Chimaira_Devil_#9

+Adam Henrique

- Steve Bernier

Ilya Kovalchuk -------- 51

Patrik Elias ----------- 43

Ryan Carter------------ 32

Andy Greene---------- 28

Andrei Loktionov-------24

Adam Larsson--------- 22

Martin Brodeur-------- 20

Dainius Zubrus-------- 18

Steve Bernier---------- 16

Adam Henrique-------- 16

Travis Zajac------------ 10



Eliminated!
 

Bryce Salvador
Anton Volchenkov
Krys Barch
Johan Hedberg
Harri Pesonen
Tom Kostopoulos
Steve Sullivan
Matt D'Agostini
Henrik Tallinder
Alexander Urbom
Alexei Ponikarovski
Peter Harrold
Stephen Gionta
Marek Zidlicky
Jacob Josefson
Mark Fayne
David Clarkson

Sometimes I think meaning get lost in text....I'm certainly not even debating or implying that Evra or anyone at United is better than Baines. Of course Baines would be the starting LB - what I'm saying is I don't see them spending their money to upgrade LB when they have other more obvious needs and depth at that position.

 

Evra was fine this season and is a leader, Buttner will never amount to anything special but he's fine for those unimportant games when things get congested, Fabio was injured early on and for a decent amount of time at QPR which didn't help his case but he was impessive more often than not from what I gathered from QPR supporters online and watching a few of their games that made tv here. Have to think that Fabio isn't that far behind breaking out like Rafael did this year.

 

United has ton of depth along the back line. I think midfield is much more of a concern. Carrick is incredible but how much longer can they keep leaning on him so heavily? How much are they going to use Jones is a midfield role? Cleverley is a promising young player but still developing. Scholes is gone, Giggs isn't really an option in the center anymore, and Anderson is rumored to want out. Rooney never seemed comfortable playing midfield the few times they tried him this year.

 

With Moyes coming in, I think United could modify their approach somewhat and use Fellaini as a target man. Carrick is fantastic at distrubuting the ball from the back and is sound positionally. I think him and Fellaini could make quite the duo in the center of the pitch and complement each other well. I'd like to see that move because it improves them tactically and adds much needed depth.

 

Rooney departing certainly creates a hole up front but I don't think it's as big as the one in the middle. They are still fortunate to have van Persie, Chicharito, Kagawa, and Welbeck. Not trying to come across cocky but I feel confident in that group. If I had to pick 1 spot on this team to bring in a marquee player it would defintely be midfield and Fellaini would be my #1 choice.

Ah i see , sorry , i get it now, thats a fair enough point, although i think relying on Evra next year will be a push, Although he has been good this season,he really lost a step pace wise this year, and considering the way that United like to use width i would say they really could use Baines. Fabio in my oppinion just cant defend that well, he is well above average going forward, but he like Buttner, he is good for at least one mistake a game. Maybe if they do bring him back for the season they can put him on the wing. Valencia had a horrible season, Nani is more than likely off, if he can get a few starts there i think he could be effective. He will be competing with Zaha, but Wilf is going to need a whole season to adjust, becuase he has been horrilby incosisten for Palace this year.

As for midfeild for United, i think you will see a lot more of Nick Powell this year, he is a fantastic footballer. I just cant see Fellaini bringing anything to United. I dont think there will be such a transitional shift in Uniteds game, if they start playing long balls like Stoke you make the majority of the rest of the team ineffective. A much more sensible option would be trying to sign Nicolas Gaitan, much more of a United style player. To get the best out of him he wont play in the midle with Carrick, he will sit behind Van Persie, which means you are going to have to sit one of Rooney, Kagawa, Wlebeck or Hernandez.

I think Rooney stays, i dont thik there is much of a market for him really.

Ross Barkley is one for the future no doubt; great addition for The Wednesday earlier in the season and for several matches the only one with his head screwed on. Would learn a lot about his game if he went to Man U, learning from the likes of Carrick, Giggs (and Scholes if he hangs about).

 

With recent events happening just this week, Everton should be chomping at the bit to get Mancini as their next manager.

Nice idea about Mancini, although i think he would be a bit exposed without a colossal budget at his disposal.

Regarding players coming and going...

 

It looks like Paul Scholes is going to retire again. He's one of my favorites and was incredible last season during the 2nd half after he came back. It's a shame he was injured for most of this year but man, what a great career! One of my favorites to watch...I would've loved to observe the way he moves on the pitch in person and controls play.

 

It was really and up and down year for Wayne Rooney. My gut feeling is that he is going to be sold but I have no idea where. That was before Moyes came in and I still feel the same way. One of my favorites and I am grateful for what he's done for the club but perhaps parting ways could work for both parties. He gets to move onto a new challenge and the club gains some nice compensation. Regardless of what happens, I'll cheer for him (unless he is playing vs. United).

 

I expect a ton of CR7 rumors to circulate but I'd be shocked if he ended back at Old Trafford. I do wonder if Moyes will try to bring in any of his Everton players? I've seen some analyst suggest he will try to bring Fellaini and/or Baines with him. No doubt that Baines is a great player and I'd love to have him but I don't see where he would fit. Evra had his best season in a while this past year and will be a key veteran to help the team transition. From what I've read and the little I saw, Fabio had a nice year out on loan to QPR and should get some time at left back for United next year. I hope he can turn into the player his twin brother has. Buttner is also good for those low priority games. Perhaps more importantly, I can't see Everton selling Baines. Fellaini is real intriguing and only has a £23M release clause. He'd be the perfect partner for Carrick and really help the United attack. I could very well see him following Moyes to United.
 

Baines would be Uniteds starting Left Back instantly he is already well ahead of Evra, and his set peice abillity just adds and even greater dimension to his game. Fabio couldnt even hold down a position for QPR this year,  and they have been apalling all season long, Buttner needs another season , because he is still good for a couple of mistakes a game. Not sure Fellaini would have a place in Uniteds squad, they hardly ever resort to the long ball and use a target man, which is the game Fellaini thrives off of.  His is not disciplined enough to sit as a CDM and he is not refined enough to play as a playmaker. If United were going to use him anywhere it would be sat just behind Van Persie or Hernandez.

If Rooney goes i would imagine Uniteds attention will turn to replacing him, and Fellaini would be much less of a need. If Moyes were to bring anyone from everton as a United fan i would want it to be Ross Barkley (IceOwl will be able to tell you a bit about him after this season ) he is going to be a fantastic player.

Does the coach in soccer matter all that much?  Or is it kind of like the Yankees where so long as you have a manager that kind of know's what he's doing, the team will win?

A good manager is vital, man management skills are even more important than ever in modern football due to their rediculous lifestyles. Its probably the most important aspect of a lot of clubs, but latley the position has been treated with a fair amount of contempt by owners.

Depends how much money was put into the team I guess. If you have a team of world class players it makes it easier for a coach tactically but they need good man-management skills. A team with not much money obviously struggle to get amazing players so need a tactically incredible coach for the team to progress or at least be stable. As previously said in this thread, Everton have operated on a low budget for years but Moyes is a very good tactician and has managed to keep them a solid premiership side. Now he's leaving, we may see them slipping down the league a bit depending on who they bring in as a coach.

Agreed, its a real shame Moyes has left, another good season and they would be pushing Spurs and Arsenal for Fourth. 

+ Henrique

- Harrold

Ilya Kovalchuk--------- 28

Patrik Elias------------- 28
Ryan Carter------------ 25
Adam Larsson--------- 21
Andy Greene---------- 20
Steve Bernier---------- 18
Andrei Loktionov-------18
Adam Henrique-------- 16
Dainius Zubrus-------- 13
Travis Zajac -----------13
Stephen Gionta-------- 13
David Clarkson-------- 13
Martin Brodeur-------- 12
Mark Fayne------------ 12
Jacob Josefson------- 9
Marek Zidlicky --------- 6

Peter Harrold---------- 5

Alexander Urbom-----5
Alexei Ponikarovsky--- 4

Eliminated!

Bryce Salvador
Anton Volchenkov
Krys Barch
Johan Hedberg
Harri Pesonen
Tom Kostopoulos

Steve Sullivan

Matt D'Agostini

Henrik Tallinder

I was up in the middle of the night and saw this news breaking. Knew it was coming eventually but it still feels a bit surreal. I have faith in the club to choose a solid successor. Can't say enough great things about Sir Alex....legend!

The rumors were he would have retired last season if City hadn't of won the title. It makes a lot of sense to go now. Moyes is at the end of his everton contract, so no disruption there, Moyes will be under a lot less pressure considering United are only a season removed from winning a title.

Also furguson will be all over the club for the next 3 years i would imagine.

Other interesting fallout is the fact Rooney may have handed in a transfer request, and that CR7 might be on his way back to Old Trafford, although i find that hard to believe.