United Thread 2014/15

[Matty]

Rojo is a decent player, but that's about it. His best position is in the wing back slot in a 3-5-2 formation. Perfect you say? That's what Van Gaal is trying to play you say? Well, yes, a player who can play left wing back in a system like that is indeed valuable, the issue here is United have already splashed the best part of £30m on a left fullback, so they can't both play in that role. Assuming Shaw is the guy who will play in the left sided defensive position (either in a back 5 or a back 4) then Rojo must be being bought as a left sided centre half (again either as 1 of 2, or 1 of 3 centre halves). That's not his best position. As a centre half there are many, many better options out there than Rojo. He'll improve United's squad, but as a centre half I don't think he's much, if any, improvement on Evans, Smalling or Jones. Not the big name, big money centre half United are desperate for.

All this desperation to buy a 2nd choice left back. Rojo improves the squad but they definitely should prioritize other areas first.

True.

It's like the rumoured Di Maria signing. He's a fantastic player, and he'll definitely improve them, but if you were United, and you were looking to spend £50m (plus whatever extortionate wages, signing on fees, bonuses, agents payments are required) would you be looking at a wide attacking player as a priority? When you consider United's squad, it's the defence that needs to be strengthened, it's lacking in both quality and quantity. Jones, Smalling and Evans as centre halves, with Keane and Blackett at the next options is a weak group (even if you include Rojo in there too), Rafael as a right back, with square pegs in round holes (Valencia and Young) as the alternatives is also a very unimpressive set of options. As a whole United's defence falls short of all the other top sides. City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs and Everton have got better options available to them.

Even if you ignore the defensive frailties, United are still far more in need of a central midfielder, someone who can hold things together and protect the defence, than they are an attacking wide player. If they are looking to spend £50m then Vidal makes far more sense than Di Maria, he'd be able to add far more to the way they play, and I'd wager he'd improve their results to a greater degree. Di Maria smacks of a "marque signing" to placate the fans whilst not spending the £100m+ that is actually needed to really address their issues (akin to the Ozil signing last season for Arsenal).

 

[beast]

Rojo is a decent player, but that's about it. His best position is in the wing back slot in a 3-5-2 formation. Perfect you say? That's what Van Gaal is trying to play you say? Well, yes, a player who can play left wing back in a system like that is indeed valuable, the issue here is United have already splashed the best part of £30m on a left fullback, so they can't both play in that role. Assuming Shaw is the guy who will play in the left sided defensive position (either in a back 5 or a back 4) then Rojo must be being bought as a left sided centre half (again either as 1 of 2, or 1 of 3 centre halves). That's not his best position. As a centre half there are many, many better options out there than Rojo. He'll improve United's squad, but as a centre half I don't think he's much, if any, improvement on Evans, Smalling or Jones. Not the big name, big money centre half United are desperate for.

All this desperation to buy a 2nd choice left back. Rojo improves the squad but they definitely should prioritize other areas first.

Well if most of the papers are to be believed, we are going all out to 'smash' the British transfer record for Di Maria, when we don't really need another winger, no matter how good they are.

Meanwhile, Van Gaal only seems interested in signing Kevin Strootman who is injured and won't be available to even kick a ball until January. And Bayern Munich are probably going to snap up Benatia a central defender who we really should be going all out to sign but probably won't even bother coz we have everyone tied up on the Di Maria sideshow.

I thought I read last night he'd agreed to go on loan to PSG, may have dreamt it though.

 

[sir baconface]

Rumours earlier that A&E is crocked and will miss a few weeks.

Sadly it seems to be true.

Look on the bright side, Blue. As gilt-edgedinvestments go, they'd have done better sending £27.5m to the Nigerian High Commissioner.

 

[standytogilvy]

WARCHEST LOL

 

[George Hannah]

SSN reporting Nani's wages to be paid in full by the swampies - £4.3m per year - can that figure be right?

 

[aguero93:20]

That's a good ad for their league cup tie.

 

[BlueTaylor91]

Nani's wages around €6m (£4.8m) - that's what Man Utd will pay, in full, during his 1 year loan spell at Sporting Lisbon.

 

[Matty]

SSN reporting Nani's wages to be paid in full by the swampies - £4.3m per year - can that figure be right?

I'd assume the figure is pretty spot on, £4.3m over a year works out at roughly £83,000 a week, which sounds about right for Nani's wages.

 

[whp.blue]

Nani's wages around €6m (£4.8m) - that's what Man Utd will pay, in full, during his 1 year loan spell at Sporting Lisbon.

If that is true what is the logic in loaning someone out and not even making a small saving and it just weakens their already weak squad wtf?

 

[Deleted member 13905]