₦airaland Forum

In 2012/13 we lost to Everton and Tottenham in the first leg. In the return fixtures, SAF put Jones in midfield and these teams lost their fluency against us. Jones was used to silenced Fellaini.During that period he had many games in midfield, then he went back to centre back in our 3-0 win over Villa which sealed the league.

I am bringing this up because I am shocked about the wrong impression people have about him here. He is far more intelligent than people think. He also is able to bring a ball under control easily while at same time unlikely to have unsuccessful touch.

Hope to see you guys tomorrow after the Liverpool game. I enjoyed my day today.

SailorXY:
I think Falcao put in some good energy today & could have had an assist.

the lack of pace through the middle was the reason we struggled without the ball, Palace had pacy players all over the park & were more than willing to run in the midfield knowing we didn't have the personnel to match. its something LvG must address this summer.

Wilson would have kept Palace busier far more than Falcao. Falcao will do well in a team that creates lot of chances. But that might not be a team in the EPL. We needed to counter today but we didnt have the personnel to do that. This was where I felt Wilson should have been the one introduced, but Falcao wouldn't have taken it. That would have been the limit.

I think the thread has made some people to have a wrong impression about some players. Jones that SAF used in midfied against such teams like Liverpool, Everton, Stoke, Madrid, Tottenham etc. In our second half of 2012/13 season, I can still recall that Jones played more games in midfield than Cleverley. In many instances Jones would be in midfiield and Cleverley on the bench. Under Moyes, Jones had about 70% win in midfield.

Now some guys, haven read comments here over a long period, they think all Jones can do is jam body. Even today, he was decent in his tackles and play. I didnt see any fighting from him, neither did I see a wreckless back pass. When he was in CB with Smalling in the first half, the ball movement was calm and we were composed defensively.

SailorXY:
nope

highlights are misleading, just like YouTube clips

Highlights still reveal errors leading to goals, if they are obvious and are individual errors.

SailorXY:
guy Ferdinand set Man Utd a good couple of £££ back for a reason. forget English hype, he's a legend. to successfully replace Jaap Stam is not 'come chop'

No one is disputing his qualities and greatness.

However, did you watch the DSTV seasons past goals highlight yesterday- last night to this morning?

eghos12:
guy you seem you forgeting sumthings about defenders. You dont need to be a fighter to be a sucessful defender ... Hummels, varane rio fedinald, ivaniovic,kocieny,pique,dimecheis e.t.c this are few defenders that i know dont use force but dey are good in their clubs yes they maybe slow or less brutal but dey can handle an atakker. Good defenders dont just only defend they also scocre goals and assist.

How is Verane a good defender? Kocieny is a fighter. Vidic battles. Even, you guys have to change your perspective about Jones. The guy is composed on the ball more than any of our current defenders. He is just 23. Yesternight I watched Man United matches between 2004 and 2005/6. Some of the errors Ferdinand committed would be unpardonable if they were to be reviewed in a forum like this during the time. However, after consitent playing in the position, he became one of the best in Europe, forming a formidable patnership with Vidic.

eghos12:
and mind you guys philljones could get scared and push the ball to goallie

When has this ever happened? You appeared not to have watched Jones in midfield before. He is very good there. High pass accuracy, getting last man tackles when defenders get beaten or displced, driving the ball forward, winning aerial duels, etc.

UniqueGem:
I know he saved us today but that guy wouldn't get into chelseas first 11 even arsenals. I'm not saying he's totally bad, i'm just saying he's starting our every match because we are poo right now. We need proper wingers that can take out 2 defenders completely and look to curl the ball into the net, not one that will will beat a defender the ballon a cross to nobody. One thing about football is; if the only style you know is to cross and you come against opponent that are ready for your crossing, stop the crossing and try something new like dribbling and shooting, that way you'll catch the m ll unaware and beat them. Young isn't doing that for now.

He is better than Williams and Oscar.

I think Blind has failed in his primary duty as a DM in two successive matches in that position. Against Everton he didnt do well. Herrera is far better there.

In the absence of Carrick, and the need to play Herrera as an AM, Jones is the best option if other defenders are fit. Jones is not a bad passer, he may not be a great passer but his pasing is good. He usually have a high pass accuracy from that position and he can drive the ball forward.

The bottom line is that he will primarily help in the defensive duty which would in turn reduce pressure on us and ultimately help the team to concentrate more in attacking play.

UniqueGem,

Without Young we were doomed today. How can you criticize him?

chrisley024:
Mine would be 2moro if L'pool lose.

Just imagine if we didnt win. It would have been a terrible time until the final day. Now Liverpool has to keep winning to stand any chance.

No sentiments. I think Jones will do far better at the the Defensive Midfield position than Blind.

Coogar, Starboard, BinghiNya.


You all come out from your hiding. It's time for celebration.

Ayagayagayagayo hei, Ayagayagayagayo.

Thank God.

Ashley Young is gold. He redeemed himself after he failed to feed Falcao when he has done a beautiful move.

See the Smalling you guys are using the boast. Thank God score is still 1-1.

Fellaini is off form. He is too slow and also making wrong passes.

I thought Evans should have gone to left back whie Jones remain inward to cover lapses from left back and midfield.

Young is trying so so so much. I can't help but pray.

tess1:
Van Persie has flu while Di Maria got injured in training on Wednesday.

Okay.

This is like first 11 without a bench.

Rafael, Van Persie, Rojo and Di Maria have all joined Carrick.

Gaal said yesterday that there is a vius in the dreesing room that has attacked many players including himself.

Where is Van Persie?

Marouane Fellaini admitted he cried when David Moyes was sacked by Manchester United.
Fellaini has since flourished under new boss Louis van Gaal, but admitted he was left bereft when Moyes was given his marching orders last season.
“I was sad when he went, I came into the canteen and saw him in a suit instead of his tracksuit. He called me into his office and told me.
“There were tears and that is normal, I am human. I worked six years with him. He was not a second father, but almost. He helped me a lot”.
Fellaini also revealed what his new manager demands of him.
“What Van Gaal has been asking me is to be as close as possible to Rooney in the box, he talks a lot. He came to see me one day and said: ‘You know why you are playing?’ and I said 'No' and he said it was because I didn’t lose the ball.
“When I start to lose the ball in training, he repeats: ‘I play you because you don’t lose the ball, so don’t start losing it'. I knew it was going to be difficult when he arrived because I was the scapegoat last season. So I told myself I had nothing to lose.
“I had one chat with him at the start of the season on my return from the World Cup. He told me there were a lot of players in my position and it was up to me to prove myself."
[Source: Mirror]

Rene Meulensteen Angel Di Maria needs to change his game to survive in the Premier League.
Di Maria has struggled at United this season and has been linked with a departure this summer.
But Meulensteen - a former United assistant manager - says Di Maria will struggle to play to his natural strengths in England.
He told talkSPORT: "The Spanish league suits him better because if you analyse him as a player, his strength is running with the ball, and I don't think that is a big part of Louis van Gaal's philosophy.
"In Spain, you have got more space to really cover ground quickly, 20, 30, 40 yards.
"When you come into a new league, you want to prove yourself, you are a little bit of an unknown identity, there's a bit of unpredictability, but when teams start to suss you out and you start running into players, then it becomes more difficult.
"If he wants to stay at Man United, then I do think he has to adapt his play a little bit."
[Source: TalkSport]

.................

hmmm I think it has to do with the or style and the set of players around him. This season, Ancelloti is altered Madrid's pattern from counter attacking football of last season to possession football. I think that too affects Bale.

Hopefully, we take the giant stride to UCL football today.

19 mins: Leicester 2 Southampton 0

I salaute Leicester. They deserve to stay in the EPL. To think Southampton is npw at risk of not qualifying for Europa. This was why I wanted them to take points off Liverpool when they were still hot few months back.





Martinez almost got Everton relegated.

Van Gaal explains why he's signing Depay

Louis van Gaal has admitted he pushed through Manchester United's move for Memphis Depay because Paris Saint-Germain were closing in on the Dutch star.

The French side were also keen on the exciting prospect but the Reds boss was determined to be reunited with a player who impressed at the World Cup for the Netherlands under his tutelage.

"He's a goalscoring winger and there aren't so many of them in the world," van Gaal revealed to MUTV. "[Lionel] Messi is one of those but now I think we have to talk about the game against Crystal Palace and we have to focus on this and the coming three games. That's more important.

"I was forced to handle [the situation] as a manager because, otherwise, he was going to PSG, that's why I had to sign him and we've done it within one day. But, for us, it's better to focus on the game against Palace."

Although keen to finalise his transfer business quickly, van Gaal reiterated that United's hand was forced on this occasion with three games still to go with the deal set up to be concluded at a later date.

"I want to do this [make signings] early but it's not always possible," he added. "When there's a chance, to you have handle that and manage it directly and that was the case. I want to purchase players after our season and not during the season because it disturbs our concentration for the match."

- MUFC

lekkie073 and Coogar would have argued that Depay doesn't have power if it were me who said it. Oya you guys should come and argue with Man United former trainer. Coogar come and say something now or forever remain silent.


Meanwhile, I just finished watching some of his clips, I think the guy is trying. He improved his game so much this season as compared to old clips. He will surely bite oppositions defence.

Memphis Depay is perfectly suited to Manchester United, according to the club’s former coach Rene Meulensteen.

Meulensteen believes his fellow countryman will prove a hit in the Premier League.

“It is a very promising signing for Manchester United, he is another one that comes off the conveyor belt of Holland that has produced many good players over the years. And I think he is a typical Manchester United player.

“The biggest advantage for Memphis coming to Man United is Louis van Gaal being there. He knows him, he had him as a player in the national team, and he knows exactly how he is going to use him.

“I can see Man United moving to a 4-3-3 and he is a typical winger who can play on either side. He has got a great combination of power and strength and pace. He is very, very quick. If you have got pace, especially in a strong league like the Premier League, it is a great asset to have.”

[Source: Talksport]


DePay is highly welcome. Memphis is going to repay us very handsomely. Yori Yori.

Van Gaal rules Carrick out for the season

Louis van Gaal has confirmed to MUTV that Michael Carrick will not play again this season because his injury is worse than first thought.

The vice-captain suffered an injury in the closing stages of last month’s 4-2 win over Manchester City and has subsequently missed the Reds’ three consecutive defeats against Chelsea, Everton and West Bromwich Albion in the Barclays Premier League.

The good news is that Luke Shaw is available to face Crystal Palace on Saturday after recovering from the slight problem that kept him out of the match against the Baggies. Jonny Evans is also available, although the boss says he doesn’t have “match rhythm”.

"Carrick is not available, it was more heavy than we thought," van Gaal told MUTV. "We tried everything but now we have to think about next season. He shall not play anymore this season, it's better now to focus for him on next season and being fit to start.

"When you see the stats, it's clear that he's very important but that's also because we have only right-sided holding midfielder. That's what I am saying already in the whole of the season, that our selection is not balanced, and I want to restore that in the next transfer period. The life is not ending at 34, but for a professional football player, it's close by. That's why I have to handle again in that position."

On other injuries, the boss said: "Evans and Shaw can play football or the game. Evans doesn't have the match rhythm as he was injured for six weeks and after that he was suspended for six weeks, and after that he was injured. He needs match rhythm."

Meanwhile, Marcos Rojo is on his way back to full fitness and James Wilson could be among the substitutes after recovering from illness. "There is a virus in our dressing room so it's difficult to say," revealed van Gaal. "He is already a little bit ill for one week but now he is recovering so I think he could be on the bench."

To see the full exclusive interview with Louis van Gaal, watch The Manager's Press Conference show at various times on MUTV including 14:00, 16:00, 18:30 and 22:30 BST. MUTV subscriptions are available on Sky | Virgin Media | UPC.

- MUFC website.
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Who can explain the bold part? Is he talking about a right footer DM?

Some of these players always praised as best defenfers,best winger this that, aren't neccssary better. They play in stabilized teams and moreso less compectitive league which allow them to settle in quickly.

See as person fall yakata from simple dribble. Then, Verane keeps making KG kids errors.

Kemizee:
Yes.the defender made a mistake but I do hope u realise that Messi took out and floored one of d world's best defender (Boateng) who is miles better dan smalling or Jones and subsequently dinked the world's best keeper.It happens.such is football especially wen d wizard dt is called Messi is involved.Anyways u are deviating frm my original point abt hw ordinary our team is compared to d world's elite teams and dis is something evn one transfer window cnt fix.We are paying d price for years of buying garbage players! !

When it's another team/players it has to be a mistake. When it's ours the players are not good. Na today people dey play against Messi or Ronaldo or Robben or Ribery?

Louis van Gaal has confirmed that United will be back next season with the board already working on bringing in the best players.

United are hoping to be back next season challenging for major silverware with the acquisition of three to four stars from around the world.

Having European football will tempt some of the best players from across Europe with United continuing to be linked with Ilkay Gundogan, Mats Hummels and Memphis Depay.

Van Gaal told Manchester Evening news: “This summer is very important, of course. We need balance in our selection. I cannot deny that. But we are very busy with that,

“I am looking for players who fit in as my players, so that has to be a quicker adaptation than players who I have received when I came here in Manchester United.”

[Source: M.E.N]


So the players who won the tittle 2 seasons ago with 4 or 5 matches to go cannot adapt? Gaal even selected the best from SAF sqaud plus Fellaini and Mata, then he added Rojo, Herrera, Shaw, Di Maria, Falcao, Blind.

8 solid players tothe best of SAF boys. May be Moyes was right. He inherited a weak team. That's the only conclusion.

Kemizee:
There is no striker who doesn't clear chances.Even Messi misses.Wat we are saying is dt watching these two teams play tell u abt d sad le vel our team is curre ntly.I dnt see any of our players tonight apart frm De gea who wud av had a place in the starting 22.I mean none.Maybe Di maria wen in form and dts all

abegi.

Including that defnder that fell? He gifted Messi all the space in the world before Messi was passed the ball. Messi came from offside and spent amount of time waiting for the pass, and the guy didnt deem it fit to stay tight to him. If Jones or Smalling do that I will sack them. Jones took at Ribery and then Robben last year. Then second leg he took out Ribery again.