Vidic was also 24 when he signed for us, iirc.
16
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 26
- Clean sheets
- 8
- Goals
- 1
- Assists
- 0
- Yellow cards
- 6
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
Physically there is no comparison with the portuguese league. Portuguese football technically it´s very challenging but not in physical terms. In England players are much stronger. Like i said previously, in Portugal most of the teams don´t play with a big physical unit up front. it´s mostly mobile forwards or even adaptations. Another thing is that Rojo played for Sporting (and since we are a big club) most of the teams (except for Porto, Benfica and Braga) play in very defensive setups and center backs (excluding the set pieces) have to deal with counter attack football. I think he was more comfortable with that.
Haven´t been following Mangala's career but there has been some echos in the portuguese media about him struggling. Yesterday there was an article in "A Bola" about Allardyce criticizing him and saying they were exploiting his frailties. Also blaming Pellegrini for the lack of tactical support. Last year in Portugal Rojo was better than Mangala. Garay and Rojo were the best centerbacks in the league.
That's interesting. How come Mangala was like triple the price as Rojo then? Not too much younger either?
I still think Rojo makes a lot of errors in games. Thankfully they're the sort of errors you'd expect from someone who's new to the Premier League, namely misjudging the speed with which he'll be closed down or a bit of weakness in the air. Hopefully, they'll improve in time.
Well Mangala played a very good first season at Porto and was decent in the Champions League and EL which probably inflated his value. Mangala also came to Porto after a succesful spell at Standart Liége. Rojo didn't play in european competitions to prove himself and inflate his value and came to Sporting after a unsuccesful Spartak Moscow stint. Rojo only had one very good season of domestic football and a positive campaign in the World Cup where he got into the tournaments eleven. Mangala had a higher release clause and Porto are known to drive a very hard bargain. These are the main factors behind the different values. If you ask me both were over valued. I´d value Mangala at 15 to 20 million euros and Rojo at 10 to 15 million euros. We know how the market works these days.
That's great to hear and will hopefully put an end to this crazy idea that we're converting a full-back.
Rojo was always a center back by nature mate. In Argentina he plays there but anyone who follows his career knows that he is more comfortable as center back. I´ve been trying to dispell that notion from the start in this forum. There's alot of misinformation about Rojo's position specially the english media. Lazy journalism. I think i've already translated a Rojo interview of when he got transfered to Sporting but i'll put it here again:
http://www.rtp.pt/noticias/index.php?article=572213&tm=27&layout=158&visual=49
Translating the important part:
"O internacional argentino, que se assume como "um jogador aguerrido e de pensamento positivo", adiantou preferir jogar a central, "mas se o treinador precisar de mim na esquerda não há problema".
The argentinian international who assumes that he is "an aggressive player with positive mentality", admits that he prefers to play as center back, "but if the manager needs me in the left there's no problem".
we should have signed both, Rojo and Garay
Benfica got 2,5 million for arguably the best center back in Portugal. What an amazing deal
I think Rojo has the talent and will need to put on a bit more muscle to take on the heavyweight strikers in the league.
Remember that Evra and Vida also struggled for a good 6 months before they found their feet and took them another half a year to truly take-off in the PL.
The boy needs time and I think he'll come good.
Remember that Evra and Vida also struggled for a good 6 months before they found their feet and took them another half a year to truly take-off in the PL.
The boy needs time and I think he'll come good.
I think he will do well for us eventually. I really warm to him, he seems to have the right attitude, plus I don't think the unsettled back centre back pairing helps matters.
Saying he's been partnered by evans , McNair , jones , blacket and smalling and doesn't speak any English he's not done too bad .
He's not been injured to , which for a United centre half is rarer than rockin horse shit.
He's not been injured to , which for a United centre half is rarer than rockin horse shit.
This key quality automatically makes him a good signing so far. Imagine if he hadn't been here.....
True, the mind boggles. To have had to take on the role of the rock at the heart of our defence so early, the one guaranteed starter surrounded by a sea of ever-changing often inexperienced faces at the back, well, who would have believed we'd be so reliant on him? He's done well but I want to see him when things have settled before making my mind up.
Needs time but I like him. If we can get through enough games and he gets the time he needs, he'll be a player for us for a long time.
Dont hold those orange boots agaisnt him. Socks by the ankle,now thats a different matter.
He's done well enough. I'm astonished that some are saying he's been 'very poor' or 'a mistake waiting to happen', yet fail to take into context that he is a new signing, in a new league and is yet to play in a settled defence with a different centre back partnering him every week. He's not without his faults, but he's got some positives in his favour too.
If he cuts out the careless square passes, improves his focus and concentration, while not struggling against aerially or dealing with balls into strikers feet, he could become a very accomplished centre back for us.
If he cuts out the careless square passes, improves his focus and concentration, while not struggling against aerially or dealing with balls into strikers feet, he could become a very accomplished centre back for us.
he stays fit for more than 2 games... so for that alone he has to be given a nice long stint at centre back to make it his own.
Well one of those shouldn't be too difficultNot much to do then
Just starting in a new league I think he's doing well. Sometimes in key moments he looks a little nervous but he's a tremendous athlete and he's very good in the air. I think he will grow in confidence and dominance as his time here goes on. He's a very good defender and I like him a lot.
Eh? Thats the shoe. The new nike has a built in sock liner.
This really winds me up, and shows how much people take the media at face value. Some were doing the same with Blind and saying we'd signed 3 left backs. My mates dismissing United as top 4 contenders just after the window shut because we "Didn't sign a midfielder or a centre back" was particularly annoying.
Apparently Rojo has a beef with Aguero.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/sergio-aguero-marcos-rojo-embroiled-4550726
Rojo said he would mark Aguero in the match “with a degree of firmness.”
Should be interesting to watch
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/sergio-aguero-marcos-rojo-embroiled-4550726
Rojo said he would mark Aguero in the match “with a degree of firmness.”
Should be interesting to watch
Just as long as he doesn't get himself sent off I'm all for a bit of tension.
the "who would win a fight" poll at the end
I voted Rojo 
I don't mind that as long as he doesn't do anything stupid and gets sent off.
the "who would win a fight" poll at the end
I don't mind that as long as he doesn't do anything stupid and gets sent off.
This poll is ridiculous, Aguero has absolutely no chance.
the "who would win a fight" poll at the end
I don't mind that as long as he doesn't do anything stupid and gets sent off.
what a fecking soap opera.Hope he's better than semi concentrating on the job!
The part about Aguero cancelling a coaching clinic that both he and Rojo committed to was hilarious. Aguero cancelled at last minute, and Rojo said 'maybe he's scared' ! Rojo's plan B to football was probably boxing
! Rojo's plan B to football was probably boxinghe has been a very good signing for us. he has the occasional lape of concentration/mistakes. but overall he does his job well. Language may be an issue too.
Aguero is a bit of a drama queen!
According to Argentine gossip he is not happy that his gf gets on well with her ex (who Rojo invited to the dressing room). His gf and the ex have a girl together, so not out of order really that they get on well imo.
Then Aguero's father is now the "manager" or whatever of his gf and accompanies her on concerts. Reason according to gossip for that is Aguero being jealous and not wanting his gf to be on her own
He needs to grow up
According to Argentine gossip he is not happy that his gf gets on well with her ex (who Rojo invited to the dressing room). His gf and the ex have a girl together, so not out of order really that they get on well imo.
Then Aguero's father is now the "manager" or whatever of his gf and accompanies her on concerts. Reason according to gossip for that is Aguero being jealous and not wanting his gf to be on her own
He needs to grow up
My opinion on LvG goin for Rojo; is that Rojo came to his attention during the WC playin at LB, but heard that he can also play at CB.
So Rojo was our back-up option to Vermaelen - who was a friggin rediculous target in the 1st plac, given he never played in 2 seasons at Arsenal, due to injury or serious loss of form.
That to me, doesnt give great confidence in LvG's ability to assess defenders to bring in from the outside. He already knew Evans, Smalling & Jones were injury-prone, yet decided to roll with it. Massive mistake!
The jury is very much still out on Rojo. One things for sure though - he's nowhere near the standard of Rio or Vida & thats what we needed. Proven quality CB's should have been the priority for LvG..
So Rojo was our back-up option to Vermaelen - who was a friggin rediculous target in the 1st plac, given he never played in 2 seasons at Arsenal, due to injury or serious loss of form.
That to me, doesnt give great confidence in LvG's ability to assess defenders to bring in from the outside. He already knew Evans, Smalling & Jones were injury-prone, yet decided to roll with it. Massive mistake!
The jury is very much still out on Rojo. One things for sure though - he's nowhere near the standard of Rio or Vida & thats what we needed. Proven quality CB's should have been the priority for LvG..
Nice one - Rojo will be under the spotlight for the match today & the question of "intent", will not be an issue with the ref!
Also, for all we know, Aguero may have good reason to hate Rojo's mate. He could have been treating Aguero's girlfriend like shit (when he was with her). Most of us would have a beef about shit like that - if thats the case though.
Wish Aguero would just come out & say something regarding the matter, but there's most likely legal ramifications in him doing so... all parties are high-profile etc..
Big test for him today. Playing against top players in a highly charged atmosphere. He's got a reputation for being a hot head so will be interesting to see if he shows that side to him. I've not seen it so far in his United career.
I would not be surprised if we set up with a formation that gives Rojo and Smalling some more protection than normal with City having Aguero in such good form.
One of the players I am very interesting in how they cope with this match. Really hope him and Smalling impress.
I would not be surprised if we set up with a formation that gives Rojo and Smalling some more protection than normal with City having Aguero in such good form.
One of the players I am very interesting in how they cope with this match. Really hope him and Smalling impress.
We don't know if Vermaelen was a serious target though, it could all just be speculation. Quotes from Rumenigge suggest that for LVG defense doesn't take priority which seems feasible considering our summer transfers. It appears to be something that comes with the LVG package so to speak.
However, personally I feel like Rojos done very well at CB so far, all things considered, and I believe that I'd still think so even without the context. We were looking for a good left-footed CB and supply was low.
Even if he knew the full extent of Evans/Smalling/Jones' hazardous tendencies you'd still Believe that enough of them would be able to stay healthy enough to occupy a single spot in defense also considering we're playing a smaller amount of games this year. They're all very talented defenders so to just discard them would be reckless IMO.
I think that the only proven quality CB who was up for grabs this summer was Benatia who's right footed and perhaps therefore didn't fit the profile. Besides that he allegedly didn't want to come here since we couldn't offer CL football, so there's also that.
Carragher and Neville thought we were signing a left back who can also play centre back in Daley Blind and then in the same discussion criticised Louis van Gaal for not looking at a central midfielder.
I could not believe it, they were commenting on his football ability yet completely unaware of the position he plays.
It's like criticizing Americans for driving on the left-hand side of the road...