The Manchester United Clear Out. Volume 2

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Radamel Falcao’s future at Manchester United is in doubt alongside several senior players whose contracts expire in 18 months, with David de Gea, Robin van Persie, Jonny Evans, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Rafael da Silva yet to sign new deals. There is an expectation at the club that the summer will feature another clearout by Louis van Gaal after the manager allowed 15 players to be sold or go on loan last year.

Although Van Gaal claimed last week to be confident De Gea will agree fresh terms – Real Madrid retain a firm interest in the goalkeeper – it is understood that Van Persie, Evans, Jones, Smalling and Da Silva are not close to reaching any agreement to extend their careers at United.
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The Defense

Although it is thought that there is yet to have been firm contact between the United executive and the representatives of Van Persie, Evans, Jones, Smalling and Da Silva regarding new terms, Van Gaal is relaxed about the situation.

Some of these players will hope to be offered contract extensions but the Dutchman is focusing on strengthening the squad and is targeting a right-back, central defender and central midfielder.

This means that Da Silva and at least one of Evans, Smalling, and Jones are vulnerable, with Van Gaal’s desire to bolster midfield meaning that Tom Cleverley, who is on loan at Aston Villa, will almost certainly be sold in the summer.

Van Gaal has doubts about Da Silva’s defensive qualities and is concerned at the frequent injury problems that continue to hamper the progress of Evans, Smalling and Jones.
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Van Persie

It would represent a surprise if Van Persie were not offered a new deal. United usually adopt a policy of offering one-year extensions to players in their 30s – Van Persie will be 32 in August – so the club may wait until the spring to do so.
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The Replacements

Everton’s Seamus Coleman, Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne and Barcelona’s Dani Alves are of interest to Van Gaal as a first-choice right-back. He has identified Borussia Dortmund’s Mats Hummels at centre-back and Kevin Strootman in central midfield as his ideal additions in those positions.
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Jamie Jackson | Guardian

  • So looks like Hernandez, Cleverley are sure to leave. No shit Sherlock!
  • Van Persie might get rolling one year deals.
  • Falcao is odds on to depart.
  • The defense will get a major shake-up.
  • Coleman, Hummels and Strootman are the top targets
 
Hernandez, Cleverley, Anderson, Evans, Lindegaard and Falcao to leave I reckon. Send one (or both) of Blackett and McNair out on loan.

Bring in a new striker, new midfielder and 2 new CBs. Seems a bit much looking at it now.
 
I'd cry if we signed Alves. It would be Maicon all over.

He wasn't the greatest of defenders in his prime. He'd struggle more in the premier league.
 
Bojan11 said:
I'd cry if we signed Alves. It would be Maicon all over.

He wasn't the greatest of defenders in his prime. He'd struggle more in the premier league.
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Agreed - can't really see what he would bring at this stage, and I'm not sure he'd have the right attitude at his age and with the medals he's already won.
 
Major changements ? Probably not on a lot of starters unlike last year when we lost 4/5 starters.

Falcao is only on loan, and 3 goals in 1500 minutes are nothing near good, and he won’t be missed at all.

Rafael was poor or average this season and sh*** last year, not a heartbreaking since he’s always injured, not reliant. Love his temperament but he has been average since he came.

Evans could be the one to hurt, more affectively because he produced some very very impressive displays when he was with Rio, Vidic and Evra.

Jones/Smalling, I don’t think that one of them will leave to be honest unless we really buy 2 center backs this summer, but with Van Gaal loving Rojo for his 3-5-2, it would be bad to unleash one of them.

Januzaj, can be loaned this January, and maybe worse this summer. I think that it can be a huge mistake letting him go, but I guess that Van Gaal can’t promise him much

Lindegaard, of course he will leave, and probably this January

Fletcher, I love him, but he is not good enough. Maybe we can keep him in the squad, but I don’t think that LVG is in love with him unlike Fergie was

Wilson/Blackett/Mc Nair, they will seek first team football, and I probably think that one of the two defender will be loaned next year, and if we’re going for a 4-3-3 next year with RVP+ Roo +another striker and Wilson continuing being not good enough maybe he can be loaned also
 
Raw said:
Hernandez, Cleverley, Anderson, Evans, Lindegaard and Falcao to leave I reckon. Send one (or both) of Blackett and McNair out on loan.

Bring in a new striker, new midfielder and 2 new CBs. Seems a bit much looking at it now.
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I'd love it if that was a winger/wide pacey forward type. Reus or someone. Bale is going to be quite expensive (too expensive IMO).
 
Also can't remember when last I saw one of these lists without Fellaini's name in it :lol:

I'd have risked losing my life's savings on him "not being a LvG type player". But that shows how much I know, or how shit I am at gambling. Probably both.
 
At present, I'd have no issue with Falcao, v Persie, Evans, Fletcher, Anderson, Hernandez, Cleverley and maybe Fellaini not being here next season. That said, if we are only judging people based on 'at the moment', then I'd add the manager himself to that list, especially if he intends to play 5 defenders as his default.

I'm not that keen on Strootman either tbh. Would prefer a mover like Barkley, or even Sissoko in there instead.
 
Outs:-

All of the loanee’s will be gone in the summer along with Anderson and Anders – if they get to the summer. At 27 if Evans isnt stepping up now (in my eyes he’s a poorer player now than he was at 18) then he’s never going to and he should be the one to make way.

I think Van Persie has done enough and offers enough to stay on a roling contract, Carrick too.

Falcao, not sure whats going on. Amazed at the weekends decision. Wilson hasn’t looked like scoring all season. Against Yoevil, Wilson was incredibly poor.

I wish Rafa could stay fit. I love his tenacity and aggression which is something we have severley missed whilst he has been out. However, (I created a thread on this in the newbies). I have had about enough of his injuries. Over the last 6 years (whilst we have played in the later stages of the champions league and so 50 odd games per year), Rafa has averages 19 “appearances”, he’s proberbly completed 90 minutes in about half of them. So lets say a dozen games per year. Therefore he simply can not be relied upon to be a “fixed” player as LVG says. So I am definatley in agreement that a world class right back is required. I wouldn’t get rid of Rafa (yet), but I would definatley buy a right back.

Ins:-

Centre Back - I know Hummels is mentioned over and over again but I’ll be honest – ive never seen him be anything other than bang average – at best, ive seen him have some shockers and although I don’t watch German football and don’t like regurgitating media opinions ive read reports he’s been very poor for Dortmund and many of the goals they have conceded can be directly pointed at Hummels . He’s had as many injury problems as our current mob, he looks slow and clumsey at times, struggles against movement and basically think at the money qouted its bad business. All of his faults would also be shown up a lot more in the Premier League. The young French lad at Bilboa, I havent seen so couldn’t really comment, but he’s 20 is he not? The Ducth lad at celtic similar. I havent lost faith in Jones, Rojo and especially Smalling fullfiliing there potential and so if prefer us to bring a 30 year old centre half in who has been there, seen it and done it. Unfortunatley there is a real shortage of those. However, if we are looking and spending top drawer then could we tempt Ramos? I have criticised Pepe extensivley in the past but I wouldn’t be against him either, we desperatley need some aggression and leadership back there. Rojo can maybe provide it but that’s why id prefer a short / medium term fix as opposed to another young centre half – especially a foreign one.

As for the right back situation, not sure any of those mentioned are world class, but wouldn’t be against Clyne or Coleman. I have read a few reports about the Swiss lad at Juve??? Anybody seen him? Id prefer a right back more in the mould of a Ivanovic / Zabelleta.

Midfield, although its been high priority for years I think with Blind, Herrera, Mata, Fellaini stepping up a bit and then having the potential to play Di Maria and Rooney there then I cant see us signing a midfielder if I am honest.

If we let Falcao go, assuming hernandez is gone too and with RVP on the decline then the summer could see centre forward being priority. Wilson is certainly a good few years from being a 25 goal a season number 9 from what I have seen. We would be left with RVP, Wilson, Rooney(??) and so therefore if it isnt Falcao then it must be somebody else? Benzema would be my preferred choice, he’s had a number of years at Real now and we know how they like to move people on. Hopefully they go for aguerro. I don’t want cavani. Again, not sure who the answer is. Don’t think Muller is dynamic enough, obviousley a great player but as a main number 9?? Not sure.

It is very difficult to assess exactly who/what we need because we don’t know how we are going to play!
 
Will be an interesting couple of windows ahead. LVG feels 3-5-2 suits the players at his disposal now. I tend to agree with him, the lack of fit Central defenders and the fact they are prone to bouts of being shit means we need that extra man in defence. rafael and Shaw being injured regularly forced his hand somewhat as well, Valencia and Young are not full backs. It may not have been pretty but its an improvement on last years shambles for sure.

I do think though that having bought Di Maria (and for the time being signed Falcao) he will move to a 4-4-2 with pacy wingers once he is comfortable he has the required personel. 3-5-2 is overkill for the majority of matches in the Premier League and we've conceeded % midfiled posession to lesser teams because of it so I would be surprised if it becomes our main tactic in future.
 
Would be sad to see any of Jones, Smalling or Evans go. If we were to bring in 1-2 new central defenders one of them will need to go and that would I guess be Evans.

van Persie im not sure. Id still like to think he has another cracking season left in him

Rafael, Ive never been a fan ever. I cannot say I would miss him at all
 
Out: Hernandez, Evans, Fletcher, Anderson, Lindegaard, Amos, Johnstone and Valencia. Falcao will not be signed on a permanent contract.
 
Jamie Jackson...the cnut who posted a picture of LVG with the caption "Bell end"?!?
Who on earth is taking that goof seriously?
 
If there's one thing that LVG has achieved it's to make the question of who is the dead wood way more confused.

At the start of the summer, we all knew that Fellaini, Valencia and Young were first out the door. Now they seem to have some use and the talk is Evans, Jones and Fletcher.
And yet, in reality, though our defence may be dodgy, we're pretty hard to score past. The real deficiency that keeps coming up is a woeful inability to create chances, but it's hard to poinpoint who could be off from our attack as they are all top players, at least in theory.
Again, 6 months ago we may have been expecting LVG to have no truck with Rooney and his attitude, and RVP to be the focus of his team... but here we are with the former bedded in as captain while we debate the future of the latter.

It's all very confusing. Maybe we should sell everybody and start from scratch.
 
The ones that definitley need to go for me this summer (or sooner) are:

-Evans
-Rafael
-Fletcher
-Anderson
-Lindegaard
-Zaha
-Hernandez

The ones that could go (wouldnt bother me):

-RVP (if a good offer comes in we should sell)
-Falcao (not making deal permanent)
-Nani (will generate an interest, i'd only keep him if we cant attract any other beter wingers)
-Carrick (not renewing contract)

Leaving us with these players:

-DDG
-Valdes
-Valencia
-Jones
-Smalling
-Rojo
-Blackett
-Shaw
-Young
-Blind
-Fellaini
-Herrera
-Mata
-Di Maria
-Januzaj
-Rooney
-Wilson

(and those listed above who stay)

RVP could still stay for a year,
Falcao could be purchased
Nani could get a new chance
Carrick might get a one year extension

Januzaj, Wilson and Blackett could be loaned out

Leaving us with the following problems to solve:

Defence:

We need atleast one good centreback that could lead the backline:
Hummels and Howedes seem the most ideal targets for us, in case LVG sticks to the 5-3-2 both could be purchased but in case we got to a 4-3-3, only one should be purchased

We need a good rightback:
Clyne and Coleman are the most ideal targets for us

Midfield:

In case Carrick's contract wouldn't be renewed we would have to replace him with somebody like Strootman or Rakitic, Vidal could also be an option

Wings:

We need to bring in atleast one good winger to widen up our play Valencia and Young arent good enough and Di Maria alone isnt enough. Ideal target would be Reus but will be very difficult to get with all those clubs over him like bees on honey. Depay is a good player to pursue for me. Talisca could also be a potential signing for that position.

Attack:

Most likley RVP and Falcao both wont stay, one of them needs to go and it is probably best to replace that one with a new striker.
Lacazette or Cavani or perhpas that Dyabala would be the best options.

I'd really fancy a summer like this:

Out:
-Evans
-Rafael
-Fletcher
-Anderson
-Lindegaard
-Zaha
-Hernandez
-Falcao
-Carrick
-Nani
-Wilson (loan)
-Blackett (loan)
-Januzaj (loan)

In:
Hummels
Clyne
Strootman
Depay
Lacazette

Team for next season:

DDG, Valdes, Clyne, Valencia, Hummels, Jones, Smalling, Rojo, Shaw, Young, Blind, Fellaini, Strootman, Herrera, Mata, Rooney, Di Maria, Depay, Lacazette, RVP as the hard core
and 3 or 4 young players to take up into the team (can also include Wilson and Januzaj)
 
NoArroJusBeta said:
Out:
-Evans
-Rafael
-Fletcher
-Anderson
-Lindegaard
-Zaha
-Hernandez
-Falcao
-Carrick
-Nani
-Wilson (loan)
-Blackett (loan)
-Januzaj (loan)

In:
Hummels
Clyne
Strootman
Depay
Lacazette

Team for next season:

DDG, Valdes, Clyne, Valencia, Hummels, Jones, Smalling, Rojo, Shaw, Young, Blind, Fellaini, Strootman, Herrera, Mata, Rooney, Di Maria, Depay, Lacazette, RVP as the hard core
and 3 or 4 young players to take up into the team (can also include Wilson and Januzaj)
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Please explain to me why Carrick and Rafael need to go. There is really no need and it could probably be too much change. We should sign competition for Rafael, yes, but he's still better as a back-up than Valencia. Carrick doesn't need to go either, especially for his experience, we should sign a replacement though. I agree with the rest of the list for players who need to go.
 
bucky said:
Please explain to me why Carrick and Rafael need to go. There is really no need and it could probably be too much change. We should sign competition for Rafael, yes, but he's still better as a back-up than Valencia. Carrick doesn't need to go either, especially for his experience, we should sign a replacement though. I agree with the rest of the list for players who need to go.
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Agreed totally, but Nani falls in the same boat for me. If we want to play 2 wide players often next year, and we should, then even if we sign a great winger and use Di Maria out there, we'll still need backups and Nani and Januzaj should be them.

But yeah, sign an RB to compete with Rafael and keep Carrick to backup Blind for another year and then Carrick can go to MLS or Newcastle or wherever and by then we'll know if we need to buy a DM to start over Blind or a young backup with potential since Blind has continued to improve.
 
I'd sell Evans, Fletcher, Anderson, Lindegaard, Valencia, Young, Zaha, Hernandez and Cleverley.

Sign an actual right-back as competition for Rafael, a CM, a CB and possibly a winger.
 
Evans, Fletcher, Anderson, Lindegaard, Young, Zaha, Hernandez, Cleverley and Van Persie would be released come the summer, for me.

A right back, centre half, central midfielder, goalscoring wide man and either Falcao or a new striker would suffice in terms of acquisitions. I wouldn't say no to having Nani back either.
 
NoPace said:
Agreed totally, but Nani falls in the same boat for me. If we want to play 2 wide players often next year, and we should, then even if we sign a great winger and use Di Maria out there, we'll still need backups and Nani and Januzaj should be them.

But yeah, sign an RB to compete with Rafael and keep Carrick to backup Blind for another year and then Carrick can go to MLS or Newcastle or wherever and by then we'll know if we need to buy a DM to start over Blind or a young backup with potential since Blind has continued to improve.
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I think Nani needs to be a starter and I don't think it should be with us. It's just seems that he needed the challenge elsewhere and his time with United is at an end. I'd rather have Di Maria, Depay, Januzaj and some great winger come in, whether it's Bale or someone else.

We would do well, if we signed Carrick's replacement in the summer. I really want to replace him earlier than what we did with Scholes and Giggs.
 
Think we should let go of Lindegaard, Evans, Fletcher, Anderson, Zaha, Hernandez, Cleverley, Powell, Falcao, and then probably Nani as I don't think the fans will ever truly take to him. Most of those are dead wood, unbalance the squad a bit or just never play anyways so it's not too big of a deal, still 10 players though.
 
I'd sell or release the following:
Evans, Falcao, Lindegaard, Powell, Fletcher, Anderson, McNair*, Blackett*, Hernandez, Cleverley, Zaha.
*Loan out if contract extended.
 
So people want Evans gone and Blackett and McNair loaned out? How many defenders do you expect us to buy, because we're struggling enough with defenders this season and next season we should (hopefully) have CL football too.
 
Chaky_Best said:
Rafael was poor or average this season and sh*** last year, not a heartbreaking since he’s always injured, not reliant. Love his temperament but he has been average since he came.

Evans could be the one to hurt, more affectively because he produced some very very impressive displays when he was with Rio, Vidic and Evra.
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So Rafael's injury and slightly up and down form is enough reason not to miss him while Evans who has been injured or poor since last season will be someone whose loss would hurt? Great logic right there!
 
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