The Official Manchester United Thread [Vol 6]

[Gavia]

m3sye said:

Mate told me your last game is Arsenal away ? that could be such an important game, nice to see a big game last day fixture

Your mate's wrong, but we have got an interesting end to the season.

[anniesdad]

Alpinestars said:

Left back worries me. Darmian is terrible, Blind is too slow, and Shaw is out of favour.

Darmian is a right back being asked to play left back. However I don't personally think he's out of place there.

Shaw is the natural left back and arguably the future, but, what's happening? I think it's a dose of realism for him and a challenge from Mourinho for him to prove himself.

I'm not worried so much. We have Rojo.

[bstb3]

anniesdad said:

Shaw is the natural left back and arguably the future, but, what's happening? I think it's a dose of realism for him and a challenge from Mourinho for him to prove himself.

Mourinho mentioned (not sure if it was before or after the game) about Shaw having been quite badly affected both mentally and physically by the injury at PSV, but that he is still very much part of the future plans - he just has to get back to full fitness and confidence. It seems to me it might take the next preseason before we really see if he can make it back. I'm confident though that JM will bring someone in if he has any doubt, as currently I think it's the weakest position in our first team.

anniesdad said:

I'm not worried so much. We have Rojo.

[anniesdad]

Big Raff said:

How is Bothwick-Jackson coming on over at Wolves - any updates on his progress?

Still at Wolves but not getting much game time.

[GTO-3R]

I can fully sympathise with Shaw and the difficulties of getting over a bad injury like that. I had my football career effectively ended by a bad ankle break and the hardest part by a long way was the mental aspect. I was playing at a high level and ready to sign schoolboy forms to take my career on to the next phase when I broke my ankle in 3 places and dislocated it. What that does to you when you're next going in for a tackle or running on to a ball (how I broke mine) and what it does to your brain is impossible to explain, it's a feeling you have. I've no doubt that Shaw is getting a lot of mental help and advice which he will need to get over it and IMO that is why Jose is being cautious with him. He's still young and next season he'll be back

[anniesdad]

bstb3 said:

Mourinho mentioned (not sure if it was before or after the game) about Shaw having been quite badly affected both mentally and physically by the injury at PSV, but that he is still very much part of the future plans - he just has to get back to full fitness and confidence. It seems to me it might take the next preseason before we really see if he can make it back. I'm confident though that JM will bring someone in if he has any doubt, as currently I think it's the weakest position in our first team.

Wouldn't disagree about it being the weakest position, as we definitely don't have a settled left back. I'm not sure Shaw will get that long to be honest. I think Mourinho see's it as a risk to play him and simply we can't afford any slip ups whatsoever, so he takes the path of least risk. Shame for Shaw that he can't seem to get a run in the team and to play well, but that's what he needs to regain confidence.

[ORD]

GTO-3R said:

I can fully sympathise with Shaw and the difficulties of getting over a bad injury like that. I had my football career effectively ended by a bad ankle break and the hardest part by a long way was the mental aspect. I was playing at a high level and ready to sign schoolboy forms to take my career on to the next phase when I broke my ankle in 3 places and dislocated it. What that does to you when you're next going in for a tackle or running on to a ball (how I broke mine) and what it does to your brain is impossible to explain, it's a feeling you have. I've no doubt that Shaw is getting a lot of mental help and advice which he will need to get over it and IMO that is why Jose is being cautious with him. He's still young and next season he'll be back

I tore all the way through a hamstring at university - not just a tear in the muscle; a tear all the way through. It healed tolerably within a few months but it took me literally years to be able to sprint at 100% without holding back a little. I am sure that a horrific injury like Shaw's is miles worse than that. Yours sounds horrible, too!

(To be honest, it still twinges a bit at times...10 years later...)

[bstb3]

Quite a lot of noise around that Rooney is about to accept an offer to China, with a fee to us too of around 30m. It may well turn out to be paper bks (and the cynic in me says what a coincidence it appears just as the ho he had some frolicks with a few years back (not the granny) is about to sell her story (again)), but it seems a few journo's are running with it tomorrow. He would be leaving before end of Feb.

Putting to one side he is a club legend, would it be the right thing for him but more importantly the club given the fixture pile up? Personally I think yes on both accounts - he will get a new experience, far more respect & of course more cash than he could ever need, while the club recover a sizable portion back of the crazy wages suffered from the Moyes panic deal. It also means we would have to use more of Martial, Rashford and Lingard which has to be good for them.

Of course you can guarantee we will lose at least 2 strikers to injury the minute he's gone.

[ORD]

Yes. He usually makes the team a lot worse when he plays. Not always, but usually.

[MiniMan64]

Unfortunately we have better players that play in both his positions at the moment.

Seems a shame though.

[ORD]

£30 million is a lot of money for Rooney, if you ask me. His commercial value must be reducing fast, and we could get a decent player with that money. He also needs to play to stop himself getting fat, so it's good for him to move on.

[Alpinestars]

bstb3 said:

Quite a lot of noise around that Rooney is about to accept an offer to China, with a fee to us too of around 30m. It may well turn out to be paper bks (and the cynic in me says what a coincidence it appears just as the ho he had some frolicks with a few years back (not the granny) is about to sell her story (again)), but it seems a few journo's are running with it tomorrow. He would be leaving before end of Feb.

Putting to one side he is a club legend, would it be the right thing for him but more importantly the club given the fixture pile up? Personally I think yes on both accounts - he will get a new experience, far more respect & of course more cash than he could ever need, while the club recover a sizable portion back of the crazy wages suffered from the Moyes panic deal. It also means we would have to use more of Martial, Rashford and Lingard which has to be good for them.

Of course you can guarantee we will lose at least 2 strikers to injury the minute he's gone.

Yep he's off.

Always been an enigma for me. Great at times, terrible at others, never really loved by the fans. Pleased in some ways that he broke the record before going, and what a great goal it was. Would have been nice to bid him farewell, not sure that will happen. But best of luck to him.

[London424]

ORD said:

GTO-3R said:

I can fully sympathise with Shaw and the difficulties of getting over a bad injury like that. I had my football career effectively ended by a bad ankle break and the hardest part by a long way was the mental aspect. I was playing at a high level and ready to sign schoolboy forms to take my career on to the next phase when I broke my ankle in 3 places and dislocated it. What that does to you when you're next going in for a tackle or running on to a ball (how I broke mine) and what it does to your brain is impossible to explain, it's a feeling you have. I've no doubt that Shaw is getting a lot of mental help and advice which he will need to get over it and IMO that is why Jose is being cautious with him. He's still young and next season he'll be back

I tore all the way through a hamstring at university - not just a tear in the muscle; a tear all the way through. It healed tolerably within a few months but it took me literally years to be able to sprint at 100% without holding back a little. I am sure that a horrific injury like Shaw's is miles worse than that. Yours sounds horrible, too!

(To be honest, it still twinges a bit at times...10 years later...)

I can join that list too. 29 years old playing in the FA Trophy went in for a tackle and the forward stood on my foot while my body carried on sliding. Ended up with my foot pointing the wrong way.

As said above it's not as much the physical aspect it's the mental aspect. I probably could have played again if I wanted but I lost the desire and never really trusted it and haven't kicked a ball (even in a 5-a-side) in the 8 years!

[Frimley111R]

Alpinestars said:

Great at times, terrible at others, never really loved by the fans.

Terrible? Never really loved by the fans? I thought we were discussing Rooney?

[Alpinestars]

Frimley111R said:

Alpinestars said:

Great at times, terrible at others, never really loved by the fans.

Terrible? Never really loved by the fans? I thought we were discussing Rooney?

We are.

[franki68]

Is this he's off deduction from the stories,orhave you been told alpine?

[anniesdad]

Gutted if he goes as I genuinely believe he still has something to offer. Getting our money back after some 12 years of unbelievable service would be a great deal for the club. Although I can't see him going to China. I can though see him in the premier league and scoring the winning goal in a match against us.

Whatever he does decide, will be with my blessing and well wishes. I think (some) United fans will understand the true value of him being in our squad much more when he's gone. God I hope he gets a few games and plays a blinder in them...

[Alpinestars]

franki68 said:

Is this he's off deduction from the stories,orhave you been told alpine?

I've been told.

[franki68]

Alpinestars said:

I've been told.

must be true ,you've been told twice

[Alpinestars]

franki68 said:

must be true ,you've been told twice

Lol! It was whispered into both ears .