Wow, glass half empty kind of guy, hey? So becuase he didn't sign ready made world class players in defence and midfield, you are upset?

Vidic and Rio were shíte, last season... Evra was slightly better, but not by much. They needed shipping out and were far from the world class players you seem to keep locked in your head.

Shaw was the best LB in the league. Smalling, Jones and Evans have alot to prove, but can only do that by stepping up to the plate, like Vidic and Evra did before them (Rio will be hard to replace, as he was arguably the best of a generation).

Rojo is a wild card, but had a good world cup and has done well as a CB for Sporting, he is tenacious, pacey and can bring the ball out of defence.

The CM has been poor for a while, so signing Herrera and Blind can only be a good thing. Replacing Giggs and likely Clevs... Carrick will be fit again in a month or so and Ando might get a few games under LvG, if Kuyt can do ok at RWB, Van Gaal can get the best out of most anyone.

The idea that we have just signed attacking riches and left the defence and midfield is just a ridiculous notion.

A LB, a CB and 2 x CM is more than most of us thought would happen.

Just enjoy the day, for christ's sake

Time will tell whether the replacements are good enough but we have addressed defence and midfield. We now have Herrera and Blind taking up slots ahead of Cleverley / Fletcher / Anderson. Rojo and Shaw have come in in defence.

Just imagine those four look like United players by the end of the month.

Another poster who needs to get laid

Assuming Blind is signed, he's a midfielder

I think we released the right players (Vidic aside), I'm upset at anybody who has left.

We should have got rid of Fellaini, Young, Ando, Fletcher and Valencia (although with their wages I'd imagine it's easier said than done).

We all know we should have brought in another midfielder, but who says that man isn't Blind? Although in that case we should have brought in another defender.

If Rafael isn't in LVG's plans, I'm massively concerned about the RWB spot too.

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Players wont go to united with no cl football

Who said that

So wrong

"Wow, glass half empty kind of guy, hey? So becuase he didn't sign ready made world class players in defence and midfield, you are upset?"

Should I not be? Watching us fall apart due to a lack of quality in midfield and defense?

Yes, I am upset he hasnt signed any ready made world class defenders or midfielders. Instead focusing on signing them for attacking purposes. Are you NOT upset we dont seem to have prioritised areas of absolute weakness?

Also

- Rojo had a very average world cup. Don't try to dress it up to feel better about 16 million going on him.

- Shaw had a good season. But only a good season. I'm actually a fan of him, and glad we signed him, but I foolishly was under the impression that he'd be complimenting a strong pair of center halves. Not shoe horned into a left wingback.

- We shouldn't have to be 'replacing Clevs'. He's dire and we should be upgrading. Not 'like for liking'. Blind may be a decent addition, or he may become our new Phil Neville.

- The fact that 'slots' still belong to Clev, Fletcher and Anderson speaks volumes.

- Experience, and quality, are too very different things. I was screaming for someone to kill Evra, Vidic and Rio last season. Were they good enough? No. Not close. But my point about 30 years experience still stands. That has not been replaced. Those 'leaders', poor as they may have been that last year, have not been replaced. Not even close.

The entire team has been put together back to front.

"A LB, a CB and 2 x CM is more than most of us thought would happen."

We don't even play a system using an LB anymore! We lost 2 center backs, and 1 has come in. We've needed CM's for years, absolute years, and the best we end up with are Herrera (Jury still out, although looks good, if not any better than that) and Blind (A left back, who 'excelled' in the dutch league as a defensive mid. Hmmmm)

It's not normally about volume, just quality, but in our case right now, it has to be about both, and I dont think we've succeeded in either respect.

"Another poster who needs to get laid"

Obviously. Totally standard internet forum response. Very well done.

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Are you NOT upset we dont seem to have prioritised areas of absolute weakness?
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We did address it though.

You are the kind of guy that probably cried when we bought Vidic and Evra, as you didn't know them that well and are now crying because we went out and signed some players you don't know that well.

I'm just as excited about seeing how Shaw, Blind, Herrera and Rojo do as I am Di Maria and Falcao.

Just embrace it fella.

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"If you seriously think this can be addressed in 1 window, then you need to take a reality check. It's going to take multiple windows. You think we can just replace pretty much a whole squad in 1 window? Top CB's are very hard to come by anyway and there are far more quality forwards than defenders. I look at Barca, Bayern, Madrid for example and I don't see a world class back 4 between them tbh"

Of course not. We've had 3 though. Not counting the ones Fergie had, and failed in. But I assume you mean Van Gaal led ones, then of course no, it'll take a while. But putting 2 or 3 players together to form a central core of defence and midfield? I'd expect that in a summer, yes.

And I agree that it's harder to sign CB's, BUT, that's what scouts get paid serious money to do, and we need to do better. We absolutely do.

FYI, players I'd take from those teams listed -

Varane
Ramos
Badstuber
Pique
Mascherano (Christ, he'd be ideal actually)

Also, those teams play in weaker leagues, where it is absolutely possible to simply out score others. We don't have that luxury. Our needs at CB are quite different then theirs.

Di Maria is world class.... Herrera looks the business and has received alot of praise from the Spanish press.... I think people are concerned because Madrid etc weren't in for him, but they already have top class CMs... Blind, the jury is out, for me, but he won awards in the Dutch league and LvG knows him well.

I also think we will be in for Strootman in the winter, so Blind is probably more of a squad purchase, but here is hoping he surprises.

"Are you NOT upset we dont seem to have prioritised areas of absolute weakness?
---------------------------------------
We did address it though.

You are the kind of guy that probably cried when we bought Vidic and Evra, as you didn't know them that well and are now crying because we went out and signed some players you don't know that well.

I'm just as excited about seeing how Shaw, Blind, Herrera and Rojo do as I am Di Maria and Falcao.

Just embrace it fella."

------------------------------

Dont get me wrong, I'm excited by new signings, always am. But that doesnt mean I think they were the right signings (Or at the very least, signings right for us at this time)

I dont think it's fair to presume that I'm any kind of supporter other than one with an opinion based on our current weaknesses. It doesnt matter what I thought about Vidic or Evra, because it was a totally different scenario with a totally different skill set around them, allowing them the time to bed in.

No we're asking new signings to bed in with Blackett, Cleverly, Evans etc etc. So I'm upset that the quality coming in isnt of a higher level.

Just signing a player in that position doesn't mean we've addressed a weakness.

Also, I know a few people here have Di Maria pegged as some central midfield maestro, but it's simply not the case. He's an attacking player, albeit with a good engine and temperament. I don't think it's right we include him when talking about central midfield positions, just the way I wouldn't include Mata either.

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No we're asking new signings to bed in with Blackett, Cleverly, Evans etc etc.
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What?

Once everyone is fit, Blackett wont get a look in, Cleverley will be gone... Maybe Evans, but he has plenty of experience.

You can argue that we should have fought tooth and nail to keep Vidic, giving these new arrivals an experienced figure to stand by.

You could argue that he also showed exactly what he thought of the club by jumping ship at the first sign of trouble.

anyway, i;m firmly of the opinion that Smalling, Jones and/or Evans deserve a shot at taking the bull by the horns, rather than bringing in yet another foreign, ready made player.

They have all had 2 or more seasons playing with world class defenders... Let's see why SAF paid so much money for them

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"Rage of Reaper (U4088)

Of course it is right to include Di Maria! in a 352 he will play as a LCM. This is quite clear and Van Gaal has stated this himself. So yes, he is a midfielder. Only a winger in fantasy football teams."

In true Batman fashion, he's not the midfielder we need. Or at least, he's an attacking midfielder. He's not a central midfielder. He's not going to track back and make edge of the area tackles. He's not going to go toe to toe with the Toure's of the world. He's a fair weather midfielder. (Side note, i LOVE Di Maria and couldnt praise him highly enough)

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"None of those are world class except maybe Ramos but simply none are of Vidic and Rio's standard, even so how many are out there we can really buy? "

I agree not Vidic or Rio level (in their prime, anyway) but better than we have now (by far). Agree though, no way obtainable but that wasnt the question.

And I semi agree regarding Jones and Smalling. Not Evans though. I love Jones, I think he's amazing, BUT, these guys need quality next to them, and in front of them.

And my point through this has been that I don't think we've addressed either of those points.

Thank you for actually debating rather than questioning how much se x I'm getting though.

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