2011

[5DOM]

Highly doubt we'll pay a lot more than 40M for Modric.

[Slava]

However, Sneijder suddenly went coy when asked directly about Manchester United's interest - smiling knowingly before calling an end to the interview

Sneijder Udpate



This is slowly becoming the worst kept secret in football.

[bryant08]

Here's the video of his interview:

http://www.skysports.com/video/inline/0 ... 71,00.html

You guys can make your own judgements on what he was thinking. I just need a resolution either way, this situation is driving me nuts.

[Don Draper]

I'm also glad we missed out on Pastore. The club would have been an absolute joke paying 90M for Torres and Pastore alone.

Pastore is class. Dude carried Palermo on his back. I wouldn't be surprised if PSG went deep in the Champions league.

Highly doubt we'll pay a lot more than 40M for Modric.

I think you are looking at around 45M. He's worth it IMO. You always have to pay a premium for playmakers. I think the Torres deal was silly but Modric's passing, ability to drop deep, and versatility (he can play almost any midfield position) will be much needed.

I watch a little of the game vs the Malaysia XI but I was halfway paying attention. What formation are they using?

[Don Draper]

Here's the video of his interview:

http://www.skysports.com/video/inline/0 ... 71,00.html

You guys can make your own judgements on what he was thinking. I just need a resolution either way, this situation is driving me nuts.

Not worth the money IMO.

[5DOM]

Chelsea's mostly been using 4-3-3 with inverted triangle in the midfield this preseason. Only time we went away from that is when Drogba and Torres played together for 20 minutes. Think we had Drogba, Torres, Anelka, Malouda and Kalou playing at the same time, and I had no idea what formation we were using then lol.

[BC_]

Chelsea's mostly been using 4-3-3 with inverted triangle in the midfield this preseason. Only time we went away from that is when Drogba and Torres played together for 20 minutes. Think we had Drogba, Torres, Anelka, Malouda and Kalou playing at the same time, and I had no idea what formation we were using then lol.

As in, one holding mid, two attacking mids? Who's been playing there/how will you line up in August?

[5DOM]

Hard to say really because Ramires and Luiz were away for Copa, but our depth chart is looking like:

LF: Malouda/Kalou/Zhirkov
CF: Drogba/Torres
RF: Anelka/Sturridge
CMs: Lampard + pick one of Ramires, McEachran, Benayoun and Zhirkov
DM: Mikel/Romeu
LB: Cole/PVA/Bertrand/Zhirkov
CBs: Terry + pick one of Alex, Luiz and Ivanovic
RB: Ivanovic/Bosingwa/Ferreira
GK: Cech, Hilario, Turnbull


Only the bolded + Ivanovic (either at CB or RB) are sure to start IMO
Pretty much the same team as last year's, but with Sturridge and healthy Benayoun.

[Slava]

I'd think Mikel would play holding mid and two of Lampard/Ramirez and McEachran will play the attacking mids with a Torres, Benayoun, Malouda front three.

I really can't see them playing Torres and Drogba together and still get width like AVB wants unless Kalou/Benayoun plays right wing in a 4-4-2.

[Don Draper]

Not enough creativity in that midfield. Same Chelsea. 0 world class playmakers. Chelsea just isn't a scary team anymore. Man City on the other hand....

[bryant08]

Here's the video of his interview:

http://www.skysports.com/video/inline/0 ... 71,00.html

You guys can make your own judgements on what he was thinking. I just need a resolution either way, this situation is driving me nuts.

Not worth the money IMO.

Not worth the fee or the wages? Given the market the fee (assuming 35M pounds) is fine, but the wages are obviously massive. At the end of the day he can potentially make us a much better squad so I think he's definitely work the risk.

Quite frankly I feel as a United fan I've been spoiled time and time again, but when Ronaldo was sold the expectation was that big money would be spent to bring in replacements. While we've brought in some solid pieces, I've been waiting for that superstar addition and I feel Sneijder brings bags of ability, a winning pedigree and the personality of a superstar. Sure, the fit in terms of where he's going to play isn't perfect and he's had flashes of inconsistency throughout his career, but certainly worth the risk IMO.

[BC_]

LF: Malouda/Kalou/Zhirkov
CF: Drogba/Torres
RF: Anelka/Sturridge
CMs: Lampard + pick one of Ramires, McEachran, Benayoun and Zhirkov
DM: Mikel/Romeu
LB: Cole/PVA/Bertrand/Zhirkov
CBs: Terry + pick one of Alex, Luiz and Ivanovic
RB: Ivanovic/Bosingwa/Ferreira
GK: Cech, Hilario, Turnbull

Interesting. We're looking at

LF: Gervinho/Arshavin
CF: Van Persie/Chamakh
RF: (Nasri)/Walcott
AM: (Fabregas)/Ramsey
CM: Wilshere/Diaby
DM: Song/Frimpong
LB: Gibbs/Traore
CBs: Vermaelen/Koscielny/Djourou/Squillaci
RB: Sagna/Jenkinson
GK: Szczesny/Fabianski

[Don Draper]

Here's the video of his interview:

http://www.skysports.com/video/inline/0 ... 71,00.html

You guys can make your own judgements on what he was thinking. I just need a resolution either way, this situation is driving me nuts.

Not worth the money IMO.

Not worth the fee or the wages? Given the market the fee (assuming 35M pounds) is fine, but the wages are obviously massive. At the end of the day he can potentially make us a much better squad so I think he's definitely work the risk.

Quite frankly I feel as a United fan I've been spoiled time and time again, but when Ronaldo was sold the expectation was that big money would be spent to bring in replacements. While we've brought in some solid pieces, I've been waiting for that superstar addition and I feel Sneijder brings bags of ability, a winning pedigree and the personality of a superstar. Sure, the fit in terms of where he's going to play isn't perfect and he's had flashes of inconsistency throughout his career, but certainly worth the risk IMO.

The problem is he is going to have to drop into a much deeper role at Machester United. Maybe its just me but I always thought of Scholes as a deep lying midfield rather than a player who plays behind the strikers. Not saying Sneijder can't play that role but at Inter he was unstoppable playing behind the 2 front men. Also how will he deal with having 0 time on the ball? The deliberate ball stopping and diving of Italian soccer won't fly in England. I just think there are too many questions to pay 35M for him. Now Modric would be absolutely perfect because he can play in a deeper role and he's BPL proven. I'd pay 45M for Modric before I pay 35M for Sneijder (and his wages would be less)

[Slava]

The idea behind getting Sneijder is to play in a 3 man midfield in the champions league. He could play behind the main striker (Rooney) as the furthermost midfielder with Carrick and Fletcher behind him or if we want to play Hernandez upfront we could go with Rooney on left wing and Sneijder playing support striker.

This helps us have a very versatile and interchangeable front 3. If we play Nani/Rooney/Valencia/Sneijder up top, all 4 of them can change places and give us options ,which is what we did when we had Tevez/Ronaldo/Rooney and Giggs on top form.

He cannot be Scholes' replacement but we will change our midfield to play in a new way, like we did after losing Keane.

[Don Draper]

Fletcher is going to get a work out thats for sure. I just think there are too many question marks. I personally hate the idea of playing strikers out of position. Rooney and Hernandez are strikers. Even though Rooney has showed he can play out wide its obvious that is not his forte. Rooney IMO is much better when he can roam around the pitch. Rooney on the wings doesn't scare me at all. In fact its preferred. I just don't understand why they would pay 35M for Sneijder when they can probably get Modric and save money on his wages. This is just my $0.02.

[5DOM]

Pastore is class. Dude carried Palermo on his back.

I think PalermoOffside said Ilicic had a better season for them, and Pastore just seems to be very inconsistent in his play (which I guess is understandable considering his age)

[Don Draper]

Pastore is class. Dude carried Palermo on his back.

I think PalermoOffside said Ilicic had a better season for them, and Pastore just seems to be very inconsistent in his play (which I guess is understandable considering his age)

Towards then end of the season he wasn't as good but teams used to man mark the **** out of Pastore. Plus this is Italian football, where everything is tactical and controlled. IMO if you add him to all of those weapons Chelsea has I think he would have flourished.

It's a moot point. I hope Chelsea get Modric though. I just don't want these clowns from Manchester to get another title seeing as how Liverpool did so poorly in the transfer window.

[Don Draper]

because an acclimatised and peak sneijder is about twice as good as modric is

Maybe, but there just too many question marks. IMO Modric is lock to thrive. He has no question marks. We may not have seen Modric's peak. I think he can be better and he's certainly more versatile and athletic. But Sneijder is the better passer and so much better at playing off of the strikers(he will feed Rooney and Hernandez all day long).

[lukekarts]

All being well, we add Modric, and maybe Lukaku this summer. Those two seem to be the most persistent rumours. If the latter is added, I expect it will be a loan until end of season deal. There is also the possibility we make a late swoop for Parker (loan), at which point, I'd be happy with the squad.

The squad is getting younger, which is good; particularly pleases AVB has been giving McEachren plenty of minutes this year in pre-season, hopefull it continues. It looks as if we favour a 4-1-2-2-1 (or, 4-5-1, 4-3-3, all roughly the same) so far.

[5DOM]

Think Lukaku's already said that he wouldn't accept any deal that would send him out on loan. It's either first team football at the new club or Anderlecht for him. But I do like the idea of grabbing Parker. Ideally, buying a winger would be awesome as well, but there aren't many available and it's not like we ever had a real winger since Robben left.