Red Rants |
- United to break the bank for defender
- United agree deal for midfielder
- Porto to beat United to Van Gaal target?
- United to offer former City man a return to Manchester?
- Reds World Cup Watch Part 2 – The Bads
- Reds World Cup watch Part 1 – The Goods
- Our own identified targets from the World Cup so far
- United target far from renewing deal
- Easy start to boost the feel good factor
- Manchester United players to look out for in the World Cup
- Defender wants United exit
- 2014-15 fixtures: United face easy start
- Which of these targets are really on United’s summer shopping list?
- Swap deal ahead for United?
- United set to snatch rivals’ captain
| United to break the bank for defender Posted: 24 Jun 2014 04:43 AM PDT
Shaw, who is set to make his first start in a competitive match for England today when Roy Hodgson’s men face Costa Rica in their final World Cup game, was subject of a £27m offer from United last month, which was swiftly refused by Southampton, who are under no pressure at all to sell one of their stars.
The Saints remained confident to keep Shaw and Adam Lallana at St Mary’s ahead of next season, having already parted ways with Rickie Lambert, after the England centre-forward was allowed to join Liverpool just before the World Cup and have told Brendan Rodgers he’ll have to fork out at least £30m if he’s to bring Lallana to Anfield. Shaw has been on United’s radar for a while now, after an outstanding Premier League season saw him break into the England team, and despite interest from Chelsea – the left-back’s childhood club – the Reds looked poised to win the race to the 18-year-old before the World Cup kicked off in Brazil but, over the last two weeks, the deal looks to have stalled. According to the Mirror, however, United have now upped the ante and are ready to pay £34m for the promising left-back, just three millions short of the £37m the club shelled out in January when Juan Mata became the club’s record signing. With Patrice Evra penning a new 12-month deal earlier this month and Alex Buttner on his way to Dynamo Moscow, United are in serious need of a new left-back and Shaw’s talent and age make him an excellent signing, but the £34m looks ridiculously steep for a player who’s still largely unproven at international level. Much like with Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, United look set to be forced to pay the “tax” Premier League clubs are always eager to apply to talented young English players, even though Louis Van Gaal might still decide he’d be better off investing on another, cheaper, left-back and use part of the money for a different deal. |
| United agree deal for midfielder Posted: 24 Jun 2014 01:24 AM PDT
Spanish newspaper Marca reports that United decided to pay the €36m (£28.7m) clause for the midfielder who has already traveled to England and is expected to pun pen to paper on a four-year deal worth €3m (£2.3m) a year and both clubs could announce the deal as early as today.
United’s pursuit of the 24-year-old ended in farce on deadline day last year, when men thought to be acting on behalf of United were seen entering Athletic’s headquarters as United were expected to make a £24m bid, only for the club to issue a swift denial of any involvement in the deal, claiming the three were impostors who had no connection whatsoever with either club. With United linked with a host with different midfielders this summer, Herrera’s name had somewhat fallen behind in the list of candidates but his signing could represent a major coup for the club, with Van Gaal desperate to add some creativity and guile to a moribund midfield and Herrera looks the sort of player who could fit perfectly in the Dutchman’s system. An creative midfielder by trade, at ease in the middle of the park as well as further up the pitch – a position, however, in which United already have an embarrassment of choices in Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Adnan Januzaj – Herrera, much like the modern breed of Spanish midfielders, is an excellent passer of the ball and gifted with great vision but he’s not afraid to put in a tackle. United have monitored his development since the Reds were given the runaround by Athletic Bilbao in the 2011-12 Europa League, when the Spaniard was outstanding over both legs as his team in knocked United out on route to the final – which they then lost to Atletico Madrid. Over the last three seasons, Herrera, who is yet to make his full international debut, scored 11 goals and assisted a further 20 in 128 appearances in all competitions with Athletic. Dan |
| Porto to beat United to Van Gaal target? Posted: 23 Jun 2014 08:10 AM PDT
Ducth football magazine Voetbal International claims that the Portuguese club are looking to make the most of United’s current situation – with Van Gaal set to be involved with Holland until the round of 16 at least – and pip United in the race for the centre-back, with Feyenoord thought to be open to discussion for a fee of around £6.5m.
A very physical centre-back who despite his height – at 6ft 1 he cuts an imposing figure – has often successfully deputised at left-back, Martins Indi has impressed in Holland’s first two games at the World Cup, during which he was deployed as left centre-back in a three-man backline alongside Ron Vlaar and Stefan de Vrij. With Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones United’s only options at centre-back following Nemanja Vidic’s free transfer to Inter Milan and Rio Ferdinand’s release, Martins Indi had emerged as a potential target due to his relationship with Van Gaal and a relatively affordable price-tag but Porto, who are likely to part ways with the highly rated Eliaquim Mangala this summer, could beat United to the Dutch centre-back. United, however, have the advantage in terms of pulling power, with Van Gaal likely to do everything he can to bring the players he wants to Old Trafford. Whether that will be the case with Martins Indi, remains to be seen. |
| United to offer former City man a return to Manchester? Posted: 23 Jun 2014 07:45 AM PDT
De Jong is the latest Dutchman to be linked with a move to Old Trafford since Louis Van Gaal was appointed as David Moyes’s successor, with Italian sports newspaper Corriere dello Sport claiming United’s interest in the 29-year-old has increased steadily since the start of the World Cup and a bid might follow suit.
With United in desperate need to bolster their midfield option, de Jong might not seem the obvious option to turn to as he’s not the creative midfielder United have been desperately lacking for years, but the former Manchester City midfielder could prove to be a very shrewd piece of business, particularly for around £6-7m. For all their lack of a midfielder capable of producing a telling pass and keeping the team ticking, United have lacked a midfield brute for almost a decade now, with Roy Keane – and the pre-illness Darren Fletcher to a lesser extent – the last United midfielder capable to impose himself physically in the middle of the park, an area where United have been too often overrun over the last few seasons. At 29, de Jong is guaranteed to a few more years ahead of him, knows the Premier League inside out and would know exactly what to expect by Van Gaal, while his dynamism and physicality – which, admittedly, tends to get overboard at times, as exemplified by his horrible challenge on Xabi Alonso in the 2010 World Cup final – could be a major asset for United, with neither Michael Carrick nor Tom Cleverley too comfortable in the anchor role. Amid his reputation for being a no-nonsense midfield destroyer, de Jong’s passing ability – he averaged over 90% pass completion rate in 33 Serie A games last season – is often swiftly overlooked, as is his knack for starting attacks by winning the ball before quickly feeding into more educated feet than his. Under Van Gaal, de Jong has always been deployed as defensive midfielder, either alongside more creative midfielders such Wesley Sneijder and Rafael Van der Vaart in a three-man midfield in Holland’s 4-3-3 or alongside Jonathan de Guzman in a five-man midfield when the Dutch manager opted for a 3-5-2 formation as was the case against Australia. Having spent three and half seasons at City and with his reputation for being a bully, de Jong’s is hardly going to be a name tickling their fantasies of United’s fan, but he could be an excellent signing if he came alongside a world class midfielder. |
| Reds World Cup Watch Part 2 – The Bads Posted: 20 Jun 2014 05:00 AM PDT
Nani If this was the summer in which Nani was going to put himself in the shop’s window, then rest assured the shop has already been shut, customers have turned away horrified and Nani isn’t going anywhere. Despite having played just a handful of games in the second half of the season, Nani was in the starting line-up for Portugal’s opener against Germany, after impressing in the warm-up friendlies.
His performance was as Naniesque as they come – wasteful in possession, constantly in the wrong position – the way he took the ball of Fabio Coentrao’s feet when the Real Madrid full-back was lining up a shot from a much better angle than the one Nani was in was nothing short of comical – and generally looking his usual, petulant self. Having been linked with a move away from United since January, the next two World Cup games could go a long way in deciding his future – will Van Gaal be prepared to take a punt on him or will United manage to lure a club into taking Nani off their hands? Javier Hernandez Chicharito’s troubled season shows no signs of improving after he was dropped for Mexico’s first two games in favour of Oribe Peralta, as the Manchester United striker was one of the many Mexican players plying their trade abroad to pay the price for Miguel Herrera’s policy of opting for Mexico-based players. Chicharito played just 32 minutes over Mexico’s two opening games, coming off the bench to replace Peralta against Cameroon and Brazil and had very little chance to make an impact, managing only two shots on goal and failing to convert a glorious chance against Cameroon. With Mexico facing a crucial game against Croatia on Tuesday, it’s hard to fathom Herrera deciding to alter his starting XI and Hernandez looks destined for a place on the bench again, particularly as both Dos Santos and Peralta have impressed in their first two appearances.
Hernandez had been warned by the Mexico coach that failure to play regularly at United could hinder his chances at international level and looks likely to leave Old Trafford in the summer. Danny Welbeck It’s hard to dislike Welbeck and it’s hard to deny that he put in a good shift in both England games, doing exactly what Roy Hodgson asked him to do – stretching the defence and trying to get in behind the line. Unfortunately for him, it’s also difficult to argue that if he could add an end product to his game his efforts would be much more appreciated, both at club and international level, where Welbeck isn’t helped by the fact of playing for United for, perhaps not surprisingly, he’s always criticised for his perceived lack of contribution. Welbeck played 61 minutes against Italy before being replaced by Ross Barkley, while he was given an extra 10 minutes against Uruguay before being replaced by Adam Lallana and he averaged four more touches per game than he did at club level last season, a sign that he’s not one to shy away from responsibility. However, having previously claimed he wanted to be given a chance as centre-forward, Welbeck has been played out wide by Hodgson and it’s hard to see that changing under Van Gaal.
Shinji Kagawa Much as in Hernandez’s case, Kagawa’s lack of regular at club level looks to have affected his performances for the national side, with the Japanese struggling to impose himself at the World Cup for now. Having started Japan’s opening game, Kagawa was a second half substitute as his team struggled to break down a Greece side that played for over 45 minutes with 10 men and his future at United remains very much up in the air. And the others… Phil Jones, Chris Smalling Neither played a minute as England’s World Cup campaign unravelled and, perhaps, they’re so much better for it. Having experienced a season with more lows than highs the last thing Jones and Smalling needed was to be thrown at the deep end of a World Cup that looks doomed after two games, not to mention that Jones would have probably got injured anyway. Juan Mata, David De Gea As Spain’s cycle came to an end, neither Mata nor De Gea could be blamed for the defending champions’ spectacular capitulation, if anything quite the opposite. Mata looked on from the bench as Spain’s decision to abandon their tested “false nine” formation in favour of a 4-2-3-1 to accommodate Diego Costa quickly turned into a nightmare, as Vicente Del Bosque’s men looked bereft of the intensity and rhythm that had mesmerised the world for the last six years.
In Spain’s opening game against Holland, Mata watched on from the bench as David Silva, Andres Iniesta and Xavi started, with Cesc Fabregas coming on as a sub. When Del Bosque did opt to change his personnel after being annihilated by the Dutch, there was still no room for Mata, as Pedro replaced Xavi alongside David Silva and Iniesta against Chile and the United midfielder was an unused sub as Santi Cazorla, Koke and Fernando Torres were brought on. De Gea, meanwhile, was United’s best player last season, keeping 20 clean sheets in a beleaguered campaign and must surely be given the chance to shine for his national side now, after Iker Casillas produced a series of uncharacteristic mistakes which cost his team very dearly and probably brought down the curtain on his international career. Adnan Januzaj Has watched on from the bench in Belgium’s first game but could make his debut at some stage over the next two games. Dan |
| Reds World Cup watch Part 1 – The Goods Posted: 20 Jun 2014 04:53 AM PDT
Here’s a little recap of how Reds have fared in Brazil so far.
Robin Van Persie What a difference a few months make, ha? Last season the Dutchman, blighted by a few injury problems, was a paltry image of the man who had spearheaded United’s cavalcade to the title 12 months earlier. The enthusiasm had gone from his game, replaced by a sulking attitude that was a world away from the performances we had got used to in his first season at the club and many wondered whether the former Arsenal captain would even be at Old Trafford next season. With David Moyes gone and Louis Van Gaal set to replace him, the answer is a resounding “yes”. Van Persie has never tried to hide the mutual respect between him and the Holland coach nor has he ever missed the opportunity to reaffirm just how much he enjoys playing under the former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager.
RVP’s first goal against Spain was a joy to watch as was his celebration, which said more about his relationship with Van Gaal than a thousand words, while his second against the disgraced defending champions and his goal against Australia confirmed this is a player loving his football again and with every game Holland play, the expectation among United fans rises accordingly. Marouane Fellaini Yes, him. The pantomime villain of United’s dismal season and the player many can’t wait to be ushered out of Old Trafford, Fellaini was instrumental as Belgium turned a 1-0 defeat into a 2-1 win in their opening game against a spirited Algeria side that had looked set to spoil Marc Wilmots’ men party. Brought in with an hour gone, it took Fellaini only 10 minutes to equalise with the sort of thumping header he never looked capable of producing last season and, even more importantly, he looked a lot more dynamic and sure of himself than he ever did since arriving at United on deadline day last season. Many pointed at the fact that he was deployed further forward than in front of the back four as the reason behind his revival but with Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Adnan Januzaj in the team, surely United can’t afford to play Fellaini in the number 10 role next season, particularly if Van Gaal opts for his preferred 4-3-3 formation. Having said that, however, if the Belgian has a good World Cup, he could turn into a useful squad player and the fact he was played out of position by the manager who knew everything about him says more about Moyes than he does about him.
Wayne Rooney Criticised by the media with the sheer venom that is prerogative of United players playing for England, Rooney has one assist and one goal to his name after two matches. His performance against Italy in England’s opening game was unimpressive but it wasn’t helped by Roy Hodgson’s decision to deploy him out wide on the left to accommodate Raheem Sterling in the number 10 role and even though Rooney’s cross led to Daniel Sturridge’s equaliser, he was criticised. Against Uruguay last night, Rooney was deployed in his preferred role just off the main striker and was England’s most influential player by far, twice going close to put England ahead in the first half before restoring parity in the second half with his first ever World Cup goal, having previously been denied by an excellent save by Fernando Muslera. Where will Rooney fit in Van Gaal’s plans remains to be seen, but Holland’s flexibility in the first two games shows Van Gaal has a knack for finding room for talented players.
Patrice Evra Much like in Fellaini’s case, it’s hard to judge a player on the basis of one game, but Evra looked solid and comfortable enough against Ecuador in France’s opening game of the tournament. Having signed a new contract which will keep him at Old Trafford for at least another 12 months and with a deal for Luke Shaw looking increasingly complicated, Evra might well start next season as United’s first choice left-back, a role which is pivotal in Van Gaal’s plans and one in which the Evra seen over the last couple of seasons could struggle. Antonio Valencia Ecuador might have lost their first game against Switzerland, but Valencia looked better than he’s done over the last two seasons for United – hardly a ringing endorsement, in truth – and he’ll be pivotal to his team’s chances of progressing to the knockout stage. The United winger was heavily involved in the majority of his team’s moves, touching the ball 34 times and displaying an usual accuracy with the ball at his feet, with 93% of the 27 passes he attempted finding their intended target and could carve himself a role at United, were Van Gaal to opt for a 5-3-2 in which the two wing-backs push forward. Dan |
| Our own identified targets from the World Cup so far Posted: 19 Jun 2014 07:11 AM PDT
As with South Africa four years ago, the pre-tournament talk going into this years Brazilian World Cup was of stadium issues, crime and local disorder but, just like back in 2010, the concerns appear to have been over played (so far). There is however one huge difference between 2010 and 2014…..the quality of the football so far in Brazil has been unbelievable, unmissable and full of goals and top players stepping up to perform. So, which players have caught the eye of our RedRants team and, more importantly, you?
Dan C singles out Eduardo Vargas: Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez might have been Chile's most recognised stars going into the World Cup, but in the first two games Eduardo Vargas arguably outshone both of his teammates and looks to have finally seized his chance to shine on a big stage.
Vargas scored the opener and was a constant thorn in the side for Spain, with neither Sergio Ramos nor Javi Martinez able to cope with the Chilean, who fits the "false nine" role to perfection in Sanpaoli's ultra-attacking approach. Vargas first shone under the current Chile coach at Universidad de Chile, scoring 32 times in 78 appearances before moving to Napoli for £11.5m in December 2011. Vargas has so failed to make an impact in Serie A, however, and was loaned to Gremio for the second half of the 2012-13 season and then to Valencia in January, where he impressed scoring five times and assisting four goals in 20 appearances Skilful, quick and creative, Vargas would fit in seamlessly in Van Gaal's 4-3-3 but his performances have the World Cup are likely to attract interest from a host of clubs.
Ian opts for a Croatian winger in Ivan Perišic: Perhaps his standout performance against Cameroon last night means Perišic is not quite the hidden star he was yesterday but I’d already singled him out during the fantastic opening game of the tournament in which Croatia were narrowly beaten by the hosts. Last night just strengthened his case. Perišic plays his football in Germany with Wolfsburg after being offloaded by Dortmund in January 2013. He’s a winger with deceptive pace and great ball control whilst on the move. His assist for Ivica Olic on Wednesday night was a sure sign the 25-year-old has the awareness and decision making ability to pick a tight pass under pressure and, crucially, the ability to make that pass stick. Olic’s reaction to Perišic’s part in the goal was testament to the quality of the through ball squeezed through the narrowest of gaps and via the tightest of angles. Rather than celebrating the goal personally, Olic made a B-Line to Perišic to acknowledge his involvement, a nice touch but the pass was more than worthy of it.
With United’s history entrenched in wing play and the recent lack of quality in that area from the likes of Nani and Valencia, it could be argued, despite not knowing van Gaal’s plans, there’s a space for one (possibly even two) wingers within the squad. If there is Perišic looks a good shout as he’s capable of playing both right and left. So, what’s his value? Well – much to Wolfsburg and his agent’s delight I’m sure – it’s undoubtedly increased this week. That will however, please Everton’s Roberto Martinez considerably less so as he is rumoured to be interested in the Croatian at £8m. If Perišic continues to impress, that figure could feasibly double or even triple considering he still has there years left on his current contract.
Rob J has also been drawn towards a winger by the name of ‘James’ Rodriguez:
He can play as a winger, or in the number 10 role, and although United have many players who can play behind the striker, Rodriguez is much more direct, with him being a cross between Januzaj and Mata. Whether his potential signing is realistic is another thing, with it being unlikely Monaco would let him go. Despite this, Rodriguez would be an excellent acquisition, with him offering something different to what United already have, and at the age of 22, his best is still to come.
Loyal RedRants reader and contributor, Stephen, believes Daley Blind is the one to keep an eye on: A player who has really impressed me is Daley Blind. I know he is relatively obvious, but I think he would be ideal for United. He can play in at least 2 positions, great at going forward and can play as a holding midfield player. He would be a cheaper, more adaptable option than Luke Shaw and he also links up well with RVP. At 5’11 and 24 years old he would (sadly but realistically) provide the ideal Glazer ingredient, that being good “value” Finally, new boy Dan Ror opted to add some much needed steel to our midfield with Chile’s Arturo Vidal: Vidal is a player that I, along with alot of other United fans I'm sure, has dreamed of having at United for a number of years. Although I have wanted him at United for a few years this was mainly due to hearing positive things from other people, I can't say I'd seen him play that often but my admiration for him has been cemented whilst watching him in this World Cup. Although he is just back from knee surgery he played like a man on fire against Spain last night and perfectly tied together the whole Chilean team. The 27 year old, who plays for Juventus, got forward when his team had the ball but came back to defend when they were without it. He had a hand in the first goal and without him Chile's fantastic victory over Spain, which sent the defending champions out, would have been a lot tougher. Hopefully Louis Van Gaal will feels the same as me after Chile take on Holland next Monday therefore increasing the possibility of us seeing Vidal at Old Trafford next season!
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| United target far from renewing deal Posted: 19 Jun 2014 06:38 AM PDT
Lahm, the Germany and Bayern captain, extended his contract until 2018 while Mueller, who netted a hat-trick as Germany dismantled Portugal 4-0 in their first game at the World Cup, will remain with the Bavarian club until 2019 but the impasse over Kroos’ deal is still far from being resolved.
The 24-year-old turned down Bayern’s first offer as he was unhappy with the financial terms on offer but he’s since not been offered an improved contract and while Bayern remain adamant they won’t sell the midfielder, Kroos, whose contract expires in 2015, admitted a solution was not forthcoming. “There’s nothing new to report,” Kroos told a press conference on Wednesday. “With respect to the time before the World Cup, nothing at all has changed” “If anything does happen, then you will all find out. Congratulations to Philipp and Thomas for their decisions and extensions.” Kroos was firmly on David Moyes’ radar and the former United manager was thought to have moved close to signing the German international this summer. However, after Moyes was sacked by United in April, new manager Louis Van Gaal has distanced himself from the pursuit for the 24-year-old, who he had previously coached at Bayern Munich. As previously reported by the English and German as well on another article published here on Red Rants, a fee in the region of £20m was thought to have been agreed for the German international. United’s midfield is in desperate need of a major overhaul and a player like Kroos would be a major coup for them this summer, given the German international can be deployed virtually anywhere in midfield, has excellent vision and technique and is physically strong but Van Gaal seems determined to focus his attention on other targets. One player thought to be on the Dutchman’s list, Bastian Schewinsteger, is Kroos’ teammate for club and country but United fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the 29-year-old against Portugal were left disappointed as he did not get off the bench. Kroos, meanwhile, was excellent as Germany opened their campaign in style with a resounding win and have been tipped by Ladbrokes to go all the way and beat Argentina on penalties in a repeat of the 1990 final. The bookmaker has collected and analysed data from previous World Cups and transformed it into a tool which allows its users to predict how the tournament will – or should – pan out by comparing how the teams that have qualified for this year’s World Cup have fared against each other in the past. |
| Easy start to boost the feel good factor Posted: 19 Jun 2014 01:40 AM PDT
United start off against Swansea at home , the same opening day fixture as last season which will give Van Gaal an early chance – one which, admittedly, will be influenced by United’s business in the transfer window – to show the Old Trafford crowd what they can expect to see in the following months and, perhaps, years. On paper at least, he next seven games are all very winnable, with the only real test coming in the shape of Everton, who visit Old Trafford on October 4th, and United will be looking to put the two disastrous defeats against the Toffees last season behind them.
At the end of October, United face their first real test of the season against Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea in a game that Van Gaal will be desperate to win as it would set down a marker for the rest of the campaign and it would also ensure United avoid a repetition of last season’s fiasco when Moyes failed to win any matches against the top four bar Arsenal at home. With Chelsea having already clinched the signing of Cesc Fabregas and with Diego Costa poised to join his Spain teammates at Stamford Bridge, the Blues will arguably be one of the favourites for the title next season but, as shown by Holland’s 5-1 demolition of Spain at the World Cup, Van Gaal is not new to mastermind wins against the odds-on favourites. A week later United travel across town to face City, the first testing away game in November, followed by a trip to the Emirates three weeks later after which United fans should have a clearer picture of the direction the team has taken under Van Gaal. Last season United were embarrassed at the Etihad as City ran riot and condemned United to a second defeat in five games, as the first doubts about Moyes’ tenure began to creep in. Home fixtures against Crystal Palace and Hull on either side of the trip to Emirates are both winnable games and United will be expected to pick up six points in those two games before they head into December, a month jam packed with fixtures. United play six matches in total in the final month of the year, including Liverpool at home , Southampton away and Spurs at White Hart Lane to name but a few, with Newcastle visiting Old Trafford on Boxing Day for the second time in three seasons while New Year’s Day has a glamorous trip to the Britannia in store for the Reds, in what is sure to be a tough clash. January and February are two easy enough months for United with them facing all three newly promoted sides in four games even though, sadly, there’ll be nothing exciting about the draw for the Champions League round of 16 this time around. The trip to Stoke and the one to West Ham at the beginning of February are potential banana skins but United will be expected to see them out, while home games against Southampton, Leicester, Burnley and Sunderland as well as trips to Swansea and QPR should give United a good platform to build upon ahead of the following two months. March and April are probably the most challenging two months of the season with United facing all of the top teams apart from Arsenal, with a trip to Anfield at the end of March followed by back-to-back games against City, Chelsea and Everton in what could, potentially, be a defining moment for United’s fortunes. The derby and trips to Stamford Bridge and Goodison Park look particularly tricky assignments, though United could have the advantage of a fresher squad over their opponents, should City, Chelsea and Everton find themselves still involved in European competitions and, were United to emerge unscathed from those three games, they could then look forward to a reasonably easy run-in. Trips to Crystal Palace and Hull – on the last game of the season – are preceded by a home game against West Brom, while Arsenal visit Old Trafford on the penultimate weekend of the season in what could well prove to be a title decider. All in all, however, Van Gaal will be happy with these fixtures as the easy start will give him a chance to get settled in and give United fans something to cheer about. The feel-good factor and the expectations are there, but to live up to them United will have to deliver in the transfer window first. Daniel Roche O’ Rourke (follow @Daniel_ROR) |
| Manchester United players to look out for in the World Cup Posted: 18 Jun 2014 02:09 PM PDT
FC Barcelona and Chelsea are the only clubs to have more representatives, with 16 and 15 respectively. However, of the top three clubs represented in the World Cup, Man Utd is the only one with players from each line of play. Furthermore, it is the only team with a manager currently engaged in the tournament.
Here is a line-by-line breakdown of the Red Devils present in Brazil, and what to expect from their performances. Strikers Offensive players have showed mixed results in their Brazilian campaign : Van Persie delivered an artful performance in Holland's win over Spain, while Rooney and Wellbeck displayed a more effortful game against Italy. As for Nani and Hernandez, their pivotal role respectively in the Portuguese and Mexican offense will decide the qualification. The best marker of their expected results in the World Cup are their odds to become top goalscorer in the tournament. These are as follows: Robin Van Persie : 8/1 The referrer code offered by Bet365 allows players to place their first wager free of risk. Midfielders Organising the game for Belgium, much is expected from Fellaini and Januzaj to carry Belgium – the other Red Devils – to new heights. Kagawa and Valencia will have the difficult task of qualifying Japan and Ecuador, both in great difficulty after losing their opening match in the competition. Defenders Patrice Evra will be occupying the left flank of the French defence, where he worked tirelessly in France's win over Honduras. Smalling and Jones, both on the bench for England's opening match, could clinch a position in the starting eleven should Hodgson need to rearrange the squad. Goalkeepers Spain's astounding collapse against Holland and especially Casillas' much criticised performance, which he described himself as 'the worst in his career', should benefit De Gea. Managers The real surprise, and that is one no other club can claim to have, is that Louis Van Gaal, the Netherlands' managers and architect of the ruthless victory over Spain will be sitting on the bench in Old Trafford next season. |
| Posted: 18 Jun 2014 08:11 AM PDT
The Dutch left-back was a surprise signing from Vitesse Arnhem two years ago and failed to establish himself at United, playing just 28 times for the first team – even though, bizarrely, he claimed he was named man of the match 14 times over his first two seasons at the club – and with Patrice Evra extending his contract for another 12 months and Southampton’s Luke Shaw firmly on Van Gaal’s radar, Buttner’s time at United is very much up.
"Van Gaal never gave me the chance in the Dutch national team, despite being voted man of the match 14 times at Manchester United," he told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. "Apparently he is not very confident about me. So I think this is the right moment to leave." His agent, Alexander Bursac, insisted his client remaining at Old Trafford was "not an option". "In the past two years, Louis van Gaal has ignored Buttner time after time so what kind of perspective does he have when Van Gaal becomes his new club coach?" Bursac told Dutch magazine Voetbal International. "Patrice Evra signed a new contract and with Luke Shaw they want to buy another player for Buttner's position. To stay at Manchester United was not an option for Buttner. Dinamo Moscow has great plans for the future and they want to challenge for the title."
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| 2014-15 fixtures: United face easy start Posted: 18 Jun 2014 01:14 AM PDT
In the second half of the season United travel to Anfield on March 21st, before hosting City on April 11th and traveling to Stamford Bridge the following week, while United host Arsenal in their final home game of the season, sandwiched in between trip to Selhurst Park and the KC Stadium. United have won 14 of their 22 opening games in the Premier League era and got off to a winning start last season with a 4-1 win away at Swansea proving to be the falsest of false dawns for David Moyes in his inaugural season at Old Trafford. Here’s hoping Van Gaal steers United back to the top! |
| Which of these targets are really on United’s summer shopping list? Posted: 17 Jun 2014 12:45 PM PDT
Prior to the dismissal of David Moyes, United were linked with a series of players, namely; Marco Reus, Toni Kroos, Ezequial Garay, Cesc Fabregas and Luke Shaw. Since the appointment of Louis Van Gaal, the targets appear to have changed dramatically with only Luke Shaw seemingly interesting the new manager.
This is understandable, with Van Gaal being someone who is very strong minded, with an ideology of how the game should be played and therefore wanting only players he believes can carry out his instructions. Potential Arrivals Under Van Gaal
A very promising prospect, who has come through the highly productive Southampton Youth Academy. He had an excellent 2013/14season, and with him still only being 18, he could be the first choice left back at the club for over 10 years. He would appear to be an excellent signing, especially with Evra being kept at the club to offer expertise to Shaw, and experienced cover in this department. Overall, he would be an excellent signing, and is perhaps looking the most likely of any potential arrivals at this time. Jordy Clasie: Someone who Van Gaal obviously thinks highly of, withhim being selected in the Netherlands’ World Cup squad, and it would seem he has a large amount of potential. He has been compared to Xavi by many, due to his metronomic passing; however at this point, those comparisons seem premature. He is yet to prove himself at a high standard, although the World Cup would be the perfect platform for him to announce himself. Clasie would certainly be a risk, but with a low transfer fee, it may be a risk worth taking. Memphis Depay: It would appear Depay is a player of vast potential, with him seemingly having everything required to succeed at the top level. He is a quick, tricky winger, who likes cutting inside and releasing his fearsome shot. Comparisons have been drawn between him and Cristiano Ronaldo; however once again these appear premature. He would be an exciting addition to the squad, with his ability to beat a man being something United have missed from their wingers at times over the last few years. Once again, he would be a risk due to him being an unproven 20 year old, but he would certainly offer some excitement.
Strootman is a player who United have been linked with for a number of years. He is a box-to-box midfielder, who is also very comfortable on the ball, and most importantly a leader. This made him the perfect option last summer considering his availability, and the fact he is what United have needed for years. It is unlikely we willsign him this summer due to his injury which will keep him out until a few months in to the new season. If we did sign him, it would be for a lot more than we could have paid for him last summer; however it seems more feasible that Strootman would be a January addition. James McCarthy: McCarthy had an impressive first season with Everton, with him exceeding expectations after his arrival from Wigan. He offers good energy and an ability to break up play, coupled with smart use of the ball. His attributes are not dissimilar to those of the much maligned Tom Cleverley, meaning he may not be the player which we need. He would most likely come with an inflated price tag, as is often the case with transfers between English clubs, therefore it would appear there are better options out there for United.
A player of undoubted class, who would be an excellentacquisition. He is a capable defender, despite the odd lapse, who is also very comfortable on the ball, and he starts many attacks for his current club, Dortmund. He would undoubtedly be a superb purchase for United, whether it is a realistic prospect is another thing. Bastian Schweinsteiger: Schweinsteiger is the kind of player United have been crying out for ever since the departure of Roy Keane in 2005. He is a classy box-to-box midfielder, with a good passing range, and an eye for goal, but most importantly, he is a leader on the pitch. There are rumours that Guardiola wants to get rid of him, as he slows their play down, and if this is the case, then United should go all out to buy him. At the moment, it would appear to be a long shot, but should it come to fruition, then he would be the perfect signing for United.
Pogba represents the most embarrassing potential signing of the summer. He is a player of great potential, and would be the perfect fit for the kind of midfielder which United need. On the other hand, it would be poor business to buy someone back, forareported £60 million, who had been let go on a free two years ago. It is still unlikely that he would leave Juventus, and furthermore that he would come back to United, he left under a cloud, and had a public argument with Fergie, meaning that a deal would be unlikely. Potential Departures Under Van Gaal Rafael: His future looked bleak under Moyes, as he endured a miserableseason, which was disrupted by injury. He has, however, proven himself in the past to be an accomplished performer, and it would be a mistake to let him go. He fits the criteria for a full back under Van Gaal, with him being fully committed, and also good going forward. As a result, he should be kept this summer at least, and get another chance to prove himself. Alexander Büttner: He is a decent player, but nothing more. He will be a good player for a mid-table Premiership team, but is not United class. He should be sold to generate funds. Nani: He is probably the only winger in the United squad capable of turning a match, or coming up with a moment of genius. He has obvious qualities, but he has been very poor for the last few seasons, and it is likely that if Moyes was still in charge, then he would be sold. His attacking flair may appeal to Van Gaal, equally his laziness in defence may infuriate him. I believe he will be given a chance, but this will most likely be his last one, and he must prove himself.
Was shipped out on loan to Fiorentina for the second half of the 2013/14 season, and he failed to set the world alight whilst he was there. He made a big impression when he first came, however he has had many fitness issues, and he will never fulfil his potential. As a result, he should be sold to bring in more money to spend on strengthening the squad. Marouane Fellaini: He has been weighed down heavily by his price tag. He proved to be a handful at Everton, but he has failed to show much ability in a deeper role at United. He may still prove to be a useful squad player, but will never be a regular starter, meaning if a £15 million offer came in, United may cut their losses and sell him. Tom Cleverley: He had a very difficult season with first the media, andthen some of his own fans turning on him, despite being a youth team product. He does have potential, but needs to add more to his game, which would most likely be goals. He may however, fit what Van Gaal wants, with him having a lot of energy, and the ability to retain the ball. It appears likely that Cleverley will be kept, and given another chance to prove his worth. Ashley Young: He was bought on the back of his performances for Aston Villa, but he has never replicated that for at United. The fans have never took to him, and if a good transfer fee could be gained from his sale, then it would be a good move to cash in, and also free up money on the wage bill. Wilfred Zaha: Any calls for him to be sold are extremely premature. He is not yet the finished article, but he does have obvious qualities, and should be persevered with.
It would be a shame to see him go, but he deserves toget the first team football that he craves. He will no doubt score 20 plus goals a season if he plays regularly, however it seems unlikely that he will ever be first choice at United. If he is sold, a fee of £15 million or more should be brought in, but he would be missed by United fans. Danny Welbeck: It would be very disappointing if Welbeck were to be sold. He comes from Manchester, and has been a fan of the club all of hislife, yet certain supporters get on his back due to his purported inability to finish. He has obvious qualities, such as his pace and direct running, but he does need to add more goals to his game. Under Van Gaal, it is unlikely he will get sold this summer, however if he fails to play regularly from the start, then he will seek to leave in the near future. Conclusion Hopefully this summer does not end up like last years, when we waited all summer to see what was left at the end, then panic bought a player which would not fit in to our playing style. For this to be a successful transfer window for United, they require a young left back, ideally Shaw, a centre back, two central midfielders and a quick winger. At this point that seems optimistic, however in order for United to challenge for trophies again next year that is what is required. The makeup of the squad will most likely change this summer, hopefully some of the less effective squad players will leave, and some players will be brought up from the under 21s, these coupled with some exciting signings and Van Gaal should have a better squad to work with. Overall, change is required at United this summer, and hopefully the required players are brought in. Rob |
| Posted: 17 Jun 2014 12:54 AM PDT
Yesterday news emerged that the Belgian international was thought to have agreed a deal in principle to move to Old Trafford this summer, putting an end to a five-year spell at the Emirates and join the Louis Van Gaal’s revolution, thus substantially increasing his salary, with United set to offer him £100,000-a-week compared to his current £70,000-a-week deal.
The Arsenal captain’s contract expires in 12 months and, having lost his place in the starting XI to Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker, Vermaelen seems determined to seek an exit from the North London club this summer, while Arsenal would also prefer to cash in on their captain in this transfer window, rather than losing him for free in a year time. While that puts United in a relative strong position as Arsenal can’t command as big a fee as they’d like, some of today’s backpages suggest that Arsene Wenger is determined to secure a deal including a transfer fee as well as a player in exchange for the Belgian centre-back. The Mirror believes one between Chris Smalling and Tom Cleverley could make his way to the Emirates if Vermaelen is to join United, while reports in the Portuguese press suggest that Wenger could ask for Nani to be included in the deal. Both Smalling and Cleverley were linked with a move away from Old Trafford towards the end of last season, while Nani was the subject of interest from a host of European clubs in the last 12 months, with Juventus, Monaco, Roma and Galatasaray monitoring the Portuguese. While at the moment this can’t be considered anything more than speculation, swapping Smalling for an older defender and having to pay around £10m for the privilege would be a bizarre move for United, particularly as Vermaelen’s injury problems in the last two seasons have been well documented. Smalling is by no means the finished article but since joining United he’s developed into an England international and the former Fulham man is likely to benefit enormously from Van Gaal’s ability to work with young players, particularly given that the work the incumbent United manager has done with Holland centre-backs Bruno Martins Indi and Ron Vlaar, who have both performed above the expectations for the national side. On the other hand, a deal involving Tom Cleverley or Nani would be seen as a major coup for United, who could have the chance of getting rid of at least one of two of the worst under-performers the club has seen in a long while. With Van Gaal set to overhaul United’s midfield Cleverley’s days at the club are surely numbered, even though it’s hard to fathom how he could fit into Arsene Wenger’s plans, while Nani’s performance against Germany yesterday summed up his last two seasons. Whether part of the deal for Vermaelen or otherwise, United must start clearing their decks. |
| United set to snatch rivals’ captain Posted: 16 Jun 2014 12:26 AM PDT
The 28-year-old has just one year left on his current £70,000-a-week deal at the Emirates but while he remains the club’s captain – in May he lifted the FA Cup at Wembley even though he did not play a single minute in the final – he’s lost his starting spot to Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker and only managed 14 Premier League appearances last season.
Reports in the Belgium press and on the Telegraph suggest that United have offered Vermaelen a deal worth £100,000-a-week and are confident of agreeing a deal with Arsenal who, much as it was the case with Robin Van Persie, might prefer cashing in on their captain now rather than running the risk of losing him for free in 12 months. Vermaelen and Van Persie share the same agent and the Belgian is thought to want his future sorted as quickly as possible after the tournament end, meaning United and Arsenal could sit down to begin negotiations quite soon. The departures of both Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic have left a huge hole in United’s defence, which has become one of the areas in desperate need of reinforcements, particularly given that Phil Jones and Chris Smalling are still somewhat too raw and unexperienced, while Jonny Evans is still prone to the occasional mistake. At 28 and with five years of Premier League experience under his belt, Vermaelen seemingly represents a very astute signing, particularly as he can play at left-back as well as centre-back, but the Belgian’s injury record is highly suspicious, given the Arsenal captain has missed 13 Premier League games – 10 in the last campaign alone – due to injuries over the last two seasons.
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The 24-year-old was La Roja's joint top-scorer in their qualifying campaign and his performance against Spain highlighted just how crucial a figure he's in Jorge Sanpaoli's team.
@BusbySnakeHips tweeted “That RB Arsenal are linked with for the Ivory Coast. Aurier, he had an assist for both of their goals. Looks a prospect him”
As if that wasn’t enough, Perišic soon went from provider to goalscorer himself with a goal of great individual brilliance including a composed, deliberate, well executed feint to send the keeper out of the game opening the near post for a finish he made look easy.
Rodriguez put in an excellent performance for Colombia against Greece. He is far from an unknown quantity, having played for Porto and then moving to Monaco for a large transfer fee; however this is the first time he has been given the chance to prove himself on the biggest stage. He showed good pace and strength, with him gliding past opponents at times, but also showed he had a lot of composure on the ball, with an ability to pick out key passes and score regularly with his magical left foot.
With 14 players in the final 23 for each country, Manchester United will have the third largest contingent in Brazil.
As always, the summer transfer window involves a lot of speculation, and a large amount of conjecture concerning the potential transfer of players, and so far this summer has been no different with United seemingly being favourites to sign every player in the world.
Luke Shaw:
Kevin Strootman:
Mats Hummels:
Paul Pogba:
Anderson:
Javier Hernandez:
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