Topic: Louis Van Gaal was the Manager of Mourinho United

[Lush is the best medicine...]

Good signing for them at that price. Obviously there are issues but can't really knock it for £15m, unlike Di Maria who was a dreadful signing. He'd walk into our midfield and everyone here knows it.

he will be on huge wages, and there is a very good reason why baleen are getting rid

[Lush is the best medicine...]

We weren't miles off Arsenal last season. We finished 5 points below them.

So far, I think that we have done the best transfers (although you have done a very good transfer on Firmino) from all teams. Obviously central defense is weak but if we sign Otamendi, that will be fixed. And if we sign Schneiderlin too then I think that we would be as strong as any team in the league (especially if we keep De Gea). Obviously there are three 'if' in my sentences.

falcao and van person are gone/going, Hernandez is off, what strikers are available for you of the quality required? Could possibly play depay up front but there's only Rooney and Wilson there

[tonysleft]

he will be on huge wages, and there is a very good reason why baleen are getting rid

I also don't understand why people keep saying "Schweinsteiger can't be that good now or Bayern would've wanted him to stay" and "Bayern know when to let go of their ageing players". They wanted to keep him.

Rummenigge added: "It's regrettable because Bastian meant a great deal to the club.

"He achieved great things but he wants to do something new at the end of his career. He asked that we meet his wishes.

"We tried to convince him to stay with Bayern Munich. But I also understand that a player who has spent 17 years at Bayern Munich still wants to gain a new experience."

[Lush is the best medicine...]

I also don't understand why people keep saying "Schweinsteiger can't be that good now or Bayern would've wanted him to stay" and "Bayern know when to let go of their ageing players". They wanted to keep him.

Rummenigge added: "It's regrettable because Bastian meant a great deal to the club.

"He achieved great things but he wants to do something new at the end of his career. He asked that we meet his wishes.

"We tried to convince him to stay with Bayern Munich. But I also understand that a player who has spent 17 years at Bayern Munich still wants to gain a new experience."

showing class towards someone who has served them well over the years

[Tom_B]

We weren't miles off Arsenal last season. We finished 5 points below them.

So far, I think that we have done the best transfers (although you have done a very good transfer on Firmino) from all teams. Obviously central defense is weak but if we sign Otamendi, that will be fixed. And if we sign Schneiderlin too then I think that we would be as strong as any team in the league (especially if we keep De Gea). Obviously there are three 'if' in my sentences.

Arsenal won the title did they?

Fuck me, at least read what I was replying to before responding. It was off the back of a response to someone who called your lot potentially "Champions Elect".

[Busby]

he will be on huge wages, and there is a very good reason why baleen are getting rid

They tried to convince him to stay;

He achieved great things but he wants to do something new at the end of his career. He asked that we meet his wishes.

We tried to convince him to stay with Bayern Munich. But I also understand that a player who has spent 17 years at Bayern Munich still wants to gain a new experience

Should be a great signing this. He's been my dream midfield signing for a ridiculous amount of time to be honest.

[The G in Gerrard]

Is Schneiderlin off now then?

[Busby]

Is Schneiderlin off now then?

The general talk is that we want both, nobody knows for sure yet though. Should find out quick enough.

I hope we're still in for him mind.

[The G in Gerrard]

The general talk is that we want both, nobody knows for sure yet though. Should find out quick enough.

I hope we're still in for him mind.

He has to win league then

[Vishwa Atma]

Champions elect? Good!!! I hope each and every signing they make is hyped up...... Would love if there is more and more pressure on them, ala the Moyes season..... Darmian is the best RB in the world and Schweignsteiger and Carrick makes it the best midfield in the league.... (Read both on twitter with a few heads nodding)

[b_joseph]

ahead of Milner mate? Not so sure about that.

Only here would someone say that.

I dont think they are going to win the league or even come all that close. But van Gaal time there will put them on a platform so when the next guy comes in, he will have a better foundation to take them towards winning league titles again..compared to what was in place when van Gaal first got there.

[El Denzel Pepito]

showing class towards someone who has served them well over the years

Could've been a simple, "We'd like to thank Bastian for the impeccable service, loyalty and quality he has given us over the last 17 years and wish him the best of luck at Manchester United".

They wanted to keep him and disputing that is looking at it with Liverpool rose-tinted glasses. Saying they 'got rid' of him is completely false for me and I'd never believe that. They 'got rid' of him just as much as City got rid of Milner. The BBC article also states, "The 30-year-old is believed to have told Bayern he does not want to extend his contract, which runs to 2016." Very similar to Milner.

The only reason I'd have Milner over someone with the class of Schweinsteiger is because he's 7 months younger, knows the league and is less of a mystery injury-wise. Besides that, Schweinsteiger is a level above him and I think he'll work out very well for them.

Anyways, it's not a Milner vs Schweinsteiger debate. It's a very strong signing for them, who I hope flops miserably but I can't see it happening at all.

[Crosby Nick]

Seems like you can't question a United signing without some cacking their pants. Ferguson has gone, they're not getting back to those levels of dominance any time soon. They'll be better this season, probably better than us. They may challenge, if not this year then in the next couple of years. But Chelsea won the League easily and won't be dropping off.

I really can't ser United winning the League next season. If they do feel free to laugh away heartily at my prediction, I'll be feeling sick enough anyway not to care.

[Skeeve]

They wanted to keep him and disputing that is looking at it with Liverpool rose-tinted glasses. Saying they 'got rid' of him is completely false for me and I'd never believe that. They 'got rid' of him just as much as City got rid of Milner. The BBC article also states, "The 30-year-old is believed to have told Bayern he does not want to extend his contract, which runs to 2016." Very similar to Milner.

The only reason I'd have Milner over someone with the class of Schweinsteiger is because he's 7 months younger, knows the league and is less of a mystery injury-wise. Besides that, Schweinsteiger is a level above him and I think he'll work out very well for them.

Not quite the same scenario as Milner since he had another year left on his contract and while they would have wanted to keep him, £15m was clearly too good an offer for a 31 year old that is likely to see his playing time reduce over the next couple of seasons.

Incidentally, Milner is 19 months younger not 7, so you managed to downplay the age gap even more than any of the manc posters on here.

[El Denzel Pepito]

My mistake on the age.

As I said, it's not the same scenario, but it's similar. Both didn't want to sign a new contract at their respective clubs and both clubs wanted to keep them (as seen by being offered a contract/rejecting one). No doubt it's a good offer for Bayern, but I don't understand calls of Bayern 'getting rid' when they initially didn't want to.

I want United to fail just as much as others, but I just don't understand why some downplay their signings to such an extent. They probably won't win the title next year, but it improves them.

[The 1989 Brit Awards]

We loaning our interviewers to United?

haha exactly

[JonnyDubb]

The only reason I'd have Milner over someone with the class of Schweinsteiger is because he's 7 months younger

What sort of advantage does he have over him by being 7 months younger? 7 years I could understand but 7 months is a pretty short timespan.

[El Denzel Pepito]

What sort of advantage does he have over him by being 7 months younger? 7 years I could understand but 7 months is a pretty short timespan.

I got the age wrong, it's 19 months apparently. But I was looking for any advantage to be fair to Milner in this argument. But as I said, it's not a Milner vs Schweinsteiger argument, it's just you can't say United signing him is a negative whilst us signing Milner is a positive. They're both good signings, where in my opinion one is a higher class of a player and one is a player who has good experience in this league.

[MNAA]

Oh man! Bastian is going to dominate the league. Playing in all games. Be the spine that will make Utd midfield so solid that they will wrap up the league by christmas ...

We will do well to get sixth again ...

[Vishwa Atma]

As a Liverpool supporter I am aghast that any Utd player can be any good  (except ofcourse, Ronaldo, Keane, Giggs, Scholes the ginger twat, George Best, etc. etc.)I love(loved) Schweinsteiger at Bayern..... But he's dead to me now..... Unless he proves me wrong and i have to grudgingly admit it, he's shit 31 year old from here on....   ala Rooney, Ferdinand, Gary Neville, etc....   

[killer-heels]

ahead of Milner mate? Not so sure about that.

You are mad. Milner over Schweinsteiger? Really?

[SMASHerano]

He's missed 22 games last season and another 28 the season before. Great player no doubt but at 31 and with England having significantly more games than Germany, it will be interesting to see how many games he manages to play this season.

[Crosby Nick]

You are mad. Milner over Schweinsteiger? Really?

He's normally worshipping United or putting sly digs in his posts so he's probably aiming for RAWK Meltdown recognition with that one.

[Redman0151]

He's normally worshipping United or putting sly digs in his posts so he's probably aiming for RAWK Meltdown recognition with that one.

Nailed it, impressive he's lasted this long

[Solomon Grundy]

Oh man! Bastian is going to dominate the league. Playing in all games. Be the spine that will make Utd midfield so solid that they will wrap up the league by christmas ...

We will do well to get sixth again ...

Haha! Oh fucking hell. We might as well not turn up.

[Motty]

Back to shitting ourselves over United again I see

Sad ain't it.

They will always sign good players but Van Gaal ain't Ferguson, far from it so why worry, i think the fact we finished the season in such a crap way has made people forget how shite they were as well under the Dutch master. We've got our own problems to sort out before we start thinking about others.

[NealFrom25Yards]

Darmian official per The Times.

Same article says that Schneiderlin will still happen, one of Ramos/Otamendi and a striker: Muller/Kane/Lacazette preferred in that order.

Seems ambitious, but I thought the same about Schweinsteiger so...

[kopite17]

Lol.

[killer-heels]

Darmian official per The Times.

Same article says that Schneiderlin will still happen, one of Ramos/Otamendi and a striker: Muller/Kane/Lacazette preferred in that order.

Seems ambitious, but I thought the same about Schweinsteiger so...

Is it really that ambitious for them? Schniderlin and Otamendi is more than realistic and they could easily land Lacazette.

[NealFrom25Yards]

Is it really that ambitious for them? Schniderlin and Otamendi is more than realistic and they could easily land Lacazette.

I suppose you're right in that case.

Ramos and Muller though? Pretty, pretty ambitious. I think Bayern's fans would run Guardiola out of town if they moved Schweini and Muller in one window.

[4pool]

I'll remind you of the absolute euphoria you Mancs were rolling around with last summer over Di Maria and Falcoa. What class players they were. ( at least elsewhere).

Remind me how their performances were for the course of the season?

Bastain will have some good moments and the good odd match. He won't be your savior week in and week out.

[Magz50]

I agree this could be Falcao MkII for them.

[Motty]

Darmian official per The Times.

Same article says that Schneiderlin will still happen, one of Ramos/Otamendi and a striker: Muller/Kane/Lacazette preferred in that order.

Seems ambitious, but I thought the same about Schweinsteiger so...

Ramos is signing a new contract so just goes to show that journalist ain't got a fucking clue.

Still amazes me that people believe what is written in newspapers, yes even The Times.

[tonysleft]

I'll remind you of the absolute euphoria you Mancs were rolling around with last summer over Di Maria and Falcoa. What class players they were. ( at least elsewhere).

Remind me how their performances were for the course of the season?

Bastain will have some good moments and the good odd match. He won't be your savior week in and week out.

I really don't recall any euphoria about Falcao from the knowledgeable crowd, fair enough the usual muppets on twitter thought he was better than Messi. But that happens with every signing from any big club. I was never particularly thrilled about him. There was a big split about whether selling Welbeck and getting him was the right decision; it wasn't.

Di Maria was superb for the first two months, then his house gets burgled and he loses all semblance of that form. But he's shown he's got a high ceiling with us and I'm sure he'll reach it next season.

[HighSix]

Depay, Darmian, Schniderlin & Schweinsteiger are clear van Gaal signings compared to Mendes last summer. You can see his side forming.

[Miltonred]

He's been a great player, not flashy, just a guy that helps teams control the ball, has tonnes of experience and will be a leader in the dressing room. 

I'm not sure they still need Schneiderlin, and although Bastien has had a couple of tough injury hit seasons, I think if you have them both then one will be unhappy to be left out having made the move to United.

We always knew they would eventually do business, it shouldn't be any surprise they aren't shopping in the bargain basement.

[SwordInYourGut]

I'm absolutely delighted they've signed Schweinsteiger. The worry was they would get someone like Gundogan - a young player who could go on to be a legend for them. Bayern didn't want to sell him but he wasn't crucial to them and United made an extravagant offer for him. Make no mistake, Schweini is in Manchester on Bayern's terms not United's. He had a poor season last year and there is no evidence to suggest he is over his ankle troubles. If he had performed upto his usual standards last year, he'd still be at Bayern, I have no doubts. 

[TomDcs]

Underwhelming signings so far imo. Depay could be really good but I don't see bastian leading this United team at this point in his career and the full back appears a bit of a gamble from Serie A. They need a goals keeper, centre back(s) and strikers, will await judgement until they sign some of them!

[Sir Psycho Sexy]

I'm absolutely delighted they've signed Schweinsteiger. The worry was they would get someone like Gundogan

he had to sign an extension with Dortmund because, even though he said he would be leaving, no one wanted him. The guy is hugely injury prone, with his back being the main issue, and not the same player when Dortmund reached the UCL final

Would have been great if they signed him

[SwordInYourGut]

Underwhelming signings so far imo. Depay could be really good but I don't see bastian leading this United team at this point in his career and the full back appears a bit of a gamble from Serie A. They need a goals keeper, centre back(s) and strikers, will await judgement until they sign some of them!

No, he isn't. He was the best fullback in Serie A last year. A top player for sometime now, an established Italy international. Equally good on either flank as well as wingback in a 3 CB system. He will do well.