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Are Man United falling behind?

I saw this comment on another forum and thought I would offer it up for discussion amongst my fellow ja606 reds:

"Bayern, Real, Chelsea, City and Barca have all strengthened already impressive sides. But was has concerned me more this pre season, is fans, MUTV commentators/pundits already pinning our hopes on a championship player. Zaha has all the potential in the world, but I'm sorry, he isn't [equivalent to] the signings all the above clubs have made. 3 weeks to go, and we only have 4 real world class players. We are seriously lagging, and the selling of Rooney will prove to be our demise."

Firstly, I would like to know who the 'only' 4 world class players we have are (like having only 4 world class players in our team isn't good enough; the spoilt little brat!!).. I'm guessing RvP, Rooney, Vidic and Kagawa?? Hell I don't even know what world class means.

Secondly, are we really lagging that far behind? Well I think we can look at this one of two ways:

a) No, we strolled to the league last season and it was down to the other teams (City and Chelsea) to play catch up.

b) Yes, we snatched a lot of last minute points last season, City and Chelsea under-achieved and we were lucky to overhaul many deficits, have both an in form striker in RvP and goalkeeper in De Gea; this coming season we might not be so lucky.

So where are we in terms of our squad for the current season? Do we have a good enough squad as it is to compete with Chelsea and City? Does the [in]experience of Moyes need to be factored in at all? Are we pinning our hopes on Zaha?

Predictions for the season if squads were to stay as they were/Rooney was to leave?

Personally, I think we have a great squad and if we kept Rooney we would be able to compete with anybody.

In my opinion, the following starting 11 is as good as anything else in the Premier League:

-------------------------De Gea

-----Rafael-----Vidic-----------Rio-----Evra

----------------Carrick------Anderson

-------Nani-----------Rooney---------Kagawa

--------------------------RvP

posted on 1/8/13

havent read all the posts so dont know if its been said

but maybe UTD keeping the same squad may benefit them in the long term this season?

I thought moyes being the better choice for manager was to keep consistency which managers like mourinho dont generally do. Thye like to splash the cash and change things which takes time

although I think that is city more than chelsea so far

on paper city are strongest imo but they will need to gel

one problem UTd dont have is the gelling of players

posted on 1/8/13

there is nothing to say the same wont happen to carrick.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anything can happen in football but what gives you any impression that it will suddenly happen to Carrick?

His game and role in the side is very simple. I can't see what will happen to him to make him a liability to us.

posted on 1/8/13

Anything can happen in football but what gives you any impression that it will suddenly happen to Carrick?

His game and role in the side is very simple. I can't see what will happen to him to make him a liability to us.

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i'd say as he gets older the liklihood increases, its not rocket science.

at some point soon his performances will dip.

he doesnt have any fecking pace as it is, and that will only get slower

posted on 1/8/13



Obviously he'll get 'worse' the older he gets but it will be a gradual thing and very noticeable.

We won't be playing Cardiff later this year and suddenly Carrick will be pushing his zimmerframe up the pitch to try and intercept a pass from Bellamy.

posted on 1/8/13

one problem UTd dont have is the gelling of players
---
You sure about that? The players looked like they'd never played together in their life at times last season.

posted on 1/8/13

and very noticeable

---

thats my concern

posted on 1/8/13

posted on 1/8/13

This mentality thing is nothing but an overused term. The biggest teams mostly win so its perceived that they have a winning mentality. Smaller teams lose more so have a losing mentality. Arsenal are a bigger club than Spurs.
Nothing to do with "mentality" and stuff.
Oh and the season why Spurs finished 5th was because they had their best defender out for the season and Sandro their best CM for the last 3 months.
Now I can't remember either Arsenal or CFC player having a season ending injury. Also Bale was injured for a crucial two weeks or so. Mentality is just an excuse. Liverpool had a winning mentality in the 70/80's. Now what has happened to them?

posted on 1/8/13

If we sign a new CM then Anderson will barely play any big games unless there's an injury.

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why, is powell ready to step up

lets not kid ourselves, we need a new midfielder as we only have 3 natural cm at the club now ( 4 if you include possibly fletcher)
____________________

True but I think the point is that we are not signing a young CM as backup for Ando. We are trying to sign a first choice CM to partner Carrick which means that Clev and Ando will be backup players and Ando looks like being fourth choice. Not an ideal platform for him to "turn the corner" imo. And being fourth choice (if he is that) as a 25 year old isn't a great vote of confidence from Moyes. Thiago wouldn't accept that role at Barca at the age of 22, never mind 25. And he was being kept out of the side by much older players - not players younger or the same age as him.

posted on 6/11/17

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