I agree with your concerns.
But, I like a manager who has a system and knows the right players to play that system.
Moyes tried to fit square pegs in round holes - even with the players he signed.
Watching Chile just reinforced that view - they are playing a defender who's just been released by Nottingham Forest!
If LVG feels Vermaelen is a player that is right for his system, then I'm willing to trust him.
Problem is that Evans has never really stepped up when asked to play the leader at the back, Smalling is a naturally quiet man and Jones can't be trusted to organise himself, never mind a defence.
I do think we need to go for an experienced defender, Verm isn't the man for me, but a good stop gap if kept fit.
Ideally, I'd like to see us go for Varene, he must be at the age he expects first team football now.
Ditto what Winston said.
He'd be about the last player I'd think of buying but sometimes it is about the player with the right set of characteristics for the role.
Fit and in form, he is a top player.
I assume LVG think he can get the best out of him, and if so, it would be a good purchase. PL proven, a genuine leader and reasonably priced.
There would still be room for one of our youngsters to take the 5th CB spot (M.Keane?)
Vermaelen is a decent player when fit but,going by his recent record in doing so,he seems like a huge gamble.
We do love an injury prone defender don't we?
He hasn't been a decent defender and hasn't been fit for years.
Last player we need.
With the ball at his feet ,Vermaelen,is better than all our other defenders.But without it he is no better than Evans or Smalling (Jones is a disaster waiting to happen).
It's happening guys. Not a signing I'm particularly delighted with but it's basically a done deal.
comment by Wing_Genius_John_Aston (U19099)
posted 4 minutes ago
With the ball at his feet ,Vermaelen,is better than all our other defenders.But without it he is no better than Evans or Smalling (Jones is a disaster waiting to happen).
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I do think we have a nice mix of defenders.
Jones - Big, strong, brave, dhe can the ball out from the back, but as you say doesn't read the game well.
Evans - He is brilliant versus a tricky, agile striker. As soon as the ball is in the air though he is rendered useless. Struggles to mark strong forwards and gives away silly fouls.
Smalling - Our best defender for me, quick, reads the game well, he is brave, he just needs a leader next to him as he prefers to be told what to do than bark the orders.
Add an experienced defender who reads the game well and I think we are set. Unfortunately defences tend to work best when consistently played together though, so chopping and changing dependant on the opposition is a dangerous game.
BB, yeah and buying another injury prone defender isn't going to remedy that.
comment by Darren The King Fletcher - Maroudona (U10026)
posted 37 seconds ago
BB, yeah and buying another injury prone defender isn't going to remedy that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't really want TV to be honest.
One thing is for sure, the world is short on quality defenders right now. I think Chelsea have pulled a master-stoke in signing Zouma.
If Varane is to move we should do all in our power to sign him, other than that I think it's about finding the best value for money and Verm at under £10m isn't a bad price.
comment by Busbybabes (U9083)
posted 50 seconds ago
comment by Wing_Genius_John_Aston (U19099)
posted 4 minutes ago
With the ball at his feet ,Vermaelen,is better than all our other defenders.But without it he is no better than Evans or Smalling (Jones is a disaster waiting to happen).
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I do think we have a nice mix of defenders.
Jones - Big, strong, brave, dhe can the ball out from the back, but as you say doesn't read the game well.
Evans - He is brilliant versus a tricky, agile striker. As soon as the ball is in the air though he is rendered useless. Struggles to mark strong forwards and gives away silly fouls.
Smalling - Our best defender for me, quick, reads the game well, he is brave, he just needs a leader next to him as he prefers to be told what to do than bark the orders.
Add an experienced defender who reads the game well and I think we are set. Unfortunately defences tend to work best when consistently played together though, so chopping and changing dependant on the opposition is a dangerous game.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Personally I think we can do better than Vermaelen.Now I'm not talking about your Hummels,Martinez's and Tiago's of this world but I do think we are still capable of bringing in the likes of Benatia,Miranda,Dede.
I think it is a bad price.
He's injury prone, not very good and has hardly played for a couple of years.
I do think Van Gaal would prefer De Vrij or Martins Indi but the dutch clubs are definetly going to up the price.
If Van Gaal wants an experienced defender that's fine but I think better could be out there at the same price
Jonny Evans is more experienced than him anyway. And a better defender.
If we want an experienced cb we should buy one that is better and more experienced than what we have.
Not a crock that made a living as a defender from his attacking ability not his defensive ability.
I would prefer we played Carrick in defence. That is how much I am against this proposed move.
He cannot get into Arsenal's back 4 which means he would struggle to make our youth team.
No thanks
comment by Darren The King Fletcher - Maroudona (U10026)
posted 2 minutes ago
Jonny Evans is more experienced than him anyway. And a better defender.
If we want an experienced cb we should buy one that is better and more experienced than what we have.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think it's more about being a leader than it is about having experience.
I can't say I have followed his career that closely, I used to like him but he hasn't played much of late.
comment by ManUtdDaredevil (U9612)
posted 4 minutes ago
I would prefer we played Carrick in defence. That is how much I am against this proposed move.
He cannot get into Arsenal's back 4 which means he would struggle to make our youth team.
No thanks
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Haven't Arsenal had a good defensive record these past two years? Comparisons with our youth team are way off the mark.
As for getting in the side, most Arsenal fans seem to think he is better than Kos but doesn't pair very well with Mert.
i would prefer to promote Keane than have Vermalen.
i was impressed with Hector Moreno of Mexico. He worked with LvG at AZ. Neat player but this is obvisouly from only a few WC games ive seen.
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
People think he's a leader because he's come up with some big goals.
Goals needed because he's been crap up the other end.
Haven't Arsenal had a good defensive record these past two years?
-----
Not much better than ours.
And we've all been bemoaning the defence whereas they've been lauding theirs.
This with a back four that cannot stay fit and a midfield that gets walked through.
I think that says a lot more about our standards than theirs.
comment by Royalsmokin999uk (U5762)
posted 4 minutes ago
i would prefer to promote Keane than have Vermalen.
i was impressed with Hector Moreno of Mexico. He worked with LvG at AZ. Neat player but this is obvisouly from only a few WC games ive seen.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agree he looks very good, didn't he play left side though?
Sign in if you want to comment
Youth over Vermaelen
Page 1 of 3
posted on 30/6/14
I agree with your concerns.
But, I like a manager who has a system and knows the right players to play that system.
Moyes tried to fit square pegs in round holes - even with the players he signed.
Watching Chile just reinforced that view - they are playing a defender who's just been released by Nottingham Forest!
If LVG feels Vermaelen is a player that is right for his system, then I'm willing to trust him.
posted on 30/6/14
Problem is that Evans has never really stepped up when asked to play the leader at the back, Smalling is a naturally quiet man and Jones can't be trusted to organise himself, never mind a defence.
I do think we need to go for an experienced defender, Verm isn't the man for me, but a good stop gap if kept fit.
Ideally, I'd like to see us go for Varene, he must be at the age he expects first team football now.
posted on 30/6/14
Ditto what Winston said.
He'd be about the last player I'd think of buying but sometimes it is about the player with the right set of characteristics for the role.
posted on 30/6/14
Fit and in form, he is a top player.
I assume LVG think he can get the best out of him, and if so, it would be a good purchase. PL proven, a genuine leader and reasonably priced.
There would still be room for one of our youngsters to take the 5th CB spot (M.Keane?)
posted on 30/6/14
Please no!
posted on 30/6/14
Vermaelen is a decent player when fit but,going by his recent record in doing so,he seems like a huge gamble.
posted on 30/6/14
We do love an injury prone defender don't we?
posted on 30/6/14
He hasn't been a decent defender and hasn't been fit for years.
Last player we need.
posted on 30/6/14
With the ball at his feet ,Vermaelen,is better than all our other defenders.But without it he is no better than Evans or Smalling (Jones is a disaster waiting to happen).
posted on 30/6/14
It's happening guys. Not a signing I'm particularly delighted with but it's basically a done deal.
posted on 30/6/14
comment by Wing_Genius_John_Aston (U19099)
posted 4 minutes ago
With the ball at his feet ,Vermaelen,is better than all our other defenders.But without it he is no better than Evans or Smalling (Jones is a disaster waiting to happen).
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I do think we have a nice mix of defenders.
Jones - Big, strong, brave, dhe can the ball out from the back, but as you say doesn't read the game well.
Evans - He is brilliant versus a tricky, agile striker. As soon as the ball is in the air though he is rendered useless. Struggles to mark strong forwards and gives away silly fouls.
Smalling - Our best defender for me, quick, reads the game well, he is brave, he just needs a leader next to him as he prefers to be told what to do than bark the orders.
Add an experienced defender who reads the game well and I think we are set. Unfortunately defences tend to work best when consistently played together though, so chopping and changing dependant on the opposition is a dangerous game.
posted on 30/6/14
BB, yeah and buying another injury prone defender isn't going to remedy that.
posted on 30/6/14
comment by Darren The King Fletcher - Maroudona (U10026)
posted 37 seconds ago
BB, yeah and buying another injury prone defender isn't going to remedy that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't really want TV to be honest.
One thing is for sure, the world is short on quality defenders right now. I think Chelsea have pulled a master-stoke in signing Zouma.
If Varane is to move we should do all in our power to sign him, other than that I think it's about finding the best value for money and Verm at under £10m isn't a bad price.
posted on 30/6/14
comment by Busbybabes (U9083)
posted 50 seconds ago
comment by Wing_Genius_John_Aston (U19099)
posted 4 minutes ago
With the ball at his feet ,Vermaelen,is better than all our other defenders.But without it he is no better than Evans or Smalling (Jones is a disaster waiting to happen).
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I do think we have a nice mix of defenders.
Jones - Big, strong, brave, dhe can the ball out from the back, but as you say doesn't read the game well.
Evans - He is brilliant versus a tricky, agile striker. As soon as the ball is in the air though he is rendered useless. Struggles to mark strong forwards and gives away silly fouls.
Smalling - Our best defender for me, quick, reads the game well, he is brave, he just needs a leader next to him as he prefers to be told what to do than bark the orders.
Add an experienced defender who reads the game well and I think we are set. Unfortunately defences tend to work best when consistently played together though, so chopping and changing dependant on the opposition is a dangerous game.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Personally I think we can do better than Vermaelen.Now I'm not talking about your Hummels,Martinez's and Tiago's of this world but I do think we are still capable of bringing in the likes of Benatia,Miranda,Dede.
posted on 30/6/14
I think it is a bad price.
He's injury prone, not very good and has hardly played for a couple of years.
posted on 30/6/14
I do think Van Gaal would prefer De Vrij or Martins Indi but the dutch clubs are definetly going to up the price.
If Van Gaal wants an experienced defender that's fine but I think better could be out there at the same price
posted on 30/6/14
Jonny Evans is more experienced than him anyway. And a better defender.
If we want an experienced cb we should buy one that is better and more experienced than what we have.
Not a crock that made a living as a defender from his attacking ability not his defensive ability.
posted on 30/6/14
I would prefer we played Carrick in defence. That is how much I am against this proposed move.
He cannot get into Arsenal's back 4 which means he would struggle to make our youth team.
No thanks
posted on 30/6/14
comment by Darren The King Fletcher - Maroudona (U10026)
posted 2 minutes ago
Jonny Evans is more experienced than him anyway. And a better defender.
If we want an experienced cb we should buy one that is better and more experienced than what we have.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think it's more about being a leader than it is about having experience.
I can't say I have followed his career that closely, I used to like him but he hasn't played much of late.
posted on 30/6/14
comment by ManUtdDaredevil (U9612)
posted 4 minutes ago
I would prefer we played Carrick in defence. That is how much I am against this proposed move.
He cannot get into Arsenal's back 4 which means he would struggle to make our youth team.
No thanks
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Haven't Arsenal had a good defensive record these past two years? Comparisons with our youth team are way off the mark.
As for getting in the side, most Arsenal fans seem to think he is better than Kos but doesn't pair very well with Mert.
posted on 30/6/14
i would prefer to promote Keane than have Vermalen.
i was impressed with Hector Moreno of Mexico. He worked with LvG at AZ. Neat player but this is obvisouly from only a few WC games ive seen.
posted on 30/6/14
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 30/6/14
People think he's a leader because he's come up with some big goals.
Goals needed because he's been crap up the other end.
posted on 30/6/14
Haven't Arsenal had a good defensive record these past two years?
-----
Not much better than ours.
And we've all been bemoaning the defence whereas they've been lauding theirs.
This with a back four that cannot stay fit and a midfield that gets walked through.
I think that says a lot more about our standards than theirs.
posted on 30/6/14
comment by Royalsmokin999uk (U5762)
posted 4 minutes ago
i would prefer to promote Keane than have Vermalen.
i was impressed with Hector Moreno of Mexico. He worked with LvG at AZ. Neat player but this is obvisouly from only a few WC games ive seen.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agree he looks very good, didn't he play left side though?
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