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]

I think the fans were ready to get behind anyone, rather than being specifically behind him.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

im going sat, looking forward to a decent atmosphere. glad the embarrassing banner has been taken down. didn't like it in the first place

Get to witness RVW live you lucky sod

[Ent]

Ancelotti out of the running too apparently.

Van gaal or bust it seems.

[Guest]

It's Van Gaal, I don't see any other alternative. It's ten months late, but at least United will get someone worthy of this type of job.

Interesting to see though if the player targets remain the same, now Moyes has gone, or do United hold off until Van Gaal takes full charge. I don't see a manager of Van Gaal's stature being told to rock up in July & United have already signed players without him.

[compelling and rich]

im coming round to the idea of van gaal if im honest, the more you look at his record the more i find him suitable especially considering who's out there currently

at his age yes he wont be around 6-7 years plus, but he has shown at ajax, bayern and barca that he has a great knack of bringing young players through and setting great foundations for the club to carry on from there.

of course there's always going to be the nostalgic fans out there that would love giggs to take over straight away, but were in a phase of transition where we need someone with experience of bringing players in and forming teams. none of which giggs has. van gaal in the role for 3 years with giggs as his number two, then when van gaal steps down/retires giggs will be in a much better postion to take over/ or there are better candidates for the job available who are not currently klopp/pep etc

[compelling and rich]

just hope holland get knocked out early so he has more time to settle in

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Least a Dutch paper has gone full on Van Gaal getting the job, which has prompted Ruud Gullit to congratulate him on twitter.

Daniel Taylor from the Guardian tweeted some transfer news today (a solid journo I trust), at least one meeting has been had in Paris over Cavani, Fabregas still the midfield target, United interested in Mangala but accept hes going to City.

Stressed that priorities are midfield and defence, but they want more dynamism in attack.

[Riggs]

So many negative comments from people in this Telegraph thread

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/10797161/Gary-Neville-calls-for-Ryan-Giggs-to-be-considered-as-replacement-for-David-Moyes-at-Manchester-United.html

It is important to be reminded that they are not the ones who have inspired the utd team but Ryan.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

He was playing us

Donald Duck could've been in charge and Utd would've beaten us

[Riggs]

He was playing us

Donald Duck could've been in charge and Utd would've beaten us

Yes ofcourse, you're so easy that even fantasy can beat you.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

He was playing us

Donald Duck could've been in charge and Utd would've beaten us

Yes ofcourse, you're so easy that even fantasy can beat you.

You've obviously not seen enough Norwich this season my friend!

[Liam]

I'm worried that pressure from players and fans will turn us away from van gaal and instead give giggs the job. He's not ready yet for the job, he's beaten an appalling Norwich side so there's no need to think he's a new guardiola or something. Sensible option, van gaal comes on, settles things down and makes the necessary signings, his name alone will help us with signings. Then have giggs his number 2 and have him take over in a few years time. Should also keep scholes, butt and hopefully g nev in the future when giggs takes over

[Crimey]

Apparently Van Gall doesn't necessarily want Ryan Giggs in his set up at all, never mind as his number two.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Well, from what I've read he usually likes one assistant of his own and one of the club. Whether that's Giggs or not, I get the feeling the club considers it's coaching chain and that Barca or old school Liverpool structure more important than just it's manager.

[GSC]

Kinda makes sense. If Giggs has a successful spell and gets passed over, it puts additional pressure on Van Gaal to have a fast start if Giggs is lurking.

[Stella]

Think I'd prefer Giggs over Van Gaal, if I were a Utd fan. I know the Dutchma's CV is a tad better, but he will be there two-three seasons top, then pee off for more money somewhere else. At least Giggs would stay for as long as he's wanted. Van Gaal of 10 years ago yes, but not now.

[GSC]

At the same time, Moyes ability to stick at a club was cited as a positive over Mourinho. And yet Mourinho has outlasted him. if Moyes lack of experience managing a top club was a hindrance then a guy with 3 games of Managerial expertise isnt likely to be popular, regardless of his links.

[Fernando]

"Wayne Rooney is concerned about Manchester United’s plan to install Louis van Gaal as manager, because of the Dutchman’s close relationship with Robin van Persie.
The United frontman is believed to be worried that the situation could revert to how it was during Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season in charge, when Van Persie became United’s first-choice striker.
Rooney was forced into a secondary role and nearly left the club, feeling he was being frozen out"

Im sure he is delighted really 300k to sit on bench and nail old age hookers.

[compelling and rich]

rooney can do one, look how we have done with him as our leading striker this season

when rvp was on form he lead us to the title

[Crimey]

I don't think being reliant on Van Persie is a good idea though, he's past 30 and was always going to be a short term option.

[GSC]

Especially given his past of being notoriously injury prone.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

rooney can do one, look how we have done with him as our leading striker this season

when rvp was on form he lead us to the title

17 goals, 10 assists from 29 league games for Rooney. 23 goals, 19 assists in all comps from 46 apps. Nearly involved in a goal a game

Would be madness to get rid of him for a injury prone striker

[Stella]

I see Cavani has been linked to Utd. Is this bloke any good?

[GSC]

Strong, quick, decent eye for goal. Had a poor season being shunted wide by Ibra

[compelling and rich]

rooney can do one, look how we have done with him as our leading striker this season

when rvp was on form he lead us to the title

17 goals, 10 assists from 29 league games for Rooney. 23 goals, 19 assists in all comps from 46 apps. Nearly involved in a goal a game

Would be madness to get rid of him for a injury prone striker

girouds stats are not that dissimilar and all ive heard all season is how rubbish he is, stats can be misleading especially when you play for one of the top sides and take pens and free kicks (something giroud doesn't do).

im not saying we put all our eggs in the rvp basket, just sick of rooney to be honest. guys a clown who thinks he's better than he is. wellbeck has played better than rooney since his new contract and gives us something were sadly lacking in pace.

[Guest]

The difference though you will never see Giroud at his own corner flag winning the ball back

Like him or not, regardless of stats rooney is a catalyst of a lot we do

[compelling and rich]

dont really agree with that, english mentality of getting excited just because a forward runs round a lot. he's earns his stripes in the final third and we have been very poor going forward this season.

second half of the season he's gone back to his form of old where he does very little then scores a pen then everybody creams themselves and gives him man of the match.

also look at the big games where you expect our big game players to turn up, he's done very little in the big games. he scored most of his goals against poor sides ala berba. when we have needed him most like bayern he was awful. but of course people will turn around and makes excuses for him because he had a "bruised toe"

[Dolphin Ziggler]

If I was keeping one it wouldn't be RVP. Showed a complete lack of class all season.

[compelling and rich]

If I was keeping one it wouldn't be RVP. Showed a complete lack of class all season.

why what make you think that? been injured for large parts and when he has played he's been left totally isolated up front trying to lead the line with a "number 10" who barely passes to him. ive watched him this season and felt sorry for him playing under moyes tactics (if you can call them that)

rooney and rvp link up is poor, and i think its clear they dont get along. for me out of the two its ronney who's getting too big for his boots and nowhere near earning his wages

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I don't think Rooney is going to be able to do anything to win you over because your mind is set. RVP to me has looked a shadow of the player he was a year before, both in quality and attitude. Thought it notable that United have looked better with Rooney, Welbeck and Mata playing that any combination that would involve RVP.

[compelling and rich]

I don't think Rooney is going to be able to do anything to win you over because your mind is set. RVP to me has looked a shadow of the player he was a year before, both in quality and attitude. Thought it notable that United have looked better with Rooney, Welbeck and Mata playing that any combination that would involve RVP.

i have been critical of rooney for a few years now and was totally backing fergie in getting rid of him, but his form first half of the season kept me quiet. since his new contract he's reverted to rooney of the past few seasons.

harsh on rvp that as he's not had the luxury of playing with mata in his strongest postion only rooney behind him, although i have liked when wellbeck has played. he works hard and adds pace we havent got

[dummy_half]

Compelling

players like Welbeck are precisely why Man U have had a poor season - he does bring pace and workrate, but his touch and finishing aren't that of an attacking player that a title-challenging side should be relying on. Similar argument with Cleverley and a couple of others in and around the first choice XI - would be good players for someone like Stoke, who are a well established EPL team but not challenging for honours, but aren't really top 4 standard.

Last season was an over-achievement, based on RVP's goal scoring and the resultant confidence that flowed through the side (I would argue Liverpool this year are a bit similar - not as good across the board as Citeh or Chelsea but with a striker in great form carrying them and lifting everyone else). This year has been rather too much of a come-down, and I'm sure Moyes has to take some of the blame - should have been realistically challenging for 3rd or 4th, but for a number of reasons (including RVP's injury) it just hasn't happened.

As for the new manager, I think Van Gaal could be a good appointment, on the understanding that he has about 3 or 4 seasons left in him. First 18 months will be about re-building the squad, moving out the dead wood and bringing in fewer but higher quality players. Probably gives him 2 seasons to look to win something major (EPL or Champions League). At the end of his spell there would be the option of bringing through Giggs or Gary Nev as the new boss with Van Gaal perhaps staying on as a Director of Football.

[Liam]

Agree,

Giggs needs to stay in the set up and utd need to make sure that happens in Van Gaal comes in. In fairness I have read Van Gaal likes to work with someone who has been at the club for a while, something Moyes should have listened to, so there's hopefully a role for Giggs and ideally, he takes over in the future. We need a massive rebuild in the summer, players going out i'd say:

Young
Anderson
Hernandez
RVP (Possibly)
Nani (Possibly)
Vidic
Ferdinand
Evra
Cleverly (If Everton are stupid enough to pay 15m)

That's allot of deadwood leaving, and realistically, we need about 5 players coming in: box-to-box mid (strootman), playmaking mid (kroos), winger (reus), cb (garay), left back (shaw) and possibly another full back (coleman) = 150-200m

[compelling and rich]

dummy, i would have agreed with you about wellbeck start of last year, but he's impressed me a lot since then. you could easily said the same of the likes of sturridge at one point. if wellbeck improves his finsihing theres not a lot of difference between there games. the biggest difference is that strurridge has been given a run in a team in his strongest position and has come on leaps and bounds because of it

you wont get me arguing about cleverly though

id be quite happy with van gaal with giggs

[Dolphin Ziggler]

William Carvalho should be a yes.

"The imperial midfielder was voted young player of the month for August / September and October / November as well as winning player of the month for October / November, December and now March." Don't know if thats improved from there on but its a ridiculously impressive record.

[mystiroakey]

I think people are being way to harsh on Rooney. He has overall had a very good season with a couple of months lack of form after getting injured- He is right back on it now(good signs for England), and i dont think his last good performance wasn't just due to the free-er role the players had under Giggs because he out of any player really liked Moyes- I just think it takes him time to get back on track after time out- but that has allways been the case.

[compelling and rich]

oh yes he's on top form because he scored one good goal and a pen against the mighty norwich. just wait till the world cup to see "world class" rooney

[mystiroakey]

its confidence with rooney mate- you just see the glimer in his eye.

He has been injured or out of sorts or banned before every other cup recently- this will be the first since his first cup that he is confident.

so lets wait and see mate

[compelling and rich]

i was at the norwich game and he didnt set the world alight it was a 7/10 performance. he was non existent against bayern x2 and everton and people make excuses for him, he plays ok against a terrible team and everybody jumps to his praises.

think people praise him a lot more because of his profile, plenty of games there have been better players but rooney normally grabs the headlines because it sells more

yeah i'll be glad to be proven wrong at the world cup, sadly i cant see it

[mystiroakey]

C and R it is rare for roony to be coming back into confidence before the cup rather than completely flaking out .

As long as(touch wood) he doesn't get injured - Its pretty good signs for him compared to the previous cups.

Bar the season he played up front and scored 30 plus he hasnt had a season where he has been 100% all year(like RVP was last year)

so i am happy enough from an England POV anyway.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I think a lot more people abuse him cos hes English. I think he looks to have been proven right to some extent from the troubles of last summer. If he truly feels that Ferguson was lying, which I personally feel he was, about the transfer request then I would suggest its perfectly reasonable to feel uncomfortable playing for a club where Fergie might still be running the show.

He is one of very few players who has acquitted himself well in a poor year for the club. Which to me shows a damn sight more respect for United as a whole than some of the other babies (including Welbeck who I think was pathetic in his reaction to being disciplined)

[skyeman]

For the WC, let's hope the Rooney of Euro 2004 turns up. After that he was being talked about as one of the specials. Still time for him.

[skyeman]

Five PL's, one CL, two League cups and others. Fourth highest ever Utd goal scorer, fifth for England and only 28 is not too bad though.

Just his temperament still the problem.

[Liam]

Rooney was excellent at the start of the campaign but always fades away around xmas time into the new year, then seems to regain some form at the back end of the season. No doubt without him we'd be in an even worse situation that we are in now that's for sure.

Thing is, I keep seeing these Cavani rumours with apparently his agent coming out stating he'd like to play in the prem with utd his preference. Just seems an unnecessary purchase. Especially if Van Gaal comes in, RVP will be his main man. It'll be interesting to see then where Rooney and Mata fit in as only one can be the no.10 in the side. For me, as long as RVP is fit, he'd be my starting striker up top every day of the week.

[mystiroakey]

If anyone pays more than 30m for Cavani they have been mugged of.

I can only see him going arsernal or chelsea(who actually need a striker) if they havent secured anyone else and take him as a last resort

[dummy_half]

skyeman

I think one of the problems many fans have with Rooney is that he is slightly over-sold. Obviously a very good player at club level, and one most clubs in the world would be happy to sign, but he is touted as a world class attacking talent - for me, that means he should be compared to the likes of Ronaldo, Messi and Ibrahimovic, which is a comparison in which he falls a little way short.

Has moments of brilliance, but for me has too much inconsistency in his game - for every wonder goal there are more moments where he is let down by a poor first touch or a lackadaisical pass. Probably more to do with his concentration than his technical ability. The other thing is that at the absolute highest level he lacks outstanding pace - not slow, but not like Ronaldo or Bale who once they are past a defender are not going to be caught from behind.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I'm gonna get show down here, I know, but Rooney > Ibra

[dummy_half]

DZ

In a way I see some similarities (moments of brilliance and moments of mundanity) and some areas where Rooney would come out ahead (he's definitely more hard working). I think as a pure forward though, Zlatan is more capable of winning a game single handedly and has more moments of pure genius - that's why he is now at least discussed on the same page as Messi and Ron (both of whom are better and more consistent though). I don't have Rooney quite up there - perhaps in the lower part of the top 10 forwards in the game today.

[compelling and rich]

zlatans technical ability with rooneys work ethic is the complete forward

they both lack each others strengths

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I wouldnt for a second discuss Zlatan in the same sentence as Messi and Ronaldo personally.

I love Rooney. I love his passing, his teamwork, the variety of goals he scores, his workrate, his inventiveness. If he could dribble like a winger then he'd be up there.

If Rooney had gone to Chelsea they would have strolled the league.

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