Manchester United 2014/2015 Premier League Season (+ CC & FA Cup)

And he wanted to buy Vermaelen too. We'd have no CBs right now. Got really lucky on that one. Smalling might be fine for Saturday though. We'll see in van Gaal's presser I guess.

I hope he's fit enough to make it for Saturday but I am not holding my breath, the guy is made out of glass. Would prolly come off injured during the match ala Evans on Sunday.

Thats not me being too negative, it's just what I've come to expect from our defenders these days.

Read Carrick will play cb in a news article. Didnt even know he was back from injury though.
If carrick's available it will be better I guess to play him in the midfield and put blind at the back. But blind can play cb right ??? I am not so sure about that also.

Its all so fckd up.. big time..

His(Blackett) dedication and professionalism have been impeccable. On Tuesday, United players were granted a day off but still Blackett came in, determined to push himself, picking over his performances and organising an extra session in the gym.

Blackett does not miss a chance to place himself ahead of his defensive rivals. Last week, the squad went out in Manchester city centre for an organised bonding meal, aimed at uniting the raft of new signings that have arrived this summer.

The following day had been scheduled as a free but there Blackett was once more, using everything United's hi-tech training ground can offer to further his game.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2769068/How-training-days-turned-Tyler-Blackett-great-hope-Manchester-United.html?ito=social-facebook

Blackett going all Ronaldo on us

I've just read that now. I like his dedication, it will put him in good stead for his career and progress.

shame that he hasn't got an authorative figure(s) in the backline that could guide him and bed him in like how Smalling, Evans and Jones had with Vidic, Rio and Evra.

I get what you mean though, it would be good for him to partner one of them, at least for the one next to him to be competent that he doesn't feel nervous on the pitch. I think Rojo playing badly got to him in the end.

He said Rio texts him after every game and they do training sessions together. So he's getting some sort of guidance. Gary Neville said when he was visiting Carrington, he caught Blackett watching clips of his mistakes. So he's really trying to do his best. I really hope he makes it. Plus, he's from Manchester

But there is a positive to it imo, it might take him longer to reach a high level without an experienced player next to him, but in the long term it might be better for him. Evans still can't play well when there's no Rio or Vidic. Pique is the same, he's not as good without Puyol. It might be better for Blackett if he's not so dependent on another player in the long-term. Even though, it's harmful in the short-term.

Smalling is out van gaal has confirmed

Manchester United ‏@ManUtd
Van Gaal: "We have nine injuries and one suspension with Blackett. The younger players can have their chance now." #mufc

Looks like he might use a youngster

Hope we get rid of him and Evans. Not only are they not good enough to lead the line, but they hardly ever play for us due to injuries.

Just get rid.

Van Gaal: "Evans' bone is bruised. Smalling left yesterday's session because he had stiff legs. I won't take risks with players." #mufc

Bones are bruised, Smalling's has stiff legs.

Ok fair enough with Evans, but does that warrant him being out for an entire month? Surely we have the means to make him heal quicker.

Smalling having stiff legs though

Bunch of pussies.

Yep, so injury prone we don't even have Carrick to cover like we usually we do. LvG will probably not use Blind as CB, because he doesn't like two left-footers. He used Fletcher at CB in pre-season but that was a back three. Really hope we dominate the game so the CBs don't have to do too much. I don't care if we sell them anymore too, it's at the point where it doesn't really matter if they're good or not they're just so damn injury prone.

I can't believe we have 5 CBs and that's not enough That's enough at any club, we need 6 just to be sure. Just crazy how much they get injured.

WH are gonna lump it forward it every chance they get and I worry they're physical forwards are gonna bully our defence. Lump it forward and hope to win as many set pieces as they can.

Our best bet is that our attack will obliterate them because no doubt about it, we'll concede. It's all a matter of when not if.

what about that other kid, Keane?

He's currently on loan

It was really stupid of us loaning out Keane considering we already had to use him because of injuries. Then again, 5 CBs should be enough, after we switched to a 4 man defence

Stiff legs wtf is that, btw

ah, sorry didn't know that.

Busby Babe wrote:It was really stupid of us loaning out Keane considering we already had to use him because of his injuries. Then again, 5 CBs should be enough, after we switched to a 4 man defence

Stiff legs wtf is that, btw

Like a stiff arm when someone punches you i would presume. It stiffens for a while then goes back to normal. But prolly in Smalling's case, it's made to seem as though he's paralyzed


It really shouldn't be enough to stop a player from playing. It really shouldn't ffs. Give him some painkillers and let him get on with it.

It doesn't sound as something serious enough to put us in such a defensive crisis. But LVG knows better, if to him he doesn't deem it worthy enough to risk, then what else can we do...

imo, the lad is soft.

Yeah, 5 should be more than enough for a season without Europe.
Having 4 out at the same time is something noone can plan for.
Smalling sounds like he should be alright though

Another thing of course is that Evans and Jones are injured so often and much, I doubt they can be counted as one whole CB each

The worst part is Jones injuries himself. He goes into challenges he shouldn't, then hurts himself. The one he has now is a bit different, it's a hamstring, he tried to play on ffs. England were already winning 2-0 with 10 minutes to go as well.

Jones is his own worst enemy. yeah the injury came from that tight angled shot he attempted, completely unnecessary.

He then played on and aggravated the injury further.

I admire his passion and his willingless to 'get stuck in' but it's to the detriment of his health. his body can't handle it and in the worst case scenario, it's going to have an affect to his long term career.

Rafael suffers from the same type of mentality and playing style.

I don't think it's something that can be eliminated from a player. But something that can be channeled and used in a way that can diminish their chances of constantly getting injuries.

Seems extra edgy today

Yeah, I'd rather not use Blind as a CB, and play Rojo on the right. Imagine him making all his clearances like this, because he's so uncomfortable using his right foot

I liked that he was giving it to them back.

Okay, I will try to be positive, at least we have 3 of the back 4 will be starters. Evans and Smalling weren't in that great form anyway and it will be home not away, so it won't be as intense as it would be in an away match.

In my opinion just change to a 3-5-2 for this match and play shaw and rafael as Limited Full backs (on either flanks of rojo who in turn should be used as the lone cb) and also use 2 holding mids instead of 1.


or otherwise if a capable youngster is available in the reserve side, someone like a Vermijil give him a go. Eventhough he is a full back he played as a cb in that humilation at the hands of mk dons and there he looked good, so..
still its a scary prospect. WH are flying high and will come hard at us even harder than Lcstr I believe. So.... yea its a tough call to make,
I would rather tweak the formation a little in such a dire circumstance and play experienced players than playing reserve boys in the normal formation. Its a must win match. We should go for 3 points and start to dominate them right from the beginning. Any other approach and will be fckd.

Keane would likely be the first call up

but he's on loan

rest of the lads in the youth ranks have never had a game at CB for the first team so it will be interesting to see who get's the call.