Proper Football season 2014-2015 thread

[Psychotic]

Antonio Valencia is the least exciting footballer in the Premier League. xD Even Ben Mee and Wes Moore are more exciting than Valencia. He is actually the most one footed footballer on the planet and only has one thing that he does. Every single time he gets the ball, I guarantee you he will go to the right of the defender and try to go round the outside. If he isn't tackled at this point (rare, most defences have figured him out now) and manages to get past the left back, he'll put in a low drilled cross that won't clear the first man. Every single time.

Next United match you watch, look out for that!

I think a midfield trio of Herrera, Blind and Fellaini would be incredible. I don't know what the Rooney in midfield business is all about. Well, I do, it's to accommodate him, RVP and Falcao. Never thought I'd say this but Van Gaal needs to grow a pair xD Need to drop at least one of those players. 4-3-3 with the midfield I named and front three of Di Maria and then either Falcao and Rooney or Rooney and Januzaj/Young would be killer. That or, if you want to go more attacking, you could drop Fellaini and put either Rooney or Mata in the #10 role. Van Gaal doesn't seem to be a fan of poor old Herrera though.

[Loony BoB]

Antonio Valencia is the least exciting footballer in the Premier League. xD Even Ben Mee and Wes Moore are more exciting than Valencia. He is actually the most one footed footballer on the planet and only has one thing that he does. Every single time he gets the ball, I guarantee you he will go to the right of the defender and try to go round the outside. If he isn't tackled at this point (rare, most defences have figured him out now) and manages to get past the left back, he'll put in a low drilled cross that won't clear the first man. Every single time.

Next United match you watch, look out for that!

I don't care because unlike last season, he's actually getting past the left back again. You say it like you're talking about last season - the games he has played this season, he's been good. I'm not sure what the difference is but he's able to beat his man again lately. Perhaps it becomes more noticeable when so few other people are actually doing that in our team, but when he is playing we are suddenly that much more dangerous down the right, you can definitely feel the difference. The alternatives this season haven't been great - although Rafael probably hasn't had enough match time to really compete. All our other players who have played in Valencia's position have been meh.

As for who should play, it's hard to say because there are a lot of different kinds of players who can all play excellently if the formation fits. The problem is that none of them are really playing well in the current formations. Makes me wonder if there is something in the water sometimes... we simply aren't playing up to scratch full stop. The understanding between players just isn't there yet. Personally, though...

Rooney - Wilson
Di Maria - Blind - Carrick - Januzaj
Young - Jones - Smalling - Rafael
De Gea

That'd probably be my first choice team. A year ago I'd never have imagined I'd have Young ahead of Rojo or Shaw at left back, it's utter madness. Falcao and RVP can interchange with Wilson, Mata can interchange with Rooney, Harrera and Fellaini can interchange with Carrick/Blind, and if needed Carrick (and Blind to a lesser extent) is capable of dropping back to help the central defence given Young and Rafael will move forward easily. Valencia can switch with either of Januzaj and Rafael, Shaw can interchange with Young who can also interchange with Di Maria, Rojo can interchange with the left side of the back four. 4-4-2, don't even care. The players in that side could, with a single tweak or substitution, adjust to various formations should the need arise. But definitely drop RVP at the very freakin' least. For all the flexibility LVG supposedly has and demands of his players, LVG seems to play the same 2-3 strategies and few of them are the kind that United fans are hungry for.

I suspect certain players are contracted to get x number of games per year given how LVG was surprised at the "commercial" side of the football club, and that's perhaps why we see the same big name players week in, week out despite their underperforming. At least Wilson and Januzaj are getting games, but I do feel they should be getting more games than their counterparts given how they are performing better than the big wage players in our club.

[Rocket Edge]

If a striker has to be dropped it will be Falcao. He's already left him out a couple of times and it seems RVP is his main man almost. I like Falcao and how hard he works. I don't blame him for his under performing either, because when I see him he looks at sea with the defenses in the PL. I think it would change drastically with better service though, but counter attacking in Spain and 11 in the penalty box against West Ham when we get the ball is what he's not used to I'm guessing. Also, my god shut up big Sam. I want to like him but is there a bigger whinger in football management? They could lose a game 5-0 and still say they deserved to win and complain about the other team every time. Talk about insecurity in his job.

My first team is like Paul's:
De Gea
Valencia - Rojo - Smalling - Shaw/Young
Di Maria - Herrera - Fellani - Blind - Young/Januzaj
Rooney

Could throw in Mata & Falcao in there either and drop Young/Januzaj and push Herrera out wide. Valencia starting because he defends as good as Raf anyway. Valencia is extremely predictable but he still beats the player and we have gotten many a goal out of it, more than we can say than a lot of our players. Feel sorry for Nani with that.

Bottom line - something has to change. The only reason we are winning is because of the natural talent we have in the team. We realistically should be asking to win titles with the team we have. Imagine where we would be in the league under Mourinho for example?

Also: lol http://www.express.co.uk/sport/footb...verton-Chelsea

[Loony BoB]

On the one hand, I think he's an idiot for saying that publically. On the other hand, it's refreshing honesty from a footballer who is saying what ever other guy his age is thinking, so I won't hold it against him.

[Psychotic]

Read an interesting article about Lukaku and fatigue. Good quote:

To have played 211 senior matches before turning 21 is almost unprecedented in the modern game. Wayne Rooney, the obvious name who springs to mind, boasted 175, whilst Lionel Messi played a similar 173, including matches for Barcelona's B and C team. With eight playing months until Sterling reaches that age, his current total is 121. If Lukaku isn't close to breaking point, it would be a surprise.

Not really entirely related to that but I just found it interesting to account for his less-than-stellar performances of late! Was absolutely woeful in the derby. Then again, so was every player other than Can and Ibe and yes I'm going to mention them in every post ever from now on until Ibe ends up being sold to Bolton or something I guess. Can's German so he's sorted until Real come a-knocking.

[Aerith's Knight]

I'm agreeing that you never want RVP in your team. The dude is so overhyped that it's sad. I still believe he's the reason we didn't go to the final in the World Cup. Simply because we wouldn't have needed to waste a switch to get that limping little smurf out of the field.

He's the epitome of undependable. Throw em out and get Wilson in.

[Old Manus]

>Tactics Tim

[Loony BoB]

Let's just say I got a smile on my face when I heard he was injured for Monday's game.

[Psychotic]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/...ive-midfielder

Somewhere in Manchester, a solitary tear rolls down the beautifully chiseled cheek of Juan Mata.

[Loony BoB]

Badly titled article. I'm pretty sure he's suggesting we need a "non-creative" midfielder, not a creative one. He mentioned that we have four creative players and that we need balance... if the Guardian thinks that means another creative player, uh... xD Also, Mata isn't much of a creative midfielder any more than the other guys.

I think we do have good creative players, just a bad formation and perhaps selection, and certainly the players haven't gelled perfectly on the pitch as of yet.

Also, Mata was played recently and he didn't create much, but others created for him. He spurned three clear cut chances. Skied them, missed them, fluffed them, whatever. I hope he comes good but I don't feel he compliments the other players in our team.

We need a Vidal kind of player if we're looking for a midfielder. Blind has been fantastic and Herrera has been good too, but I still feel we're missing that real star-quality box to box player (or at least a formation that works for our midfield options).

[Psychotic]

I have decided that Vidal is your own personal Wesley Sneijder.

[Loony BoB]

It wasn't just me (I say "wasn't" as we need a player like Vidal but it's getting to the point that his age will work against him in future transfer windows, so while I'd welcome him, I'm uncertain if he is the best option for long term plans). Vidal has some of the longest transfer threads in the various United forums. It got pretty mental, poems and all that, even at the point of transfer deadline day after pretty much everyone had agreed it wasn't going to happen. "BUT WILL IT HAPPEN???" Muppetry at it's finest, but seriously Vidal is a beast and he would have helped us endlessly this season if we'd have got him in. Not too many footballers like him (in quality and style) these days, even less when you try and establish who is actually available.

[Psychotic]

Oh, Vidal is United's Reus then.

United Summer signing prediction: The Pog's coming home.

[Loony BoB]

I have wondered about Pogba, but I don't think he would return "to stay". I think he'd just head off to Real Madrid or something given the opportunity. Would gratefully eat my words should it happen, though, and would probably be okay with Pogba spending about three years with us if he's still going to be as awesome as people say he is. Will have to look at his stats again... but that can wait 'til after the season is over, we still have football going on right now!

[Psychotic]

Maybe I meant Pavel Pogrebnyak