Transfers out in January

I personally wouldn't get shot of anyone on the fringes of the first team in jan. so on that basis I would prob only sell Xisco. Ranger might be an arse but the position we are in now he might just be needed at some point. There is undoubtedly talent in there somewhere. If however we make some first team signings then the picutre changes a bit.

 

The only lads I'd consider selling are Gosling and Xisco (obviously Ranger but that goes without saying really). Given we will not sign more than 2, we can ill afford to trim the squad further.

 

The Xisco kid and Tonto.

Oops, that was the Lone Ranger and Tonto.

 

Let's keep Tonto and get rid of Ranger and Xisco.

 

We should not be selling Williamson or Obertan ffs.

Williamson is a decent covering CB, and can do a job on the right day. We just need another CB in, and Obertan shouldn't be sold either, not unless we get a pacey winger to replace him.

Ranger should be sold along with Gosling.

 

It all depends on who we bring in.

If we sign two good CBs I'd probably move Willo on but not if we don't.

I'd move Ranger, Xisco and Ba on so long as we bring in two solid strikers. Ba not through choice but if his wage demands are correct we can't give in. If only it weren't for his release clause we'd get £15m+ for him.

There's not really anyone I'm gagging to be shot of, maybe just Ranger.

 

Sorry, disagree with most of this

1. Cabaye has a better goalscoring record than every CM at Man U bar Scholes (and Kagawa if you call him a CM).
2. He had an 83% pass success rate in the games we lost last season, and a 78ish% in the games we won, so not only is he not inconsistent, he's actually marginally better when the team aren't performing.
3. He made more tackles than anyone in the Prem last season (http://www.barriesview.com/2012/05/premier-league-201112-most-frequent-tacklers)

 

1. Yeah, 38 year-old, heavily defensive-mid Scholes has outscored him
Cleverly, Kagawa (well he isn't a striker) have outscored him this season as well.

2. Fair enough last season, things going well. Danny Simpson was statistically the best RB in the league, but that's not actually true is it? This season, I think it probably reflects more accurately his position.

3. Ahem... Most tackle attempts... About sums it up!

 

Cabaye was turd early doors. He misses Tiote to do his dirty work. When he has to go deep to get the ball he looks half the player.

Also last year while I was impressed he had a massive dip in the winter when the going got tough.

 

Sounds like an Arsenal player all over, that

 

Cabaye, Ben Arfa, Cisse & Ba need to be relieved of as much defensive work as we can allow. Which is why IMO 4-2-3-1 is a must, your two DM's just sit, break up play and give it simple and early to the front four.

Cabaye when given license to roam is a fantastic footballer.

 

In their Man U careers, Anderson, Carrick, Cleverley and Fletcher all have a worse goal ratio than Cabaye does with us (never mind, Lille).

"After 38 games and with the season completed, here is a list of the top 10 players to have made the most tackles during the 2011/12 Premier League season"

 

People must have forgotten how bad Xisco was. As for Ranger, I'd keep him here another year (the horrible twat he is) and hope he grows up. And if Ba wants £90k a week he can fec off with my blessing.

 

Yeah read the article man, it says "attempted"

So what 6 in about 44 games? Carrick has played all over, including CB, but mostly plays DM, and Cabaye's record isn't that much better. Fletcher has scored 18 in 200, not a bad ratio considering he too has mostly been used in an anchor role as well. Cleverley has scored at a better rate for Wigan (4 in about 26), and been a bit part player for Man Utd. Comparing apples with apples, ie the CM/AMC role, Park Ji Sung must have a better scoring record, because he scored a few in the 2010-11 and 09-10 period when he hardly got a game. Anderson is **** and I would suggest a lot of the fans don't rate him (my brother, a stinky glory supporter, is one case in point). His scoring record his terrible, but so is his general play. He's never lived up to his potential. Kagawa though, is much better than Cabaye at defence splitting passes and finishing.

Lately midfield goalscorer has been superseded somewhat by Rooney who plays in the position Cabaye would theoretically work in (I doubt you'd compare their scoring records), so even with Kagawa on an injury bench Cabaye wouldn't work for them. He also wouldn't get to take any free-kicks, so that's even less goals. If you think Cabaye would thus occupy DM, the facts are there that he scores very few in DM, so how would he improve the current team? He wouldn't. Carrick and Scholes are two of the best passers in the league, while new signing Kagawa is better attacking-wise. Tiote would be more useful for Man Utd by miles. Their defence is woefully exposed at present, and a midfield enforcer would add more than Cabaye.

 

Just for the inevitable comeback, here's the quote;
"A player who offers his team both attacking threat and defensive cover, Yohan Cabaye made the most tackle attempts in the 2011/12 Premier League season."

Didn't say anything about successful tackles, or anything about their interpretation of a tackle either. As I say, according to selective stats, Danny Simpson was lauded as the best right back by some data thing last year, doesn't make it true.

 

Stats who needs them? Well we all do to a point but in reality they only ever give half the story. I watch football and trust my own eyes more than what some book/list tells me. Everyone sees them as a matter of fact but they are far from it because they are just someones interpretation of an event in the field of play.

Two great examples (and most of us will have done this at some stage) are shots at goal and possession to a lesser extent. The number of times I've watched a game and then seen stats failing to give the true picture is unreal. If one team creates lots of very good chances which results in 10 shots, 6 on target, yet the other team has no real real clear cut chances but has 24 shots, 19 on target, who has been the more likely to win the game? Possession is the same. Its fine if you are Barca and converting possession into goalscoring opportunities but is that the same as Swansea last season having lots of possession against us but not really looking like scoring? Of course not.

Tackle stats are the worst for me, it is so subjective. As for comparing midfield goalscoring records, this is massively influenced by systems and roles they have. Look at Lampard and Gerrard at their respective peaks. Rightly lauded but complete slaves to the relative systems their managers employed.

 

We must sign at least 3 players in Jan AND replace the outgoings.

Simpson- Get what we can, he's not signing a new deal
Ba - think his time is up
Gosling - if someone wants him, sell him

We need a CB, STR and LW. also, anyone fancy Guthrie back on loan? I doubt it would happen but wouldn't mind it.