This is the same reporter that broke the Zlatan stories,so they might really be something in this.
Sky Sources : Blind and Mata set to leave this summer.
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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.
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To be fair selling players isn't the problem. It was a failure to replace them that was.
Also Van Gaal himself was very much deadwood coasting on past reputation.
Well on the first point i somewhat agree it was two sides of the same coin for me, he sold a few players needlessly and didn't replace them. Both decisions left the squad very thin.
The second part may very well be true mate considering his results here. Which is a shame but yeah he just made so many mistakes, his biggest for me was building a fairly mediocre squad with little or no depth despite spending a lot of money.
He was far too trigger happy and sold many players without having replacements for them.
He said earlier in the season that He preferred working with a smaller squad. He sold most of our attackers then claimed he didn't believe in competition but in trust(Whatever that means). Terrible decision making and I was convinced in September that it would come back to bite him . It did.
Me too mate when all the players were being shipped out i trusted him thinking we must have a few deals lined up. When the window closed and we only signed Martial i knew we were in trouble. We went into the season with only 5 senior recognized defenders one of which was Jones so effectively only 4. Bonkers.
Another one of his gems was complaining about the lack of fast creative wide players in the squad. Despite selling or loaning everyone we had who fits that description and playing Mata out wide.
We had just scored 63 goals the previous season. I thought we'd work on fixing that.Me too mate when all the players were being shipped out i trusted him thinking we must have a few deals lined up. When the window closed and we only signed Martial i knew we were in trouble. We went into the season with only 5 senior recognized defenders one of which was Jones so effectively only 4. Bonkers.
Another one of his gems was complaining about the lack of fast creative wide players in the squad. Despite selling or loaning everyone we had who fits that description and playing Mata out wide.
But we then sold 2 senior strikers,our top assist makes from the previous season and just expected things to work out
He brought in Martial as one for the future and he even admitted as much at the time. After selling Chicha late in the window,he then started Fellaini as a centre forward in our next game.
It was reckless . I agree that some players did need to be moved on,but they should have been some methods to the madness.
Thats actually being kind mate. In hindsight his whole squad rebuild has been nothing short of a clusterfeck, i think the current squad arguably needs more work on it than the 2013 squad.
I can't understand selling Blind and not a mention of Jones who hasn't been anywhere(through injury though) this last season. I would rather Jones go and keep Blind.
I disagree. It just needs our players playing less restricted football with confident players and a gameplan that actually works. We have an underperforming squad, but not a bad squad. We have quality players who'd be able to play good football. If Jose makes some smart additions, we will be fine
I think you misunderstood me mate or i didn't word it well.
I don't think we have a terrible squad and i also hope a lot of our poor performers will fare better under Mourinho, but the squad is very short on numbers. We only have 5 senior defenders, one of which is Phil Jones so 4 really. We have very few attacking options of quality, and an aging midfield.
So in my opinion Jose would have less work to do on the 2013 squad to really challenge for the title. 3-4 additions at most the first year back then.
Where as this squad probably needs 5-6 new players to make the squad a strong one to challenge before we even sell anybody, and if we do sell maybe even more players would need to come in.
Both of these players would probably be squad players under Mourinho. However, they're probably both unhappy with squad status. This is the main reason why I think they're moving on. I'm pretty sure Mourinho would like to have Blind as a utility backup player. But if Blind doesn't want this, then there's no point in him staying.
And yet Blind has said his is happy to stay here and work with Mourinho. The word on the street for the past week or more has been that Mourinho wants to sell him and not Blind wants to leave.
are we still banging this drum.... the 2 most un-Jose style players will be sold?
They have not been told this i'd bet. Pure click bait of an obvious target/s. They still could be sold but at this stage it is a just a prdictible and speculative shot in the dark.
They have not been told this i'd bet. Pure click bait of an obvious target/s. They still could be sold but at this stage it is a just a prdictible and speculative shot in the dark.
Zlatan is a bit of a no brainer before Andy Burton put his name on it, and FWIW nothing has happened since he's reported it. Sky said a deal could be announced today but nothing as of yet.
Oh I disagree, the current squad just needs an identity and faith, unlike 2013 our squad is not ageing. In DDG, smalling, shaw, the up and coming new stars in Lingard, rashford and martial. I still think jose can make players out of Morgan, Memphis and Herrera, looks like Jose has signed a striker and a CB, that has already strengthening our 2 weakest positions. There was way too much work in 2013 that has the same problems the current squad has got, missing one thing then, unlike now, we have some very good young players who I feel could slot into the team without looking totally out of their depth, and more potential in our current players. It won't surprise me if Jose signs a midfielder within the next month, which squad would I rather? by far this one
The 2013 squad wasn't as old as some seem to think, it had 14 players 25 and under. Yes it also had 6 players in their 30's but for comparison the current squad has 4 (5 if we sign Ibra), and yes granted the 6 in the 2013 squad were a bit older.
I haven't worked it out and i can't be bothered to either but i imagine the current squad is younger overall which is great long term. We have lots of promising young players and this current squad has more potential but i was talking about competing in the short term in that post you quoted.
If Mourinho had taken over in 2013 and made a few (2-3) key signings i reckon we could have won the league his first year or the year after. I hope under Jose we hit the ground running but i'm personally not super confident we'll win the league next year or even the year after. This squad for me needs at least 4-5 quality players for the first team. CB, CM, ST, RW and maybe an RB. The squad also needs a bit more depth especially if we sell. Bailly seems like a step forward but he and smalling makes only 2 reliable centre backs for me. Rojo and Jones can't be relied upon to stay fit. Darmian and Shaw have had their injury problems Valencia isn't an RB. So theres potentially another 2-3 squad players possibly needed unless Jose relies on Mensah and Jackson, though i have a feeling he will loan one or both of them out.
Maybe i'm just pessimistic about it. But i look at the current squad and just see holes every where. It seriously lacks the numbers for me to compete in four competitions next year unless we bring in at least 5-6 players and maybe even 7 if we sell a few.
I think the players in 2013 younger than the older players were not trustworthy at all, the 2013 had holes everywhere, with smalling, jones and evans injury record, ferdinand vidic and evra's current age, in midfield needed a complete rebuilding job, when our wingers consisted of valencia and young, how about potential? our midfield needed a complete rebuild. Upfront long term needed fresh new blood, I look at the likes of Martial and Rashford, with zlaten in the fold, its pretty exciting. I look at the current squad, and there is players Jose can work with in the next few years, DDG, smalling, shaw, morgan, herrera, martial, rashford, memphis, other players like lingard has proved to be a very effective tool we could use. The current team needs a manager who can put this team together, hell this team came top of the top 6, so they can go into the biggest games and beat any of the top teams, if Jose can keep up the performances against the top teams, and add that against the smaller teams we will be a threat for the PL
I really wouldn't lose any sleep over Mata moving, as I am sure most of us wouldn't.
Blind I feel is too slow for a Jose team but he is extremely versatile and could be our 'John O'Shea' squad player. I can't see Blind ever kicking up a fuss at being a utility player and he would be perfect to have on the bench to fill in at CB, LB or DM should an injury to one of the first 11 occur.
Remember, it's all rumours at the moment so we don't really know if there's any truth in the matter. I really do think that Mata will be moved on though, he just won't feature in a Jose team.
Blind I feel is too slow for a Jose team but he is extremely versatile and could be our 'John O'Shea' squad player. I can't see Blind ever kicking up a fuss at being a utility player and he would be perfect to have on the bench to fill in at CB, LB or DM should an injury to one of the first 11 occur.
Remember, it's all rumours at the moment so we don't really know if there's any truth in the matter. I really do think that Mata will be moved on though, he just won't feature in a Jose team.
Definitely need to keep blind. He has been extremely reliable since he's been here, and he can fill numerous positions. Would be crazy to sell.
This is correct mate but to be fair bar Martial you could say the same about the current squad. We still have Jones and he's still injured, Rojo has replaced Evans in terms of form and being quite often in the treatment room. Our midfield isn't great with two aging players past their best, Herrera who's best position may not even be as a CM. And Schneiderlin who i hope improves but was poor last year.
Yes in 2013 our wingers were Young, Valencia and Nani. But who are our wingers now? Young, Depay, Lingard, and Martial i would say our current bunch have been just as bad bar Martial.
So that gist of this is that now we have Martial and thats great but the 2013 squad while not having as much potential long term as the current one had more numbers, experience and arguably quality. I think Jose could have got that team winning trophies right away. This one i'm not as sure.
If we are talking long term i would definitely prefer the current squad also, but it is still lacking in many areas for me it lacks numbers in defence and quality options in midfield and attack.
I think our current wingers have more goals in them than valencia young and nani, lingard proved what asset he can be with that winner, memphis I feel needs more time, young currently is not even a winger, and martial alone proved he alone I would choose our current batch over the 2013 wingers any day of the week We are not even sure if Jose could even do that in 2013, but I would much rather the current squad than the 2013 squad. There is a team waiting to burst out, I thought we would kick on going into the 2015/16 season, there is a team there if they can get the most points of any from the 2015/16 season. If teams like spurs and leicester could win the league, under Jose with the right signings could easily challenge for the title
Martial probably does but not the group as a whole which is quite poor. Lingard is probably never going to score more than 5-8 goals, and thats if he plays most games which is unlikely under Mouinho. I hope Depay kicks on and becomes a good player for us but his big problem is Martial has basically taken his spot. Can he discover his PSV form while also adapting to a new position?
As i said if thinking long term i would prefer our current wingers also, but only because of Martial and he was bought as a striker and will probably end up back in that position before long.
Na, if Jose has long term plans for Rashford, and with zlaten signed, Martial's position is an inside winger/forward, no way will martial be changed upfront with zlaten and rashford to choose from, and his position is best from the left or right.
I disagree, the squad is not poor, it was just poorley handled, its hard for any player to adapt when VG's tactics do not work for any player. The squad lacks is proven themselves they belong in the big time, as a combination of Moyes and VG can destroy any team
Don't know why people get worked up when players leave. And we're not even talking about Lionel Messi here. I'm sure their better players than Mata and Blind out there we could get to replace them
I said bar Martial our current wingers as a group are quite poor not squad. But while we are at it i don't think the squad overall is a great one either in fact it's fairly mediocre for me. If you think differently fair enough mate.
Yes the current squad has 9-10 players who could form the basis of a very good team/squad if (and it's a big if) Jose can get them all playing to their potential. That wont' be easy, if he can do that and bring in 4-5 quality players who can hit the ground running then we will have a squad that will make me much more optimistic. But as of right now all i see i holes everywhere plugged with average players or at least players who looked average because of style of play or it not being their natural position.
Lets hope Jose can sort it out and create something great from this current bunch.
This is what I'd expect Fellaini's barber to say when turning him blond. 2 out, more room for me!
I can understand why Mourinho wouldn't take to these two. They aren't the physical and athletic type of player that Jose usually desires, but I'd still find the Blind rumours a baffling one as he's such an intelligent player with a lot of ability who can be an excellent utility player. Offloading Mata should come as no surprise though.
This is what I'd expect Fellaini's barber to say when turning him blond. 2 out, more room for me!
You'll be happy to know that despite the user name, I don't care for him either
I can see that, which is why you made him go blond. Nice one!You'll be happy to know that despite the user name, I don't care for him either
I can see that, which is why you made him go blond. Nice one!
Wasn't aware of the new hair, just checked him out now
....FFS Mourinho sell this freak!I have seen united squads like 2006/07 I would say was quiet poor, beyond the first 14 players. I don't think the squad is quiet poor, its just lacking an identity VG for my money has been playing the wrong players, and already Mourinho has signed a CB and a striker. If you give VG or Moyes any of the great ferguson teams, they would find a way of ruining those squads. There is a team there, it needs a better manager and just a few more players. What this team needs to do, they have to prove themselves, because at the moment there is a possession identity, but all I see is a bunch of strangers
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Blind certainly polarises opinion. Personally I can't stand him, he's a liability. He's too small, slow and weak to be a Premier League centre back. His passing is also hit and miss and it terms of being a utility player - i don't seem having him in the centre of the park being a good idea ever, potentially at left back as a last resort.
He's bound to leave. On paper he doesn't fit the Mourinho archetype and he's personally linked very closely to the previous manager.
It will be interesting to see what level of club comes in for him?
That squad wasn't aging at all.
That was just another Moyes excuse that people bought into .
Can't see why some posters are having difficulty understanding why we're looking to get rid of both Mata and Blind, Mata was pretty much pushed out of Chelsea by Mou when he was good, he's not going to survive under him now while he's been sub par for the past 18 months, meanwhile you have a man that was brought in by the man that has just been sacked and was probably his main ally in this squad, very much doubt Mourinho would want to keep too many of the signings the last regime got in.
If they're not outstanding then they should be shipped out, too many people get attached to mediocre players, this is one if the reasons we're in this predicament as a club, I very much hope both go on the basis of them being replaced by 'Mourinho players' and hopefully they'll prove to be quality performers unlike the last few signings (bar Martial).
If they're not outstanding then they should be shipped out, too many people get attached to mediocre players, this is one if the reasons we're in this predicament as a club, I very much hope both go on the basis of them being replaced by 'Mourinho players' and hopefully they'll prove to be quality performers unlike the last few signings (bar Martial).
blind has been more than mediocre, and given his ability to play in so many positions, combined with his excellent passing then it makes no sense to get rid of him. he's a fantastic utility player, and while i don't agree he should be an automatic starter, players like him are exactly what any team needs to be successful.
Not really Blind has been made to look good enough at CB by a coach approaching games in a way not to expose his frailties, in which there are many, Mourinho won't want a player closely associated with LvG either, so a player not suited to his style and linked with the past regime makes Blind very dispensable, I do agree on the fact versatile players are always a good thing in a long season, but we need to start finding players able to perform at a very high level (a level which neither Blind or even Mata seem incapable of doing) consistently if we really want to become the best, we won't do that if we continue to show faith in players like Mata and Blind, it breeds laziness complacency within a squad.
Definitely mate, it had several players the wrong side of 30 but then almost every squad Ferguson had was the same, the bulk of the squad was under 25. Under SAF he believed in having 3 groups with in the squad young players 18-24, players in their prime 24-30, and always a few experienced heads in their 30's.
Scholes had retired, Giggs was on the coaching staff so basically semi-retired. Van Persie had only turned 30, Vidic 31, Carrick 31, Evra 32, Ferdinand was 34 fair enough. But most of them were hardly ready for retirement. Evra's still going strong at Juve, Carrick is still here and is getting a new contract. Van Persie was coming off the two best seasons of his career in 2013. And who knows what a top manager like Mourinho could have did with Vidic when you look at Terry last year.
It was as you say bullshit peddled by Moyes and his chums in the media.
The blown game at West Ham that knocked us out of Top 4 clouds my thoughts when it comes to Blind. Hard to look past a catastrophe like that. He is pretty solid but I think we should expect more. I really miss the days of Rio and Nemanja.
You think the 2007 squad was poor?
This one?
------------VDS
----------Kuszczak
Neville-Ferdinand-Vidic-Evra
O'Shea-Brown-Silvestre-Heinze
Ronaldo-Carrick-Scholes-Giggs
Solskjaer-Fletcher--------Park
------------Rooney
--------Smith---Saha
So you think that one is poor but the current one isn't. Ok fair enough mate i disagree on both counts, i would swap any squad we've had for the last 5-6 years for the 2007 squad with the players we had and the football we played back then.
I agree with some of your other points though especially on Moyes and Van Gaal. Moyes did take a title winning team and feck it up. And Van Gaal has been playing too many players out of position for well practically every game. And yes they looked like a bunch of strangers half the time because well they were. Too many new players brought in in too short a space of time will result in that.
Yeah, I see Blind as that O'Shea kind of player who can fill in anywhere. The main thing working against IMO is he has no speed at all. He is ridiculously slow but compensates for that with an excellent read of the game.
Mata on the other hand, I really hope we move him provided we get a bonafide number 10 who can slot into wing. I'm grateful for him helping us win the cup but it's best if we move him on.
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