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**The_weatherman** · 26-09-14, 10:39 AM

I think West Ham might actually give that defence a torrid time, even if they didn't have any injuries. They have a decent and powerful team.

**dom9** · 26-09-14, 12:13 PM

Originally posted by Bender View Post

Asked if it was a good time to face Van Gaal's side, the Hammers boss added: "No. I'm thinking a backlash.

"They will be hurting and they know the only way they can put that right is to get out on to the field and punish us for it.
"We will have to be careful about that.

"A draw would be great for me, anything more than a draw would be outstanding as far as I'm concerned.

"My players have got to look forward to a tough game at Old Trafford now and test their skills and test their ability at a stadium that can obviously be daunting for some players."

Sounds just like Hodgson. Off the back of beating us, they should be bouncing.

**RedAndWhite** · 26-09-14, 04:59 PM

Pity they didn't invest in the squad in the summer. Oh wait........

**danperkins** · 26-09-14, 07:07 PM

Allardyce was fairly defeatist before our game too, he's just lowering expectations is all. United will get a good game off West Ham IMO but i do expect United to get the 3 points.

**red g** · 26-09-14, 08:15 PM

united have lost 10 out of there last 25 games at Old Trafford.

Shocking.

**RedAndWhite** · 26-09-14, 11:59 PM

Originally posted by danperkins View Post

Allardyce was fairly defeatist before our game too, he's just lowering expectations is all. United will get a good game off West Ham IMO but i do expect United to get the 3 points.

Allerdyce is probably still hurting about not getting the managers position at Utd so will go all out to get a result to prove a point. And I hope he proves the point - hopefully emphatically.

**McDermotX** · 27-09-14, 01:33 AM

**RichC** · 27-09-14, 08:18 AM

That has got to have been for a dare; surely!!!!

Does look a little bit like Wiltshire !

**Red_Polo** · 27-09-14, 08:39 AM

Whereabouts in Wiltshire?

**Camble** · 27-09-14, 08:54 AM

Manchester United

Originally posted by Red_Polo View Post

Whereabouts in Wiltshire?

**RichC** · 27-09-14, 08:55 AM

Salisbury!! Bloody autocorrect, you know who I mean though

**Red_Polo** · 27-09-14, 09:49 AM

The Salisbury Sainsbury's in Wiltshire it is then

**Bender** · 28-09-14, 09:56 AM

Gullit said: ‘How on earth is it possible that such an experienced and successful manager thought he could start the season at Man United without buying a couple of really strong central defenders?

‘I am still amazed by his buying and his transfers. If you only strengthen the midfield and the attack, than you are underestimating the level and the power of the Premier League. If you want to survive in the top flight of English football you start with the foundation and you build the roof of your house last. Van Gaal has done it the other way round.

‘After the departure of Nemanja Vidic to Inter, and Rio Ferdinand to QPR it was obvious that new central defenders were needed. And he had 200 million in his chequebook to spend. If you don’t use part of that to buy strong, experienced central defenders you have the wrong idea about the Premier League.

Now matters are even worse because of all the injuries in his defence. He is having to fill one gap after another. And if you have so many injuries and you have not bought the defenders, than you are doing something wrong at your club.’

And Gullit, writing in his Dutch newspaper column in De Telegraaf, claimed that by the time Van Gaal has realised his mistake and fixed the team, it will be too late. ‘I do want him to be succesful at Man United, but by the time he has repaired his team at the back, it will another three months down the road.

‘I feel that his transfer policy at United and his choice to buy only midfielders and attackers is down to his Dutch background. In Holland he grew up only thinking about attacking football.

‘Van Gaal is learning lessons right now. He sees that his defenders are having to deal with the strongest strikers in the world. They bash into his young defenders. In England there are different laws in football. Just look at Gerard Pique. At Barcelona he has become one of the best defenders in the world. At Man United he could not get a look in.’

DailyMail

**Bender** · 28-09-14, 10:42 AM

Nutmeg anyone? here have 3
[ame="http://youtu.be/CDqXY-yxLEc"]Leicester City v Man United: Triple Nutmeg! - YouTube[/ame]

**RichC** · 30-09-14, 11:36 AM

Manchester United considering midweek friendlies abroad

Comments (3)
Manchester United are thinking about playing midweek friendlies abroad, says one of the club's directors.
With no Champions League football this season, United's managing director Richard Arnold says lucrative fixtures overseas are something the club will "continue to look at".
The club's early Capital One Cup exit has reduced the number of midweek games they will play still further.
And they are set to play only three more midweek Premier League fixtures.
More than 100,000 fans watched United's 3-1 win over Real Madrid in Michigan this summer, during the side's pre-season tour of the United States.
And Arnold believes manager Louis van Gaal would be receptive to similar fixtures during the Premier League campaign.
"We have a fantastic partnership in terms of our work off the pitch and I'm very appreciative of the support we have had from him," Arnold said.
"For many years of our [pre-season] international tours, there is a plan to ensure we get that team building that goes together with getting the team all together in one place.
"That's something that's being looked at with regards to the future."
Meanwhile, United striker Robin van Persie says Van Gaal is installing a Dutch mentality on the squad's meetings.
"It's very demanding in a good way as you have to be focused every single day of the sessions or the meeting," Van Persie says.
"You have to give your own input, which is what the staff likes. That's a bit of the Dutch thing."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29423048