21
Stop fretting. I actually think the way he knuckled down and learnt how to play a different way will have impressed LvG. There will be games where another player might be more suitable, but he will play plenty. We needed the new signing, but if we start selling others in the midfield we just leave ourselves an injury away from a crisis again. I like you think we could cope without Di Maria better, although I don't actually want him to go. If his wife is still unsettled then he might have no choice but to leave.
I hope so, perhaps the media are still stuck in the train of thought they had in the first half of last season when he was out of favour. It would be ignorant of them to think that LvG leaving him out of the 4 CM competition he mentioned at the presser, means he's not got faith in him, I felt it just meant that LvG will now be able to use him as more of a #10. Like everyone else he'll have to compete but I can't see how anyone else would start ahead of him in that position at the beginning of the season. I'm not wanting us to sell Di Maria but there are numerous factors that make it more acceptable than selling Herrera IMO.
He was saying they are holding midfielders, so they were fighting for two out of we would presume three places. Ander will be competing for the third one as a attacking midfielder which is what he is best at. Really for the first game it could be him or Mata, depending where he wants to play Mata. Fellaini is suspended anyway. If we start the season well, Fellaini might wish he hadn't got sent off.
That was how I took it as well, Bastian, Carrick, Schneiderlin and Blind competing for the 2 deeper CM roles, with Herrera competing with Mata and Fellaini for the attacking CM role. LvG talks a lot about balance, it doesn't get a lot more balanced than that.
I agree, it's amazing how our manager can open his mouth and we get a million different interpretations of what he meant.
Well in fairness LvG kind of has his own unique way of using words so that most are left wondering if they actually got his point.I agree, it's amazing how our manager can open his mouth and we get a million different interpretations of what he meant.
I don't believe it for a minute. LvG came in last season, didn't know the players so had a look at them and then shipped some out. His usual way is to tell players he doesn't want at the end of the season that they will be sold. He has done that this time, RvP, Evans ,Valdes and sold Nani. If Herrera was going he would have already been told at the end of last season. All Ander has spoken about is how much he is looking forward to this season at United.
That's how most people took it. With Bastian. Micheal, Morgan and Daley competing the 2 deep roles while Juan, Ander and Marouane fight for the #10 position.
Valencia is like "These feckers won't leave me alone. Every single day!"
We are determined to get him smiling. He will have a fixed grin by the time they finish with him.
Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
They should find some way to include the 'shot on target' stat too. IIRC Ander had like 100 % through last season, or something close that.If you're wondering why this tweet is in here, here's a tip. Click it.
Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date
2nd half I think, I was asleep.
Second half in midfield with Schweinsteiger. He did well and was involved with most of our best moves and chances.
I will look forward to watching that.
Do you mean "David who?"?
Yep. He's argiably the most consistent player in our team, as his performances are all of a very high standard. The one poor one I ca remember from him was when he broke his rib, which was understandable.
That's a good way to break ligaments in your wrist.
Judging by his comments about the second half, it sounds as though he wasn't as impressed as the people who posted in this thread.
In the second half team alongside Schweinsteiger again. I think I posted elsewhere that I hope Schweinsteiger doesn't play in a midfield two for us outside of preseason. It wasn't the most balanced of midfields. I just hope Herrera features in whatever midfield three we continue with going forward.
It was a steady 7/10 performance from Herrera personally but the team weren't great in the second half.
To be fair to him we did nothing much in the second half. I guess Wilson januzaj pereira Lingard combo is too raw. Coupled with the fact that McNair can't cross and Blackett doesn't attempt to. Herrera and schweinsteiger Were good.
