come through the youth ranks since haven't been of the same calibre, with the possible exception of Fletcher.

All of which is probably why Ferguson said it was the right time for him to retire. Despite that title last year it's the worst squad he's had for 25 years, and he couldn't be arsed with rebuilding that again.

So don't hold your breath, it could be a long haul.

[doodab]

So don't hold your breath, it could be a long haul.

Thank f*** I'm a Liverpool fan