For all the talk of how poor our defense is we finished last season with the 3rd least goals scored after a rocky start. And then since November last year we have conceded the least amount of goals in the PL.
Granted a chunk of that was down to the heroics of De Gea. Still not sure if we will manage to hold until the window closes, but at the moment it looks we are unwilling to sell and he will sit on the bench until September 2nd.
Of the 6 defensive players we have De Gea, Shaw, Darmian, Schneiderlin, Smalling and Blind.
The first 4 are good enough for a title challenge IMO and definitely for a top 4 place.
The real questing marks are over the CB pairing
Smalling does look he stepped up a lvl at the back end of last season after an injury ridden season, so I am hopeful he can do ok there.
Blind haven't a clue how he willing adapt to that position yet, so far looks sound but hasn't really been tested.
It is far from perfect but it is probably better than your own defense and on par with arsenal's in terms of personnel. But as a unit and how they are coached I think United are stronger.
As some on here have pointed out the defensive stability is coming at the price of piss poor attacking play.
We need a top top attacking player to make up for this.
But they are hard to get and can't see who we could bring in at this stage.
There does seem to be rather excessive glee at listing MUs weaknesses in this thread, which in itself is fine of course, but I'd prefer to do it when we ourselves have a stronger team and we don't.
Your defense at the beginning of last season was a disaster waiting to happen but it has to be admitted it settled down pretty well. I think Depay and Schneiderlin are great signings, with Pigclimber possibly getting fit you can't accuse the owners of not backing the manager. Your play is a straight up tribute to LVGs face which is funny as fuck to watch because it goes against your so called principles so well and you can't help but look At the signings you have made and get the feeling that you have come down a fair way from that perch...
Last season I thought you were often garbage and it might well be true to say that if we hadn't have so completely imploded you would not be in the CL this but we did implode and you guys didn't despite yourselves. LVG did manage to get that pretty rag taggle bunch to churn out some important victories against the bigger clubs and that possibly bodes well for you guys. He has the stubbornness and ego required for the club.
Mata began to show,again, what a player he is and De Gea was fantastic, the De Gea situation needs sorting one way or another. Rooney is beginning to show his age and heavy build and I think you will lack goals to challenge in any meaningful way...
You may "challenge" like you did last season in as much as find yourself within 4 or 5 points for a week or two around Christmas and LVG will talk it up but everyone knew it was bullshit... I suspect even you guys.
You could do with a really dominant centre half and a top notch striker, preferably a very fast one, I think your centre mids are probably the third best group of centre mids in the league and if you can keep a decent goaly in place you will most likely finish top 4, but it won't be pretty.
I on the other hand will be praying that our equally disjointed new squad can gel enough to push you guys out again, I think we might especially if Sturridge comes back well... But then again... The early season away fixtures of ours are almost a written invitation for negative early season morale.
Oh and please don't post The Lying Rag ta...
