Luckily the teams above us aren't to far ahead in the alphabet.
I'm not worried we wont challenge for the title.....i'm worried we wont make top 4!
- Thread starter BringNaniBack
- Start date
We have still not lost one player who performed well last season - not one! We have signed 2 central midfielders, a very good right-back, Shaw looks fitter and better than last season - and we have signed a very talented winger/striker.
Add to that - there are 4 weeks left of the transfer window (Pedro looks likely to enter) - and our net spend is very low so there should be tons of Money left.
we will be better than last season
Add to that - there are 4 weeks left of the transfer window (Pedro looks likely to enter) - and our net spend is very low so there should be tons of Money left.
we will be better than last season
Yes apart from every newspaper in Spain and England, there's been nothing concrete on Pedro. I'm not even sure that AdM is that big of a loss based on what we saw at United. Let's not forget that Ashley fecking Young was twice the player as AdM last season, and our best run of form came when Di Maria was relegated to the bench.
At least there's someone who half agrees, thank you lol.
If we fail to make top 4, especially after the money we've spent, LvG will definitely be fired.
Can't see it happening though. Unless Brenton has another "Suarez like" season.
Can't see it happening though. Unless Brenton has another "Suarez like" season.
What ? At this rate we will have a 'will we manage to stay up' thread. LvG took a sub standard Holland team to the SF of a WC. It isn't tougher to get top 4 with this squad even if you don't think he is good, his recent success can prove he wins when it matters
Pre-season is never a real indicator at how a team is going to do during the season imo.
The only thing I'm worried about is that the team can't gel quick enough to get up to a good start and will be out of the title race early on.
The only thing I'm worried about is that the team can't gel quick enough to get up to a good start and will be out of the title race early on.
We've got some letters in hand.
I think we'll do a bit better than this season, but a legit push to compete for the title is still out of the question unless something bizarre happens and City are awful again or something
Liverpool.
Some of you worry warts are either at the cusp of some pubic hair growth or you're completely off your heads.
Out
RVP = Lost his spark. Age is against him. Was a liability at times last season.
Falcao = Just didn't work for the both of us. He's past it and the injury has made him half the player he was.
Nani = He was inconsistent as inconsistent could be. Hell, he didn't tear up the Portuguese league exexactly. Never a Van Gaal player.
Angel Di Maria = Didn't have the will to stay in the country after that burglary. His wife has been adamant about a move and once a player's family wants out, there's not much you can do.
IN
Bastian fecking Schweinsteiger = Has done and won it all. Even if he doesn't dominate the league, his experience and leadership is huge.
Morgan Schneiderlin = The Prem's best CM last season. Nuff saI'd.
Memphis = Collosal potential. Will play behind the striker looks like. At the start of his career development, he may turn good. Van Gaal has groomed the boy for two years with Netherlands. Let's trust LVG.
Darmian = SOLID. SOLID. SOLID full back. He looks phenomenal and a welcome addition.
As far as I can see... We've made significant improvements and with Do Maria likely to be replaced by Pedro we'll be in great position to move forward.
So stop the mindless pessimism and get behind the team boys.
Out
RVP = Lost his spark. Age is against him. Was a liability at times last season.
Falcao = Just didn't work for the both of us. He's past it and the injury has made him half the player he was.
Nani = He was inconsistent as inconsistent could be. Hell, he didn't tear up the Portuguese league exexactly. Never a Van Gaal player.
Angel Di Maria = Didn't have the will to stay in the country after that burglary. His wife has been adamant about a move and once a player's family wants out, there's not much you can do.
IN
Bastian fecking Schweinsteiger = Has done and won it all. Even if he doesn't dominate the league, his experience and leadership is huge.
Morgan Schneiderlin = The Prem's best CM last season. Nuff saI'd.
Memphis = Collosal potential. Will play behind the striker looks like. At the start of his career development, he may turn good. Van Gaal has groomed the boy for two years with Netherlands. Let's trust LVG.
Darmian = SOLID. SOLID. SOLID full back. He looks phenomenal and a welcome addition.
As far as I can see... We've made significant improvements and with Do Maria likely to be replaced by Pedro we'll be in great position to move forward.
So stop the mindless pessimism and get behind the team boys.
It's like the reverse of Liverpool's boom - bust cycle.
But what about Romero?!
We will be top 4 at a sneeze.
I agree with you in that he was poor much of last season, but he helped us out a fair bit earlier on and it all counts. Ashley Young has done well but he's not the standard we need I'm afraid and over a season he won't give us enough to compete for the title (and I think he's a top guy). Of course there's been a lot of speculation on Pedro and I'd like him here as I think he has quality and a cool head but even if he arrives, we're not going to compete for top 2 with the current setup.
Edit: I should mention that I am very happy with our signings, it's just that it is happening at the same time as some losses which need addressing. If we look at City or Chelsea they have stronger players in key positions in both attack and defense, to improve we need to keep our world class players and sign more on top.
Well on the plus side, at least we may fare better in the Isthmian Leagues.
Right?
Right?
Watch the teams below us all change their names. Relegation battle.
Manchester City are in the process of buying up all the land in Abingdon.
Don't understand why you think this. If we lose DDG we will be weakened but we have strengthened massively in other areas and will be more settled up top.
We will finish top 4 but that'll be it, the top 4 will be chelsea, arsenal, city then us.
Having spent near enough to £200 million over the last 2 seasons and not actually being in any better of a position than we are is the more worrying thing. How can we spend so much but still not have a one world class player or the game changing player every top team has. If rooney gers injured our back up is hernandez and wilson. If we lose smalling our back up is blind or rojo. Hardly championship winning quality.
Next season will be exactly the same as last season was for us, we will blow hot and cold again.
we will win matches against the big teams put in a fantastic performance then we will go and lose to west brom and those sort of teams and put in dire perfromances.
Having spent near enough to £200 million over the last 2 seasons and not actually being in any better of a position than we are is the more worrying thing. How can we spend so much but still not have a one world class player or the game changing player every top team has. If rooney gers injured our back up is hernandez and wilson. If we lose smalling our back up is blind or rojo. Hardly championship winning quality.
Next season will be exactly the same as last season was for us, we will blow hot and cold again.
we will win matches against the big teams put in a fantastic performance then we will go and lose to west brom and those sort of teams and put in dire perfromances.
I fear the same as well, OP. Our defence isn't from good enough and Smalling, Jones and Evans never stay fit. Jones and Blind as a centre back partnership will be atrocious. And we may even still lose De Gea.
That place is horrible in the last few days, don't know how people can make fun about RAWK or Bluemoon and then post threads like that every minute. We haven't played a single game so far, give it a break. We finished Top4 last year and have improved the most from the PL teams at least on paper. We adressed every weakness bar CB and maybe striker. De Gea is still here and I doubt we will sell him now this window.
Next week we will smash Spurs and everyone will be in celebration mode and will make threads how brilliant van Gaal is and that we will win the treble.
Next week we will smash Spurs and everyone will be in celebration mode and will make threads how brilliant van Gaal is and that we will win the treble.
We need a whole slew of positive threads this week to balance the negativity.
With a defense consisting of two of Jones/Blind/Smalling/Evans/Rojo with Cillessen (who people on here don't seem to realize how terrible he is) we would concede far far too many goals.
Liverpool haven't improved to the extent of knocking us from fourth, you might have had a point if we hadn't improved in the midfield. Liverpool have lost their best player and replaced him with an unknown quantity (Fermino) in the Premier League, Sturridge is out until October and Benteke is a beast for maybe 6 games a season. Milner is a worker but he's not a player who will take the game by the scruff of the neck and lead the team to victory. Despite signing Clyne, their defence isn't much better than it was last season. In short, my point remains: No club that finished below us has improved their squad enough to be better than ours and finish above us in the coming season.
To not get into top 4, Spurs or Liverpool would have to overtake us.
No I'm not worried.
No I'm not worried.
The Spurs/Liverpool/City run last season makes me more confident for next season. We went to shit after that but the system will excel over individuals IMO. I've liked our window so far, we've signed midfield dominant players for a midfield dominant system, the only thing I'm worried about is the goalkeeping situation. The complaints that people have about pre-season seem to be the typical complaints aimed at LVG teams, the dominance at OT will negate the problems with creativity.
Don't care much for the sale of Di Maria as he had very little impact on our struggles last season.
We're in a good position to sign the next superstar IMO due to the talent at Madrid, Barca and Bayern, but we've been unlucky that nobody has really come through in the last year or two.
Don't care much for the sale of Di Maria as he had very little impact on our struggles last season.
We're in a good position to sign the next superstar IMO due to the talent at Madrid, Barca and Bayern, but we've been unlucky that nobody has really come through in the last year or two.
Far to early to be saying we can't get top 4. However, I will be honest and say that LVG has not inspired any confidence in me. Transfers have been good, but we still are lacking in a few positions which are well listed in many of threads. DDG was primarily responsible for our top 4 finish last year and he looks certain to be gone. I think our options to replace him are all at least a level below him so that is worrying. Need a top central defense leader as well. I think we still have a fair bit of business in this transfer window so we will see who else comes in. We've just gotta get top players in their best positions. Last season was a bit harder but after this transfer window if Mata is still playing out wide right then it's all on LVG.
I think he has the ability to play there yes. Although, if you're a negative bore, I can see why you wouldn't think that.
OP comes across as a typical drama queen. No mention of our GK who is the best in the country or the midfield which has witnessed a significant upgrade, just our CB who won't get into other teams, atleast if you want to go down this route, do it very well. We have a very good team, and a very good manager too, he'll make mistakes, and will do silly things [like other managers] but ultimately, we have a team capable and good enough to be up there.
My oh my, people changing from we're going to challenge for the league to we won't make top 4 in just a matter of 1 game.
Make up your mind at least
Make up your mind at least
I didn't mention the GK or Midfield because I was pointing out our weaknesses. In these 2 areas we are strong but even so we don't know if we are going to keep DDG, if he goes and we don't sign anyone we are again the weakest out of the top 4 in that position. The the midfield yes it looks good but without Herrera in there it is a lot weaker and that's another problem being created by the manager.
While we have improved, Liverpool have bought well and have a better team this season than the Liverpool team of last season,they will be challenging for top 4.
They are a threat and shouldn't be underestimated,I think they might surprise a few people this season as some of the the players they have bought have EPL experience and might settle a bit quicker(Hope I'm wrong).
I'm not that concerned as it stands, though I think Liverpool will have a slightly better season, what worries me is the possibility -if we sell DDG and start the season with 2 keepers who've not had a preseason for United or played one PL game.
The only reason we'd struggle to get top 4 is because of the sheer upheaval in our squad over the last 13 months, not the actual quality of the squad.
We always underestimate our own players and overestimate our rivals'.
We always underestimate our own players and overestimate our rivals'.
I'm just about to send a video of me burning my season ticket to woody.
It will look a lot stronger defensively, but weaker attacking wise. Depends what LvG wants. The fact that he hasn't signed a new CB. Maybe it's this seasons 3-5-2? Protect the defence at all costs.
That's what am talking about, you can also point at the weak points of our opponents but you chose not to. We might not be good enough to win the league but not making top four? Come on now.