so fergie is after 3 players....but who?

I totally agree with Valencia25.

Understandably so, empahsis was put on controlling the midfield when Valencia was injured (along with many others) maybe that was the reason that many people thought that United has lost their sparkle.

I belive that Nani and Valencia should be played on the wings as they offer pace, width, excellent delivery (both players are underated in that respect) and a goal threat.
I'm sure most supporters from other teams will confirm that United are a far scarier prospect when both Nani and Valencia are both playing.

You can tell me to piss off but I feel I'm not a million miles from the truth.

It makes no sense to me why people just want to throw Nani on the bench. What a waste that is, he is a top player who can dribble with either foot, can shoot with both feat, he can cross with both feat. On the right or on the left he cuts in anyway as he likes to create through the middle. Yes he is out of form at the moment but who wouldn't when you are the only winger in the side for months? People sometimes forget how much fresher Park and Valencia are. I would like to have seen how they would be performing if they played like Nani for a whole season. Park was in poor form in the beginning of the season and then improved greatl and then went to the asia cup and then got injured. We never sore him for 2 months after January. Valencia was badly injured and he has come back on fire and is very fresh and this has been key for us with Nani out of form.

Nani on the other hand was so important early season up until late Feb/March because when he got injured for 3 games we had to play with Gibson on the wing etc. Nani was our only creative outlet and carried that mantle very well. At that time he assisted 14 goals and scored 10 and then dropped form and then got injured. Since then he has only assisted 4 times and scored none. Yes he has had the odd good game against Fulham and City in the FA cup but he has not been the same. As he is a confidence player, I hope his confidence rises now.

However, luckily Valencia and Park came back and took over, so its been good for us as we have a very good squad. However, last season if people remember Valencia dropped form as well during late February and scored no goals since December that season. Nani took over in the 2nd part of the season and scored many as well as assisted many. When Rooney got injured and was out of form late season it was Nani who won us games against Spurs, Sunderland and had a great game against Bayern as well as assisting in many games e.g Bolton, Fulham, Portsmouth. The same can be said for early this season till mid season and the players clearly appreciated him taking the mantle of responsibility to win us games and create when we needed it most. We have a great squad and people should appreciate the role Nani had this season when we needed a bit of spark most His praise for this season was nearly lost.

Jip Jaap Stam said:

I thought you might have been joking

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Me too - wasn't quite sure either way!

Super Injunction said:

I belive that Nani and Valencia should be played on the wings as they offer pace, width, excellent delivery (both players are underated in that respect) and a goal threat.
I'm sure most supporters from other teams will confirm that United are a far scarier prospect when both Nani and Valencia are both playing.

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We're definitely a scarier prospect for lesser teams when they're both playing, but then it's not all about being scary in possession in the final third. A big part of football, particularly against the top teams, is regaining, keeping and recycling possession all over the pitch, and I'm not sure we do that all that well when Nani and Valencia are both playing. Nani in particular has a tendency to overcomplicate in his own half and near the halfway line, particularly when compared to someone like Park, who seems to better understand the need to get the ball forward quickly and stretch the opposition.

Park's ball for the first goal against Chelsea was a case in point - Nani or Valencia in the same position may well have tried to run with the ball, rather than try the instant through ball to Chicharito. So I think whilst Nani and Valencia are an excellent combination against lesser sides when we can pick them apart with good football, I think we need someone on the left wing who gives us a different approach for the big games, particularly with Park and Giggs both getting on a bit.

And of course, as we've seen this season we are currently a bit thin on the flanks when we get an injury or someone is out of form.

I would like to add, same could be said for Berbatov. It is a shame people are starting to lessen his impact on our season and forget his role. He was so important early season and won us games against Pool, Blackpool, Bolton and many more.

Swarbs said:

Me too - wasn't quite sure either way!



We're definitely a scarier prospect for lesser teams when they're both playing, but then it's not all about being scary in possession in the final third. A big part of football, particularly against the top teams, is regaining, keeping and recycling possession all over the pitch, and I'm not sure we do that all that well when Nani and Valencia are both playing. Nani in particular has a tendency to overcomplicate in his own half and near the halfway line, particularly when compared to someone like Park, who seems to better understand the need to get the ball forward quickly and stretch the opposition.

Park's ball for the first goal against Chelsea was a case in point - Nani or Valencia in the same position may well have tried to run with the ball, rather than try the instant through ball to Chicharito. So I think whilst Nani and Valencia are an excellent combination against lesser sides when we can pick them apart with good football, I think we need someone on the left wing who gives us a different approach for the big games, particularly with Park and Giggs both getting on a bit.

And of course, as we've seen this season we are currently a bit thin on the flanks when we get an injury or someone is out of form.

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I think you make a good point, but even with Park playing you struggled against the top teams. When you lost to both Man City (FA CUP) and Arsenal you didn't create many clear cut chances. Granted Berbatov should have had a brace but other than that I can't remember too many chances.
You'd fancy Nani and Valencia against Arsenal's and Man City's respective full backs.

Super Injunction

The problem is, we have never yet anyway seen Nani and Valencia both in great form at the same time. I can think of just one really great game by both. That was against Bayern last season and my word were they dangerous together.

Super Injunction said:

I think you make a good point, but even with Park playing you struggled against the top teams. When you lost to both Man City (FA CUP) and Arsenal you didn't create many clear cut chances. Granted Berbatov should have had a brace but other than that I can't remember too many chances.
You'd fancy Nani and Valencia against Arsenal's and Man City's respective full backs.

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Err, when we lost to City in the FA Cup we had Nani and Valencia on the wings. Park was playing as a second striker / AM due to Rooney being suspended. And losing to Arsenal at the Emirates is hardly a major failure. After all, Arsenal created more chances and scored more goals against Barca at home than they did against us! And neither of those games were what I would term really big games in the context of our season. The three games against Chelsea, where Park was one of our best players, were all bigger games.

Valencia25 said:

Super Injunction

The problem is, we have never yet anyway seen Nani and Valencia both in great form at the same time. I can think of just one really great game by both. That was against Bayern last season and my word were they dangerous together.

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I think that's partly the problem - they are both quite similar players in terms of their ability to beat a man and deliver crosses, which can make it difficult for both of them to shine in the same game. If one of them is turning his man inside out, that will naturally become a focal point of our attacks, and the other one will thus get a bit isolated. Whereas if we have someone like Park or Hazard or even Ashley Young on the other wing they will be more likely to come inside when that happens, and thus have a bigger impact on the game, whilst still giving us the option down the wing.

Swarbs said:

I think that's partly the problem - they are both quite similar players in terms of their ability to beat a man and deliver crosses, which can make it difficult for both of them to shine in the same game. If one of them is turning his man inside out, that will naturally become a focal point of our attacks, and the other one will thus get a bit isolated. Whereas if we have someone like Park or Hazard or even Ashley Young on the other wing they will be more likely to come inside when that happens, and thus have a bigger impact on the game, whilst still giving us the option down the wing.

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Surely Nani cuts insides enough to play both of them?

Super Injunction said:

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Surely Nani cuts insides enough to play both of them?

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Nani tends to cut inside once he has the ball, whereas Park tends to come inside looking for the ball. That's what I've mostly seen anyway. Nani probably does have enough to play on the left wing with Valencia, but I'm not sure the two of them work all that well together, unless we're playing a fairly weak team and won't be facing too much competition in the centre.

Swarbs said:

Nani tends to cut inside once he has the ball, whereas Park tends to come inside looking for the ball. That's what I've mostly seen anyway. Nani probably does have enough to play on the left wing with Valencia, but I'm not sure the two of them work all that well together, unless we're playing a fairly weak team and won't be facing too much competition in the centre.

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I understand and appreciate what you're saying, that seems to be modern football. It's just a shame that a work horse can oust a technically superior player in the bid to win trophies.
I suppose I'm being romantic but I think Man United have lost that razzle dazzle they once had.

Super Injunction said:

I understand and appreciate what you're saying, that seems to be modern football. It's just a shame that a work horse can oust a technically superior player in the bid to win trophies.
I suppose I'm being romantic but I think Man United have lost that razzle dazzle they once had.

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I don't think it's modern football at all, it's just always been football. Even the great Brazilian sides played with two hardworking defensive midfielders and two attacking midfielders. Ultimately it's all about balancing the two - too many hardworking players and you lack the creativity to break down an opponent, too many purely technical players and you end up...well...like Arsenal! Besides which, Park isn't just a workhorse - he has solid technique and excellent passing. The nature of his game just means he ends up making more short passes and simple balls rather than tricks and stepovers.

And I actually prefer it the other way round - it's nice to see a player who really puts in the effort and earns his keep getting the nod ahead of players with technical skill but less workrate. After all, I'd bet that Park is the one who puts more effort in in training and keeping himself in shape - why shouldn't he deserve to play?

Think Fergie will start to play both Nani and Valencia on the right and Park on the left . If , as I expect , we buy Ashley Young then he will occupy the the left .All slightly different players for different games .
Think you'll find that Park and Valencia will play in the bigger games though to start with you know what to expect more with those two . But I like Young and think after a season playing in a much better team he'll begin to take over from Park .
The other players we get this summer is debatable but my feeling is De Gea and Sneijder .

From the sound of things, De Gea is almost a done deal. I'm happy with that, I think with Lindegaard, we have a decent backup keeper. And if De Gea does prove to be as good as he's made out to be, then we will have a great keeper for a long, long time.

I'd like to see Sneijder and/or Hazard come in, Hazard looks like a great player for his age, Sneijder I think would give us that extra killer touch in midfield, I think having a player like Sneijder in the midfield would benefit Hernandez a lot. Rooney I think could play just like he does with or without Sneijder.

There's not been much mention of Defour for a while, he recently signed a new contract with Leige, but he still looks like a decent player.

3 signings promised, 3 needed - 1 GK, 1 CM in the Scholes mould, 1 left footed left winger.

So you're going to sign £66 million worth of players on a £15 million transfer budget.
I think its best if you stay off those jamaican woodbines.

Closer to a £160 million transfer budget really, the figures are the figures. You saying otherwise does not negate the fact that that is our budget. We've already agreed a £16 million fee for De Gea, so you're claim that we only have £15 million to spend is pretty stupid eh.

Dave A said:

Closer to a £160 million transfer budget really, the figures are the figures. You saying otherwise does not negate the fact that that is our budget. We've already agreed a £16 million fee for De Gea, so you're claim that we only have £15 million to spend is pretty stupid eh.

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Are you shocked? Proving him wrong became boring long ago.

He is a Liverpool fan and they are all bitter. Not long ago he said we would win nothing and Chelsea would wipe the floor with us. Can you really take a scouse seriously? They are all bitter and this one is is beyond bitter. He knows Man Utd will sign some players this season and some good ones at that. He like other rival fans ( to be honest are liverpool a rival?) will all say we are skint in decline etc but last time I checked Ferguson is staying on. I would go as far as saying Ferguson will outstay "King" Kenny and Ancialotti and Mancini but not Wengar. Liverpool are app going to rule the world again because they won a few games. Next year is their year or is it? I just can't see a team like them ever challenging us. If you look at their revenue, commercial side, stadium size you would of thought "What idiot would compare Liverpool to Man Utd". King Pepe may I remind you, when was the last time you won the league? Now run along and wum at teams similar to yours e.g. Spurs, Everton etc. You are no rival to us . Our only real rivals on the world stage are Barca and Real.

Your only real rivals are madrid and barca? Arrogant much?

Not really arrogant is it? We have won the league 4 times in the last 5 years and have been in 3 cl finals in 4 seaons and 4 semis in 5 seasons in the CL. Who else are you trying to compare us to? To be honest Madrid don't even rival us in this respect but because they signed some great players and are a massive team with massive of revenue and global appeal, they have to be there. In terms of brand worth we are the leading sports club and Barca are an amazing team and have a similar record to us in the CL in recent times.

Are you seriously trying to say Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, City, Spurs, Milan, Bayern, Inter, to name a few rival us on the pitch or off it? I know fans and media under rate us in England but 4 league titles and 3 cl finals and a win tell me we are one of the 2 best teams in the world currently .