Manchester United

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

He's a very, very good player IMO.

What he'll do is add that pace their attack is badly missing and might allow them to revert to a 433, although players like RVP/Rooney/Mata would have to miss out then.

[john316]

He's a fantastic player. It's just a totally stupid signing that screams like a Galactico-like recruitment policy. Sign a big name first and worry about the place in the team secondly.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

He's a fantastic player. It's just a totally stupid signing that screams like a Galactico-like recruitment policy. Sign a big name first and worry about the place in the team secondly.

I'm not so sure..

-------------De Gea
Rafael---Jones---Rojo---Shaw
---------Herera--Carrick
----Mata----Rooney--Di Maria
---------------RVP

That has a pretty good shape too it, still plenty of weakness there but its definitely an improvement. Rafael is always injured, Jones is a joke, Carrick ageing, Rojo completely unproven at a decent level as a CB.

[Chazza]

But they are going to play with a back 3?

[Leyton388]

Let them go blow the best part of £50m on a player they do not need. Fantastic. They haven't addressed any of the serious issues their squad has. Personally i don't think he'll be all that in this league. Remember people banging on about Ozil and he's turning out to be average at best.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

But they are going to play with a back 3?

Van Gaal has said he's playing 3 at the back because he doesn't have the players available to him to be able to play the 433 he's played throughout his career. The reason he played 3 CBs at the world cup was because of the players in his squad and the lack of quality in defence.

[Jaymo]

The way van Gaal is looking to play they really haven't recruited well. The front 4 is as good as anyone else, but the rest isn't worth a top 4 finish.

-------------De Gea-------------
------Jones--Evans--Rojo--------
Rafael----------------------Shaw
--------Herrera---Mata---------
Di Maria-------RVP--------Rooney?

They're pretty weak in the centre of midfield and at the back, see how it pans out for them but they really need to replace what they've lost in Vidic and Ferdinand.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Let them go blow the best part of £50m on a player they do not need. Fantastic. They haven't addressed any of the serious issues their squad has. Personally i don't think he'll be all that in this league. Remember people banging on about Ozil and he's turning out to be average at best.

I think this league requires pace and work rate first and foremost, you don't get to just turn up walk about and let your ability shine when teams stand off. Ozil suffers because he literally walks, Di Maria is hard working so I can't see him having the same issues.

[Chazza]

Van Gaal has said he's playing 3 at the back because he doesn't have the players available to him to be able to play the 433 he's played throughout his career. The reason he played 3 CBs at the world cup was because of the players in his squad and the lack of quality in defence.

He won the champions league with Ajax playing a back 3.

It makes less sense with the players he has available to him to have been playing a back 3 and not a back 4.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

He won the champions league with Ajax playing a back 3.

It makes less sense with the players he has available to him to have been playing a back 3 and not a back 4.

I can't be arsed to find the quote but its what he actually said, I don't have the players at my disposal to play 433.

The Champions League win was 20 years ago, the vast majority of his career he's played 433, if he moves back to that tactic then I think the addition of Di Maria is a very good one.

[Leyton388]

Would be hilarious if city or Chelsea hijacked this deal

[Saveloy]

Van Gaal has said he's playing 3 at the back because he doesn't have the players available to him to be able to play the 433 he's played throughout his career. The reason he played 3 CBs at the world cup was because of the players in his squad and the lack of quality in defence.

I'm sure I read a really **** newspaper article by Gary Neville recently where he met van Gaal, and despite his stumbling copy, I'm pretty sure the Neville managed to get across the fact that vg's philosophy is playing 3-5-2

[john316]

[ame="https://twitter.com/jnorthcroft/status/503311636355371008"]https://twitter.com/jnorthcroft/status/503311636355371008[/ame]

Oh just like apparently Kroos/Muller where Man Utd decided not to sign them....

Sure....

They spend the whole summer chasing Vidal but only just realised that LVG didn't want him. How careless of Woodward....

[RichC]

I've had Manc mates bemoaning the lack of spending on players and the Glaziers are asset stripping etc...

Quite amusing when you point out the amount of cash they've spent on pure muck over the past few windows

[Fredo]

Di Maria is a very good player though. They're paying over the odds but they'll be having a good player. They could rebuild by going 'our way', but there is no chance that is going to happen with their fanbase.