David De Gea is pivotal for Manchester United going forward

Posted on February 01, 2015  by Stretford-end  in Man United, Transfer Speculation, Transfer Targets   2 Comments »
De Gea
David De Gea has risen to become Manchester United’s most important player

David De Gea has risen from a promising youngster to one of the best goalkeepers in the world game. Long gone are suggestions that the Premier League is “too physical” for the Spaniard or that he “flaps at crosses” following a string of wonderful displays that have won Manchester United a vast amount of points in what is a Champions League spot chasing season.

This is of course a far cry from nervous looking displays when De Gea left Atletico Madrid for the then English champions in the summer of 2011. United’s number one, who was replacing the legendary Edwin van der Sar – who bowed out in the European Cup final defeat at the hands of Barcelona at Wembley, had a torrid time at the Hawthorns on his Premier League debut – with many, quite moronically, writing him off at such a premature stage.

Since then he has become such an important player for United, so what message would it send out if indeed he were to be sold in the summer to Real Madrid? Louis van Gaal must do everything in his power to ensure his prized asset remains a United player for the foreseeable future.

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Manchester United line up £28.5 million transfer for Diego Godin

Posted on December 01, 2014  by Stretford-end  in Man United, Transfer Speculation   No Comments »
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Diego Godin of Atletico Madrid has been linked with a move to Old Trafford.

There are a number of reports suggesting that Atletico Madrid centre half Diego Godin could be on his way to Old Trafford as Manchester United look to strengthen defensive following a string of injuries. Louis van Gaal has seen Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans, Luke Shaw, Rafael, Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones all pick up injuries in the first quarter of the season, which has forced the inclusion of youngsters Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett, who did well when called up on the 2-1 victory over Arsenal.

So, can you see Diego Godin coming to United in January? Is he the right man?

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Arsenal move offers Welbeck the chance to complete himself

Posted on September 13, 2014  by nameonthetrophy  in Arsenal, Doron, Man United, Players, Transfer Speculation, Transfer Targets   1 Comment »

Guest Author: Doron

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Lots of players leave Manchester United but few departures have carried as much disbelief as that of Danny Welbeck. The disbelief stems not because it was an expensive fee (if anything, the fee was lower than that which could have been expected) and neither was it a total surprise, given the stories emanating from Old Trafford in recent weeks. Instead, it is because, to many, the transfer just seems wrong: a local lad, aged 23, who has been with the club for fifteen years and has arguably the biggest cult fan base of the current squad was sold to Arsenal, the primary rival to which a player could feasibly be sold. Yet, from the player’s perspective, this is a pivotal career moment. Having left United incomplete, the transfer presents an opportunity to allow him to fulfil his potential and become a leading Premier League striker.

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Why Tom Cleverley failed to fulfil his potential at United…

Posted on September 02, 2014  by nameonthetrophy  in Doron, Guest Writer, Man United, Players, Transfer Speculation, Transfer Targets, Youth   14 Comments »

Guest Author: Doron

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After a 14 year association with Manchester United, Tom Cleverley has taken his first steps towards leaving the club to further his career elsewhere, initially on loan with Aston Villa. His departure is more likely to be greeted with cheers rather than tears by the majority of United fans, but, in truth, what became of his career at Old Trafford is incredibly unfortunate.

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Where do we go from here? (The scores are coming out all weird..)

Posted on August 17, 2014  by Karate_Jesus  in Man United, Premier League, Transfer Speculation, Transfer Targets   1 Comment »
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Expectations have been raised at Manchester United with Louis van Gaal at the helm

Author: Karate Jesus

At the beginning of the summer, pre-World Cup, most United fans would have been of the opinion that success in the following season would be a top 4 finish and that this would be dependent on a raft of new signings for the newly appointed Louis van Gaal to work with. Expectations then began to become distorted, as Van Gaal’s unfancied Dutch team first spanked the world champions, Spain, 5-1, and then proceeded to the semi-finals of the competition before losing on penalties to Argentina without actually having lost a game. On this evidence, supporters began to think, Van Gaal can clearly work wonders with a squad of limited players that, Robben apart, is inferior to the United squad, even without new signings.

Confidence, excitement and expectation were then further increased during the pre-season tour of America. Whilst fully aware that this was a pre-season tournament, it was hard not to be impressed by United’s performances; given the tripe served up last season, the interplay between players and the goals scored were akin to fresh water after a desert marathon. With the expected addition of players once the team returned from the tour, there was a case for genuine optimism going into the new season. It is less than fourteen days since the squad returned from America and the bubble of optimism has been well and truly burst. It will be dawning on all connected with United that performances in pre-season don’t count for anything and that the problems that existed at the end of last season, Moyes aside, are still there.

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Mats Hummels surely now main focus to strengthen defence

Posted on August 10, 2014  by Stretford-end  in Man United, Premier League, Transfer Speculation, Transfer Targets   1 Comment »
Mats Hummels
Mat Hummels has been linked with a move to Manchester United all summer

Manchester United saw one of their summer transfer targets, Thomas Vermaelen, leave to join Barcelona in a £15million deal from Arsenal. Vermaelen had fallen out of favour at The Emirates, with Arsene Wenger preferring Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny as his centre back pairing. Barcelona are for the first time without their captain, Carles Puyol, who was forced to retire through injury ending a gloriously successful career. The Catalan club have added defender Jeremy Mathieu to their ranks, but obviously feel the need to replace the gaping hole left by their former number 5.

It was clear that Arsenal didn’t want to lose their club captain – admittedly who is of less importance than Robin van Persie, who departed two summers ago – to a team who will no doubt be challenging for Champions League places this season and when the calling came from a top club who is in Europe’s elite competition, the Belgian’s mind was surely made up.

Now Louis van Gaal faces the dilemma of heading into the Premier League season without Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra and having not added to the squad defensively. Could the experienced Mats Hummels be the man to come in and make the difference?

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Will Marouane Fellaini leave Manchester United for Napoli?

Posted on July 30, 2014  by Stretford-end  in Man United, Premier League, Transfer Speculation   1 Comment »
Marouane Fellaini
Marouane Fellaini joined Manchester United from Everton for £27.5m last season

Alas. It might be that time. The time to say a big farewell to the Marouane Fellaini. He may indeed possess a hairstyle that belongs to a middle aged American lady in the late 1970s, but his time at Old Trafford is a very disappointing one. His ridiculously inflated £27.5 million transfer fee, which of course – was even more laughable when you heard the news that a month earlier, he could have been picked up for four million less – didn’t help matters. But former manager David Moyes and Edward Woodward waited until the the eleventh hour to unveil this tall, dark and – quite clumsy – new signing. Yes, Fellaini’s arrival at the club was met with the same groans of dissatisfaction that had met Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor a few months earlier.

Will Marouane Fellaini head to Naples? Or will the Belgian be given another crack at Old Trafford and show his class?

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World Cup round up: Any players heading to Manchester United?

Posted on July 14, 2014  by Stretford-end  in International, Man United, Transfer Speculation, Transfer Targets   No Comments »
Brazil v Chile: Round of 16 - 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil
Arturo Vidal has been linked with a move to Manchester United from Juventus since the World Cup

Alas, it is all over. One of the best World Cup Finals in living memory has finally ended. England were humbled, Holland were brilliant and Brazil’s collapse was astounding. We saw Miroslav Klose overtake Ronaldo as the tournaments all top top goal scorer with sixteen goals, we witnessed one of the great volleys of all time, which was then followed by an even better one from James Rodriguez of Colombia, and of course we saw Manchester United’s new manager in action with Holland and he was a penalty kick, or two, away from the World Cup final.

So, which players impressed you? Who failed to deliver? Most importantly, can you see any of these stars at Manchester United next season? Here we take a look at some of the star performers and comment on the transfer rumours linking them with the club.

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Will a World Cup star be heading to Manchester United this summer?

Posted on May 26, 2014  by Stretford-end  in International, Man United, Players, Transfer Speculation, Transfer Targets   2 Comments »
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Will Manchester United sign a top performer from the World Cup in Brazil?

Ah yes, it is that time again. The time to get put up that heavily branded ASDA World Cup wall chart, to reel off some of the best footballing cliques down the pub – including trying to fit in “dark horses”, “group of death” and “goalkeepers moaning about the new ball” into once sentence – and of course, the hype surround a good performance from an unlikely player. Toto Schillaci came from nowhere, whilst lanky Kennet Andersson helped Sweden to five goals en route to the semi-finals and of course, Liverpool bought that loveable character El Hadji Diouf based upon his performance in 2002.

So, how likely are Manchester United to purchase a player following the World Cup? Which players have already been linked to an Old Trafford move and where do United need to strengthen?

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Juan Mata is “the best classic number ten in world football”

Posted on January 25, 2014  by nameonthetrophy  in Chelsea, Man United, Players, Transfer Speculation, Transfer Targets   1 Comment »
Juan Mata Spain

With Juan Mata’s transfer from Chelsea on the verge of being completed, we’ve once again turned to Joe from over at Plains of Almeria for a bit of insight…

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