Rivals : United

[Mors]

It's not that bizarre at all, we over paid on carroll by about 20mill due to panic buying. They've overpaid on di maria by about 30+

 

[superchimp]

It's not that bizarre at all, we over paid on carroll by about 20mill due to panic buying. They've overpaid on di maria by about 30+

Yeh, but Di Maria is the type of player who has undoubted quality all round.

When you overpay for a player who is genuinely class then they almost seem to pay back instantly because of how much the team improves overall.

Carrol was a panic buy who was overpriced and not very good, therefore its a lose lose situation,

 

[ChastenedMUFC]

It's hilarious. He's worth half that.
My dad's a Madrid fan so watch a fair few games with him, and the guy is good, but not that good. Not even close.
Considering 15 mil more gets you Suarez.
Hilarious.
It's on a par to us signing Andy Carol.

Except Andy Carol was pretty shite irrespective of the price.

A DM and a CB and the team looks pretty solid for 433.
However top 4 looks unlikely this season as it will take time for the team to gel.

 

[Mors]

Yeh, but Di Maria is the type of player who has undoubted quality all round.

When you overpay for a player who is genuinely class then they almost seem to pay back instantly because of how much the team improves overall.

Carrol was a panic buy who was overpriced and not very good, therefore its a lose lose situation,

When we panic bought Carroll it was on the back of a good season (maybe even 6months!), if he'd have played for us like he did for them and stayed fit, we'd have been laughing. As it was, he couldn't replicate it and then you're stuck with a massive loss on your hands. Di maria has had one standout season (last season) and wasn't setting the world on fire before that, was a fringe player, if he can't replicate his 1 good season's worth of form at the scum, they've got a double veron on their hands.
It makes it even better that they've panic bought a massively overpriced player for a position that isn't exactly desperate for them.

 

[peterhague]

Except Andy Carol was pretty shite irrespective of the price.

A DM and a CB and the team looks pretty solid for 433.
However top 4 looks unlikely this season as it will take time for the team to gel.

Why are you so sure he'll just switch to the 4-3-3?

You never replied to my question regarding the u21 team lining up in the 3-5-2 formation. Is that a long-term thing? Or is it a coincidental change?

Or is it, as one would assume, part of a wholesale commitment to that system implemented by Van Gaal?

 

[Ryan]

The Di Maria signing is this year's Ozil.

A late, whopping expensive 'star' player from Real/Barca to placate the fans, add some quality international flair, but do sweet fuck all to address the fundamental issues in the side.

 

[Whirly]

The Di Maria signing is this year's Ozil.

A late, whopping expensive 'star' player from Real/Barca to placate the fans, add some quality international flair, but do sweet fuck all to address the fundamental issues in the side.

Agreed, but I think Di Maria is a much better player than Ozil.

 

[mom]

He's a very good player, not on the level of ronaldo/messi etc but he's one of the most direct wingers in the world right now.

On a par with Carrol?

Thats just a bizarre statement in all fairness.

No it's not. With regards to paying way over the odds for a player it's the same sort if thing. They've been robbed, so were we.

 

[ChastenedMUFC]

Why are you so sure he'll just switch to the 4-3-3?

He pretty much said it a few weeks ago.

‘Now we have five number 9s and four number 10s and we don’t have wingers to play attacking width, not at the highest level, of Ronaldo or Di Maria or something like that. So I have to play also in another way and you have seen that.’

You never replied to my question regarding the u21 team lining up in the 3-5-2 formation. Is that a long-term thing? Or is it a coincidental change?

Or is it, as one would assume, part of a wholesale commitment to that system implemented by Van Gaal?

Sorry missed that.
They have switched to 352 for a number of games since LVG arrived.
I don't think it a coincidence but nor do I think it is a long term commitment to the system. Think it could just be Joyce trying something out.

LVG said at his initial press conference that he wouldn't have much involvement in the youth setup for the first year as the getting the first team back on track was a big enough job.

 

[peterhague]

I just don't see it. You don't change the entire system for the sake of 2 games.

Wasn't the whole of pre-season 3-5-2?

 

[Hansern]

The Di Maria signing is this year's Ozil.

A late, whopping expensive 'star' player from Real/Barca to placate the fans, add some quality international flair, but do sweet fuck all to address the fundamental issues in the side.

This. So much this

 

[ChastenedMUFC]

I just don't see it. You don't change the entire system for the sake of 2 games.

Wasn't the whole of pre-season 3-5-2?

No he changed the formation several times during pre season sometimes mid game.

I don't think he will change the formation because of the two PL games. I think he will change formation because he now has a world class winger to play 433

 

[Hansern]

I also thought he played 3-5-2 to get Mata, Van Persie and Rooney in to the team.

4-3-3 will mean Rooney or/and Mata will be shifted somewhere.
It doesnt solve anything either imho.

 

[cloggypop]

No he changed the formation several times during pre season sometimes mid game.

I don't think he will change the formation because of the two PL games. I think he will change formation because he now has a world class winger to play 433

The main reason for the Dutch playing 3-5-2 at the World Cup was the injury to Strootman. He did not seem to fancy Jordie Clasie enough for the role and Feyenoord were already playing a 3-5-2 so most of the defenders were used to it. Man U are set up in a similar fashion. Your defenders are not great and you are missing a dominant midfield player. I am not so sure that a quality winger changes this. The Dutch had Arjen Robben after all.

 

[ChastenedMUFC]

The main reason for the Dutch playing 3-5-2 at the World Cup was the injury to Strootman. He did not seem to fancy Jordie Clasie enough for the role and Feyenoord were already playing a 3-5-2 so most of the defenders were used to it. Man U are set up in a similar fashion. Your defenders are not great and you are missing a dominant midfield player. I am not so sure that a quality winger changes this. The Dutch had Arjen Robben after all.

You are possibly right.

I guess we won't know until we will line up next with everyone fit.

Doubt we are done in this window yet and think we will bring in another player or two with a defensive mid most likely. So that could change things again.

 

[HC]

Why does nobody rate Di Maria?

He looks class to me.

 

[Buddha]

I think most rate him but not at 60m and mega wages.

 

[Oliver Twist]

Utd fans are immensely proud of breaking the British transfer record.

An odd bunch.

 

[mom]

It's not that I don't rate him. He's good, but I don't think he's world class, I just don't think he's worth the fee . Would I have him with us? Yeh of course. But for that fee when Sanchez was massively less and arguably as good? Fuck that.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

Why does nobody rate Di Maria?

He looks class to me.

Self defence mechanism.

 

[Hansern]

I think most rate him as he's a very good footballer.
But he's so overpriced that some, including myself, dont see the value in it when they've got gaping holes in their squad that needs fixing.

 

[ILD]

Di Maria is a fantastic player. I suppose Utd couldn't resist buying him. He's a good player and he'll paper over the cracks for a while just like the Mata signing at Christmas.

He's a 35 million player, not a 60 million player but we all know that.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

He's overpriced, but that's what happens when you're desperate and people know you have money.

I'd rather they didn't spend at all, than overspend, they blatantly have enough money to overspend a lot and still buy more players.

He will definitely improve their team, so I don't understand anyone being happy about this.

 

[keniget]

.
He will definitely improve their team, so I don't understand anyone being happy about this.

My thoughts exactly.

So what if they aren't improving in other areas... it's still an improvement.

 

[Hansern]

Dont think anyone is happy about it. Its more a comment about the fee. Anyoo, fuck Utd.

 

[Oliver Twist]

I think most rate him as he's a very good footballer.
But he's so overpriced that some, including myself, dont see the value in it when they've got gaping holes in their squad that needs fixing.

They are not looking for value, though. They are looking to rebuild an average squad. I don't think he's what they need but he's a very good player and will improve them. I just don't think he'll improve them as much as a top midfielder or defender would.

 

[ChastenedMUFC]

I think most rate him as he's a very good footballer.
But he's so overpriced that some, including myself, dont see the value in it when they've got gaping holes in their squad that needs fixing.

The only gaping hole really is CM and we may fill that before the window closes.
CB could do with an extra body but if we play two at the back Evans, Jones, Rojo, Smalling and Blackett isn't world class but not a glaring hole either.
Would you say your current back line is world class or also in need of additional quality?

 

[Oliver Twist]

Would you say your current back line is world class or also in need of additional quality?

World class.

Why?

 

[Whirly]

Di Maria is a fantastic player. I suppose Utd couldn't resist buying him. He's a good player and he'll paper over the cracks for a while just like the Mata signing at Christmas.

He's a 35 million player, not a 60 million player but we all know that.

I think he's closer to 60M than 35M in worth.

 

[ILD]

Yeah he's worth about 40 mil. Excellent player.