Gwladys Nights
Player Valuation: £15m
Q1: After a pretty poor start to the season, do you think van Gaal is the right man for Manchester United?
No I don't. United are a massive club and their manager's defining characteristic should be that they are the Manchester United manager. That's not true of Van Gaal, who already had a storied history in the game when he arrived. That's not to say that he'll be a disaster, or that you won't benefit from his pedigree and consequent pulling power (I don't think Di Maria or Falcao would have signed for Moyes), but the 'right man' for Man Utd will be a relatively young manager capable of building a legacy over a decade or more. That's not Van Gaal, who I'd be surprised to see stay beyond three years.
Q2: A common phrase "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" seems like it should be applicable between United and Everton fans, however from the fans I have come across and so on this doesn't really seem the case, so how do you guys see the relationship between United and Everton?
Personally Everton is one of the clubs I respect the most in the league and you play some very attractive football post Moyes. (question provided by a member)
We played some nice football under Moyes as well. Particularly in his last year but intermittently before that too. I'm indifferent to United. You're not as bad for the game as City or Chelsea and you're not as odious as Liverpool, but that is faint praise indeed. I don't 'like' any football teams other than Everton.
Q3: The past fifteen months for both clubs have certainly been interesting. It's now Martinez's second season at the club. How would you compare how you're playing currently to how you were playing this time last season? Anything to be concerned/pleased about?
I was very pleased to see Martinez ace his first test in Europe. 4-1 against Wolfsburg is a great result and bodes well for our Europa campaign.
I'm naturally a bit concerned by the number of goals being conceded and the fact that our shithouse mentality at Anfield has persisted from Moyes' day. I think we'll finish slightly lower than we did last year with comfortably fewer points. That's okay though; we have some really promising youngsters and a front two of Barkley and Lukaku should be unplayable in about two years' time. With some smart management we can be a proper force when that happens.
Q4: Verdict on how both clubs have done in the transfer market?
United's summer has left you looking like a Championship Manager 2 scenario. You have four or five attacking players who would walk into 99% of sides in the world, but will struggle to put out an adequate back 4 every week for the forseeable future. Very difficult to appraise that.
I think Martinez did great in the summer. Lukaku isn't firing yet but he's a long term investment, and it was refreshing to see Everton just spend the money needed to get their top target. Retaining Barry was very important after last season. I'm very encouraged from what I've seen of Besic and Eto'o so far. Not seen enough of Atsu to judge him yet.
Q5: Where do you think both Manchester United and Everton will finish in the league this season?
Man U 5th, Everton 7th.
Q6: Are you concerned that you have an away game in Russia on Thursday and then play us on Sunday? (question provided by a member)
Christ yeah. The early kick off is an absolute piss take.
Q7: Thoughts on the Europa League, in with a chance, or detracting from progression in the league what with your relatively small squad? (question provided by a member)
I like the Europa League and am delighted that we're in it. I don't think we've much of a chance of winning it, and it will inevitably effect our finish in the league, but I've made peace with it.
Q8: Thoughts on Rooney 10 years on. Is he the player you thought he would become when he was still a youngster there? Has he exceeded expectations, or perhaps not quite hit the heights you thought he would? Would you have him back if he were to leave United in his twilight years? (question provided by a member)
When he came off the bench to score a Champions League hat-trick against Fenerbache (was it?) on his United debut I felt sick to my stomach. I thought we'd just sold the new Pelé. Ten years on he hasn't quite hit those heights but there's no shame in that. He's the best English player certainly since Scholes, arguably since Shearer and possibly since Gascoigne.
He seems like a proper little nobhead though. I would have him back in his twilight years but I doubt I'd feel a particular affection towards him. Seeing him play for United has always felt like living in a parallel universe where the Allies lost the war. It was horrible to see him taken from us so early and it was hard to think about football with any romance for a long time afterwards, especially as he seemed to drive the transfer himself in the end. What might have been.
Q9: What would be your starting 11 if you had to pick an Everton team from 2000-2014? (question provided by a member)
Q10: Which XI would you like to see your club field against us?
It's a bit difficult with our injuries. I think I'd throw Atsu in for his pace in the absence of Mirallas, he could be our Jamie Vardy. I don't rate Stones as high as most, so if they're both fit I'd still go with Jagielka and Distin against Di Maria and co.
Q11: Finally, your predictions for the match?
3-1 to United. I think the game will go quite as the derby did but you'll have the strikers to punish us. We never fail to score these days and your defence is suspect, so I can see Naismith or maybe Eto'o off the bench getting a consolation.
No I don't. United are a massive club and their manager's defining characteristic should be that they are the Manchester United manager. That's not true of Van Gaal, who already had a storied history in the game when he arrived. That's not to say that he'll be a disaster, or that you won't benefit from his pedigree and consequent pulling power (I don't think Di Maria or Falcao would have signed for Moyes), but the 'right man' for Man Utd will be a relatively young manager capable of building a legacy over a decade or more. That's not Van Gaal, who I'd be surprised to see stay beyond three years.
Q2: A common phrase "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" seems like it should be applicable between United and Everton fans, however from the fans I have come across and so on this doesn't really seem the case, so how do you guys see the relationship between United and Everton?
Personally Everton is one of the clubs I respect the most in the league and you play some very attractive football post Moyes. (question provided by a member)
We played some nice football under Moyes as well. Particularly in his last year but intermittently before that too. I'm indifferent to United. You're not as bad for the game as City or Chelsea and you're not as odious as Liverpool, but that is faint praise indeed. I don't 'like' any football teams other than Everton.
Q3: The past fifteen months for both clubs have certainly been interesting. It's now Martinez's second season at the club. How would you compare how you're playing currently to how you were playing this time last season? Anything to be concerned/pleased about?
I was very pleased to see Martinez ace his first test in Europe. 4-1 against Wolfsburg is a great result and bodes well for our Europa campaign.
I'm naturally a bit concerned by the number of goals being conceded and the fact that our shithouse mentality at Anfield has persisted from Moyes' day. I think we'll finish slightly lower than we did last year with comfortably fewer points. That's okay though; we have some really promising youngsters and a front two of Barkley and Lukaku should be unplayable in about two years' time. With some smart management we can be a proper force when that happens.
Q4: Verdict on how both clubs have done in the transfer market?
United's summer has left you looking like a Championship Manager 2 scenario. You have four or five attacking players who would walk into 99% of sides in the world, but will struggle to put out an adequate back 4 every week for the forseeable future. Very difficult to appraise that.
I think Martinez did great in the summer. Lukaku isn't firing yet but he's a long term investment, and it was refreshing to see Everton just spend the money needed to get their top target. Retaining Barry was very important after last season. I'm very encouraged from what I've seen of Besic and Eto'o so far. Not seen enough of Atsu to judge him yet.
Q5: Where do you think both Manchester United and Everton will finish in the league this season?
Man U 5th, Everton 7th.
Q6: Are you concerned that you have an away game in Russia on Thursday and then play us on Sunday? (question provided by a member)
Christ yeah. The early kick off is an absolute piss take.
Q7: Thoughts on the Europa League, in with a chance, or detracting from progression in the league what with your relatively small squad? (question provided by a member)
I like the Europa League and am delighted that we're in it. I don't think we've much of a chance of winning it, and it will inevitably effect our finish in the league, but I've made peace with it.
Q8: Thoughts on Rooney 10 years on. Is he the player you thought he would become when he was still a youngster there? Has he exceeded expectations, or perhaps not quite hit the heights you thought he would? Would you have him back if he were to leave United in his twilight years? (question provided by a member)
When he came off the bench to score a Champions League hat-trick against Fenerbache (was it?) on his United debut I felt sick to my stomach. I thought we'd just sold the new Pelé. Ten years on he hasn't quite hit those heights but there's no shame in that. He's the best English player certainly since Scholes, arguably since Shearer and possibly since Gascoigne.
He seems like a proper little nobhead though. I would have him back in his twilight years but I doubt I'd feel a particular affection towards him. Seeing him play for United has always felt like living in a parallel universe where the Allies lost the war. It was horrible to see him taken from us so early and it was hard to think about football with any romance for a long time afterwards, especially as he seemed to drive the transfer himself in the end. What might have been.
Q9: What would be your starting 11 if you had to pick an Everton team from 2000-2014? (question provided by a member)
Martyn
Coleman Jagielka Lescott Baines
Dacourt Fellaini
Arteta Barkley Rooney
Lukaku
Coleman Jagielka Lescott Baines
Dacourt Fellaini
Arteta Barkley Rooney
Lukaku
Q10: Which XI would you like to see your club field against us?
It's a bit difficult with our injuries. I think I'd throw Atsu in for his pace in the absence of Mirallas, he could be our Jamie Vardy. I don't rate Stones as high as most, so if they're both fit I'd still go with Jagielka and Distin against Di Maria and co.
Howard
Coleman Jagielka Distin Baines
McCarthy Besic Barry
Atsu Lukaku Naismith
Coleman Jagielka Distin Baines
McCarthy Besic Barry
Atsu Lukaku Naismith
Q11: Finally, your predictions for the match?
3-1 to United. I think the game will go quite as the derby did but you'll have the strikers to punish us. We never fail to score these days and your defence is suspect, so I can see Naismith or maybe Eto'o off the bench getting a consolation.
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