tommybread

1 hour ago, Zatman said:

thye would take any bid for Fellaini at this stage 

Doubtful, he just started on Sunday. Sunderland have also enquired and we apparently said he isn't for sale. Same report says Sunderland have bid in the region of 15m for Adnan. I'll be extremely annoyed if he is sold but unfortunately I can see it happening. 

9 minutes ago, dont_do_it_doug. said:

I don't get it.

The club wants him to go on loan but Paddy wants a permanent transfer. 

Supposedly a number of PL and Championship clubs are interested in McNair. Club prefers loan, players prefers transfer. 

23 hours ago, VillaChris said:

It's no different to Lambert coming in and telling senior professionals like Hutton and Warnock he didn't want them at the club anymore and they had to do the same as Schweinsteiger even if it was more financial.

And Lambert certainly dosen't have the standing Mourinho does in football.

Bastian has quite a few problems I think....a) he's seen as a Van Gaal man so you can understand why Mourinho wouldn't make him a key element of things...b) apparently a lot of United players weren't impressed that after he got injured in January he was barely seen at the club and then magically got fit for the euros and c) he's too old and slow for premier league now, certainly for what Morinho is asking for from his midfielders.

It was just a mistake to sign him, Bayern Munich would never have le him go if he was still capable of playing regularly at the top level.

Exactly, players being told to train with the reserves when they are being shown the door is nothing new and not exclusive to Mourinho. It happens at every club. There is no benefit to have someone who has been told to leave in training and among the squad. I also completely disagree with the idea that because it is Schweinsteiger that he deserves preferential treatment and that he is a legend. He isn't a United legend and I couldn't give a shit about what he did before he came to United and thankfully those at United feel the same way. He has played one season with us where he displayed absolutely shocking fitness levels and largely rubbish performances.

He got injured and would **** off to Germany which didn't please the squad at all. Fans so far up his ass have claimed he is such a leader and big figure in our dressing room but by all means a number of the squad don't even like him. if he really was such a figure he should be down at Carrington every day with the squad, not in Germany. Luke Shaw had a broken leg but he was down at Carrington doing his rehab and still hanging out with the squad. Luke Shaw also did an interview and commented on every player except for Schweinsteiger and Sergio Romero which indicated just how big of a presence Schweinsteiger had on the team. He has been told to leave but has refused so he can train with the reserves. 

6 minutes ago, dont_do_it_doug. said:

United fans generally really rate him? He's such an enigma, born in the wrong era perhaps. 30 years ago his off the field stuff would have passed by relatively unnoticed. 

Irrelevant I know!

Anyone who ever watched him at youth level could praise him all day long, he was simply sublime. It may seem like I'm waxing lyrical but he is the best youth player I and many others have ever seen, and by quite some distance. Ferdinand has even talked about how the likes of Pogba and Adnan Januzaj used to look up to Ravel. 

You may be right on the wrong era. He could fit right in with the likes of George Best.

27 minutes ago, VillaChris said:

He's alright. Capable of wonder goals but also goes anonymous for long spells in games.

I actually think that's an interesting side to him...everyone goes on about his behaviour and mentality which is fair enough but how good a footballer is he actually? Remember him and Pogba were equals in the Man United youth team and now they're worlds apart.

Other problem I have is he's hardly played much in last year...played about 5 times for Lazio so he's from the Scott SInclair school of bench warming. 

That isn't Ravel at all. He rarely goes anonymous in games and is what completely set him apart from Pogba at United making them not equals. He was easily better. Pogba was capable of the magic but went missing while Ravel was capable of the magic while also completely controlling and dominating matches. 

As for the McNair links, are they for a loan or permanent? 

23 minutes ago, HeyAnty said:

What forum have i stumbled into?

Sorry, I was just responding to the question. Should have quoted it into other football.

1 hour ago, dont_do_it_doug. said:

I like the idea of a fit and motivated Ravel Morrison, I imagine the reality to be somewhat different. 

I can't recall Ravel ever really having fitness or on the pitch motivational problems. He has never really let his off the pitch antics effect his on the pitch play. When given the chance he has played quite well for Birmingham, West Ham and QPR. There were never any faults in his attitude on the pitch at Manchester United either. If a club is willing to bring him in and play him every game then I think they are almost guaranteed a star. It is just if a club is willing to put up with his off the field antics which not surprisingly many aren't. His best bet is probably to go to a smaller club who is just glad to have someone as talented as him and will give him preferential treatment. 

11 hours ago, HanoiVillan said:

Thanks for this tommybread. One quick question, if you wouldn't mind: are you disappointed Mourinho is letting all of these players go? Basically the only thing I thought LVG did right was trusting in youngsters. A lot of these players got minutes last season. 

I don't particularly like Mourinho and I don't feel good about the potential involvement of our youth players which is one of my favourite aspects of football but I also don't believe the article and that we'll be getting rid of all of them. I wouldn't mind at all to see Blackett, Will Keane and McNair to be sold as they'll just never be good enough. I will be extremely annoyed if any of the others are sold. 

The article is based on who wasn't present in a training session but Tim Fosu-Mensah and CBJ are injured so that is why they were absent and TFM's agents have come out and said he isn't leaving. Andreas has been told to go on loan but he has a future. Hearing different reports of Wilson having a future and just being loaned and also that he can be sold so not sure. He has great talent so I hope we don't sell him. Adnan is being linked with Sunderland for a loan so that could be likely, he is probably the most likely to be sold of the talented group but I certainly hope not as he is my favourite and think he has the most potential. 

4 hours ago, sne said:

Mourinho has (according to reports...) told (Bastian Schweinsteiger)  Adnan Januzaj, Tim Fosu-Mensah, Paddy McNair, Tyler Blackett, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Andreas Pereira, Will Keane and James Wilson o find new clubs. Either permanent or on loan.

Anyone worth scavenging? 

Everyone bar Blackett who is just total trash and Will Keane who is talented and has an eye for goal but at this point he needs to be playing regularly for his own good and he just likely wouldn't get at you guys. McNair is alright, if you could get him on a permanent he has the potential to be a solid Premier League player but I wouldn't really bother loaning him if I were you, unless with a view to sign. The rest are top young players with the ability to be stars in the Championship.

4 hours ago, VillaChris said:

Thought Fosu-Mensah was excellent end of last season for them. Right back isn't he...an athletic forward thinking option there would give our defence a very decent look.

Much more of a CB or CM, still unsure of where I prefer him. Personally want him to play CM but that is more because we also have WIlliams, Axel Tuanzebe, Poole, and Tyrell Warren who are also very talented CBs, especially Williams and Axel. He is a physical beast, can get caught out of position a bit, especially at RB as he is inexperienced there but his strength and pace often makes up for it. He can look a bit reckless and aggressive in his tackling but that is just his style he is actually a very good and successful tackler. Quite good on the ball and great at driving the ball through the middle. 

13 hours ago, Dr_Pangloss said:

I don't expect Ibra to have a great season, he will be more like the Ibra at Barca than the one at PSG. 

Shit, I'll gladly take 21 goals, 16 assists and a league title.

On 7/4/2016 at 20:07, Texas_Mike said:

Wow... I assume you have good lawyer.

Yeah, good luck to him trying to sue me half way across the world for calling him educationally challenged and having some mental problems due to the environment he grew up. Not to mention I am paraphrasing people who have worked with him for years and never been sued and I have talked to several people involved in the United's academy to say similar. I'm sorry you have to live your life in such fear as a 'murican. 

50 minutes ago, guyavfc said:

With Chelsea signing another striker, you'd think Bamford would be off.

I think I'm in the minority of wanting Ravel Morrison. So much talent, he's a bit older and we have a very professional back room staff. He could flourish or he could be a massive dick but I'm sure he wouldn't be too hard to offload if it was the latter. 

Are ye being seriously linked with Ravel? He just has so much ability, I've seen very few with the talent he has. I even have a shirt with his name on it. Unfortunately, it isn't just about effort or knuckling down, by all means Ravel has some serious educational and mental problems. He has learning difficulties, he has been called educationally challenged by someone who worked with him for years. He was afraid to eat foreign food while at a youth tournament in Azerbaijan from fear it would poison him. He didn't have energy to play through games because he was living off of Mars bars and Lucozade. He is by all means a genuinely lovely chap but he doesn't know right from wrong. He doesn't realize he is making poor decisions. There isn't much more I'd like to see than Ravel turn his career around but many fear he just isn't mentally capable of it. 

Seems like the board have taken my advice and are looking to get some former Manchester United players in. 

What do some of the youth followers feel about reserve teams being in the EFL trophy? Not sure if it is official yet but 16 reserve teams are to be invited to take part in the competition. From what I've heard it is the 12 teams from the u21s first division with the top 4 teams from the second division. Your lot came 4th in the second division so if that is true you will be invited to play in it. 

As a keen follower of youth football I think it will be great for the development of the young players. The u21s (which they are changing to u23s) just isn't a strong enough competition for players to develop and loans just aren't conducive to development and don't give young players a settled environment. It will start with a group stage which guarantees 3 matches against senior opposition.

Lower league fans are up in arms but I think this is a good compromise to try aid the development of young players while not disrupting the integrity of the lower leagues by allowing B teams in the league system. There is the argument of the top teams hogging all the top young players but I guess I'm a little biased as a Manchester United supporter and as an avid follower of our academy I am really looking forward to it. 

1 hour ago, useless said:

Was Drinkwater not influential in them winning the league. That's the impression I get from Leicester fans. For such an amazing contribution I would have thought that he'd deserve a place in the team, over someone who hardly played this season, and I like Wilshere as a footballer when he's fit.

And he was poor when he played for England which at the end of the day is what matters. How much Wilshere played this season is largely irrelevant, he is fit now and that is what matters and he is clearly a good footballer when fit which you readily admit. Wilshere is fit now so that is what matters not whether he was fit 5-6 months ago. 

23 minutes ago, Dr_Pangloss said:

Bailly for £30m is hilarious, he was signed for like (e)5m the season before, no way his his value increased so much, the market is going utterly insane.

It is 32m euros potentially rising to 40. The market is insane but there is no surprise in his value increasing so much. When Villareal bought him he had 5 La Liga performances to his name. Now he has had a season and a half as a regular for a team who just came 4th and made the semis of the Europa League. He has also became a regular for the Ivory Coast and played in every game as they won the AFCON last year. So no surprise his value has risen drastically when virtually everything he has done in his career has happened since his move to Villareal. Rashford's value would have skyrocketed in the last few months. If Traore or Grealish had become regulars for you and impressed in the PL and become international regulars their price tags would have increased drastically as well. That is largely how it works with young players. 

1 hour ago, rubberman said:

I acknowledge his good record in the championship, but 5 loans in as many years?  Something must be a bit iffy - even if it's just that his salary is unaffordable.

Harry Kane went on 4 loans in 3 years. Had an identical spell at Norwich where he never got to play and even dropped back down to the Championship with Leicester and saw little game time. Do you need to be reminded where he is now? Bamford's loans on the whole have been a lot more impressive than Kane's and a loan spell in the PL where he never got the chance to even play doesn't change that. 

7 hours ago, thabucks said:

Sam Johnstone & will Keane are two that spring to mind Tyler Blackett maybe also. Can't wait for some positive speculation to start. 

Johnstone is a cracking keeper, just needs the chance to play and he'll do great. Really needs to move on permanently and I'm sure a whole host of Championship clubs will be after him. Apparently wanted to stay at Preston, he is a Preston fan, but we didn't want to make it permanent and ended up calling him back from loan and just sitting him. Think he was quite upset with that. 

You'll do well to stay clear of Blackett. Can't get anywhere near Celtic's side and has been poor on all of his other loans. Was poor for our first team and was poor when he dropped back to the u21s. The only reason he ever got to play was because he is left footed. He has this false sense of calmness which makes him look good on the ball but really he is just unaware of his surroundings which leads to him losing the ball often and he always hoofs it up the field. Not the fastest and despite his size is often bullied by smaller players. Has always been criticized for his lack of concentration too. Lucky to be a League One player imo. 

Will Keane is a talented lad but he needs a team that play good football, that is why he struggled at Preston and why he'll struggle at a lot of Championship clubs. Too direct and physical for him. He came back from his loan and looked really sharp in our u21s, scoring 5 goals in 1 game. Got 10 goals and 2 assists in 8 games overall. Got his chance in the first team and after a few minutes injured himself hitting the post. Injuries have been a real concern for him. When he regains fitness he needs to get a run of games under his belt as he has ability he just needs to fully utilize it, he won't get that at Villa. Will likely have to drop down to League One, personally feel a move to the Eredivisie would be great for him, slower and less physical open game, but its not often you see English players preferring a move abroad. 

As proven by Leicester, it is always a good idea to have a few former Manchester United players so Norwood is a good shout. 

18 hours ago, VillaChris said:

Carroll always seems highly rated but never seem to have done much at his loan spells at QPR and Derby or for England under 21s.

Another one I'd take a look at would be Tom Lawrence who's a decent striker.

Tom Lawrence is love, Tom Lawrence is life. 

He is much better in the 3 behind than as an actual striker. Love the lad and it would be cool to see him playing for Villa. Shame he had to pull out of the Euros, was going to get his shirt but now he won't have a squad number so I don't know what number to get. 

5 hours ago, theboyangel said:

I wonder if RDM is still on good terms with all at Chelsea?

Wouldn't mind us trying to get Lewis Baker for a season on loan.

 

That would be a great signing. I've heard that many of the young players in the academy are becoming disillusioned at Chelsea so the promise of first team football could possibly even persuade some to move on a permanent. I also really like John Swift, and Bamford might be convinced to drop back down to the Championship. Then there are the likes of Dom Solanke, Izzy Brown, Tammy Abraham etc. are very talented but they're younger so they probably won't be as eager to get out. 

Chelsea paid us around 16m for Mikel and we never had to put up with his garbage play. United certainly came out on top on that one. 

9 hours ago, VillaChris said:

Squad building was always a bit odd in my view, what happened to that world class CB next to Smalling, why was it Ramos or bust?

And in the last 12 months you've let go of Hernandez, Welbeck, RVP, Falcao. Yes 3/4 of those departures were justified and LVG never rated Hernandez but where was that experience striker to come in and share the load with Rooney. That was a massive gamble that has failed dismally this season. And I don't rate Memphis so think whatever you signed him for was way OTT.

We were never seriously going for Ramos, we were trying to stand up to them so made outrageous demands and tried to rumble some players like they were doing to De Gea. We first tried with Ronaldo and Bale but they spoke out and said they were staying, Ramos was happy enough to play along to earn him sell a pay rise. We never actually had a chance of signing Ramos nor thought we did. It was all to get them to back off De Gea. van Gaal is a fan of small squads and was happy with his CB options. There are very few world class CBs out there and being tied for the best defensive record in the league suggests we don't need that world class CB as much as everyone claims. 

Not signing enough players is one of the negatives of van Gaal, we really could have done with another striker and right winger. The majority of the players he has signed though, have been good. About 21m potentially rising to 25m for a 21 year old who just won the Eredivisie golden boot and player of the year and rated as one of the top young players in the world is hardly steep whether you personally rate him or not.