What you you think as a hit or miss 2014/15 Blind 50p - Hit Angel di Maria – £52m Miss Luke Shaw – £26m injured so cant say Ander Herrera – £25m Hit Marcos Rojo – £14m Miss Radamel Falcao – £3m (loan deal) FAIL 2015/16 Anthony Martial – £35m HIT Morgan Schneiderlin – £25m Hit Memphis Depay – £19m fail Matteo Darmian – £13m jury out Bastian Schwiensteiger – £6m fail but injury does not help
Always thought these kind of ratings are a bit meh - the value of a player depends on how they are used and how they improve the team. But just to keep custard happy: Blind - Hit - improves the defence and provides a strong ball playing CB Di Maria - Miss Shaw - Too early to say, but if he recovers to the same level as before his injury he will be great Herrera - Decent, but not used well enough to be a real hit yet Rojo - Decent squad player, offers some experience and cover at LB and CB Falcao - Miss Martial - Hit Schneiderlin - Bit early to say. Good player, but pretty much performing as expected given the fee Depay - Failing thus far, but shows enough flashes to possibly be good in the future Darmian - Moderate hit - he is the best RB we have right now, and would be solid enough in the future imo Schwiensteiger - Pretty average. What you'd expect for the fee, but not for his previous level Tbh I think the main problem with rating Herrera, Schneiderlin and Schweinsteiger is how they have been (mis)used by LVG so far - all three could be better with a decent manager using them properly.
It's hard to give van Gaal any credit for Shaw or Herrera as it's common knowledge that the club had them lined up while Moyes was in charge so they aren't 'his' signings. To even things out I also believe the biggest failure Di Maria was all down to Woodward , in his mental quest for some crowd pleasing mega signing. No doubt van Gaal sanctioned it but I doubt it was his idea at all. So, of his actual signings I would have to give him credit in the main. Blind is class, it's a shame he is versatile as he's not made a position his own. Lacks a bit of pace but makes up for it in technique and ability. Martial is a mega success. Completely and utterly ****ing brilliant. Who would have known it? (apart from Christian of course as he loves to remind those who hadn't heard of him for being cautious. He knew, despite also never having heard of him ) Schneiderlin is looking good but next season needs to be given a proper run and kick on. Schweinstiger remains class and for the price can't be deemed a failure, despite being injured too much. Needs an injury free season and if so will be very useful. Rojo is an ok squad defender but not really good enough if we're honest. Darmian, just ok. Neither success nor failure yet. Needs to improve. Depay is ****e to be perfectly frank. I'm sure he's got it in there somewhere but he needs to sort his attitude or he'll amount to nothing. Big season needed next year. Overall I think he's signed good players.
You have to caveat these players are playing and developing under Van Gaal. Secondly, Vidic and Evra should have taught us all a lesson when we come to talk about Darmian. Is there enough to show he could go on to be very good? Yes I'd say so. As for Depay, I think it was Chief that said a while back that we seem to have sold Nani only to replace him with Nani. If someone doesnt start coaching him properly that is exactly what we'll end up with. Depay has the potential, I just hope we have the right man in charge next season to hone that. Ironically the player & situation reminds me very much of what Jose did with Joe Cole
Regarding Depay, I think that when his pal Shaw is fit again we will start to see the best of him if they get a run a decent run the team together.
Aye, that did seem a bit Torres-esque in the way the signing was pulled off. Last minute big money signing against the backdrop of fans pissed off with not enough money being spent so the board identified a big money target and the manager said "ok, it's not my money you're spending". He never really fit in to the side, and pretty soon decided he didn't want to be here. Given how much the euro fell in value that year, we did pretty well to get out of that one with out too much of a loss.
