Indeed. "Attempt" has a better ring to it.
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No problems with him being so defensive this tournament, he's historically attacking so him turning Vlaar into Baresi for a month is fecking ace. Also as bad as we were last season I think we're better than Holland in every department bar Robben.
Central defence and central midfield?
De Jong was more reliable than our whole midfield combined last season
Yes, Wijnaldum is worse than Cleverley, Fer plays for Norwich FFS, De Guzman would probably get in our midfield. Defence wise all of them are better although I did like De Vrij. I reckon about 3 of that Dutch squad could pass forward and be creative.
Theirs is definitely not better.
De Jong is ok at Milan. But Wilnaldum, Fer, de Guzman are not better than Cleverley, Fletcher or Marouanne. Not to mention Ander and Carrick who're better than De Jong.
As for defence pretty much the same. Evans is better than Vlaar. De Vrij has been impressive but Jones, Smalling are better than BMI or Blind.
Why drag Ando into this?
We're still miles better then them in that regard. Wijnaldum was a winger a few years ago I'm pretty sure, turned into an attacking midfielder, playing as a box to box player, next to a 30 year old Sneijder who has been past it since 2011 really. Only De Jong is actually good in their midfield, and even he only plays for Milan who were a midtable team last year in Serie A. Then in defence, their best and most important player by far is Ron Vlaar who didn't stick out in Aston Villa's defence, so no, they aren't better then us there.
The only player in their squad who would get in our team would be Robben, and maybe De Jong (and RVP of course)... It was just a really weak squad that they did brilliantly to get so far.
Their defenders are a bunch of unproven nobodies. Ron Vlaar is by far their best and most experienced centre half, and he barely stands out in a struggling PL side that have conceded 130 goals in the league for the past two seasons. De Jong is a solid but limited destroyer, but everyone else is pretty much a number 10 being told to play in midfield.
Has anyone read the Van Gaal thread on Rawk?, the lengths they are going to 'prove' he's a crap manager is cringeworthy to say the least.
One year, maybe two.
We will return to the top.
And then they cry because top players don't want to sign for them. And top players want to leave them.
Let them fool themselves as much as they want, it'll hit them harder when the tables turn. I'm personally loving their transfer business so far and Suarez' pending transfer to Barca hasn't seen them being reportedly linked with anybody troubling at all.
They'll do a Spurs IMO.
Rodgers is the difference here. But even a manager like Klopp would struggle with their squad, he had the likes of Reus, Goetze, Lewandowski, Gundogan and Hummels. I would expect 5th.
Rodgers hasn't really done squat yet. Yeah he got them playing silky football last season with an end product, but Suarez will be a huge loss now. This upcoming season will be his big test, he's won nothing yet.
If he continues to go after players like Lallana, Lambert and Bony to try and replace Suarez, then long may he reign at Anfield.
I missed out an important bit lol. Assuming Rodgers is able to consistently manage like Klopp where his team's whole is considerably greater than the sum of its parts.
I agree, hopefully he flops but even if he doesn't I can see 5th with that squad if everybody else performs too.
I'd say a mixed squad would look like this:
------------RVP--------------
-----------------------Robben
-----------Mata----------
---Herrera---DeJong/Carrick
Shaw-------------------Rafael
---Blind--Evans--Jones----
----------De Gea----------
with De Jong and Carrick rotating depending on opponent and Blind dropped for a wide attacker and 4-3-3 frequently, likely Nani but conceivably also Januzaj or Mata moving wide and Kagawa coming in to play the 10.
Strootman starts if available, natch.
Don't rate Blind at all.
This is all a bit irrelevant, isn't it? Apart from Robben (and RVP obviously), I'm not sure I'd want any of the Dutch team at United. We are trying to compete with City and Chelsea and, ultimately, with Real, Barca and Bayern - getting past Mexico and Costa Rica is not really the issue.
Strootman, too, if that counts, but otherwise, agreed.
It's just that LVG's transfer record suggests he might think otherwise.
Anyone know when we are expecting LVG first press conference?
Next week. Ryan Giggs was saying he's due sometime middle of next week, so it's safe to say he'll be around for what would most likely be the Friday presser. Also happens to be our first day in the US!
van Gaal creates new managers. Guardiola, Mourninho , Besla. Sir Alex is an industry when it co comes to management
People are in for a big shock when Louis takes over. The epitome of control and direction.
Will be a huge breathe of fresh air from last season.
Let's be having ya!
A truly impressive set of managers have sprung from LVG's truly impressive set of testicles
And I reckon those beautiful Dutch balls will be pulled out within a week of his touchdown in Manchester.
The hype over LVG during the WC has been immense. I too expect great things from him but persons tend to raise expectations so high that they are almost impossible to meet. I hope people will be patient and not quick to judge him on early results, good or bad.
We along with the media tend to go for one extreme to the other, lets just be patient and enjoy the ride.
We along with the media tend to go for one extreme to the other, lets just be patient and enjoy the ride.
Interesting.
When Moyes was the manager he described Moyes as a "thoroughly competent" manager. Which seemed like faint praise at the time. The fact that Wenger has praised LVG means he must really rate him. And whatever you say about Wenger he knows his football.
Signing van Gaal is more important than signing any player IMO. I believe last seasons tragedy was due to poor/lack of management
Same. Which is why I am so reluctant to write off people like Carrick based on last season. I'm pretty much giving last season as a free pass and judging people by their form under SAF
Saw this in Squawa:
The Netherlands have attempted 432 long balls over the course of this World Cup, 131 more than any other nation (Brazil, 301).
I wonder if that was ever a feature of any of his teams or it's just because the Netherlands lack good midfielders.
The Netherlands have attempted 432 long balls over the course of this World Cup, 131 more than any other nation (Brazil, 301).
I wonder if that was ever a feature of any of his teams or it's just because the Netherlands lack good midfielders.
How many players were in great form under Ferguson though? Our defence was still hugely ropey, our wingers contributed nothing and we lacked a credible partner for Carrick. The only 3 players who dropped off who are still at the club are Carrick who is 33 now and Rafael and Van Persie who are both injury prone. People who think this squad is anywhere near challenging City and Chelsea are deluded, fourth or fifth is probably where we stand right now.
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