On August 25 2014 04:51 Telcontar wrote: Barca hasn't learned anything. Playing the same way, still relying on Messi's magic, and not buying truly proven defenders. After Mascherano shows the world how good of a DM he is at the World Cup, what do they do? Stick him back in CB. They still look susceptible to counters and long balls with that ridiculous high line. I can easily see another trophyless season even if Suarez, Messi and Neymar gel. It's ridiculous how much Barcelona underestimate the importance of having a solid defence.
Mascherano is just playing today because Pique and Vermalen can't play.
But I agree that they should have got a better defender than old 31 years Mathieu.
On August 25 2014 04:51 Telcontar wrote: Barca hasn't learned anything. Playing the same way, still relying on Messi's magic, and not buying truly proven defenders. After Mascherano shows the world how good of a DM he is at the World Cup, what do they do? Stick him back in CB. They still look susceptible to counters and long balls with that ridiculous high line. I can easily see another trophyless season even if Suarez, Messi and Neymar gel. It's ridiculous how much Barcelona underestimate the importance of having a solid defence.
Mascherano is just playing today because Pique and Vermalen can't play.
But I agree that they should have got a better defender than old 31 years Mathieu.
Munir
I'd argue that Mathieu was better deal than Vermalen.
On August 25 2014 05:23 CeriseCherries wrote: ok fox sports commentator was just like "some barcelona fans were talking about selling messi now and getting the money"
who the fuck was even saying that
They were. I have listened it this summer tons of times from some barça fans.
Some remember Ronaldhino who was the best, then they didn't sell him at time and when he was out of form, he left almost free.
Not looking good for Elche this season. This is Barcelona of course, but vs 10men they have been worst than with 11. They should of continued to sat back and counter until at least the 70th minute before trying to go take the game to them. Bad management there and they made to pay the price.
To much space for Messi is just like gifting him an open goal ^_^
Awesome stuff. That was some vintage messi, especially in the first half. Now just don't burn him out like last year and give some time to munir.
It's obvious after this first official game that lucho won't change the system for suarez. He will have to adjust to the system like Henry and Villa did with great success, if he can't he will leave just like ibra.
Suarez played winger at Ajax as well. He's pretty humble anyway. Don't think he'll have any problems fitting to any system, as long as he has some freedom to make his actions.
On August 25 2014 02:22 Micro_Jackson wrote: Number of German clubs with a team budget over 80 million €: + Show Spoiler +
1
Everton are stereotypically a "poor" club, but the 28 million pounds that they spent for Romelu Lukaku still would have been a record transfer for every Bundesliga club except Bayern. And Bayern only has two transfers more expensive than that (Mario Goetze and Javi Martinez). Even the clubs that compete for Europe every year like Schalke, Leverkusen, Wolfsburg, etc. have never spent more than 14 or 15 million euros for a player.
Remember the story I posted about La Liga club SD Eibar, who have the stadium that holds about 5k spectators? They WON their first ever match in the top flight, 1-0 over Real Sociedad! The goal was pretty nice too! Vamos Spanish Gunners!
I don't feel too bad. He is part of the problem with his fetish for a 3-5-2 formation when United clearly don't have the personnel for it. When your best players are in the center of the field (Mata, Rooney, van Persie) you'd probably want to create space for them to operate by utilizing width but he plays without proper wingers. Hence the middle is congested and United look toothless. Even with essentially 5 defenders they are still leaking goals as none of those players have played in such a formation before.
United are in deep shit. I just read Real are haggling the price for Di Maria and that it could rise to 75 million £. It's ludicrous. They are paying Ronaldo money for... Well, not Ronaldo. Di Maria is a good player and important to a team but he has become so overrated after his CL finals. There is no way in hell he is worth 75 million. The worst part is though, that in far and away his best season at Madrid he played in attacking midfield, the one position United don't need any players in. This is a massive panic buy by United that will have severe repercussions. I understand Woodward's desperation in that he wants to deliver a big name in an underwhelming transfer period but he's better off buying nothing right now and making proper plans to address needs (central midfield, central defense, possibly fullbacks) next season (transfer for fans happen in 24 hours but in reality can often take a whole year of planning by the club) rather then toss money down a well.
The management of United is just lost right now. Ferguson and Gill both left a huge void and clearly the decision makers have not been adequately replaced. They need to create a plan for the future and have the patience to follow through even if some tough times are in between. Though I thought Moyes was an inadequate manager I think in a way it would have been better to keep him. Even if inevitably he would not have succeeded to United's expectations, the club would have settled down to life after Ferguson. Now there is potential for a vicious cycle of hirings, firings and burning cash. I think the Di Maria transfer is a symptom of the lack of leadership at the club. I don't see van Gaal lasting very long at this rate and United could suffer for a long long time.
we needed someone with the balls to sell one of rooney or rvp last season we also need someone whos not a complete retard at business. good job getting a bunch of sponsorship deals woodward, were still gonna be mid table this season
On August 25 2014 09:00 evilfatsh1t wrote: we needed someone with the balls to sell one of rooney or rvp last season we also need someone whos not a complete retard at business. good job getting a bunch of sponsorship deals woodward, were still gonna be mid table this season
Yeah. It's a tough call though. I rate RvP much higher as a center forward but he is a huge liability in regards to injury. Still, Welbeck would have been good cover in my opinion. I think Rooney should have been sold rather the. Given a 300k a week contract. I also question the Mata transfer when you already have Kagawa. Same for Herrera when you have both Mata and Kagawa. Shaw was a needed transfer but vastly overpriced in my opinion. Still, the least offensive transfer business of the lot I think. It's just crazy though that there still isn't a proper central midfielder though. I mean hell, buy Nigel de Jong from Milan if you can't get a big star. He was being rumored for 6 million £, dirt cheap. He would have injected some steel into the biggest position of need for United. Then they would have had a year or 2 to line up a big deal for a star like Vidal.
herrera i think is decent as he likes to play CM and hes very decent at it i agree that mata was a terrible purchase. the player is quality but he was surplus to requirements the biggest annoyance is the fact that teams just know we're desperate and they try and milk as much money of of these deals. vidal deal has dragged on forever and it doesnt look like its going to pull through ever. when we finally do land him (probs next year) he'll already be almost 30 and can only play a couple more years. this di maria deal seems stupid too. overpriced and not needed since we dont play 4-2-3-1 anymore
3-5-2 is to mask weak defenders which Utd and Dutch team have. It's highly unlikely Di Maria will play in a 3-5-2 (I hope). But there is no way to fit everyone no matter what the formation, some will have to play out of position. No one wants Rooney's 300k wages, not even for free probably.
On August 25 2014 11:42 zulu_nation8 wrote: 3-5-2 is to mask weak defenders which Utd and Dutch team have. It's highly unlikely Di Maria will play in a 3-5-2 (I hope). But there is no way to fit everyone no matter what the formation, some will have to play out of position. No one wants Rooney's 300k wages, not even for free probably.
Both in Holland and United I think 3-5-2 has done very little to mask defensive weaknesses. United for sure look even more vulnerable then last year, and I thought Holland too looked worse defensively in a 3-5-2 formation then when they switched to 4-3-3. Basically 3-5-2 is a counter formation where your fullbacks turn to wingers when you win the ball. The way LvG is playing it it's to soak pressure and then strike quickly when you win the ball. If your center backs are not reliable the last thing you want to do is invite pressure. Adding an extra CB when none of them can position properly won't help. So really, van Gaal is neutering his offense because there is no width and really, I don't think it's helping defensively much.
I don't think Di Maria will be played as a wingback (please no) as you say. So either he'll play in midfield (haha) or LvG will finally scrap 3-5-2 (I hope). Makes me a little queasy to think that Di Maria the winger will cost 65 million £ though... Save that money, buy Strootman and Vidal next season instead.
On August 25 2014 11:42 zulu_nation8 wrote: 3-5-2 is to mask weak defenders which Utd and Dutch team have. It's highly unlikely Di Maria will play in a 3-5-2 (I hope). But there is no way to fit everyone no matter what the formation, some will have to play out of position. No one wants Rooney's 300k wages, not even for free probably.
If he plays 3-5-2 because he sees that team has weak defenders why he buys di Maria not better defenders?
EPT
![[image loading]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bv0XLfuCcAA18-j.jpg)
![[image loading]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bv0WVbIIQAASRah.jpg)
![[image loading]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bv0LmZCIUAAXESJ.jpg)
![[image loading]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bv1J6Y3CAAED502.jpg)
