· All the action as it happens from the Stadium of Light
· United close in on £60m deal for di María
· Send your thoughts to jacob.steinberg@theguardian.com
· Or tweet @JacobSteinberg if you like3.47pm BST
*The problem that people seem to have with the Di Maria transfer is a little short-sighted, says Ciaran Bradley.* The assumption is that this negates Uniteds ability to spend on a centre-back and a central midfielder, but with the Adidas and Chevrolet deals, United have are going to be rolling round in a gold-plated Veyron, throwing £50s at all and sundry. Whether they decide to come or not is their issue, and not one the club can do a great deal about.
3.46pm BST
*With Di Maria, arent United doing what they already did with Mata and Van Persie - buying a top player because they happen to be available rather than because they need them? says Ethan Dean-Richards. The last two seasons were all about whether those big players could fit together, arent we about to spend this season wondering if Herrera, Mata and Di Maria is a workable midfield three?*
Look. Van Gaal once dropped his trousers in front of the Bayern squad.
3.35pm BST
*Hi Jacob, as much as I admire LVG and his ways I think hes bitten off more than he can chew this time, says John Mc Enerney.* When he took over at FCB & BM they werent in as bad shape a shape as MUFC are, hell certainly shake them up a bit but he doesnt have the personnel to win the PL. They might win a cup, DiMaria isnt the answer to their problems.
Looking at their team today - and I know they have players out - hey need more than just Di Maria.
3.13pm BST
*Sunderland:* Mannone; Vergini, OShea, Brown, Van Aanholt; Cattermole, Larsson, Rodwell; Buckley, Fletcher, Wickham. *Subs:* Pantilimon, Jones, Bridcutt, Gomez, Altidore, Mavrias, Roberge.
*Man Utd: *De Gea; Jones, Smalling, Blackett; Valencia, Fletcher, Cleverley, Young; Mata; Rooney, Van Persie. *Subs:* Januzaj, Hernandez, Welbeck, Kagawa, Michael Keane, Amos, James.3.00pm BST
*Hello and welcome to live coverage of the first relegation six-pointer of the season. *Sunderland got off to a respectable start last week, a 2-2 draw away to West Brom, but it was a disastrous start to life for Manchester United, whose woes were exacerbated by a limp 2-1 defeat at home to Swansea City. Some brave new era: Louis van Gaal is already under pressure and the heat really be on the new United manager if they lose again this afternoon!
*And that, lads, is how you do banter. *Some top-grade banter from me there, a prime example of how to let off some steam without offending anyone apart from Manchester United fans and people who like their jokes to be funny. Obviously it is too early to get too carried away by Uniteds shabby performance last weekend, partly because Van Gaal has said that it will take time for him to fully implement his methods at Old Trafford and also because there is still plenty of time for Ed Woodward to work his magic in the transfer market.
Continue reading... Reported by guardian.co.uk 3 hours ago.
· United close in on £60m deal for di María
· Send your thoughts to jacob.steinberg@theguardian.com
· Or tweet @JacobSteinberg if you like3.47pm BST
*The problem that people seem to have with the Di Maria transfer is a little short-sighted, says Ciaran Bradley.* The assumption is that this negates Uniteds ability to spend on a centre-back and a central midfielder, but with the Adidas and Chevrolet deals, United have are going to be rolling round in a gold-plated Veyron, throwing £50s at all and sundry. Whether they decide to come or not is their issue, and not one the club can do a great deal about.
3.46pm BST
*With Di Maria, arent United doing what they already did with Mata and Van Persie - buying a top player because they happen to be available rather than because they need them? says Ethan Dean-Richards. The last two seasons were all about whether those big players could fit together, arent we about to spend this season wondering if Herrera, Mata and Di Maria is a workable midfield three?*
Look. Van Gaal once dropped his trousers in front of the Bayern squad.
3.35pm BST
*Hi Jacob, as much as I admire LVG and his ways I think hes bitten off more than he can chew this time, says John Mc Enerney.* When he took over at FCB & BM they werent in as bad shape a shape as MUFC are, hell certainly shake them up a bit but he doesnt have the personnel to win the PL. They might win a cup, DiMaria isnt the answer to their problems.
Looking at their team today - and I know they have players out - hey need more than just Di Maria.
3.13pm BST
*Sunderland:* Mannone; Vergini, OShea, Brown, Van Aanholt; Cattermole, Larsson, Rodwell; Buckley, Fletcher, Wickham. *Subs:* Pantilimon, Jones, Bridcutt, Gomez, Altidore, Mavrias, Roberge.
*Man Utd: *De Gea; Jones, Smalling, Blackett; Valencia, Fletcher, Cleverley, Young; Mata; Rooney, Van Persie. *Subs:* Januzaj, Hernandez, Welbeck, Kagawa, Michael Keane, Amos, James.3.00pm BST
*Hello and welcome to live coverage of the first relegation six-pointer of the season. *Sunderland got off to a respectable start last week, a 2-2 draw away to West Brom, but it was a disastrous start to life for Manchester United, whose woes were exacerbated by a limp 2-1 defeat at home to Swansea City. Some brave new era: Louis van Gaal is already under pressure and the heat really be on the new United manager if they lose again this afternoon!
*And that, lads, is how you do banter. *Some top-grade banter from me there, a prime example of how to let off some steam without offending anyone apart from Manchester United fans and people who like their jokes to be funny. Obviously it is too early to get too carried away by Uniteds shabby performance last weekend, partly because Van Gaal has said that it will take time for him to fully implement his methods at Old Trafford and also because there is still plenty of time for Ed Woodward to work his magic in the transfer market.
Continue reading... Reported by guardian.co.uk 3 hours ago.