The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

You are right. We got superstars without Champions League football. That's pretty different.

That's a pretty crappy way of visualizing it though, considering a couple of those transfers happened years ago. Plus the fact that we have been under-investing since the Glazers took over. It's about time we got to use money the club generated (not borrowed from its owner).

Do you prefer it to be expressed in this manner instead?



Seems like they should be better than where they are doesn't it?

[Leon]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

Do you prefer it to be expressed in this manner instead?



Seems like they should be better than where they are doesn't it?

Last 5 years:
Sir Alex Ferguson
2009/10 (1st year post-Ronaldo)
Valencia, Owen, Diouf, Obertan, Pogba (youth) - 2nd place EPL | QF UCL | League Cup Winners

2010/11 (Refreshment of squad by Sir Alex)
Smalling, Hernandez, Lindegaard, Bebe, Vermijl (youth) - 1st place EPL | Runners-up UCL

2011/12 (1st year of rebuilding by Sir Alex)
Jones, De Gea, Young - 2nd place EPL (goal differential)

2012/13 (2nd year of rebuilding by Sir Alex)
Powell (youth/reserves), Kagawa, RVP, Buttner, Goss (reserves/youth), Henrique (reserves), Zaha (to arrive 2013/14 season) - 1st place EPL

David Moyes
2013/14 (We'll never know if there was a plan)
Mata, Fellaini, Varela (reserves), Janko (reserves) - **** PLACE EPL

Louis Van Gaal
2014 (Rebuild of FIRST-TEAM SQUAD by LVG)
Milinković (reserves), Herrera, Shaw, Di Maria, Rojo, Blind, Falcao - TBD

So if you look at it in perspective, we did quite well -- with Sir Alex. Net spend for 2009-2011 was roughly 51m GBP. 2012-2013 rebuild years with SAF, net spend was roughly 107m GBP. Aside from Ronaldo, we haven't sold anyone over 20m GBP, which results in us having larger net spends compared to clubs who sell players with higher values. We usually just make our unwanted players look useless by not playing them and selling them for chips.

Post SAF is when spending has ballooned. Even us fans underestimated just how big of a change Sir Alex's and David Gill's departure would affect the club. Once LVG corrects the ship, I fully expect us to promote our first-team quality youth while showing we can be a force in the market. The moment we stop promoting youth is the moment us United fans know the club's soul has been sold. 76 straight years an academy player has been named in the match day squad - I hope that never ends.

On another note, I really do love all the attention United is getting for a "mid-table" club. Hated, adored, never ignored!

[ImTellinTim]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

Haha, it's like talking to members of a weird cult.

[Leon]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

Haha, it's like talking to members of a weird cult.

Oh, I'm sorry for bringing up the story beneath the numbers.

But hey, we can always just revert to talking smack about each other's clubs.

[kaletore11]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

Last 5 years:
Sir Alex Ferguson
2009/10 (1st year post-Ronaldo)
Valencia, Owen, Diouf, Obertan, Pogba (youth) - 2nd place EPL | QF UCL | League Cup Winners
Owen was mediocre at best, Diouf a disaster, Obertan even worse. Pogba could've been good but he left. Valencia is good when healthy, but that's not too often.

2010/11 (Refreshment of squad by Sir Alex)
Smalling, Hernandez, Lindegaard, Bebe, Vermijl (youth) - 1st place EPL | Runners-up UCL
Bebe lol. Chicharito never really panned out, LIndegaard was just a backup so I can't balem him. Smalling is ok but injuries and too frequent rotations messed him up.

2011/12 (1st year of rebuilding by Sir Alex)
Jones, De Gea, Young - 2nd place EPL (goal differential)
Young is horrible, other two are great imo.

2012/13 (2nd year of rebuilding by Sir Alex)
Powell (youth/reserves), Kagawa, RVP, Buttner, Goss (reserves/youth), Henrique (reserves), Zaha (to arrive 2013/14 season) - 1st place EPL
Powell still waiting for his chance, Zaha lol, Buttner LOL, Kagawa failed as well. RVP was a great buy.

David Moyes
2013/14 (We'll never know if there was a plan)
Mata, Fellaini, Varela (reserves), Janko (reserves) - **** PLACE EPL
Can't comment this, it would just make me sad. Mata is the dumbest transfer in football history (maybe James to Real rivals it).

Louis Van Gaal
2014 (Rebuild of FIRST-TEAM SQUAD by LVG)
Milinković (reserves), Herrera, Shaw, Di Maria, Rojo, Blind, Falcao - TBD

This is key.

So if you look at it in perspective, we did quite well -- with Sir Alex.

We did well only because he's a football mastermind like no other and was able to make terrible teams look amazing. I still have no idea how he managed to dominate the league with such a poor team in his last season. Granted, RVP was a key addition, but the rest of the team was mediocre at best.

United have been pretty bad transfer wise for a long long time, you all remember players like Djemba Djemba, Kleberson, even stars like Barthez and Veron (!) turned out to be bad.

Now that Fergie the grand magician is gone, United HAVE TO spend loads of money to have a competitive team and fight for honors. Granted, the academy is still as strong as ever, even though young players have to work more than ever to get a chance. But the academy is only useful if you have a great team overall so you can mix youngsters in from time to time.

I like these transfers, they were necessary without a doubt. But let's stop pretending United attracts players only with their name and stature. There are no "traditional" clubs in the top leagues anymore, money rules football. And I'm pretty sure that United offered Falcao more money than Real because there's no way he wouldn't go there if the money was the same.

Well, I have no idea what I'm blabbering about at this point, I'm too tired and sick right now. Anyways, I believe in LVG and this rebuilding project and I'm looking forward to seeing us fight for honors as soon as possible.


Keep in mind, my criticism is not hate by any means. I've been a huge United fan all my life, went to about 30 games which is not easy living in Croatia.

[VTPack919]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

Oh, I'm sorry for bringing up the story beneath the numbers.

But hey, we can always just revert to talking smack about each other's clubs.

Or we can just take the numbers at face value and stop the charade.

[Leon]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

This is key.


We did well only because he's a football mastermind like no other and was able to make terrible teams look amazing. I still have no idea how he managed to dominate the league with such a poor team in his last season. Granted, RVP was a key addition, but the rest of the team was mediocre at best.

United have been pretty bad transfer wise for a long long time, you all remember players like Djemba Djemba, Kleberson, even stars like Barthez and Veron (!) turned out to be bad.

Now that Fergie the grand magician is gone, United HAVE TO spend loads of money to have a competitive team and fight for honors. Granted, the academy is still as strong as ever, even though young players have to work more than ever to get a chance. But the academy is only useful if you have a great team overall so you can mix youngsters in from time to time.

I like these transfers, they were necessary without a doubt. But let's stop pretending United attracts players only with their name and stature. There are no "traditional" clubs in the top leagues anymore, money rules football. And I'm pretty sure that United offered Falcao more money than Real because there's no way he wouldn't go there if the money was the same.

Well, I have no idea what I'm blabbering about at this point, I'm too tired and sick right now. Anyways, I believe in LVG and this rebuilding project and I'm looking forward to seeing us fight for honors as soon as possible.


Keep in mind, my criticism is not hate by any means. I've been a huge United fan all my life, went to about 30 games which is not easy living in Croatia.

Oh no doubt we haven't been buying top quality the past couple of years. Glazernomics at work and Fergie was peddling it to us and we didn't mind (much) because we kept winning. His biggest crime is ignoring our midfield. Also, I wouldn't say Veron was bad. Fergie just never bothered actually playing a system that would suit him. So it's more of a questionable buy than anything else.

What's traditional these days? All I know is United have an ethos that Sir Matt Busby laid and I hope they stick to it - homegrown talent mixed with some of the best in the world. Having LVG (who is known to promote youth) and Giggs waiting in the wings makes me believe this won't be broken.

Or we can just take the numbers at face value and stop the charade.

Cool. I don't mind being 3rd in the 5-year transfer spending table and winning two titles.

[Kai Flame]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

I can't help think that this yr we'll see great improvements and our key player being the cheapest of our buys this yr (Blind). He and Di Maria are the ones I think will be our greatest assets this yr.

What do you think of this line up?



We all know with wazza being captain and all they won't drop him. I only wish that we could get the best out of Mata (Who I think is more important than Rooney). I'm looking forward to LVG's selection.

Bench:

Anders Lindegard
Chris Smalling/ Johny Evans/ Tyler Blackett (breakthrough year?) (preferred choice)
Adnan Januzaj
Darren Fletcher/ Marouane Fellaini (preferred choice)
Michael Carrick
Juan Mata
James Wilson (breakthrough year?)


Ashley Young and Anderson wouldn't even get a chance on my bench.

Anyways in all truth we have the most dangerous attack in the epl, they just need to gel and gel quickly.

[OSUFan_88]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

Anyways in all truth we have the most dangerous attack in the epl,

Ehhhh...I'd still take City and Chelsea's attack over United.

[Suntan Superman]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

I'd take Costa and Cesc over the EPL.

[Leon]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

I can't help think that this yr we'll see great improvements and our key player being the cheapest of our buys this yr (Blind). He and Di Maria are the ones I think will be our greatest assets this yr.

What do you think of this line up?



We all know with wazza being captain and all they won't drop him. I only wish that we could get the best out of Mata (Who I think is more important than Rooney). I'm looking forward to LVG's selection.

Bench:

Anders Lindegard
Chris Smalling/ Johny Evans/ Tyler Blackett (breakthrough year?) (preferred choice)
Adnan Januzaj
Darren Fletcher/ Marouane Fellaini (preferred choice)
Michael Carrick
Juan Mata
James Wilson (breakthrough year?)


Ashley Young and Anderson wouldn't even get a chance on my bench.

Anyways in all truth we have the most dangerous attack in the epl, they just need to gel and gel quickly.

You're more likely to see Di Maria on the left & Herrera on the right in that formation. For the two up top, I really don't care who starts because it should be based on form and performance in training. Rooney/RVP/Falcao fighting it out can only bring the best out of each other while Wilson learns from them.

I'd put Carrick over Blind, simply based off of his 12-13 season. Plus, he can easily shift into the middle CB if that formation shifts to a 3 at the back. Any poor performance during the Moyes year is as aberration for me.

On paper, we're up there in terms of attack. City and Chelsea have the advantage of chemistry though, and you can never discount how important that is when it comes to actual play.

[~LiverpoolRed~]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

I can't help think that this yr we'll see great improvements and our key player being the cheapest of our buys this yr (Blind). He and Di Maria are the ones I think will be our greatest assets this yr.

What do you think of this line up?



We all know with wazza being captain and all they won't drop him. I only wish that we could get the best out of Mata (Who I think is more important than Rooney). I'm looking forward to LVG's selection.

Bench:

Anders Lindegard
Chris Smalling/ Johny Evans/ Tyler Blackett (breakthrough year?) (preferred choice)
Adnan Januzaj
Darren Fletcher/ Marouane Fellaini (preferred choice)
Michael Carrick
Juan Mata
James Wilson (breakthrough year?)


Ashley Young and Anderson wouldn't even get a chance on my bench.

Anyways in all truth we have the most dangerous attack in the epl, they just need to gel and gel quickly.

Rooney doesn't even make your sqaud of 18?

[Kai Flame]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

You're more likely to see Di Maria on the left & Herrera on the right in that formation. For the two up top, I really don't care who starts because it should be based on form and performance in training. Rooney/RVP/Falcao fighting it out can only bring the best out of each other while Wilson learns from them.

I'd put Carrick over Blind, simply based off of his 12-13 season. Plus, he can easily shift into the middle CB if that formation shifts to a 3 at the back. Any poor performance during the Moyes year is as aberration for me.

On paper, we're up there in terms of attack. City and Chelsea have the advantage of chemistry though, and you can never discount how important that is when it comes to actual play.

Yea true true

I wouldn't put Carrick over Blind, this is a new era I'll still keep him in my team tho, until retirement, he's still a good cm. The thing is he's currently injured and I'd like to think that when he comes back Blind would have already been bossing the midfield, making his position quite secure.

Rooney doesn't even make your sqaud of 18?

lol he'd take Mata's position for LVG, he'd make my bench tho XD. Mistake sorry lol

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

Sturridge tweeting about a potentially serious injury. If this turns out to be true then we are about to find out what Balotelli and Rodgers are made of

[Brahvocado]

Re: The 2014-15 EPL Discussion Thread

Having an international break 3 weeks in to a brand new season could ONLY be the work of satan.