Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premie > r-league/paul-scholes-manchester-united-need-five- > experienced-players-who-can-turn-round-a-desperate > -situation-9681747.html > > "Let us be clear about one thing. I am sick of > having to criticise the club to which I gave my > life as a footballer. But this is a United team > that lost seven league games at Old Trafford last > season and began on Saturday by losing at home to > Swansea. United need to arrest their decline. In > those years under Sir Alex Ferguson, when trophy > followed trophy, this sort of mediocrity was > unthinkable. But it is happening." > > "It is not all Van Gaal?s fault. The problems have > been there for a while. I suppose I should have > realised that the very fact I was still playing > for United at 38 years old was a sign that there > was not enough pressure on us senior players from > those coming into the side. It was the same last > season with Ryan. At times last season he was the > best player on the pitch, at the age of 40." > > Thoughts from United fans? Bit busy last week to answer this. Can't argue with what Scholes says, LVG said straight away that the squad is unbalanced, too many No.9s and 10s. Defensive midfield has been neglected for perhaps 4 to 5 years. Not sure it will even get addressed this transfer window. Vidal would be perfect but hard to shift from Juve, Strootman at Roma too, but he's coming bck from a bad knee injury, could be a January buy with de Jong as a stop gap. Roja is a good buy but we could still do with a.n.other CB. Although it would be sad to see local lad Welbeck leave, he will probably benefit playing regular football elsewhere. Di Maria would be some upgrade though...