18 Jun 2015 14:03:24
Evening lads.

I see the banter is heating up between United and Arsenal again! I predict that to continue into next season with gusto.

Before I get stuck right in I should say (because I've not been on recently) congrats on the good run in the league since Jan and another fa cup, a positive step for you guys. I have to also admit your squad looks better and more balanced than it has in years although some work is needed on the spine if you truly want to compete for major honours.

Now that's out of the way, let the banter begin! Or continue...

1.) 18 Jun 2015
18 Jun 2015 14:45:02
Hey HB,

Good to see you back and thanks mate. Now get stuck in. :-)

I don't think Chris is taking the voice of reason to well mate. Understandable having been out front for so long.

I said during the season it's a big window for us and Mr Wenger needs to be all over it, we know we need additions and consistency.

The biggest plus now is the fact we actually defend and that is born from a number of things on the pitch but also I think from the acquisition of Shad Forsythe.

Our work rate has gone up another level, most noticibly in Santi Cazorla for me outside of the obvious Mr Sanchez.

I think another thing as United fans is you suffer from your fantastic winning streak, in who can say there were things wrong when there wasn't. That has now changed. I say it from the outside in and I would genuinely be gutted if your squad was ours.

The winning streak came to an abrupt end and it's impossible to say you weren't left with a poor squad a poor replacement as a manager and again didn't use the transfer windows wisely. It was definitely panic mode.

I genuinely believe for your buck you have made little improvement and for a club with your wealth and at the time attractiveness with Fergie at the helm, you have let it slip more than you really like to admit.

We have to surpass City and Chelsea to win the league, they are the two clubs ahead of us. They will both strengthen and no team with Hart, Kompany, Silva, Toure and Aguero is going to lay back and be walked over again.

I do truly look at your squad and question above the obvious 5 or 6 as to who is good enough.

2.) 18 Jun 2015
18 Jun 2015 15:02:56
Nothing more pointless then banter before the transfers have even started! Can't help ourselves can we. All banter aside I do quite like Arsenal...their fans however....

3.) 18 Jun 2015
18 Jun 2015 15:19:52
Oh i'm going to love it like kevin kegan loved it. United fans crowing so early. there's the small thing of champions league qualification first for the mighty united, and there's some tasty teams they could draw also with new seeding rules they will draw a far more difficult group if they do get there.

They just need to know that we are believers not dreamers.

they need to change old traford to the theater of make believe

for now we are sitting pretty

4.) 18 Jun 2015
18 Jun 2015 15:35:51
Red Dog

I see where you are coming from but a couple of season's ago you lot wanted rid of Ramsey, he was getting dog's abuse on here. You have others that have grown in the last 18 months and started to hit consistent form; Jack can't get in the team can he? So who knows, our players might settle. If Shaw is fit he will be like a new player, Hererra is class, we need to promote some of the U21s (who have won their league) and sign 3 quality players (poss 4 if DDG leaves)

I think you have a chance next year but need a top quality goal scorer and to steer clear of injuries. As for us, I'm not sure another 4 or 5 signings will help us settle quickly so I think most United fans are looking for progress, better football, and progression in all the cups.

The worry for both of us is the amount of money Chelsea and City are going to spend. Let's hope they spend it badly...

5.) 18 Jun 2015
18 Jun 2015 15:58:07
Our (Uniteds) squad doesn't have great balance at the minute, but out of the Arsenal squad, I would only take Chamberlain (if he is ever fit), Ramsey and Sanchez, to improve us, as there are better players than the rest elsewhere. You can wear your Arsenal blinkers if you want, but you are as far from City and Chelsea as we are, quality of squad wise. It is a huge summer for us both, but if I was a gambling man, I would back LVG to pull off a better transfer window than AW, from many years of past experience.

Don't get me wrong, I'd prefer if we both had a good summer and overtook Chelsea and City, with you guys runners up to us next season. You are by far the lesser of 3 evils, and I like the football you play.

6.) 18 Jun 2015
18 Jun 2015 16:09:36
Hi AJH,

Have to say I wasn't one of those that wanted Ramsey out and it's turned out really well for him and us.

I said earlier beating City and Chelsea is the aim and I'm just genuinely thinking we are closer.

I don't dislike Herrera but at the same time with the money and midfielders you were linked with it was almost a step back. He is at the back of a long queue to play for his Country.

I do like Shaw and have said so but he needs to stay injury free and get a run to see how well he copes with being at a big club. Bellerin has grabbed his chance and I really like the look of him.

I just feel you have been left with a lot of players that if wearing an Arsenal shirt we would be the ones getting the dogs abuse.

Yes money is a huge factor and we'd all love buckets of it but it's easy to waste it, Di Maria and Mangala look at this time to be cases in point, as was Torres to Chelsea.

7.) 18 Jun 2015
18 Jun 2015 16:10:34
I'm genuinely happy for you Browgun, but the day I am smug at finishing 3rd in the league I think I'll give up on football or become an Arsenal fan. Pretty embarrassing comment pal. We have plenty of work to do, but I expect us to challenge next season, 3rd will be a failure, but at least it would mean you get your 4th place fight with Spurs again eh?

8.) 18 Jun 2015
18 Jun 2015 15:20:59
Anyone other than Red Dog and the other guy care to weigh in? Dags about? Anyone with half a brain can understand that football pivots on money and for that reason alone we aren't going anywhere.

9.) 18 Jun 2015
18 Jun 2015 16:15:19
Did I miss something in my own post lol? I don't remember 'crowing' in it but hey you must have read between the lines 😊

Red dog, all this talk about better players, better squads is great but as it stands you were 3rd us 4th hardly a big margin. This is the point ctr makes well - yet United are 'miles off' and Arsenal are 'almost the finished package'. Go figure!

Browgun, we do have work to do to get into the ecl. Will you manage to get past the 2nd round this season?

10.) 18 Jun 2015
18 Jun 2015 16:17:33
I'm with Ajh Arsenal have a chance but need to be ruthless for a change. Top striker to improve on Giroud, competition for Coq and an improvement in goal. Over to Arsene and the board!

11.) 18 Jun 2015
18 Jun 2015 16:48:19
Picking out average players from our squad only gets you so far. I'll admit we have a few right now but we look to rebuild.

We had many so called average players when we were winning titles. How many titles do Brown and O'shea have?

Its a results business and being so happy with 3rd as Brendan says - despite this awesome squad you have - is where Arsenal is currently at. Talk of being in a better position to challenge Chelsea/City is little more than that, talk.

12.) 18 Jun 2015
18 Jun 2015 17:12:38
Its all talk HB mate, it can't be disproved at this moment in time so they are happy to bang that drum, next year will be exactly the same mark my words. Arsenal will squeeze into the top 4 in the back of a decent run and the cycle continues.

13.) 18 Jun 2015
18 Jun 2015 17:48:52
Guys,

I genuinely love the fact that when we were fourth with a squad full of average players whilst United, City and Chelsea filled the top 3 slots, that we were no hopers. Now you occupy 4th spot it's only natural that you will again win the title imminently. That you will challenge and as Chris said, show us how to conquer Europe.

But we also now have money, City have money, Chelsea have money and you now believe because you will have lots you will have first pick of all the best players and above anyone they will come to you.

You have always had money and still you've neglected your squad.

Why did you buy Fellaini, Mata and Herrera when you were talking of players of the calibre of Vidal last season.

Van Gaal has to sell them a vision not get them simply because of the amount of money you offered.

Di Maria and Falcao actually wanted PSG. But it was lots of your lovely money that swayed it and did they improved you one iota. Did or do they really want to be there.

Like Benzema's agent said, "what is he going to do in Manchester"

So talk of yourselves challenging for the title again is little more than talk.

14.) 18 Jun 2015
18 Jun 2015 17:49:26
Not as embarrassing as wanting us to finish above city and Chelsea and still have a fourth place battle with Spurs.

Please keep it consistent Brendan hey! It was only ten minutes between posts. What you having for tea tonight have you decided yet

15.) 18 Jun 2015
18 Jun 2015 17:58:19
HB,

When you had those players you also had numerous world class players in their prime, that is why you won trophies, you don't have those class of players now.

Your first team consists of a lot of pretty average players barring the 5 I mentioned.

That is THE massive difference. ;-)

16.) 18 Jun 2015
18 Jun 2015 18:36:54
Brow, you need to learn to read properly pal, I said I'd 'prefer' you to finish above Chelsea and City and behind us, then in the next post I said 'If' we finished 3rd it would be a failure, but would mean you'd get your 4th place battle back. Not hard if you actually read it!

17.) 18 Jun 2015
18 Jun 2015 21:38:15
Red dog,

Some things i agree with
1) we are unlikely to win the league next season
2) we have spent some of our funds very poorly

I still think we have a very good chance of winning the title again before Arsenal though. Not sure I can see Wenger pulling it off tbh.