** Summer Transfer Window 2011/12 Season Rumours/Signings **

[BaZ87]

Mata hasn't played wide for Valencia all year (at least, not 'wide' as in winger wide, like the year previous), he's spent a lot of time centrally, even playing as a pseudo CF in some games. Other games as part of a midfield 3, and he's looked far from out of place.
He can cross with both feet, score with both feet, tackle, pass. Comfortable with playing wide on both sides, off a striker, in midfield ..
How does that not fit the bill? he's perfect to play the role Raul played for us last year, and his ability to play pretty much any attacking or playmaking role makes him a substantial upgrade, imo.


If anything he's looked better not playing wide for Valencia this year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pysvlxoBA1c
(ignore the crappy music, you have been warned!)

Mata's a winger/forward, he's not a midfielder. The Meireles/Houghton role is one of a midfielder that has license to roam forward but also a greater responsibility defensively than somebody who'll play in the Barnes role. And like I said, he'll also provide us with an option of switching to a 4-3-3. Mata won't play CM, not even as part of a 3 man midfield.

If we signed Mata and we play the system above, he'd play the Barnes role. Barnes didn't just hug the touchline, he also had the freedom to come inside and like Mata, he scored a lot of his goals playing infield too.

 

[Tombstone]

Mata's a winger/forward, he's not a midfielder. The Meireles/Houghton role is one of a midfielder that has license to roam forward but also a greater responsibility defensively than somebody who'll play in the Barnes role. And like I said, he'll also provide us with an option of switching to a 4-3-3. Mata won't play CM, not even as part of a 3 man midfield.

If we signed Mata and we play the system above, he'd play the Barnes role. Barnes didn't just hug the touchline, he also had the freedom to come inside and like Mata, he scored a lot of his goals playing infield too.

Mata, Carroll, Mata, Carroll, Mata, Carroll, Suarez closing in...Liverpool lead in stoppage time!

 

[Alpherah]

Mata's a winger/forward, he's not a midfielder

I disagree, he looked incredibly comfortable in a midfield 3 last season..
I remember people saying the same about Iniesta when he was younger (not that he's old now..), would you dream of playing him anywhere else now?

Anyway, neither of our opinion's count so

 

[Tom84]

Suarez looks like a bargain at 23m though
Carroll's price is unimportant, he cost us 0 and was fully dependant on the Torres to Chelsea deal. We wanted Carroll + 15mill for him, so Chelsea were at our and Newcastle's mercy a bit with that one.

To be honest it wasn't so much how much you've spent more the quality of player you've got for £93m

EDIT:

I honestly think we'r looking to sign Mata and Downing, personally.
Not sure there's much chance of it happening, but the intent is there..

Mata has looked a class act at the under 21's, he was exceptional last night

EDIT 2:

Mata, Carroll, Mata, Carroll, Mata, Carroll, Suarez closing in...Liverpool lead in stoppage time!

No Honda?

 

[atpbx]

Young looked selfish and egotistical .. so should fit right in with the United crew .

Thats all well and good, but at the end of it, are you seriously saying you would be perfectly happy for liverpool to never win anything again so long as they were a nice bunch of lads who worked for each other with great team spirit?
I couldnt care less if every united player was a selfish, egotistical, show boating nut case on the pitch so long as they won titles and trophies.

After all, its worked for Cheslea for the most part so far and Chelsea fans LOVE it.

I do believe the last time Liverpool won the league it had its fair share of ********* and self centered nut cases playing for them.

 

[Stewy]

@tom: To be fair he is like 27 He is a class above though I agree.

 

[BaZ87]

I disagree, he looked incredibly comfortable in a midfield 3 last season..
I remember people saying the same about Iniesta when he was younger (not that he's old now..), would you dream of playing him anywhere else now?

Anyway, neither of our opinion's count so

Iniesta and Mata are completly different players though. Playing Mata in the midfield of a 4-3-3 would take away his biggest assets.

Why spend ~£20m on a player and stick him in a position that won't get the best out of him? If he signs, we'll either change system or he'll play the old Barnes role.

 

[DBT85]

Apologies if its already been posted. Didn't see it ina quick flick through.
http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-F...Jun/ashley-young-joins-manchester-united.aspx

Reds sign Ashley Young

Manchester United is delighted to announce it has reached agreement with Aston Villa for the transfer of Ashley Young.

The player passed a medical in Manchester this week and has agreed a five-year contract.

MUTV will show an exclusive interview with Ashley Young from 18:30 BST today (Thursday).

More to follow...

 

[Tom84]

Young signed, undisclosed fee, 5 year deal

EDIT: Beaten

 

[Tombstone]

No Honda?

Honda scored the other 3 goals and was taken off for a standing ovation

 

[Tom84]

I couldnt care less if every united player was a selfish, egotistical, show boating nut case on the pitch so long as they won titles and trophies.

*Ahem*Berbatov*Ahem*

He's won trophies and titles at United and you hate him

 

[DBT85]

EDIT: Beaten

like a cheap tart

Literally just opened up the united page and saw it. By the look of it it only just went up!

 

[Alpherah]

Honda scored the other 3 goals and was taken off for a standing ovation

[John Bishop]
They obviously played 4-4-1-1 .. we just played 1, but you know im delighted to get man of the match having scored a penalty, saved a penalty and scored all thee goals, im over the moon.
[/John Bishop]

On the topic of Young, if he only passed his medical last night (which is what United are saying), what was he doing at OT 2 weeks ago?

 

[BaZ87]

I'm pretty sure a certain Utd fan on here was adamant that Young wouldn't be joining Utd as he wasn't good enough. I'm pretty sure by this time next year, the same person will be calling Young on of the best 2 wingers in the league (the other being Utd's other winger of course).

Just need De Gea to complete his move and Berbatov to leave to complete his hattrick of wrong predictions.

edit: Scrap the this time next year part, it took him a whole 10 minutes after he completed his move to Utd

 

[Tom84]

Seems Watford are getting some of the money as well

I'll be honest I've come full circle on the Young transfer now, initially I couldn't believe we were interested in him or that we needed him now on the other hand the idea of him on one wing, Nani on the other switching over at will mid game (like we used to have when Ronaldo) is quite drool worthy.

Just need a midfielder now Fergie

 

[Alpherah]

Seems Watford are getting some of the money as well

I'll be honest I've come full circle on the Young transfer now, initially I couldn't believe we were interested in him or that we needed him now on the other hand the idea of him on one wing, Nani on the other switching over at will mid game (like we used to have when Ronaldo) is quite drool worthy.

Just need a midfielder now Fergie

Personally i feel Fergie rates Valencia over Nani, gut feeling. For whatever reason.

 

[Tombstone]

I'm pretty sure a certain Utd fan on here was adamant that Young wouldn't be joining Utd as he wasn't good enough. I'm pretty sure by this time next year, the same person will be calling Young on of the best 2 wingers in the league (the other being Utd's other winger of course).

Its just that usual tribal thing, had Young signed for someone else many Utd fans would be saying he isnt good enough, because he has signed for the "right" shirt though, those same Utd fans say its a wonderous signing.

 

[Robbo]

I hope Berbatov doesn't leave, I'd very much like to see him being played 'properly'

 

[Alpherah]

Its just that usual tribal thing, had Young signed for someone else many Utd fans would be saying he isnt good enough, because he has signed for the "right" shirt though, those same Utd fans say its a wonderous signing.

Thats where we are different, we'r quite happy to slate Young and Downing before either sign for us, during signing for us, and after signing for us!
Go us

 

[Tom84]

Personally i feel Fergie rates Valencia over Nani, gut feeling. For whatever reason.

I reckon Valencia may be used like we use Park i.e. in the big games to give us some defensive stability. For the lesser games though all out attack I hope with Nani and Young on the wings and Rooney and Hernandez up front.

As much as I liked the idea of Young and Nani I dont like the idea of Young replacing Nani, the latter is a much better player IMO.