Plop 50 to spuds 28

yup

Few observations from the United tour.

Blind is not a CB, we regularly play with a highish line and he's just too easily exposed to quick counters. Vs PSG it was literally just one long ball over the top on a number of occassions. LVG needs to stop being so anal about playing with a left footed CB.

Rooney is still fairly ****, the majority of his forward play is getting it into feet, passing it out wide then making a run into the box along with an occassional long range effort. Would like to see Chicha/Wilson get plenty of time this season.

Carrick/Schweinsteiger can't play together, both are neat and tidy but it's the same problems over again with not having players capable of breaking the lines/offering penetration. Herrera is an absolute must for whatever midfield he decides to use but he's played 25mins in the last 2 games. Ideally I'd like to see us set up in a 4-3-3 with Schneiderlin holding and Herrera/Schweinsteiger ahead of him but LVdonk is going to **** around with a bunch of combinations that won't work and finally get it right once injuries force him into playing what everyone has been saying to do for months.

Depay isn't a 10, we look likely to set up in a 4-2-3-1 with him behind Rooney and he does a decent job but he's not skilled at finding space in those areas.

Darmian is quality. Limited viewing but I'd say there's a good enough chance he's the fastest player at United. Great acceleration over short distances and recovery speed. I'm a big fan of Valencia but he's got his work cut out to hold onto that position, although late in the PSG game Shaw went off for Valencia and Darmian went to LB.

Shaw has had a very good pre season, 2nd only to Darmian. Please stay fit.

Pereira has looked really good all summer including the U20 world cup. He should be starting way more games than young at this point.

I think I've revealed JD's identity.

Anyone want this. . Me spurs.

Have a few bets on here plus other transactions where I've sent 1st/2nd..

Glad to be singing from the same hymsheet as Bandit, our views match 100% on everything he said.

FWIW I agree that in general that left-footed centre-back thing seems way overdone.

What is far more puzzling is that LVG himself seemed to have abandoned it as we finished the season at Smalling-Jones-Evans-Rojo-Blind in terms of CB preference but he now looks to have come back refreshed and ready to start again!

Now it's more like Jones-Blind-Smalling-Evans-Rojo. Rojo continued to be an irrelevance, I know he had passport issues but he has plenty of on field issues as well which United fans overlook in favour of their Evans-Valencia hatred.

Lol.

football dfs is so undeveloped basically any model you can:
1. form ->
2. make conclusion from ->
3. evolve -> (2.)

will net you a very nice profit.
hell, the fact that you have any correlation with poker puts you straight into the top half of the field.

what a pity we can't play dfs from europe
boom is approaching... ok mini boom it's not poker

Only watched the Barca game so can't really comment on anything specific to preseason, but I agree completely with your points on Blind and Herrera.

Also don't get playing Depay as SS when he's always played LW for PSV. LvG has always said he prefers 433, and I think most of us expected us to play that formation when he signed Depay and 2 CM's this summer. I've said it on here before, but LvG just seems to overcomplicate things for the sake of it. Can hardly remember a starting XI of his were there wasn't at least 1-2 round pegs in square holes.

Fan forums *bangs head on wall*.

john terry > Kos. And apparently John terry wouldnt get exposed playing in Arsenal defence. When just give AVB reign as example, they just ignore and carry on the JT worlclass hype train

JoeJoe - is that you in the red shirt and £2.99 sunglasses with the cap on sideways?

Lol this is fantastic. Obv not me as he wasn't a full kit wanker.

I am actually going tonight, pretty excited for some Thursday night football!

haha actually is quite catchy...

The solo actually made me laugh out loud

I like the old school kit. I'd like the tune more after a couple of disco biscuits.

Van Gaal told the gathered press he had already settled on 75% of his back four for Man Utd’s game on the opening day of the new Premier League season against Tottenham at Old Trafford, stating: “I think I shall play (Luke) Shaw with (Daley) Blind and Matteo Darmian and then the right central defenders position I have to consider.”

So Jones and Smalling fighting for that right side spot.

LVG also said that his preferred formation this season is 4-3-3.

**** we could have had a chance to get 3 points but its unlikely if dier starts as a CM.

I was very excited to watch Memphis ~tear up the EPL this season, but if LvG plays him out of position all year I'm gonna be pretty annoyed.

wtf, we play arse in 3 days...

Watched a bit of preseason, hard to tell where we're at but seems Jose is confident that last year's first XI improve their level as there have been no major signings yet. Obviously expect/hoping Hazard gets even better. Probably still need a left back with Luis back at Atletico. The back four with Azpi as LB works but Ivanovic didn't have a great second half of last season and long term Azpi has to be right back.

Someone has to be oop, otherwise he's just another mainstream manager

Yeah, also said he considers Memphis as part of the midfield 3. Makes zero sense with Herrera in the squad and Memphis tearing it up from LW last season. I have a feeling LvG's FPS is going to annoy me even more this season than it did last season.

We are going to go through the same **** with Lvdonk again this year, aren't we?