‘De Gea better than Schmeichel and Van der Sar’

Liverpool fans debate the potential signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, while Man Utd supporters chat about how Jose Mourinho should approach the Man City game, all in our forum…

 

Join in the debate here…

 

CL scenario for Liverpool

Ended up posting this (by following the thread) on the BHA game link – but re-posting it here where it’s more relevant:

Think this is how it works…. If Moscow beat us, we’ll both be on 9 points, but Moscow will be above due to a better head-to-head against us.

If Sevilla then beat Maribor we are out. If Sevilla lose against Maribor, we progress because we’ll have more points than Sevilla.

If Sevilla draw against Maribor then we should still progress because we’ll be on equal points with Sevilla but will have a better head-to head against them due to scoring more away goals.

Think that’s all fairly simple isn’t it? However, let’s just stuff Moscow and take away all of these ifs/buts/maybes.

Red Herring

 

It is a simple situation draw and we are through, win and we top the group, lose and we are out. Would be nice to be a couple up going into the last 10, would make the end of the game a bit more relaxing, don’t fancy a repeat of Olympiakos 🙂

Paxman

 

Aubameyang ‘has an all-round game’

Firmino has been playing well but if we want to improve we need to look at players of the quality of Aubameyang. And he isn’t simply a goal machine – he has an all round game.

Bob-Notts

 

Knowing our luck we gamble on the attack again (and neglect defence) by signing Auba for 40m and then he gets injured for 6 months…

mwake

 

Its just the usual lazy journalism out there, apparently Aubameyang is unsettled, he is actually fine where is but there is no secret that he is looking for a big payday after putting in the hours/goals for Dortmund. Its just that he is a easy sell to Liverpool fans to get clicks or likes…

NotoriousBingo

 

Zlatan shows a gamble is worth taking

Zlatan is proof enough that an expensive gamble even for the short term is worth taking especially for a player of this quality.

Aubameyang is a goal machine in his prime. Another 30+ goals/season alongside Mane and Salah and none of us will give 2 sh*ts about what Firmino brings to the team or how old Aubameyang is.

That said I don’t see it ever happening because it just isn’t Klopp’s style sign such a player.

Razor

 

Centre-forward not our priority

Firmino is an outstanding player. The perfect player for the way we play. He’s now adding goals. He has 11 in all comps. He can be frustrating but the way he can open up play for us is unreal at times. His pressing is immense. He’s a fantastic team playet

I really rate the lad and centre forward is not our priority at the minute. Salah has played through the middle at times. A centre back or even two should be priority in Jan.

Like bingo says, I can’t see is buying abu at all.

Sean the sailor

Counter-attacking the way to go at home to City

Pogba is going to be a massive miss however we need to do the business without him. It’s going to be a big ask to win the match even if Pogba was in the team however we are definitely a team that can break down even the strongest attacking teams if we play to that plan.

It’s going to have to be counter-attacking stuff next weekend so my line-up would be as follows:

De Gea
Valencia – Lindelof – Smalling – Young
Matic – Herrera – Fellaini
Lingard – Lukaku – Martial

Looking at the team it doesn’t look intimidating compared to that of City’s – here’s to hoping home advantage, our good home form and the importance of getting a win push the players up a peg (like against Chelsea last season where we weren’t given a chance of winning yet did so quite comfortably).

Sympathy for the Devils

 

De Gea better than Schmeichel and Van der Sar

Reposting this where it might be more appropriate.

I grew up watching schmeichel and then after him the next great keeper to come to united was van der sar. with no disrespect to them, i believe de gea is the greatest of the three keepers. his saves have papered over bad performances and individual errors for years.

even if pogba hadnt been banned for the city game and de gea was at his magical best, it would take an under par city for us to be able to beat them. they are that good.

i honestly dont think i’ve seen a better team in english football ever.

englishbob

How will Mourinho approach City game?

MacGuffin- I very well could be changing it again, sadly, for me. Will have to work on my puns now already.

Sympathy – I think your line-up could be very close to what Jose sets out if you ask me. I personally wouldn’t play Lingard though- I know he’s on a bit of a purple patch but would you really select the lad for this game? I still don’t trust him enough and would rather see Rashford playing in your line-up.

Rashford should get some time at CSKA, and if he impresses, Mo has a selection headache. I’m also hoping Bailly is fit for this one.

englishbob – We are certainly underdogs. It will be very interesting to see if Jose acknowledges that and, in Pogba’s absence, sets up very defensively as he did against Liverpool and tries to sneak it on the counter. To be honest, it’s not the United way, but it might be the wisest way to approach this game.

Or, maybe he goes out with attacking intent, like he has consistently done at home this season. If he does that and we win, I will be very pleased, and incredibly surprised. IF that happens then United are clearly a much better outfit than even I (ever an optimist) think they are.

Unitedmatas

 

Why the need for Jan signings?

There is much speculation in the papers about transfer goings and comings in January. I read JM has confirmed there will be transfers despite him almost gloating at the end of summer that whilst other clubs will be doing business in January, United won’t need to.

Its U-Turns like this that help convince me the manager does not have complete control over transfers and spending. Much depends on budgets and financial appraisals of players.

Why the need for January transfers? Why could it not have all been done in the summer?

Likewise player contracts. Why didn’t the club sort out Fellaini’s contract before the summer and sell him then if no agreement.

MacGuffin

 

@macguffin – whilst I agree summer is undoubtedly the best time for transfers, this year is a bit different since Ozil is now coming to the end of his contract and Griezmann had the whole transfer ban saga to contend to.

If we can nab either of those two (or maybe both?!) in January then I’d consider that as business done early from next season as we will probably be after the two of them in summer anyway.

Left back is also a major concern – whilst Young is doing the business at the moment, like Valencia he is not a long-term solution and we are really lacking in the full back departments.

Hopefully Mourinho (and United as a club) has an eye on a player who can come in and hit the ground running if they do indeed feel that a LB is a priority in the very near future.

Cheers

Sympathy for the Devils

 

Ozil a short-term solution

Ozil would only be a short-term solution imo since he will be approaching 30,but if it meant the end of the “grandad” and completely useless Mata and Mikhy then I say yes.Really hope we go for someone much,much younger in the summer!

Shaw,Fellaini,Darmian and Carrick should be sold/let go in January,which from the money raised from the sales and saved on wages should give us enough to buy either a lb or a rb this January i.e.Rose!

Then in the summer,players like Blind,Jones/Smalling,Ibra,Herrera,Mata and Mikhi[if not this January], should be sold/moved on to free further funds for new signings.

redblood