08 Feb 2015 19:42:07
I think we are suffering for some of our summer purchases. which at the time I was massively excited about.
Falcao - really like him but at the minute either he or RVP need to make way. Also, if we had not got him it would have meant Rooney playing up front and Harera getting more game time. Maybe we would be a better team now if that was the case.
Di Marea - Again love him when on form.he just does not look like his heart is in it and maybe just not someone suited to LVG style.
Maybe less money spent and more trust in the youth (yes we have played some but Wilson was already starting and Blackett/McNair were forced) would have been better.
Easy to look back though!!
{Ed004's Note - Think there has been a bit of an over reaction today. I reckon most people would have been happy with the team line up. We just didn't get going until they scored. We had plenty of chances to score with RVP and Falcao in particular. I can't think of any chances for west ham bar set pieces. Thought starting two strikers in a difficult away ground were city and liverpool have lost this season was risky and would have started Fellaini. Not sure LvG rates Rooney up top anyways and Di Maria will be better next season when he is used to league and we are playing a consistent team. There is still a lot of room for improvement but we are a point better of compared to Arsenal this weekend}
Do Maria looks very unhappy. I'm not sure he'll be here next year. And to be honest, he's looked anything but a £59m player. He looks so miserable all the time and I'm not sure his heart is at United. I think if PSG come in for him then he'll run there.
The worst buy though so far has been Shaw. He's young but we paid nearly £30m for him and he's been extremely disappointing.
{Ed004's Note - I thought Shaw was very good today. He's continuing to improve weekly. He was extremely unfortunate today. He committed two fouls all game whereas Song must have made about 7/8}
E004, its not just today though is it?
On the plus side, we have seen some youngsters given a chance, DDG now looks like one of the world's best, and we are currently in top 4 having lost only once in the last 17 games.
However, in those 17 games we have rarely looked convincing, we struggled to get past Yeovil and Cambridge, we are playing players out of position with a philosophy that is clear only to LVG. Rooney is not a midfielder, Herrera can't get a game (neither can Rafael) RVP and Falcao continually look poor, and when in trouble we resort to lumping it up to the big man.
GDS and I regularly take / took people to task for their negativity but right now I am starting to despair. This team has character and desire as we saw again today. We have some great players but they look lost. Clearly LVG is a well decorated coach and I am not, but how about we play our best striker up front, and play midfield players in midfield. How about we stop passing the ball back to DDG when we are in the opposing team's half and decide on a settled team and formation. How about we stop worrying about conceding and start focusing on scoring and how about we drop players who are playing poorly.
Finally, confidence is good, blind arrogance isn't. LVG doesn't seem to think there is anything he can do better whilst most of us would probably disagree.
Sorry for coming over all 'Beast' but watching us is painful and frustrating and it feels like there are some quick fixes.
{Ed004's Note - I was very pro LVG before Christmas. However I starting to become more and more worried. His favoured formation is 433. Play it!! Di Maria and januzaj wingers. The two strikers (especially away from home) doesn't work unless they are both mobile and willing to run the wings (Suarez and Sturridge). Our play is too slow. I do not think he will be manager here next season but in saying that he won't be sacked during the season so I don't think it's worthwhile talking about.}
Di maria is not a 10, rooney is not rcm, rvp falcao are 2 similar .
Very few top teams play 2 strikers
Ed, I agree, its not rocket science is it.
2 good wide players, 2 solid CMs, 2 CFs who are not the same (or 1 and a No 10). Simplistic but with the quality we have we would blow teams off the park.
I wonder if things would be different if we hadn't had the last minute deal fro Falcao? I think his energy and commitment is brilliant but I've seen nothing to justify the proposed expenditure.
{Ed004's Note - Out of curiosity what forward players do you/others think will be here next season. Plenty of strikers Rooney, RVP, Falcao, Wilson and Hernandez returning. Them Nani, Young, Valencia, Mata, Di Maria, Januzaj to sort out. We could raise a decent amount from selling players there}
There needs to be a clear out and a rebuild but the Manager also needs to have his head screwed on. I posted a long post which has ended up on the Other Posts page but jred had just summarise it in 2 lines.
Sadly, I think Falcao is over priced and RVP appears to have either lost interest or lost his form. However, I would keep RVP, push Rooney back up top and use Wilson a lot more - Falcao has not shown he is worth the investment.
Januzaj and ADM are the future, Herrera needs to play, Carrick and Blind should stay but we need that top quality CM to gel it together. I'm also not convinced where Mata fits in although if we were to sign a Pogba type CM, it might help him a lot.
Add in a top quality CB and possible a RB and we are up and running. I also agree that Shaw will be fine, he looks a top player who is struggling to settle but I have high hopes for him.
Good question Ed.
I would like to keep Falcao/Rooney/Wilson with RVP and Hernandez moved on.
Nani -sell for obvious reasons
Young - sell, just not good enough
Valencia sell, past his best
Mata - sell, unfortunately doesn't fit IMO.
That's got to bring in 80ish + million which would bring in the wide and defensive midfield players we need.
With RVP gone then Rooney would play in his best position thus opening a place for Herrera to get in the first 11.
{Ed004's Note - I would keep Rooney and Wilson for strikers and sign one. Mata, Di Maria, Valencia, Januzaj and sign a winger. Then probably purchase one more dominant midfielder. Would allow us to go 433 or play the diamond at home with Mata in behind the strikers.}
Herbie
Why would you keep Falcao? I like him and his record is great but he has yet to show he is worth the money. If it was RVP or Falcao, I would stay with RVP
AJH
Its more an age thing plus I don't think we have actually seen the real Falcao yet, if we could get a settled first 11 with Falcao in it I truly believe we would have a quality player.
Possibly Herbie, but LVG seems intent on playing both which isn't working.
I wander is falco 100% fit, after his injury and since he came here he seems to be off the pace by a yard.the way it stands now I wouldn't keep him, Wilson, Rooney, benzema
Well said, Ed.
Young has not been good for us in previous seasons but it would be stupid to say we would sell him next season. When we played a 3 man defense he was probably the best player in our team and deserves at least one more season with United.