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Post by Nemanja79 on Nov 5, 2014 13:25:12 GMT
The problem is we can't have a fit back line for longer than two weeks and I don't know what top caliber centerback is going to be available in mid season. The only way we could lure the likes of Hummels in January is if we throw stupid amount of cash at his facility and his club, plus Dortmund needs to go out of the CL after the group stages. OK, the last part maybe isn't prevalent but you get the picture.
We need bodies at the back and pronto because I don't know how far we'll get with youngsters there who are all good players with good potential, but we need someone to stay consistently fit and who will not fall under the pressure, like someone decent with enough experience (not necessarily age).
We need to get that 4th spot at the end of season, 2 years without CL is going to make some negative impact on both players and staff and the club itself. With our current senior crocks and a bunch of inexperienced youngsters, with this current form at the back etc, I can't see us finishing 4th.
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Post by Hammy on Nov 5, 2014 15:02:07 GMT
I'd have Godin ahead of almost anyone. He's a bit like Mascherano in so much as he's not technically gifted but he knows how to win the ball, throws his body on the line, chips in with goals and hardly gets injured. At 28 he's only a few years left at the top but it would be enough time to sort out our defensive problems once and for all.
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Post by Kaushik on Nov 5, 2014 15:28:55 GMT
Why nobody wants Shawcross?  who has Premier League experience and could do a decent job for us imo |
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Post by StrikerMo on Nov 5, 2014 15:55:08 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2014 15:59:35 GMT
Shawcross is a little better than Vlaar IMO but not much. Again, I don't see him as improving our defence a great deal.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2014 16:06:30 GMT
Here's what I've said about Shawcross on TR...
Shawcross is what he is, a good, solid Premier League centre half, no more, no less. He wasn't good enough for United when he was here, and he isn't good enough now.
Sure, he may be as good as, or marginally better even than what we have, but I don't see why that's reason enough to bring him in. I think Shawcross is only mentioned out of sheer desperation in the same way Fellaini was talked about when we needed a midfielder and any midfielder would do.
If were bringing in a centre back, be it January or the summer, it needs to be a top class one, not one who can't even make the England squad when Phil Jagielka is first choice.
It's going to take some special performances to change that opinion. He was well and truly embarrassed by Zlatan in his only International game.
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Post by Kaushik on Nov 5, 2014 16:15:43 GMT
There is no top quality CB is available, So why not take a chance with Shawcross in Jan? He is not going to cost us huge transfer fee
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2014 16:18:43 GMT
We should be snatching Schalke's hand off if Howedes really has a 14m buy out clause.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2014 16:31:59 GMT
There is no top quality CB is available, So why not take a chance with Shawcross in Jan? He is not going to cost us huge transfer fee What's the point in buying for buying's sake? Shawcross isn't going to drastically improve us. I know we're having a poor time of it with injuries at the back but we still have 6 players for 2 positions, it's just overkill to add another just for the sake of possibly improving us. I'd much rather trust what we have if we can't go top class, or we reassess completely next summer and sell one or two before bringing someone in. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2014 16:36:28 GMT
Yeah I agree, someone has to be sold to bring a new centre half in. The best option is to wait til the summer and see if the guys we have now up their game and magically stay fit. I'm more than confident of our ability to attain a top 4 position, even with the defence.
I'll also say again that I don't think the defence is as bad as people make out, as a unit we're generally very solid and defend well. It's individual errors that are letting us down more than anything. Get a fit and constant back 4 and we'll soon start keeping clean sheets.
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Post by Kaushik on Nov 5, 2014 16:39:14 GMT
It is not like that, what I meant is like Barca had problems last season they couldn't buy a top class CB and eventually bought Mathieu who is not world class but he did improve Barca. Sometimes just a slight improvement can make dramatic changes in the overall performance. Thats what I feel  |
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Post by Hammy on Nov 5, 2014 17:03:03 GMT
If you watched Barca and particularly Mathieu against Celta Vigo at the weekend you'd have to ask yourself has he really improved them? They were desperate to sign a CB and in my opinion went for the first option they could find.
We have to be careful not to sign someone just because they're available which is why players like Vlaar shouldn't be on our radar. I'd rather wait until next summer and sign someone of quality rather than a desperation buy in January.
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Post by charlie911 on Nov 5, 2014 18:41:34 GMT
if we can't get Hummels or Subotic, then we have to go for the Schslke captain. he is immense and a top class defender that would improve us, I don't see the point of getting someone like pique because he needs a leader or an organiser next to him to be at his best.
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Post by Dave on Nov 5, 2014 19:00:36 GMT
My second paragraph. Weird. |
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Post by Rach1986 on Nov 5, 2014 19:45:07 GMT
Guardian take on January www.theguardian.com/football/2014/nov/05/louis-van-gaal-manchester-united-januaryLouis van Gaal is not planning to strengthen his Manchester United squad in January unless a key target becomes available, with the manager focusing instead on next summer. Van Gaal remains an admirer of Kevin Strootman, yet with the midfielder still to play for Roma again following his knee injury, the manager wants time to assess his countryman over the coming months. Besides the issue of the 24-year-old’s recovery, it also remains unclear if it would be possible to prise him from Roma mid-season. Rudi García’s side are second in their Champions League group so may progress to the knockout stage, and if not are almost certain to be involved in the Europa League in the new year. They are also only three points behind Juventus in Serie A. Both García and the club owner, James Pallotta, have denied Strootman is for sale. Last month Pallotta claimed that even a bid of £75m would not be enough. However, there is confidence that this stance can be changed at the end of the season, with last summer’s on-off chase for Ángel di María evidence of how a deal can be done. Van Gaal is also keeping tabs on the Borussia Dortmund central defender Mats Hummels with the view, again, that the German club may be more open to his sale next summer, by which time he will have only two years remaining on his contract. In September Hummels admitted he could leave Dortmund at some point, saying: “I couldn’t be happier at any other club in the world right now. Should I make a move somewhere else, I would want that to be a fair deal for everyone.” |
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