Red Rants

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• United target “open to move”
• Falcao reveals worries over United move
• United’s saviour: Tom Cleverley

United target “open to move” Posted: 06 Sep 2014 02:40 AM PDT Manchester United might have spent £150m this summer but Louis Van Gaal is far from done as far as bolstering his squad is concerned and one of his main targets has given United reasons to be encouraged. Kevin Strootman has ditched his agent Chiel Dekker and has joined SEG – the Sports Entertainment Group – who were involved in Robin van Persie’s move from Arsenal to United, a move that could facilitate a January move to United, which the Dutch midfielder is said to be keen on. Van Gaal is a huge admirer of Strootman, who was one of Roma’s best performers last season until a serious knee injury in March forced him to miss the remainder of the campaign and the World Cup, and sees the Dutchman as the perfect solution to bridge the gaping hole in the holding midfielder position. Daley Blind and Ander Herrera are excellent signings and Angel Di Maria could also be deployed in the middle if the necessity arose, but United still lack a dominant box-to-box midfielder and Strootman would fill that gap, which would also explain why United vehemently denied any interest in Arturo Vidal. The Roma midfielder is expected to make his long awaited return from injury next month and Van Gaal is expected to closely monitor his progress with a view to a January move for the 24-year-old, who was named Holland captain by the current United manager and reports in Italy over the past few weeks have suggested the Dutchman would be open to a move to United. Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport reported on Saturday that United are considering a €40m (£31.7m) for Strootman, with Roma’s director of football Gabriele Sabatini claiming that only an “indecent” offer would be enough to lure Strootman away from the Eternal City. Dan Follow @mufc_dan87

Falcao reveals worries over United move Posted: 06 Sep 2014 01:21 AM PDT New Manchester United number 9 Radamel Falcao has revealed that he feared his move to Old Trafford would unravel at the very last minute, as the loan deal to bring the Colombian to Old Trafford went right to the wire. Having agreed a £6m loan fee with Monaco early on Monday, United were made to wait until 1.30am on Tuesday before announcing the signing of the Colombian, a full two and half hours after the transfer window had officially shut. Falcao admitted the situation was a particularly stressful one and, like a large number of United fans who followed transfer deadline day unfolding on Sky Sports, he feared the move wouldn’t go through. “No one has the idea of the stress I experienced at the time,” he said. “The transfer almost wasn’t achieved but thank God we had an additional hour and then it occurred.” Falcao was in Manchester just for the medical as he had to fly back to Miami to meet up with the rest of the Colombia squad, but the 28-year-old said he was impressed with what he’s seen of United so far. “The first impressions that I took made a great impact on me," said Falcao. "Manchester United is a great institution that lacks nothing and I’m happy to have taken this step.” The former Atletico Madrid striker missed the World Cup because of a cruciate ligament injury but has now returned to full fitness and made his first appearance for his national team since his injury as Colombia lost 1-0 to Brazil.   “I’m very happy and excited to return to the team,” said the 28-year-old. “The hard times have made me grow as a human being and today   "I appreciate very much my life in football. I am very confident, I have scored goals again [for Monaco], and now I just want to play.” The Colombian could make his United debut against QPR next week.

United’s saviour: Tom Cleverley Posted: 06 Sep 2014 01:02 AM PDT No, no he's not. That was a lie. Though some might be cynical enough to believe that the headline was used as a crude ploy to draw in readers they will be categorically and absolutely correct. Tom Cleverley is not the saviour of Manchester United, Tom Cleverley was the kid that promised much and delivered almost nothing. It would be harsh to say that Tom shouldn't be a footballer, but it wouldn't be entirely unfair. Cleverley’s performances have bee so bad that he wouldn’t have looked out of place in the dismal display United produced against MK Dons in the Capital One Cup, where United where outclassed and embarrassed by the Buckinghamshire side. The daunting truth was that Tom, even though he didn’t feature for United, he wouldn't even get into MK’s midfield. It is alarming how long the midfielder has been at the club, especially when looking at his statistics. Last season on average he won 2.69 tackles per 90 minutes, in comparison to the much-vilified Marouane Fellaini who had a better, but still incredibly average 3.76 rate. That must mean his strength lies in going forward optimists cry as they desperately scramble for land while drowning in a sea of mediocrity. As damning as the evidence in Operation Yew Tree, the statistics again show that in the previous season the midfielder scored one goal and provided zero assists in 17 league starts. Cleverley's ineptitude was most obvious during last season's away defeat at Stoke. During that match the 25 year old completed 31 out of 36 passes. United fans begin to lean forward, eyes widened and hearts racing in disbelief. All five of the passes he failed to complete were forward. All of those completed were backwards and sideways. Watching Tom try and pass forward is like watching Michael J. Fox play Jenga. Even as the transfer window slammed shut Tom Cleverley was still fumbling around, getting in the way and struggling to do the simple thing and just move on. The struggle it has been to offload the midfielder is the perfect metaphor for his United career. Similarly to the feeling of whenever Noel Edmonds stops staring into the camera and into my soul, United fans are now filled with relief to hear that Cleverley has now left the club, at least temporarily. His loan move to Aston Villa may well be the best thing he’s done for United. Optimists can hope that it will improve him, playing on a stage where there’s less pressure and thus allow him to shine. Realists will know that he will find his level at Aston Villa and is most likely where he will end up. When he returns in January holding his macaroni painting and free balloon, hopefully the club will inform him that it wasn’t just a day trip but that is now where he belongs. Some say Cleverley isn’t a bad footballer, rather an unfortunate young lad who’s been used as scapegoat. That might well be true, but while he might not be bad, Cleverley is surely an ineffective footballer and try to explain why he’s been so much of a passenger at United it’s almost impossible. There are just so many reasons. It could be that watching him pass a football is as uncomfortable as letting Rolf Harris measure your inseam. Maybe it's because seeing him inexplicably pull out of every challenge over the entire 90 minutes is more maddening than watching Nicholas Cage attempt to portray emotion. Whatever it is, his future should not lie at this football club. And, unless his attitude changes, at any football club in the upper echelon of British football. But, anyway, good luck to him. Will Dawson Follow @William__Dawson

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