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Manchester United 2014-2015
- Thread starter yinyang
- Start date
The culling, to pay for banking new transfers :p
Man United Look to Bank £62m from Six Player Fire-Sale As Louis Van Gaal Continues Summer Spending
by Christian Bailey August 31st, 2014
Old Trafford side look to conduct deadline-day cull.
Man United boss Louis van Gaal has ordered chief executive Ed Woodward to find willing buyers for six of his first team squad.
The Old Trafford side have spent over £130m on new signings this summer and van Gaal has his sights set on one or two deadline day captures but has been told that his squad must be trimmed in order to finance such transfers.
Having successfully sold Shinji Kagawa back to Borussia Dortmund for a fee in the region of £8m the Premier League side have seen a host of clubs register their interest in other players who are not deemed as part of Louis van Gaal’s plans.
Real Madrid are said to be closing in on a deal to bring in Mexican international Javier Hernandez to act as a back-up for Karim Benzema and the La Liga side’s offer of £15m is likely to see Chicharito move to the Bernabeu imminently.
Having suffered with poor form and fitness issues over the past couple of seasons Anderson is another on his way out, his recent first team involvement being as a result of a lack of alternatives rather than a sign of any value judgement made by Louis van Gaal and Man United will accept as little as £5m for the Brazilian.
Danny Welbeck is said to be edging towards a move to Tottenham which would entail an initial season long loan deal, costing the White Hart Lane side £2m, with an option for a permanent sale for a fee in the region of £12m.
The 23 year old England man favours a move to Spurs over interest from Hull City and Sunderland.
Though currently sidelined with an ankle injury Man United are still hopeful of selling Marouane Fellaini and will accept offers of around half the £27.5m they paid Everton for the Belgian last summer.
Napoli are known to court the midfielder and could accept a similar season long loan deal leading to a potential permanent move.
Tom Cleverley has already been the subject of one bid from Aston Villa and a second offer is said to be on the cards and Man United will hope to secure at least £8m for the England man, who has just a year to run on his current deal.
Van Gaal is close to completing the capture of Ajax utility man Daley Blind, with a deal agreed and personal terms almost sewn up and Man United may well bring in another Dutchman in the form of AC Milan tough tackler Nigel de Jong to help offer a steely option in the centre of the park.
Man United Look to Bank £62m from Six Player Fire-Sale As Louis Van Gaal Continues Summer Spending
by Christian Bailey August 31st, 2014
Old Trafford side look to conduct deadline-day cull.
Man United boss Louis van Gaal has ordered chief executive Ed Woodward to find willing buyers for six of his first team squad.
The Old Trafford side have spent over £130m on new signings this summer and van Gaal has his sights set on one or two deadline day captures but has been told that his squad must be trimmed in order to finance such transfers.
Having successfully sold Shinji Kagawa back to Borussia Dortmund for a fee in the region of £8m the Premier League side have seen a host of clubs register their interest in other players who are not deemed as part of Louis van Gaal’s plans.
Real Madrid are said to be closing in on a deal to bring in Mexican international Javier Hernandez to act as a back-up for Karim Benzema and the La Liga side’s offer of £15m is likely to see Chicharito move to the Bernabeu imminently.
Having suffered with poor form and fitness issues over the past couple of seasons Anderson is another on his way out, his recent first team involvement being as a result of a lack of alternatives rather than a sign of any value judgement made by Louis van Gaal and Man United will accept as little as £5m for the Brazilian.
Danny Welbeck is said to be edging towards a move to Tottenham which would entail an initial season long loan deal, costing the White Hart Lane side £2m, with an option for a permanent sale for a fee in the region of £12m.
The 23 year old England man favours a move to Spurs over interest from Hull City and Sunderland.
Though currently sidelined with an ankle injury Man United are still hopeful of selling Marouane Fellaini and will accept offers of around half the £27.5m they paid Everton for the Belgian last summer.
Napoli are known to court the midfielder and could accept a similar season long loan deal leading to a potential permanent move.
Tom Cleverley has already been the subject of one bid from Aston Villa and a second offer is said to be on the cards and Man United will hope to secure at least £8m for the England man, who has just a year to run on his current deal.
Van Gaal is close to completing the capture of Ajax utility man Daley Blind, with a deal agreed and personal terms almost sewn up and Man United may well bring in another Dutchman in the form of AC Milan tough tackler Nigel de Jong to help offer a steely option in the centre of the park.
Man Utd: The key questions facing Louis van Gaal after Burnley draw
by Phil McNulty Chief football writer, BBC Sport
Louis van Gaal has extended the scale of his Manchester United reconstruction to suggest it could be a year before the rewards of his work are witnessed.
No-one was challenging the former Netherlands coach's assertion after an uninspiring afternoon in Lancashire brought a goalless draw against Premier League newcomers Burnley - who more than merited their point.
United only have two points from what many would regard as kind opening fixtures against Swansea, Sunderland and Burnley, a sharp contrast to the tough hand dealt out to Van Gaal's predecessor David Moyes when he succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson.
The poor start prodded executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward into action as this week saw the British record £59.7m purchase of Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid and a £13.8m deal for Ajax's Daley Blind.
The draw at Turf Moor, however, only highlighted that Van Gaal will surely want more reinforcements before the transfer window closes on Monday - although word from inside Old Trafford is that Blind may be the final arrival.
So what must Van Gaal do to pull United out of this desperately uninspired start to the season?
Are signings needed in the next 48 hours?
It would do Van Gaal and United a disservice to ignore the fact that injuries have robbed them of two players who were meant to be of great influence in this new Old Trafford era, England defender Luke Shaw and midfielder Ander Herrera. Even the introduction of new defender Marcos Rojo has been delayed by work permit complications.
Argentina international defender Marcos Rojo signed for £16m on a five-year contract from Sporting Lisbon
The signing of Di Maria has been portrayed as akin to sticking the roof on your house before the foundations have been laid, although few would question the contribution he will make.
There is no doubt, however, that there are clear areas where United need top-class reinforcements.
United's three-man defensive system requires the sort of composure and expertise that appeared beyond Phil Jones and Jonny Evans at Burnley, while Tyler Blackett can be excused as one for the future. Whether Chris Smalling kicks on to fulfil the requirements remains to be seen.
If United cannot find a high-class central defender before Monday night - and Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp scoffed at a reported interest in Germany's World Cup winner Mats Hummels - then this is undoubtedly an area opponents will see as fair game.
Burnley could not quite take advantage, especially in a desperate opening 10 minutes from United, but there would be real relish at the prospect from the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea.
Herrera's absence is a genuine misfortune but there must also be a need for another top-class operator in that area. There has been the long-standing link with Juventus's Arturo Vidal but time is running out.
A more likely option is that Van Gaal will make do and mend until January and see how Roma's Dutch midfielder Kevin Strootman has recovered from a serious knee injury - hoping not too much damage is done to United's season before then.
Who is on the way out?
There was widespread astonishment that Anderson - who clearly has no place in Van Gaal's long-term plans - came on for the tiring Di Maria, although less when Danny Welbeck was sent on for Robin van Persie.
Anderson is one of those surplus to requirements at Old Trafford while Welbeck, as energetic as ever when he appeared, might also leave before the end of the transfer window, as could Shinji Kagawa.
Van Gaal has told Shinji Kagawa he is surplus to requirements and his former club Borussia Dortmund are interested
Tom Cleverley could well have played his last game for United as Aston Villa attempt to persuade him to complete an £8m move while Javier Hernandez is attracting interest from Valencia and Juventus.
Van Gaal will not be unhappy to see them go to thin out his squad - but the real push over the next few months will be on incomings.
Will he stick with 3-5-2?
Van Gaal used Evans, Jones and Blackett as a three-man back line at Turf Moor - and at no time did it look fully secure.
It is unlikely these three players will be his chosen ones in a defensive system he stands by after the successes of his outstanding career - but can he make it work at Old Trafford?
He will certainly need better wing-backs than Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young to make it a success, which is where the versatility of the likes of Di Maria and Adnan Januzaj will be beneficial, although it is questionable whether Juan Mata is suited to the role as he lacks pace.
Di Maria made no tackles on his United debut but was heavily involved during his 70 minutes on the pitch
Van Gaal will also need better central defenders and there are clear signs that the shift in tactical emphasis has been a struggle for some United players.
They had better get used to it because there are few coaches in world football with such complete belief and faith in their own methods as Van Gaal.
It should also be emphasised that it is very early days in what is a tactical work-in-progress, a new manager getting used to new players and new players getting used to a new manager.
Van Gaal has repeatedly stated that his first three months in a job have often been a struggle before the penny drops and success follows.
It might not look easy on the eye so far - but do not bank on Van Gaal changing it one jot.
£150m of attacking talent: but how to make it work?
The Manchester United manager fielded new signing Di Maria alongside Mata, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie - almost £150m worth of attacking talent. Is there really room for all of them in the same team?
On this occasion, Di Maria was tucked in left of centre with Ashley Young wide, while Mata was entrusted with drifting in the spaces behind Rooney and Van Persie and Darren Fletcher as the insurance policy. It was almost a 3-4-1-2.
Louis van Gaal will need to find a way to accommodate all of his expensively assembled attacking players
While there is no questioning the quality of that group, it places a heavy responsibility on Fletcher and there must be question marks over its regular use over the course of a long season.
With Van Persie rated so highly by Van Gaal - although it did not stop him being removed here - and Rooney his captain, it could leave Mata as the most vulnerable, given Di Maria is clearly an integral part of United's future.
And what of Januzaj?
He is obviously one for the future but his was the name being chanted regularly and loudly by United supporters as their team struggled at Turf Moor.
Januzaj has the quality of versatility, as does the excellent Di Maria, so there is plenty of solace for Van Gaal in the ability to juggle and shift around his resources.
Rooney, Van Persie and Di Maria will surely be Van Gaal's "go to" men - the others may have to make do with being part of a rotation policy unless they can force the issue with sheer weight of performances.
Where is the urgency?
Van Gaal is not a technical-area stalker. As with his other early United games, the Dutchman did not move from his seat. He stayed in the dug-out clutching his trademark clipboard and consulting his assistant Ryan Giggs.
In contrast, his opposite number Sean Dyche stripped off his jacket and spent the entire 90 minutes in his technical area, encouraging and cajoling.
Van Gaal says it will take three months for the players to adapt to the way he wants to play
No manager should ever be judged by his touchline demeanour or time spent in the dug-out - but it was the lack of urgency on the pitch that was surely a concern and brought an angry reaction from United's fans.
Twice in the second half there was a furious reaction from the thousands gathered in Turf Moor's David Fishwick stand - once when United's players stood a long way back as Burnley took a free-kick on the edge of their penalty area and another as Evans dawdled when in a perfect crossing position.
The United of old would have been attempting to press Burnley into submission and even though the Clarets went into something of a retreat late on, there was never the sense of an oncoming siege or late goal you would have expected from previous teams.
by Phil McNulty Chief football writer, BBC Sport
Louis van Gaal has extended the scale of his Manchester United reconstruction to suggest it could be a year before the rewards of his work are witnessed.
No-one was challenging the former Netherlands coach's assertion after an uninspiring afternoon in Lancashire brought a goalless draw against Premier League newcomers Burnley - who more than merited their point.
United only have two points from what many would regard as kind opening fixtures against Swansea, Sunderland and Burnley, a sharp contrast to the tough hand dealt out to Van Gaal's predecessor David Moyes when he succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson.
The poor start prodded executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward into action as this week saw the British record £59.7m purchase of Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid and a £13.8m deal for Ajax's Daley Blind.
The draw at Turf Moor, however, only highlighted that Van Gaal will surely want more reinforcements before the transfer window closes on Monday - although word from inside Old Trafford is that Blind may be the final arrival.
So what must Van Gaal do to pull United out of this desperately uninspired start to the season?
Are signings needed in the next 48 hours?
It would do Van Gaal and United a disservice to ignore the fact that injuries have robbed them of two players who were meant to be of great influence in this new Old Trafford era, England defender Luke Shaw and midfielder Ander Herrera. Even the introduction of new defender Marcos Rojo has been delayed by work permit complications.
Argentina international defender Marcos Rojo signed for £16m on a five-year contract from Sporting Lisbon
The signing of Di Maria has been portrayed as akin to sticking the roof on your house before the foundations have been laid, although few would question the contribution he will make.
There is no doubt, however, that there are clear areas where United need top-class reinforcements.
United's three-man defensive system requires the sort of composure and expertise that appeared beyond Phil Jones and Jonny Evans at Burnley, while Tyler Blackett can be excused as one for the future. Whether Chris Smalling kicks on to fulfil the requirements remains to be seen.
If United cannot find a high-class central defender before Monday night - and Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp scoffed at a reported interest in Germany's World Cup winner Mats Hummels - then this is undoubtedly an area opponents will see as fair game.
Burnley could not quite take advantage, especially in a desperate opening 10 minutes from United, but there would be real relish at the prospect from the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea.
Herrera's absence is a genuine misfortune but there must also be a need for another top-class operator in that area. There has been the long-standing link with Juventus's Arturo Vidal but time is running out.
A more likely option is that Van Gaal will make do and mend until January and see how Roma's Dutch midfielder Kevin Strootman has recovered from a serious knee injury - hoping not too much damage is done to United's season before then.
Who is on the way out?
There was widespread astonishment that Anderson - who clearly has no place in Van Gaal's long-term plans - came on for the tiring Di Maria, although less when Danny Welbeck was sent on for Robin van Persie.
Anderson is one of those surplus to requirements at Old Trafford while Welbeck, as energetic as ever when he appeared, might also leave before the end of the transfer window, as could Shinji Kagawa.
Van Gaal has told Shinji Kagawa he is surplus to requirements and his former club Borussia Dortmund are interested
Tom Cleverley could well have played his last game for United as Aston Villa attempt to persuade him to complete an £8m move while Javier Hernandez is attracting interest from Valencia and Juventus.
Van Gaal will not be unhappy to see them go to thin out his squad - but the real push over the next few months will be on incomings.
Will he stick with 3-5-2?
Van Gaal used Evans, Jones and Blackett as a three-man back line at Turf Moor - and at no time did it look fully secure.
It is unlikely these three players will be his chosen ones in a defensive system he stands by after the successes of his outstanding career - but can he make it work at Old Trafford?
He will certainly need better wing-backs than Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young to make it a success, which is where the versatility of the likes of Di Maria and Adnan Januzaj will be beneficial, although it is questionable whether Juan Mata is suited to the role as he lacks pace.
Di Maria made no tackles on his United debut but was heavily involved during his 70 minutes on the pitch
Van Gaal will also need better central defenders and there are clear signs that the shift in tactical emphasis has been a struggle for some United players.
They had better get used to it because there are few coaches in world football with such complete belief and faith in their own methods as Van Gaal.
It should also be emphasised that it is very early days in what is a tactical work-in-progress, a new manager getting used to new players and new players getting used to a new manager.
Van Gaal has repeatedly stated that his first three months in a job have often been a struggle before the penny drops and success follows.
It might not look easy on the eye so far - but do not bank on Van Gaal changing it one jot.
£150m of attacking talent: but how to make it work?
The Manchester United manager fielded new signing Di Maria alongside Mata, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie - almost £150m worth of attacking talent. Is there really room for all of them in the same team?
On this occasion, Di Maria was tucked in left of centre with Ashley Young wide, while Mata was entrusted with drifting in the spaces behind Rooney and Van Persie and Darren Fletcher as the insurance policy. It was almost a 3-4-1-2.
Louis van Gaal will need to find a way to accommodate all of his expensively assembled attacking players
While there is no questioning the quality of that group, it places a heavy responsibility on Fletcher and there must be question marks over its regular use over the course of a long season.
With Van Persie rated so highly by Van Gaal - although it did not stop him being removed here - and Rooney his captain, it could leave Mata as the most vulnerable, given Di Maria is clearly an integral part of United's future.
And what of Januzaj?
He is obviously one for the future but his was the name being chanted regularly and loudly by United supporters as their team struggled at Turf Moor.
Januzaj has the quality of versatility, as does the excellent Di Maria, so there is plenty of solace for Van Gaal in the ability to juggle and shift around his resources.
Rooney, Van Persie and Di Maria will surely be Van Gaal's "go to" men - the others may have to make do with being part of a rotation policy unless they can force the issue with sheer weight of performances.
Where is the urgency?
Van Gaal is not a technical-area stalker. As with his other early United games, the Dutchman did not move from his seat. He stayed in the dug-out clutching his trademark clipboard and consulting his assistant Ryan Giggs.
In contrast, his opposite number Sean Dyche stripped off his jacket and spent the entire 90 minutes in his technical area, encouraging and cajoling.
Van Gaal says it will take three months for the players to adapt to the way he wants to play
No manager should ever be judged by his touchline demeanour or time spent in the dug-out - but it was the lack of urgency on the pitch that was surely a concern and brought an angry reaction from United's fans.
Twice in the second half there was a furious reaction from the thousands gathered in Turf Moor's David Fishwick stand - once when United's players stood a long way back as Burnley took a free-kick on the edge of their penalty area and another as Evans dawdled when in a perfect crossing position.
The United of old would have been attempting to press Burnley into submission and even though the Clarets went into something of a retreat late on, there was never the sense of an oncoming siege or late goal you would have expected from previous teams.
Breaking news: Falcao to be enlisted?! :p
Radamel Falcao set for Manchester United loan move
By Simon Stone. BBC Sport
Manchester United have agreed to sign Colombia striker Radamel Falcao on loan from Monaco, subject to a medical.
The 28-year-old has been linked throughout the summer with a move away from the French Ligue 1 side, who he joined for £50m in May 2013.
Falcao has scored 11 goals in 20 appearances for Monaco.
He had been linked with United's Premier League rivals Manchester City and Arsenal, as well as Italian side Juventus and Spanish club Real Madrid.
Rumours of a move to European champions Real gathered pace on Saturday when a comment on his official Twitter account, which was later deleted, read: "Dream come true #halamadrid".
In a later post Falcao indicated the first tweet was fake, saying: "I have to refute a story about a tweet I have not done and that is a photo montage."
Speculation over his future grew when he was dropped from Monaco's squad shortly before Saturday's draw against Lille, after being expected to start.
Radamel Falcao set for Manchester United loan move
By Simon Stone. BBC Sport
Manchester United have agreed to sign Colombia striker Radamel Falcao on loan from Monaco, subject to a medical.
The 28-year-old has been linked throughout the summer with a move away from the French Ligue 1 side, who he joined for £50m in May 2013.
Falcao has scored 11 goals in 20 appearances for Monaco.
He had been linked with United's Premier League rivals Manchester City and Arsenal, as well as Italian side Juventus and Spanish club Real Madrid.
Rumours of a move to European champions Real gathered pace on Saturday when a comment on his official Twitter account, which was later deleted, read: "Dream come true #halamadrid".
In a later post Falcao indicated the first tweet was fake, saying: "I have to refute a story about a tweet I have not done and that is a photo montage."
Speculation over his future grew when he was dropped from Monaco's squad shortly before Saturday's draw against Lille, after being expected to start.
and no CL football?
He's on loan. Think we need a holding defensive midfielder. Unless that new Blind bloke fits in
I hope LVG is not thinking of doing what Christian Gros did to Tottenham once, abandon defence n attack to out score the opponents. He din last long at spurs
He's on loan. Think we need a holding defensive midfielder. Unless that new Blind bloke fits in
Actually a strong n fast CB needed. In fact shld be two. Evans shld be benched for his horrible performance.
Evans should be culled and not benched.
Falcao's record
BBC Posted at 10:54
A look at Radamel Falcao's goalscoring record makes interesting reading for Manchester United fans - his most prolific season came in 2012-2013 when he bagged 34 goals in 41 games in all competitions as Atletico Madrid won the Copa del Rey and finished third in La Liga. Despite an injury hit first season for Monaco he still managed to score 11 goals in 19 appearances in all competitions giving him a return of 0.58 goals per game.
Bumbling, nervy fella ..doesnt inspire confidence at backline
It's bizzare falcao has knee injury LVG proceed, Vidal zam brake
I wonder watching all these transfer David moyes will feel especially doo lan. If only Woodward afford him such resources.
Precisely, Vidal would have been a Man U player if not for LVG's intervention. My guess is he'll bring in another player with CL injury in January-Kevin Strootman. I think Strootman will be a perfect fit but he cannot possibly make any meaningful contribution until he's fully recovered which could take months,probably at the end of next year if Vidic case is anything to go by.
If we had gone with Peppy Guardiola, we'd have the Spanish invasion, LVG-the Dutch and with Moyes- Everton no. 2.
Moyes and his cronies travelled to Germany, Italy and Spain during the January transfer window and came back not knowing who they can bring over to OT. It was late in January that Mata came out of the blue and baulked at the 37 million price tag. It was left to the old boys to help push the deal.
It doesn't sound like someone who knows what he wants or how he should go about rebuilding the team. In all fairness to Moyes, Ed the noob has to share the blame.
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