Jun 19
Benzema ‘Prefers’ Madrid but United better sporting brand than Madrid
Jean Michael Aulas, Lyon’s chairman, who’s allegedly charismatic according to reports has revealed that whilst Karim Benzema will most likely stay with Lyon for another year, if he decides to depart, it would be for Madrid.
Don’t trust me? Well, here’s the quote:
“No-one is intransferable, but knowing Karim, if he did leave, it would be to Real Madrid. For the moment, we are not talking about transferring Karim.”
Of course, the obvious question will be, Fergie, are you still interested in him? Why are we still hearing incessant rumours linking us with this player — who, despite his obvious talents, has questionable taste in clubs — yet not even a murmur on cheaper strikers like Huntelaar? Also, he’s erm, French.
Today is Friday, which means another week whizzes past us, with Valencia still looking the most likely signing — assuming Real Madrid agree to add the requested one year supply of hair gel, sun tan, Iberian escorts, into Ronaldo’s contract, by the end of this month. In fact the number of eligible transfer candidates have dwindled over the past week. The under-26 age policy might have ruled out a few targets right away. We mused, a couple of days ago, if United were being naive about it, whilst, Penguin United came up with a theory that it may just be a smokescreen for driving the price for United targets down.
All that said, it sort of rules us out of reckoning for Villa (Spain Lover), Ribery (Madr!d lover), Eto’o (Dirham-lover, City-bound perhaps?) and possibly Benzema. But if we still are in the hunt for Benzema, there’s only one theory that can possibly explain it: We might want to buy him for about £25m and hope Madrid are still foolish to come back and buy him off us for £100m in three years’ time, just two months after Fergie would have said, he wouldn’t sell them a tadpole.
Nothing else explains why Fergie might still want Benzema.
Meanwhile, Manchester United is the 8th best Sporting Brand in the world, according to SportsPro magazine. Predictably American sports brands NFL, MLB, NBA and Nascar grabbed top four spots. But the most interesting entry in that list was the Indian Premier League, a cricket league that is now just two seasons old but is valued just $100m lower than the world cup, according to the Guardian article. From United’s perspective, we are valued at about $1.5bn.
The list also includes Ferrari, Formula One, and the Dallas Cowboys.
The whole list is as below:
1 NFL ($4.5b)
2 MLB ($3.9b)
3 NBA (2.35b)
4 Nascar ($1.9b)
5 FIFA World Cup ($1.7n)
6 Indian Premier League ($1.6b)
7 Ferrari F1 team ($1.55b)
8 Manchester United Football Club ($1.495b)
9 Formula one ($1.45b)
10 Dallas Cowboys ($1.278b)
[via]
And finally, we’ve been mentioned in the EPLTalk website as among the 10 English football bloggers you must follow on Twitter. For those who aren’t aware or are cynical about twitter, think of it as a microblogging service that you can use for a myriad of things. Some use it for PR, companies use it for customer service, some use it to follow breaking news. Quite recently it has received enormous praise when the Iranian government banned complete coverage from foreign media. So Iranian citizens used twitter to send updates to the outside world, breaking barriers etc.
Anyway, we are happy to see ourselves on the list, and since we usually don’t win awards, we’ll lap up any credit that comes our way. Those interested can follow us on twitter, here. If I’m not on the blog, you will see me put up some small questions/thoughts on United and football in general over there for you to reply to/discuss. Plus, I may put up some interesting links to articles I encounter during the day since it’s far easier to do it there than on the main blog. So do follow us there, if you please. Oh, and do follow those 10 other folks mentioned in the post referenced above.
Enough about us, over to you…
Related items from Red Rants:- Breaking News: United accept 80m Ronaldo bid
- How’s the latest episode of the Ronaldo-Madrid soap opera an ‘exclusive’?
- Manchester United’s 08/09 Champions’ League Opponents
- Why Becks and van “the man†were sold so cheaply to Real
- Has Nani Penned New Deal?
Tags: Daily Roundup
June 19th, 2009 at 9:42
Do I want Benzema? Yes, but only if the personality doesnt come with him. He is a briliant footballer, but it means we have to go through the same as we did with Ronaldo each summer yet again. He has potensial, Ive seen him play and he has impressed me. I wouldnt be surprised if Fergie actually decide to try to get him, but I know it would annoy some fans because now we have to suffer another player who has the same thing that amde us happy Ronaldo left. Do we want that? I dont think so… Already in Lyon he is known as a toublemaker, and I dont think we need those at this club. He would complain every time he didnt start, he would act like a cunt every time he gets subbed off and he would play for himself. Not the team. And now that Ronny has left we knwo we have to change our approach to games, we cant rely on one player too much. We have to play like a team, like we did in the days before Ronaldo. Sure, wehad stars that played for themselves on occasions, but we hadnt built the team around them.
So fo the players we have been linked to this week, there are only a few players I would like to see in United. Those are:
Ashley Young
Sergio Aguero
David Villa
David Silva
Robin Van Persie
Wesley Sneijder
Klaas Jan Huntelaar
All players with ambitions, all players with skills, and all players witha personality that would make them well respected by our fans. So Fergie, sign some of them up!!!
June 19th, 2009 at 9:44
Why is everyone obsessed with Huntelaar? He’s not quick enough, not mobile enough – he would be another addition to our attacking force who lacks pace! Keeping Tevez and signing Huntelaar – which many people advocate – would be just about a total disaster, United’s attack would be more pedestrian than ever. Benzema is a MUCH better option, even if he’s yearning for Madrid.
June 19th, 2009 at 9:53
@Zae: Sshhoooooo…. Watch out buddy…. Be careful when saying something about Hunter… Or GROG will attack you in flash…..
June 19th, 2009 at 9:54
@Zae: Because we miss 5/6 of our chances each game. In the home games against Boro, Sunderland and Bolton we had a total of more than 60 chances, but we only scored 4 goals. That means 4 goals out of a possible 60! I know that sound weird, but if we say that 1/2 out of those chances were 100% opportunities then we could have had 30 goals. But we ended up witha lousy 4… Our build up play is good, it has been for a couple of years now. But we still suffer from our bad finishing, we were lucky we didnt do that in the Prem this year, but we did in the Champions League when we could have been 4 up before 10 minutes were played. So, we need a finsiher. That is why we want Huntelaar. Its very rare you find striker that are incredible finishers and fast as fuck, but its even rarer ti find those that are world class as well.
Torres
Villa
Huntelaar
Benzema
Torres plays for Liverpool, Villa is going to Real and Benzema just hasnt the personality we want at this club. Which leaves Huntelaar!
June 19th, 2009 at 10:08
I don’t think Ferguson rates Huntelaar but he does rate Wellbeck. (He reckons he will be in Capello’s plans come next summer. Which means he is very much in Fergies plans for next season.
I personally would prefer to see Wellbeck flourish rather than his progress be stunted by the arrival of Huntelaar.
Of all the Holland players names being bandied around at the moment Van Persie is the only one that is United quality. And that won’t happen. Just like Torres, Villa & Benzema wont happen.
June 19th, 2009 at 10:21
Do I want Benzema, another one prostituting himself to Real Madrid – NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I don’t
. I would like another Cantona type frenchman, who found OT his spiritual home! A lot of these money orientated players, seem to lack spirit and soul 
.
June 19th, 2009 at 10:47
Fuck Frustrating
June 19th, 2009 at 11:14
@Craig Mc: Like you said, we need players who are willing to die for the red United shirt. Players like Charlton, Giggs, Cantona, Rooney, Neville and Ole. I dunno how many guys there are out there who are willing to do so, at least how many guys who have enough quality to do so, but I know at least one name: Sergio Aguero!
June 19th, 2009 at 11:31
@RedDevilEddy: I am willing to die for MAN UTD…
But i dont have football playing quality…
June 19th, 2009 at 11:32
June 19th, 2009 at 11:38
United going for the Casillas… Is it for real… Daily mail has reported it…
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1194128/United-make-Real-offer-refuse-Casillas.html
June 19th, 2009 at 11:40
Manchester United Ready To Stun Real Madrid With Iker Casillas …
June 19th, 2009 at 12:09
@Onkar: Seems fully crap story, I doubt that he will ever leave madrid, He is probably more to them than what zidane was, He keeps them into games by pulling great saves one after another, If they sell him, they are set to Doom.
June 19th, 2009 at 12:10
@Merlinus: Not gonna Happen…
June 19th, 2009 at 12:14
@Onkar: I have!
Maybe for the reserves at least… 
United in my heart! BELIEVE!!! <3
June 19th, 2009 at 12:20
Did anyone hear Aulas’s original comments regarding Benzema yesterday? The interview was given with French newspaper L’Equipe and had no mention of the Real Madrid part.
A couple of hours later Goal.com are running the same quotes but with the Real Madrid part added to it. This isn’t the first time they’ve pulled a stunt like this so I’d take it with a pinch of salt…
Besides, in another interview Benzema was quoted as saying that he ‘only watches the Premier League to see the Red devils playing’ and things like that. There’s no doubt that he’d love to play for us.
June 19th, 2009 at 12:23
@RedDevilEddy: Great… Would like to see you playing…. BTW, when are you uploading your plays on you tube???
June 19th, 2009 at 12:31
@RedDevilEddy: Yes Eddy upload ur video, and whats ur full name , atleast we should know that its You once you are in..
June 19th, 2009 at 12:32
@Onkar: I heard about our interest in Villareal goalie, Atleast that is better than Valdes…
June 19th, 2009 at 12:58
Valencia is nailed on. The guy wants to come here, and the Wigan chairman has said it doesn’t matter if Madrid or Bayern offer more money, Valencia can go where he wants to go.
That leaves 2 places up for grabs. 1 winger, 1 3rd striker. If we fill those places with Silva and Huntelaar, then we have a quality squad going into next season.
GK : VDS, Foster, PIG
FB : Evra, Rafael, Fabio, O’Shea, Neville
CB : Vidic, Ferdinand, Brown, Evans
WG : Silva, Nani, Valencia, Park, Tosic, Ljajic
CM : Carrick, Hargreaves, Anderson, Giggs, Scholes, Gibson
CF : Rooney, Berbatov, Huntelaar, Welbeck, Macheda
And what would that cost? £15mil Valencia? £28mil for Silva? £12mil for Hunter? That leaves us with £45mil in the bank!
June 19th, 2009 at 12:58
@Onkar: Im gonna start maybe next week. I dunno yet, first I gotta find a video camera…
Then Ive gotta find a friend that is willing to tape, and then I can start. But Ive gotta find time, which shouldnt be a problem because its summer holidays and I aint going anywhere! 
June 19th, 2009 at 13:00
@despicable: I prefer to stay anonomys at the moment, but I might give my full name in the vid.
All you guys need to know right now is that my first name is Edvard(I prefer Eddy), and that my last name starts with an R. 
But as said, Eddy is the name I use, so I prefer that over Edvard.
And believe me, you guys are gonna be some of the first to know when/if I get in anywhere!
June 19th, 2009 at 13:05
@despicable: Yup.. I think the interest in Valdes is again just media cooked story and substance. But, yeah if any one we hould be looking at is Diego Lopez and not that crap Valdes. I mean Lopez had one of best season this time between the bars, very assured golie…..
June 19th, 2009 at 13:11
@Onkar: Ya it seems like we are getting a golie as foster mayn’t last full season and PIG can’t take a goalkick…
Also united official site mentioned scouts column which is nice.
June 19th, 2009 at 13:13
@RedDevilEddy: Its ok, I am looking forward to seeing someone who claims to be good enough to get into United team, ( may not be now but sooner or later). Best of luck to you dear.
June 19th, 2009 at 13:14
@despicable: Also where are you employed that you can use working hours for blogs?
June 19th, 2009 at 13:14
Traverse once Valencia is signed up we should be going for a central midfielder.
Hargreaves is not going to be fit for next season and probably will never be able to play regularly.
Giggs should be just used for Carling/FA cup games.
Scholes really is past it
Fletcher for all his grit is a squad rotation player at best
Anderson just doesn’t show any signs of turning into the world class midfielder we need
Carrick is good but short of world class and really needs someone quality alongside him to give him more freedom
Id be quite happy for us to play Valencia and Nani on the wings.
Rather than buy a third striker id rather buy someone in the Ronaldo mould who can play as a winger or a forward. Alexis Sanchez would be perfect.
So my list would be:
Valencia £15 million
Sanchez £20 million
Top class midfielder £20-30 million
Any money left over can be spent on a few young prospects especially midfielders because really there is no-one coming through in midfield.
June 19th, 2009 at 13:22
@colver: Too much emphasis on midfield dear, Although we were run over by Barca, but we should know that they ran over everyone, also present midfield isn’t that bad, May be 1-2 additions will be OK, also Gibson can mature and he has said that he wants to stay. Also buying many foreigners may hurt us in the new policies which are going to be imposed.
June 19th, 2009 at 13:22
@despicable: Who was suppose to answer???
June 19th, 2009 at 13:25
@colver: There are no good central midfielders. That’s why we won’t buy any.
June 19th, 2009 at 13:29
@despicable: I dont think Im good enough for the United team. Its something I joke with, of cource!
But I believe in my ability, and I think that in a couple of years I may be good enough. Its difficult for defenders to know exactly how good they are because they dont get the credit that striker or midfielders usually do. Maybe someday, maybe…
But I know Im very good, and thats all that matters at this moment!
Improving…
June 19th, 2009 at 13:30
@Traverse: I have said it before and i reiterate i think we should go for Flamini. A Very good CDM. He wouldn’t cost you much as well. And definitely proven in PL.
June 19th, 2009 at 13:31
@despicable: And thanks for wishing me luck BTW!
Im gonna need that.
June 19th, 2009 at 13:32
@RedDevilEddy: Ya thats what i am looking forward to, Also you can see the Silva bros as someone to beat if you want your position.
June 19th, 2009 at 13:33
@Onkar: Just Kidding
June 19th, 2009 at 13:34
I would prefer we sign no one. If we do, my list for this summer would be:
Guiseppi Rossi
Micheal Essien
(Tevez)
June 19th, 2009 at 13:39
Brand Manchester United is really something amazing. Especially considering that the only other individual ‘club’ ahead in the list is Ferrari’s Formula 1 team.
June 19th, 2009 at 13:41
@despicable: Nothing yaar but its a dream job. I am Equity research Analyst. So work timing are very flexible. OK when Equity markets are on i normally dont have so much time but once they are closed then i am relatively free.
I BTW i am on leave for last week or so due to bad health so seating free at home and enjoying the bit of ( lot of) blogging. What about you???
June 19th, 2009 at 13:41
@Karl: I doubt Rossi is gonna come back to feel the same lack of opportunity that he faced before he is playing well in villareal and is happy there. Also there is no way chelsea is gonna sell their most influencial player to the rivals… Its no spain for that to happen
June 19th, 2009 at 13:53
@despicable: Yeah I now. The chances of these happening are slim to none. But, that’s my transfer wishlist.
I just wonder what Chelsea would do with a £60m bid for Essien?
June 19th, 2009 at 13:56
@Onkar: I am in Huawei, If you have heard, Chinese telecom firm, Pure workaholics only work here and minimum 13-15 hours a day, so work and blogging are part and parcel of my life now.
June 19th, 2009 at 13:57
@Karl: Ya, that may temt them but it also depends on the individual and he may not be fancied to play for us, as their are no african buddies here…
June 19th, 2009 at 14:12
despicable Barca’s midfield did not overrun Chelsea and had they played Liverpool they wouldn’t have overrun their midfield. Gibson really isn’t going to make it. He is very ordinary-he has a good shot and that is about it.
We got overrun a few years ago by Milan for exactly the same reason: we just didn’t have midfielders who could stand up to Pirlo, Gattuso and Kaka.
Traverse I agree there aren’t really any good midfielders in Europe. But I think we could take a chance on some of the South American midfielders. Hernanes, Zuculini, Pastore are interesting prospects. There are also some interesting Italian players: Melo in particular. Id even be interested in Moutinho.
June 19th, 2009 at 14:15
@colver: The names you are mentioning are good but they are no quick fix, they may have to be given time, so we are left with the same midfield in near future. I think they can be nurtured especially with scholes and giggs around but if it takes time then its risky but worth taking a risk that to spend 40-45 million on one star… ( heard mascherano has a price tag of 50 million
)
June 19th, 2009 at 14:25
@despicable: I Mascherano is £50m, and Ribery is £65m, then ‘the selfish one’ is a real steal at £80m. An absolute bargain for WPOTY and the currently the most marketable face in modern football. This means we being screwed again…like Beckham.
June 19th, 2009 at 14:38
@Karl: That’s mental. We’re not being screwed by Real Madrid. It is the market that cash influx caused by the money from Ronaldo and Kaka that makes clubs think that they can demand a billion dollars for any given player (ie Mascherano…).
June 19th, 2009 at 14:44
@colver: yeah but our midfield overran Chelsea’s earlier in the season. The CL final was an off day which may not have been. Barca scored on their first attack after we had dominated so they had no need to chase the game and could play keep ball which they do so well. The goal knocked the stuffing out of our players and their heads dropped. It shouldn’t have happened but it did. It happened to the Orlando Magic in the NBA finals this year and it will happen to other sporting teams next year. Do you think Orlando are going to go changing the whole dynamic and not come back next year?
Basically, if we sign a playmaker like Silva to provide a link between the MF and forward line and allow Rooney to play up front we’ll be grand. Our defense can deal with most team’s attack and when we come up against the stronger teams hopefully Hargo will be back but Fletcher has really grown into the role so I’m not overly worried about the team
June 19th, 2009 at 14:48
@Andrei: I understand, but the sad, interesting is that they might get away with it (ala Ribery). If Liverpool get it right with Mascherano, I will really feel pissed at this silly money market. Then I can’t help but feel we’re being screwed (even though it is not the case).
June 19th, 2009 at 14:55
We’re supposed to get rid of Carrick and Fletcher for some 19yearold kids, with no Prem experience, and don’t even play in a top league? That’ll work against Liverpool and Chelsea next season.
We should ditch Anderson, 21 after 2 years, for a couple of 19 yearolds? Crazy stuff..
In midfield we need to improve if we purchase, and there aren’t any players who we can buy who will do that at the moment.
June 19th, 2009 at 14:58
I’m also of the opinion that our midfield is ok. Maybe not great, but ok. If we do sign a great midfielder, great. If not, I have enough confidence in our guys.
People look at the CL final and say we have a crap midfield and Barca have the best. That is not true. 3 weeks prior to that, Barca’s midfield was completely overrun by the same scum that we outplayed. I still believe that we exagerate Barca’s midfield (as good as they might be) and undemine our own. We can do with reinforcements, but it is by no means in a critical state.
The CL was a ‘once-off’. Bad tactics I’d say. Even worse, who the hell told our players to stop playing after 10 minutes into the game? How come they could not muster the believe that they can still salvage the game with 80minutes left on the clock? Our midfield did not perform, but in fairness, neither did our strike-force, nor our defense, nor our manager on the day. I will write it down as a ‘once-off’, not a bad midfield.
June 19th, 2009 at 15:12
@Traverse: Sneijder is an improvement on our current midfield and he appears to be available.
June 19th, 2009 at 15:38
@Karl: want to agree with you mate but something is holding me back, and that something is the fact that in the last season we did not perform very well against big teams esp both the livepool matches, yes we over ran chelsea but lets not forget essien, was out and almost evry team that played chelsea during that time gave them problems.
I still think we need to reinforce the DM position esp with the hargo condition not being clear.
June 19th, 2009 at 15:41
@Traverse: I still think we can get good midfielders out there. De Rossi is an option.
June 19th, 2009 at 15:50
@Karl: agree with you totally man our midfield is beyond the OK state, although not great but I expect it will be in 2 years, but in all cases a solid reinforcement midfielder won’t hurt considering that giggs and scholes won’t be around the year after,
our squad for next year should be like this:
GK: (Foster), Akinfeev
RB: (Rafael), Brown, Eckersley
LB: (Evra), Fabio, O’Shea
CB: (Rio, Vida), Evans, Chester
CM: (Carrick, Hargreaves), Anderson, Fletcher, Possebon, Gibson
W: (Aguero, Silva), Nani, Valencia, JSP
FW: (Berbatov, Rooney), Welbeck, Macheda
EVDS, Neville, Scholes and Giggs should be limited to 10 games during the next season and have “thanks for the memories” match next june.
June 19th, 2009 at 16:08
@Devilinho: VDS is still the best GK at the club. Chester will not get a PL game at CB next season unless there is a huge injury crisis. Possebon should be thrown in a box marked Brazil and sent home. O’Shea is a hell of a lot more than a 3rd choice LB and is arguably our best RB at the moment, Rafael still has to prove himself and Brown was nothing last season
June 19th, 2009 at 16:10
Also the chances of us signing both Silva AND Aguero are slim to none. I’d be over the moon if it happened but chances are we’re not even going to get one of them so whatever about what our squad ’should’ look like, fact is it wont.
June 19th, 2009 at 16:10
despicable i agree none of those guys would be quick fixes but it would mean a few years from now we’d have a much better midfield. Really we’ve got no-one coming through. In attack our future is Welbeck, Macheda and Petrucci. In defence we have Evans, the twins, this Dodo guy we signed from Brazil and even De Laet. But in midfield apart from Ljajic there is no-one.
Anderson for me is a disappointment. Terrible positioning, no idea how to keep the ball, and the worst shot Ive ever seen. He’s had two seasons now and he is nowhere close to being the standard required to be a first teamer.
Actually i like the idea of signing Senna as a short term fix. Too slow for the Premier League but he’d be useful for some of the big European nights.
June 19th, 2009 at 16:48
@RedDevilEddy: I’m not quite sure who ‘we’ are, but you cant actually believe that Hunterlaar is ‘fast as fuck’. I would be stupid to argue he’s a bad finisher, but if you believe he adds anything close to what RVN did then that’s even more stupid. Hunterlaar has trouble breaking into any squad he’s with, even the national team. He’s good, but to say world class is insulting. Numbers arent everything, especially when they come from the Dutch league.
As for Benzema, personally, he has the exact personality ‘we’ want at this club. He plays with tons of passion and leaves everything out on the pitch. The trick is going to be having him play with his passion for Manchester United (like Rooney) and not for himself (like Ronaldo).
June 19th, 2009 at 16:59
Where did all these new posters come from? I rarely recognize anyone on here anymore.
June 19th, 2009 at 17:23
@man utd jaluo: I though De Rossi was with his favourite team. Gonna take alot to prize him away, and I don’t think he’d leave.
Flamini is a possibility, but he’s hardly been setting the world alight at Milan.
@Johnsom33: well noted. New people, get some avatars! It’ll help us tell you all apart, and a bit of personalisation is always welcomed.
Welcome aboard.
June 19th, 2009 at 17:25
@BAMF: What he is is a world class ‘finisher’, something we have been sorely lacking over the last 2 seasons, wouldn’t cost a fortune, and wouldn’t throw his toys out of his pram ifhe was on the bench. He fits our needs perfectly, and it’s insane we haven’t snapped him up.
June 19th, 2009 at 17:29
@colver: Midfielders are rarely very good young. Fabregas being the exception, but that was his peak and it’s been downhill since. Midfielders are generally in their their prime 27 onwards.
June 19th, 2009 at 18:15
too be honest im burnt out with all the transfer speculation. we can all debate till we turn blue, but at the end of the day its just a immense waste of time. It really doesnt matter what me and you think, it all comes down to fergie. I just hope he is wheeling and dealing as we speak.
June 19th, 2009 at 18:19
The Daily Mail is reporting United as being interested in swooping in for Iker Casillas. Sure it’s probably BS but now that is the kind of player I would like to see us go after. Arguably the best keeper in the business and a man who has to be wondering if he will have any quality support helping him defend next season. Honestly, if I were him I’d question the lack of consideration and respect I was getting from Real with all their Galacticos signings and why an upgrade in defenders has not happened. I’d also be interested in being the keeper for a team that gives up around 20 goals a season in their league and has Rio and Vidic as their core defenders. Keepers like to win and they are not into having to be the only line of defense. That’s what he would be at Real. We can dream though. Other than Torres, I would be so impressed to see a major Spanish player stand up and say screw La Liga, I am going to England.
June 19th, 2009 at 18:30
@Grognard: Who do you think is more likely to come here De Rossi who is Roma thru and thru, or Casillas who is the Spanish captain and Real Scum thru and thru.
both are slim to none, in fact I would bet a fiver that Anderson scores before either of the 2 gets here.
June 19th, 2009 at 18:34
@Grognard: I think its frustrating that Madrid are having a clearance scale right now of players we could really use, and we arent filling up our cart. The biggest problem right now with the Ronaldo money is that we wont get true value for it, because people all know we have it. So wouldnt it make sense to barter with Madrid and get cash plus players? They would be in no position to try and high ball us, because there backs are against the wall with the Ronaldo deal. Huntelaar, and sneijder atleast. maybe even Robben if hes cheap. He maybe another soft, injury prone dutchman but on song he is mustard.
June 19th, 2009 at 18:40
@BAMF: “We” are Manchester United.
And Huntelaar isnt fast as fuck by any means, but he aint slow either. He is a finisher, something we need. Huntelaar isnt the striker I would primarily want to join United, but of those that are probably available(-Aguero) and willing to join us, he is the best we can get. I would like it if he joins us, cause he is the type of finsiher we need.
As for Benzema, after what i have read he is a troublemaker. Not a joker, not a funny guy, just an arrogant git and a troublemaker. He may have the potential and drive to play, and if we could make him focus on playing like Rooney instead of acting like Ronaldo, he would be totaly awsome for us. But I feel that Fergie doesnt only look at the player anymore, personality is eaually important. Which makes it even more difficult for us find a top player…
June 19th, 2009 at 18:44
@Grognard: I would LOOOOOVVVVVEEEE to have Casillas sign for us. Don’t think it will ever happen. It’s like trying to prize Giggs (in his prime) away from United, or Neville. He bleeds Real Madrid. Also, why would he want to leave Real? Firstly, I have not heard of any bust-ups, and secondly he would be stupid to leave at the time the club is trying to gather another group of galacticos. Should they be successful (like any Madrid player, management and supporter hope), each of their players can go down as legends. Unfortunately, I would question his IQ (or love for money) should he sign for us.
June 19th, 2009 at 18:47
Good news. David Villa is not for sale, meaning David Silva is. They need to sell one of them. Fergie, sign him up.
June 19th, 2009 at 18:47
@Karl: Reason to leave Real? Its Real Madrid…
The worst defense since Derby County-Class of `08/09 
I would personally love Casillias at United, he is the best goalkeeper in the world. Buffon is really good, but in the WC he was lucky to have a brilliant defense in front of him. Which Casillias hasnt done in a really, really long time! So he is for me three times the goalie Gigi is, and without a doubt he would be an awsome signing. Although, i doubt it wil ever happen as his blood is white.
June 19th, 2009 at 18:51
@RedDevilEddy: He maybe an asshole, but I think its being way overblown. He would be on his own here and Fergie wouldnt stand for any of his BS. At Lyon he is the man, but at United he would have to earn his place, so I would bet he would be on his best behaviour.
June 19th, 2009 at 18:53
“When the seagulls follow the trawler, its because they think food will be thrown in the sea.”
“When the Scousers follow the Mancunians, its because they think they will be given money.”
“When Anderson scores a goal, millions of people will die in shock!”
“If you wake up tomorrow, its because Vidic let you live.”
“How much did it cost Wenger to get Arsehaving? As much as it cost him to get a Brasillian.”
“When Michael Jackson meets Arsene Wenger, they discuss the possibility of starting an industry involving children.”
June 19th, 2009 at 18:56
@johnsom33: I feel that if we could get Benzema the player, we would need no more signings. He is a brilliant player with an ewually bright future, but his personality just bugs me. a) He has time and time again said Real is his favorite destination. b) He has the ego of Ronaldo. c) He is French(as posted in the article)
I think he would be a briliant signing, but after what we had to live through with Ronny, do we really wanna go that road again?
June 19th, 2009 at 18:57
tosic is playing now and i keep hearing his name being called but …
June 19th, 2009 at 19:02
nice crosses from the kid they seem to be trying to get the ball over to him alot.
June 19th, 2009 at 19:14
descent free kick but just over should have watched him more.
June 19th, 2009 at 19:19
Tosic was solid for Serbia in the first half. Their best player by a mile, but still short of United quality. He is good at what he does, but he severely lacks inventivity – always the same two dribbles and the same cross behind the defence… not good enough.
June 19th, 2009 at 19:34
@Johnsom33: To my knowledge among those commenting plentifully right now, only Onkar and Merlinus are relatively new to the blog.
Some come and go, others just read and do not comment… as I’ve been doing recently..
I really miss JB and Penguin among others.
Glad that Andrei is back.
June 19th, 2009 at 19:37
@Traverse: Wait, we’ve just won the double last year and were within 90mins of doing it again. You surely cant be suggesting we were lacking anything except consistency. And he would throw his toys out of the pram when hes sitting on the bench, cause thats exactly what hes doing at Madrid.
I’m not arguing his talent for putting the ball in the back of the net, but when it comes with not much else, I’m not convinced he’s the answer to our prayers. I would love him in the squad, but there are far greater finishers, who are younger, and who have a much higher ceiling than him.
June 19th, 2009 at 19:45
@BAMF: Name them. That would be good enough to play for us right now, if there was a game tomorrow, and Berbatov was injured. Who would be leading the line with Rooney?
June 19th, 2009 at 19:50
@johnsom33: @RedDevilEddy: Benzema is just a kid.
Many times footballers themselves do not follow the game as you and I do, analyzing the game and understanding the politics and all other things happening in the background.
So like 90% of french people he regards Zidane as some sort of god, knows little (or maybe veils himself of the fact) of Real Madrid’s circus approach to football management and when asked to do some career defining decision, would rather go to Real despite having no guarantee that he would receive more playing time than at United.
I rate him as a footballer, not as good as fat Ronaldo, but certainly as good as, say, Andrew Cole. His true value in the current market should hover around 30 million.
As to whether he’ll do a Ronaldo after 4 or 5 seasons with us, I’m not convinced. As much as Ronaldo was a once in a lifetime talent, his ego was also a once in a lifetime anomaly.
While we’re on the matter I think that Ribery doesn’t have 1/4 of Ronaldo’s ego. He was just terribly disappointed to have finished so low in the WPOTY rankings, and that’s the fault of the Bundesliga’s unsexiness and Bayern’s lack of European success. He is ambitious and to a level most great players are.
June 19th, 2009 at 19:50
@BAMF: Based on the team we had and the system we played last season you are right. Unfortunately we are now without our top goalscorer for the past 2 seasons, and will be changing the way we play because we don’t have to accommodate his petulance. The players we are being linked with (i mean the slightly left field ones we are more likely interested in, not the big name lazy journos ones) are pacey wingers. This would suggest more of a 4-4-2/4-2-3-1 next season instead of 4-3-3, attacking down the wings and keeping 2 in the middle. He’s going to be counting on Rooney and Berbatov to score more goals, and the wingers to provide them.
Last season it was Ronaldo scoring the goals on his own, or with Rooney and Berbatov providing them.
June 19th, 2009 at 19:51
@RedDevilEddy: Fair play to you, i would be considered part of ‘we’ then.
I’m not entirely convinced that we need a finisher. I’m not saying it wouldnt be a great asset to have in the team, but for all RVN meant to us, he wasnt missed when he left (as far as goals are concerned). My greatest fear now that Ronaldo wont be in the side is the ammount of attention he commanded from defenses when he was on the pitch. Most of our greatest offensive showings have been because of the ‘threat of Ronaldo’ and its actually someone like Tevez or Rooney stepping up and scoring. Without that threat, and with teams keying in on Rooney, I dont know who else in the side can step up. I would love to have someone not so one dimensional in the side to split up defenses with runs and shit, much like Rooney did for Ronaldo.
As for the Benzema thing, his attitude is what makes him the player he is. I think Fergie would much rather have a troublemaker who plays with passion than someone who has seemingly infinite talent but just goes through the motions, ala Drogba.
June 19th, 2009 at 20:08
@Traverse: Well, just off the top of my head, Benzema and this Gomez kid would do the trick. If you want someone completely unrealistic, then Torres or pato. I’m not even suggesting we need someone who is a big name. I would prefer someone in the mold of Torres or Owens (in his prime, pre-injury) who was a relative unknown and wouldnt mind sitting on the bench behind Rooney and Berbatov and possibly Tevez.
I guess I just didnt see a reason why we have to change our style becuase Ronaldo is gone but fair play to you because all signs do indeed point that way. In a perfect world, I would love to have Aguero and De Rossi signed playing a 433 with the normal back 4 de Rossi, Carrick and Fletcher in the middle and Rooney and Aguero either side of Berbatov and with fluid interchanging of the front and middle 3. Having Nani and Anderson that could also play in either the front or the middle (more-so Anderson than Nani) and Gibson, Park and Possebon subs for the middle. And thats without even mentioning Scholes, Giggs, Hargreaves and a whole host of youngsters that could slot in anywhere needed.
June 19th, 2009 at 20:08
@NicoQB: Cheers
June 19th, 2009 at 20:09
I think there are a few fans on here in the States… Check this shit out.
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5389489,00.html
Anyone knows what this will mean for us who pay out the ass to get Direct TV specifically so we can get Setanta just to see every match United play?? Will we now be stuck with only suck ass FSC that will force us to endure weekends full of horrible shit like Blackburn v Fulham? I’m so f’ing mad right now. F Setanta
June 19th, 2009 at 20:09
This is for you, Craig.
June 19th, 2009 at 20:14
@Drew Vader: Actually FSC holds the US rights to the Premiership which it shares with Setanta. The international rights are separate from the British rights. They’ve failed to meed payments of the new Premiership rights for Britain, I believe — not next season’s international one (correct me if I’m wrong). Regardless of Setanta being on air next season, Fox will probably telecast it on it’s other network channels like FX. That’s their plan for the Champions’ League too.
June 19th, 2009 at 20:14
@BAMF: There is a lot United do not have enough of. Honestly, it is a bit of a surprise that we made it this far this past season if you look at our squad:
Three average goalkeepers
Four mediocre right-backs – two of them constantly injured
No holding midfielder
No accomplished passer of the ball
Without Ronaldo, we have absolutely no decent wingers
With Tevez likely gone, we only have two recognized forwards
That said, I agree about Huntelaar being average but I do not see a better option as far as the strikers go. Still, not sure that we need strikers – we have not had a fit one since RvN left and we’ve been doing all right.
June 19th, 2009 at 20:21
@Red Ranter: id love to see some of the england lads to that
@Drew Vader: Hmmm, i got setanta for more or less nothing(not exactly free, but really, really cheap) as im with virgin. The only real reason for me to keep it now is for internationals.
Hopefully BBC will get the rights, and football will be free like its suppose to
June 19th, 2009 at 20:28
@Andrei: doing all right is an understatement and its mostly due to Ronaldo. I know its hard to not get carried away, but this isnt FM, we cant have the top rated player at every position. I actually happen to believe that our RBs are fine, and improving all the time. Brown is class and not injuried all that much. Remember, he played in the most games the year we won the Double. I dont necessarily believe we NEED a holding midfielder with the back 4 we have, but having wouldnt be a bad thing. I’m a big fan of Carricks, so I’ll just pretend I didnt see the 4th point and not mention players like Rooney and Berbatov passing ability and the on-coming Fletcher and Gibson and Possebon who can pick a pass, albeit inconsistently at times. Plus I’m fairly certain Scholes and Giggs would make an arguement, too.
My arguement for playing a 433, which we played for a majority of Ronaldo’s later years, would mean we wouldnt need a traditional winger like a Beckham. You are right though, if we were to switch back to a 442, we would have to strengthen our wings but I think Nani (if he came into his potential) and Tosic would do the job. We could do better though.
With Tevez gone, we only have two big name forwards. We could slot in Welbeck or Macheda if needed and i’m almost positive we are going to add at least one more before the season.
Spot on with the keepers though. With a back 4 like we have though, our keepers tend to get found out less than they probably should. Foster looks a talent, but cant stay healthy enough to put together a run of games.
June 19th, 2009 at 20:28
@Andrei: shut up!
Three average keepers? one of them broke a couple of records last season
brown was apart of CL winning side, Rafael was apart of a league winning side, o’shea filled in quite nicely last season and scored a crucial goal in the CL, but that doesnt matter.
Carrick, hargreaves, flectcher and anderson to an extent can all play holding mid.
No accomplished passer of the ball, so what the flaming heck is carrick scholes and giggs?
right no wingers, nani is just pile of poo aint he.
Seriously, get a grip! this side has won not 1, not 2 but 3 back to back titles and CL in the last 3 years, not the worst record you can have!
June 19th, 2009 at 20:33
@Drew Vader: Actually read the last part of this article. You might still have hope as an American subscriber — at least for another season.
June 19th, 2009 at 20:35
@Red Ranter: Hope you’re right about that.
Any way to find out for sure???
June 19th, 2009 at 20:37
@Dan: I think EVDS is no longer a great keeper, and calling him average is fair to say.
Foster is yet to prove himself as a great keeper in the world’s eyes. One brilliant Carling Cup final is not sufficient. He is currently average to good. At the moment he is world class to Dan’s eyes.
And PIG, well he is average at best.
I think Scholes might be a great passer, but overall he can’t control a game anymore as he could. So there is some sense in what Andrei is saying.
June 19th, 2009 at 20:38
aren’t city hilarious, miss out on kaka, sign barry, miss out on eto’o, sign santa cruz
June 19th, 2009 at 20:38
@Dan: To be fair, without that defense in front of him, VDS wouldnt have lasted 1 game with a clean sheet.
June 19th, 2009 at 20:39
@Redrich: I asked Chris (aka the Gaffer of EPL Talk) over Twitter, I’m sure he’ll know a lot more than me, considering he’s interviewed some of the execs at Fox/Setanta in the past, and keeps track of broadcast rights etc in the States/N America. So I’ll keep you posted if I know something.
June 19th, 2009 at 20:40
@Dan: You’re wrong. Miss out on Kaka, they signed Bellamy.
June 19th, 2009 at 20:41
@Red Ranter: what about carrick and giggs then?
And what about our average right backs and lack of a CDMs?
oh, and Ben foster should be top of real madrids shopping list to replace casilias for next season
June 19th, 2009 at 20:42
@Dan: We lack real depth in midfield. We couldn’t find a way to replace Fletcher adequately in the final. Says a lot really.
June 19th, 2009 at 20:45
@Red Ranter: too right!
Robinho s.cruz bellamy
That could win the league
June 19th, 2009 at 20:47
@Red Ranter: Well we wouldnt off if hargreaves wasnt injured!
June 19th, 2009 at 20:47
@Red Ranter: I dont really think that was entirely a personel thing though. We got the tactics completely wrong for that game. We thought we would just attack attack attack and wouldnt have to defend. We got found out.
June 19th, 2009 at 20:50
@Dan: Exactly, and as long as he’s injured indefinitely he can’t be counted as a part of our squad. His mere physical presence in Manchester on crutches doesn’t add to our depth, however you look at it.
June 19th, 2009 at 20:52
And since there are a fair few that follow the cricket, look at West Indies’ scorecard: Click
But for Gayle, no one really gave a fuck! That said they seem to have no answer to Mendis.
I guess Sri Lanka are looking good to go all the way. They’ve got good balance, but then everyone thought the same about South Africa, until they proved the chokers they really are.
June 19th, 2009 at 20:58
yea im a bit pissed about how we lose more then the loss itself. Shameful, absolutely shameful.
June 19th, 2009 at 21:10
@Andrei:
@Andrei: Have to disagree with a number of points here.
I’ll let the comment about GKs pass, but redranter resumed the facts well.
But RB position, we have been very unlucky.
Admittedly Neville is pants nowadays (5/10), but Rafael is decent (6/10) and would be better if not for his man-marking. Brown is excellent when fit (8/10) and O’shea convinced most of his sceptics (7.5/10), me included!
No holding mifdfielder – admitedly, but we have good CMs who do the job -cue the Fletcherino.
No accomplished passer of the ball? Carrick is one. He just needs a good partner. Scholes used to be, but even I would be surprised if he manages 10 good games next season.
Nani will come good next season, Valencia will be an upgrade over Parkand I can see more of Welbeck on the wing next season (not that I actually want it)
WE still have Macheda and Welbeck in attack, and when they’ve played they’ve done everything right.
And I expect a few other kids to break through next season – Maybe Matthew James and Corry Evans.
June 19th, 2009 at 21:18
@Red Ranter: Whew… well I guess I owe Setanta a bit of an apology for all of the names I have been calling it and for all of the dirty things I have been telling it to go do to itself for the past hour.
Thanks for the links and Info dude…
June 19th, 2009 at 21:30
http://www.manutd.com/publish.sps?pagegid={FE60904B-C2A8-4E60-9B05-700DBBC29BBC}&teamid=443§ion=playerProfile&bioid=4016
June 19th, 2009 at 21:32
@Drew Vader: To be honest, no one really will know. It will come under administration, so you never know what assets the admins would want to sell. Hopefully some broadcaster will still find it possible to show the Prem this coming season without us having to buy a new package.
That said, I don’t know why you needed to switch to directv just for setanta when setanta broadband shows all the same games.
June 19th, 2009 at 21:34
@BAMF: Well, you say that we don’t need top rated players in each position, but look at Barca. Apart from their GK and LB, they have some of the best players in the world in every other position. That said, they have absolutely no depth in the squad.
With United, it is the exact opposite. We have phenomenal depth with infinite possible changes that Fergie could make without weakening the team, but very few exceptional players. As far as world-class players at United go, we have: Evra, Rio, Vidic, Rooney and maybe Berbatov (maybe).
Considerably less than: Alves, Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Henry, Messi and maybe Eto’o.
Plus, we cannot pretend that Nani is a good enough winger to take us through a whole season. Yes, he has some talent and a good deal of potential, but he has the decision making of Florentino Perez, the temper of a drunk Craig Bellamy and the intelligence of a head-less chicken. He is everything that Ronaldo was not, so we need something better.
June 19th, 2009 at 21:35
@Dan: That’s old hat. You just need to change the bioid at the end of the url to get some random player. Like this.
June 19th, 2009 at 21:36
NB Florentino Perez was the guy that sold Makelele to Chelsea because “most of his passes were either lateral or backward, he was weak in the air and did not help the team offensively.” Enough said.
June 19th, 2009 at 21:40
@Red Ranter: Ah Red Ranter why you hating on the South Africans…
Still dunno how we lost to Pakistan, but I didn’t watch the game cause I was at Egypt vs Italy
June 19th, 2009 at 21:40
@Red Ranter: ha, i didnt know that!
June 19th, 2009 at 21:42
@MoYa: I don’t hate them. But I just can’t help but point out why they always choke. I felt very sorry for them when they got knocked out by Australia in England ‘99 World Cup. But despite all their outstanding players, they just can’t seem to get their shit together in a crunch game.
June 19th, 2009 at 21:43
@Dan: Dan, an accomplished passer of the ball is someone like Xavi, Pirlo, Lampard, Gerrard, Kaka, Scholes (version: 1999), Zidane, Rui Costa, etc.
This is the type of player that we need in midfield, not Carrick and Giggs…
June 19th, 2009 at 21:47
@Red Ranter: You bring back painful memories mate.
Though it’s only true when it comes to international tournaments.
June 19th, 2009 at 21:50
@Andrei: sorry, dont agree with that 1 bit. Carrick is an excellent passer of the ball, all those players you mentioned had big impact and influence on their teams, they put their personalty into their game, carrick doesnt, but that doesnt make him a lesser passer of the ball then say gerrard or lampard, taking my red specs off, when it comes to passing, carricks the best england has!
June 19th, 2009 at 21:51
@Andrei: EVRA world class player
. Andrei 
.
June 19th, 2009 at 21:56
@BAMF: De Rossi. Never going to happen. Roma fan, playing for Roma. More chance of Rooney signing for Liverpool.
Benzema. Never going to happen. Madrid fan, who wants to move to Madrid next season after the World Cup to ensure the team that raised him get a big wad for him. More chance of Rooney signing for Liverpool.
Gomez moved to Byaern last month for 30mil Euros.
There is no one available better than Huntelaar for hat we need.
June 19th, 2009 at 21:58
@Andrei: evra world class
Alves, a shitty winger converted to right back, puyol, the spanish gary neville with a bit of diving.
June 19th, 2009 at 21:59
@Andrei: Puyol is as shot as Scholes!
June 19th, 2009 at 22:03
@Andrei: Again, all of those players are unavailable or retired. This isn’t football manager. There’s no point debating impossibilities. That in mind, our team for next season…
Schmeichael
Neville(99) Ferdinand Vidic Irwin
Best Edwards Gazza Messi
Rooney Pele
June 19th, 2009 at 22:29
@Traverse: No Cantona
June 19th, 2009 at 22:33
Im kinda bored right now, I miss watching football. I know its summer break, but it still doesnt feel so great without football and rain outside. So here, for those of you wishing to remember the emotions of the goal that Kiko scored against Villa here it is:
http://redrants.com/hows-the-latest-episode-of-the-ronaldo-madrid-soap-opera-an-exclusive/comment-page-8/#comment-54711
Just so fucking sweeet!!!
June 19th, 2009 at 22:39
To Drew Vader, Redrich who brought this up, and other concerned footy fans in the US (and North America) Setanta has responded to its American customers. The EPL talk page has updated the post I linked to earlier.
I’d suggest you visit that page and read for yourself, but the gist of it is that US fans need not worry (at least, not for next season.)
June 19th, 2009 at 22:46
@Traverse: i did say in the perfect world about the de rossi thing. And you didnt say they had to be possible for us to sign, just asked who i thought could do better. I dont think Benzema is impossible though.
There’s always someone available, might not be proven, but could be better. Plus, money talks, and we have tons from Madrid.
June 19th, 2009 at 23:02
@Craig Mc: Craig bro Evra is the best left back in the world and any team would KILL to have them in their ranks. A couple of poor months and suddenly hes not world class. Who cares that he was suspended in the middle of the season for 4 games then broke his ankle the next yeah? You laughing at a suggestion that evra is world class tells a lot about your nature as a fan and the tendancy of man utd fans to forget what players have done for the team.
June 19th, 2009 at 23:04
@Andrei: Hey Carrick is a better passer of the ball than Gerrard. Its just that Gerrard is a big game player and comes up with a high return of goals… Not sure if he’s a CM anymore.
Though I’ll admit that Carrick rarely takes the game by the scruff of its neck through his sheer passing. Someone has to mop up around him first for himi to find his feet. Unlike vintage Scholes…
June 19th, 2009 at 23:33
@Karl: He’ll replace Pele when he finishes his 3 month extra holiday for slapping the smarm out of Ronaldo. I hear he’s using his time to learn the trumpet…
June 19th, 2009 at 23:33
@BAMF: Unfortunately it seems, so does the weather, and the shopping.
June 19th, 2009 at 23:51
@Dan: Yea, Evra is the best left-back in the world if you have not realized and Puyol is arguably better than Rio or Vidic. Carrick is not better than Gerrard or Lampard and I was just listing all those gone players to illustrate the concept of an accomplished passer – something that Carrick is not.
If you want available accomplished passers, look at Guti (although his attitude is five-time worse that Ronaldo’s), de la Pena (plays for Espanyol and is in his early 30s I think), Joao Moutinho (have not seen much of him, but from what I saw, he trumps Carrick’s passing style), Diego (from Werder Bremen, although last I heard, he was about to sign for Juventus) and Wesley Sneijder.
These are accomplished available passers. Carrick is a good passer if you want him to move the ball sideways. He is also ridiculously inconsistent, so yea you might say “remember when he…” but he only makes those ridiculous passes (against Tottenham in the FACup is one example) when he thinks about Harry Potter.
June 19th, 2009 at 23:54
Don’t get me wrong, I like the guy (Carrick) and he is important to the team, but he is far from being a great player or even a United-calibre midfielder.
Also, it is probably best not to comment on Barcelona if you don’t watch La Liga frequently…
June 19th, 2009 at 23:57
@Traverse: I stand by Vucinic.
June 20th, 2009 at 0:23
@Traverse: not so sure about Benzema mate, if we moved for him I think he would go, yes he has spoken about Msdrid and they probably would be his first choice, but he also has spoken well of us too and a French journo on Talksport Radoi two days ago said there is a strong chance that he would end up at OT next season.
June 20th, 2009 at 0:27
@johnsom33: I agree but now that Madird are spending like crazy on their attack while ignoring their back four, Casillas might think it safer to go to a team with a real defense. Goalkeepers care about keeping clean sheets and their statistics. Casillas will be murdered with shot after shot if he stays there. Still, he’s just another in a dumb line of Spaniards that is to scared and timid to take the big plunge and ply their trade abroad. I actually give players like Torres credit for having the guts to leave the security of Spain. It’s a shame more Italians and Spaniards don’t want to try. Then of course they believe their league is thew best so that might also kill their incentive.
June 20th, 2009 at 0:32
@johnsom33: I said that last week. I couldn’t understand why they just took the money. Take 50 or 60 million and two players like Sneijder and Huntelaar and we are in business. As an outsider looking in it appears that Gill and Fergie don’t have an ounce of common sense. But then again we aren’t on the inside and we have to buy into their plans on faith alone. It just shocks me that Huntelaar, van der Vaart, Sneijder and even Denthe doesn’t interest United. All of them great players and players who we could really use positionally. Instead we are going to throw money out the window and resign that waste of time Tevez.
I just don’t get it anymore and I honestly wished I didn’t care, but I do.
June 20th, 2009 at 0:34
What I want to know now who is our new number 7?
Will it be a new signing or someone who we already have, I want everybodys opinion on this.
About the transfers I dont think we will hear anything new, good or bad untill july for those who dont know is the expected unvieling of a certain Ronaldo as a Real Madrid player and of course the end of the Tevez loan.
My transfer choices arent as big as some of you in here would fancy but I think its for the best of our club, keep in my mind its just my view of things.
First, I want Carlos Tevez to be signed on a permanent deal IF not BENZEMA.
Second, I would like to see Ashley Young as a United player, he would be cheaper then most others and he is English so no running to Madrid in a few years.
And for last give Nani and Tosic a chance on the wings and get rid of JI SUNG.
Now I have an idea that might not be liked by someof you but some others I think would love, why dont we bring Riquelme in for a loan a 1 year deal with bonuses for appearances, goals or assists, Honestly I think that would be great for all parties involved.
June 20th, 2009 at 0:36
@RedDevilEddy: How good is Huntelaar, well I never ever compared him in style to RVN. They are different. You are right, he is no speed burner but he isn’t slow either. He does have amazing agility and is able to score with banana kicks and bicycle kicks and cuts and turns on a dime. To be honest, he reminds me a lot of Marco van Basten. Not as good but may actually be a better goal poacher than Marco. He’s that damned good in my books anyway.
June 20th, 2009 at 0:38
@Karl: It won’t happen mate but at least the tabloids are keeping things interesting.
June 20th, 2009 at 1:03
@Hannoodi: According to todays guardian, Mark Hughes staff believe Tevez is as good as theirs. All the things are set up for him to just join them in 10 days when his loan with United finishes. This is exactly what Talk Sport were saying 2′3 weeks ago, so like Ronaldo Tevez has been playing silly buggars with all the other clubs. Also Tosic has told the press United players have known all along that Ronnie was going. Hate to say it, but I told you so!
June 20th, 2009 at 1:10
@Mike: Listen mate, I have NEVER thought Evra was world class, and if your assessment of world class is different to mine, so what! That’s fandom. It has nothing to do with what kind of a fan a person is, we all have our own opinions on the excellence or non excellence of players. And my opinion on Evra is different to yours, so live with it.
.
June 20th, 2009 at 1:13
@Traverse: Yet he made the Roon look ordinary in the CL final!
June 20th, 2009 at 1:24
@Red Ranter: Thanks for that mate.
June 20th, 2009 at 4:48
@Craig Mc: Fergie made him look average by playing him on the left wing, no one else, puyol is as useless as he is ugly with silly hair.
June 20th, 2009 at 6:14
@NicoQB: Yes Nico. But do all the we make sense to all of you???
June 20th, 2009 at 6:34
@Red Ranter: Hi RR, Do you have any idea about the people who watch the telecast on ESPN STAR in ASIA and INDIA. I mean what will be status on there subscription due to this SETANTA Meltdown????
June 20th, 2009 at 6:58
@Onkar: How is Setanta in anyway related with ESPN? They are entirely unconnected entities. I really don’t understand your question.
It’s like asking, if GM goes bankrupt what does that mean for Toyota? Completely unrelated and distinct business entities, whose businesses are unrelated — oh wait, why am I explaining you all this; you are the guy with the finance degree aren’t you?
All that said, I am not the right person to ask regarding television subscriptions. Sites like EPL Talk, Soccerlens keep track of these things — although it’s unlikely you’ll get much help regarding your India subscription details from them (they deal with N America).
June 20th, 2009 at 7:01
@Craig Mc: Well done, Craig! And since you’ve done a good job of reporting it well before it happened, I have another set of things I’d like you to find out. For one, find out who we plan to sign. Secondly, are we, or are we not interested in Huntelaar/Sneijder/AN Other player.
June 20th, 2009 at 7:04
@Mike: Mate it’s not necessary that every Man Utd fan has to acknowledge that Evra is a world class full back. United fans don’t lose credibility if they share negative opinions on certain players.
June 20th, 2009 at 7:08
@Hannoodi: I just hope whoever it is, he doesn’t get crushed by the weight of expectations that accompany being a Number 7. But I’ll give that to Nani. He’s been bold enough to challenge the club to have faith in him to step into Ronnie’boots. Well, let’s not only put him in his boots, but also in his shirt — metaphorically and numerically only — not his sweaty/greasy shirt.
June 20th, 2009 at 8:11
@Red Ranter: I think there is problem in your understanding. Huge problem…. Cause if you are not aware (which you should) ESPN itself doesn’t have any rights taken directly from BPL whatever you call to telecast the matches. What they have done is they have taken rights from sky and all people to telecast the matches. So, i just wanted to know that whether SETANTA going burst will affect the arrangement of ESPN in any way. Because i am not aware dose it take all the matches from single distributor or there are different distributors there with whom ESPN has a tie ups. If you don’t know say that you don’t….
And as far GM example goes do i need to tell you that the names of the auto giants in US (3 of those) which went in bankruptcy hand in hand. They all were different entities but ended together in same manner. What about all the so called BIG Investment Bankers on Wall Street they were totally different entities but they all gone burst at the same time pulling world with themselves into this financial mess. So, in today’s market no one isolated mate. In some or the other way they are related to each other. One going burst may pull other into that mess….
That’s not football that’s finance…. even more complicated….
June 20th, 2009 at 8:59
@Hannoodi: if you get rid of people like partk, fletch, and oshea, u have no base on which to build the club on…. their selfless and squad oriented attitudes are in stark contrast with mercenaries who use the club to promote themselves….
now, i am a ronaldo fan, but park is every bit a man utd player as ronaldo used to be, if not more so… why get rid of a player that comes thru for the club time and time again?
its like liverpool and sami hyppia, no respect given to his long standing selfless service to the club. its sad, really… but what do u expect from dippers?
June 20th, 2009 at 9:20
@Red Ranter: I would love to see Anderson wear no 7, lets see how he scores then???
June 20th, 2009 at 9:24
@Wink: Ya and i believe Park will still have role to play, and he might leave in a year or two to go back home as all foreigners do, but till then he is an integral part.
June 20th, 2009 at 9:27
@Onkar: Don’t worry dear, ESPN and star buys the epl contract together and they are in good condition as of now. If they can pay for ICC events for next 8 years then they can surely pay for EPL which is far more popular in Asia.
June 20th, 2009 at 9:32
@Onkar:
Again if you have read the article I linked to, (I assume you read that before asking me this question), this Setanta deal affects UK subscribers. UK rights are bought separately from overseas rights. And are paid separately, and in most cases are run as separate entities. So whilst Setanta US is an asset of Setanta Sports, they are in itself a profitable entity.
All I know is Overseas rights are sold separate from UK rights. And are dealt with separately. Since there’s no Setanta where you live, you have no cause to worry, I think.
But you are grossly mistaken if you think ESPN doesn’t have any rights. Of course it does. In order to show EPL content in a region, I needs approval from the Premier League, which means, to have won bidding rights for that region. This comes under overseas rights to the Premiership for that region. Whether it decides to send its own commentary crew or not, it is guaranteed feeds from the Premier League, however it may be. This much I am sure of.
And otherwise, I actually said I am not the right person to ask regarding television deals so I don’t know what you are on about me trying to feign knowledge of something I may not be an expert at. I made sure I compared GM with Toyota, and not Ford and Chrysler for my analogy. Toyota (and other Japanese cars) has actually seen a surge in demand during these tough times because of their fuel economy. Anyway I don’t want to discuss finance with you but let me tell you this: Sky is way too big to default on Premier League payments. Setanta is a puny competitor in front of Sky. And due to the quirky nature of top flight football the science of world economy doesn’t necessarily apply to football and sky. The league has been fairly recession proof in terms of Sky paying out record sums for the next Prem deal.
Once again, if this answer doesn’t satisfy you, let me make it clear, I am not the right person to ask regarding broadcasting rights. I brought this up in response to a worried North American footy fan, and since I happened to come across the EPL Talk article I thought I could help clear the air by linking to it.
June 20th, 2009 at 10:56
@Andrei: evra is FAR from the best left back in the world, at this point in time, leighton baines let alone Ashley cole is better then him
And your dead wrong about carrick, he IS the best passer of the ball england have. Going for the Hollywood pass every five minutes doesnt make you a good passer, gerrard isnt even a midfielder anymore
June 20th, 2009 at 11:06
@Red Ranter: Too true RR, Too true
.
June 20th, 2009 at 11:09
@Red Ranter: RR, didn’t I tell you Bro, that signings at OT are done in the most covert SOS type operation. None of the players know until the players coming in are snatched by the men in balaclavas, armed with assault weapons
.
June 20th, 2009 at 11:12
@Traverse:
.
June 20th, 2009 at 11:15
Tosic thinks he is going to be the next Ron now
. I have persistently watched this guy, and given him all fairness in assessing what I have seen. That assessment is that, maybe he will be the next Park, for those of you who like Park, but Ron, well Tosic is dreaming, he’ll wake up soon enough!
June 20th, 2009 at 11:22
BREAKING NEWS: Manchester United Confirm Carlos Tevez Is To Leave Club (source sky sports news) LAME
June 20th, 2009 at 11:30
YES!!!! tevez is leaving
June 20th, 2009 at 11:33
Berba owes the club BIG TIME, blooding him into the team this year almost could have cost us the PL. Our game plan, speed of game and tactics CERTAINLY changed from fast flowing to even more pedestrian with Berba. He is however an excellent player, even a great player IN THE RIGHT SYSTEM, so I hope SAF gets the system right this year. No more snooze football please
.
June 20th, 2009 at 11:37
its getting very interesting
June 20th, 2009 at 12:07
Id agree with Traverse. If Fergie had played Rooney up front he’d have done some damage. As it was he was isolated on the wing because our midfield couldn’t keep the ball long enough to give it to him. But that game still gives me nightmares so im trying hard not to think about it.
Im glad Tevez is leaving. I think he is a good player but (like Berbatov) not what the club needs right now. He does not have the psychology to be third striker. All his life he has been number one and he needs to be at a club small enough to allow him to play a starring role and give him the regular games he needs to play at his best.
So if Tevez is not joining us we still have £80 million to spend. I cannot imagine any business being done before Ronaldo signs on the dotted line for Real and the transfer goes through. So hopefully Fergie will get his ass into gear in July so our new signings can at least join in part of the pre-season training.
June 20th, 2009 at 12:59
If you can read french this article about Benzema is quite interesting… Talks about his relationship with France, how he is an Algerian at heart and how he would not have been elevated by the media had he chosen to play for Algeria.
Also I saw him on a tv programme, and I’m resigned now that he too dreams of Real. He told his mother that
“One day I’ll play for Real Madrid”
Sounds familiar?
But apart from his Madrid dreams, Benzema sounds really down to earth, he’s nowhere near the conceited prick that many United fans think he is.
Also his 8 year old brother is apparetly much more talented than he was at that age… one for the scouts?
June 20th, 2009 at 13:03
@colver: why not? wouldnt that make more sense for united to HAVE wrapped up everything before he leaves?
June 20th, 2009 at 13:20
Giovinco… not bad at all..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOedwEuQl7E
June 20th, 2009 at 13:23
@colver: I agree tevez is not what the club needs right now, although the club tried to keep him so they obviously felt differently. I disagree about berbatov though – i see no reason why him and rooney shouldn’t be able to form a worthy strike partnership if they are both played up front together and are given service and support.
I also think that any player who is happy being a third striker is foolish. If you are not going to be a regular starter then you should be looking to move on. In my opinion the likes of fletcher and o’shea are idiots because they will never be considered first-team starters week-in, week-out and yet they are quite happy to stay at the club.
June 20th, 2009 at 13:31
tevez, re berbatov I have the same feeling as Craig. We developed a reputation for direct counter-attacking play in 2007 and swept all before us. Berbatov slows us down and makes our build up that much slower. Our midfield is too pedestrian to be able to unlock defences and we cannot keep the ball as well as Arsenal and Barcelona.
We could get some better wingers but neither Rooney or Berbatov are renowned for their aerial ability. So really we need a creative midfielder to play balls through the middle for Rooney and Berbatov. Unfortunately there aren’t any on the market.
June 20th, 2009 at 13:33
I think it is another mark of the man’s character that on the eve of us making football history, he hijacks it, and makes it all about himself by announcing he’s leaving. What a scumbag.
I’m glad Tevez has gone to Mercenary City. I’d rather have £25mil to spend on Silva, and build the 4th great Ferguson team.
June 20th, 2009 at 13:44
Also, if we were intent on trying to keep Tevez, this would explain why we have made no move for other players. We’re not going to spend the £80mil till the cheque clears, and the usual £30mil was set aside to cover Tevez’s transfer. I’d expect Valencia to be tied up over the weekend now. I think Fergie is back off his holiday on Tuesday, and I’d imagine he’ll want to get the players we want in ASAP for 2 reasons.
1. To appease the fans a little, and show the direction we are heading
2. To get the team together to prepare for our tour of Asia.
We return for pre season training on July 6th… 2 weeks Monday. If it were me in charge (we’d be celebrating our 2nd consecutive Champs League….
) I’d want the players to come together with the new faces, have time to get to know each other, and to have Ronaldo completely out of our thoughts.
That’s going to be difficult for alot of our players, as they have grown up together. They’ve got very used to each other. This doesn’t just represent a new challenge for Ronaldo, but a new challenge for United.
I hope we do sign Valencia, Silva and Huntelaar and change the way we play back to the United way. Pacey wingers. Blisteringly fast counter attacking. Dominating teams rather than soaking up pressure.
Football taught by Matt Busby…..
June 20th, 2009 at 14:04
Traverse interesting idea. You could be right about our available money being earmarked for the Tevez deal. If that is off then we have £30 million to spend even before the Ronaldo money comes in. It is strange. I cannot see the Ronaldo deal falling through so I don’t see why we can’t line up our deals so they are ready to go through at the beginning of July.
Obviously Fergie’s holiday is holding things up. He probably said to his advisors “Try to wrap up the Tevez deal while Im away, when Im back we’ll start thinking about other business”.
June 20th, 2009 at 14:06
Okay – Here’s my 10 pence worth.
United had a weaker first team last year than in 07 – 08 (Evident within most key games, especially against Barca and L’pool) due to the weakened midfield, i.e no Hargreaves and the ongoing decline of Giggs and Scholes. Intended improvement in attack ie Berbatov for Saha didn’t materialise and Nani also went backwards.
Transfer strategy therefore prior to the Ronaldo and Tevez departures would be :
1 – Plug midfield
2 – Abandon goalkeeper grooming strategy and buy top drawer goalie.
Of course we are now also shy of at least one world class striker. (Assuming Nani will be given first go at replacing Ronaldo)
Therefore transfer targets should be in terms of priority:
1 – £30 – £ 50 Million for World Class Centre Mid
2 – £ 30 – £ 50 Million for World Class Forward/winger
3 – £ 20 Million for World Class GK
4 – £10 – £15 Million for second string striker
5 – £ 5 – £10 Million for young upcoming Midfielder
That would give us a squad to compete with the 2 Spanish Giants again next year.
June 20th, 2009 at 14:07
@Traverse: Agree about silva and the hunter, but valencia. Im pretty sure he will join but i have no idea at all why we want him, im sorry the guy is 2nd rate, spurs, villa, everton quality not united quality. Maybe i would prefer ashley young over silva as he has prem experience, not vital but is still a good quality.
Im also a massive fan of aguero and van persie. If your living in a dream world i would bring in aguero, van persie, and someone like flamini or mahamdou diaara, what a team that would be:
VDS
RAFAEL RIO VIDA EVRA
AGUERO DIARRA CARRICK VAN PERSIE
ROONEY BERBA
I dont know why but i feel a summer of disappointment is going to happen with too many 2nd rate players being brought in along with inexperienced youngsters. Valencia, vucinic, douglas costa, no we have to replace world class with world class with silva and the hunter like you mentioned along with others like van persie, ashley young, aguero.
June 20th, 2009 at 14:24
@Matt: I know about Valencia, but we’re signing him weather we want him or not. I’d prefer Sanchez.
Also, that team is clown shoes.
June 20th, 2009 at 15:00
FIRST TEAM
BUFFON
RAFAEL – FERDINAND – VIDIC – EVRA
CARRICK – DE ROSSI – ANDERSON – NANI
ROONEY – BERBATOV
SUBS
HUNTELAAR – VALENCIA – VDS – EVANS
June 20th, 2009 at 15:15
@JDWR: Man, we wouldn’t win the Carling Cup with Carrick and Nani as wingers.
June 20th, 2009 at 15:18
@Dan: You’re disillusioned mate. Evra is a monster. He’s had a couple of rough months, but try to remember what he did before and I’m sure he will go back to doing that next season. He is one of our best players.
Carrick is Tottenham-quality, but you obviously have a different view of the guy, so I will drop it.
June 20th, 2009 at 15:23
we wouldnt win period, with dangle legs carrick on the wings… haha
June 20th, 2009 at 15:29
@ANDREI – That’s called a diamond typed in a text box!
Midfield needs to be fluid with your paciest player given options behind the front 2 – (ps – That would be Nani…)
June 20th, 2009 at 15:32
@Andrei: Nani could win the WORLD CUP ON HIS OWN
. Come on Lil man 
.
June 20th, 2009 at 15:37
United shouldn’t just sign the 1st big names in sight, just because we feel we have something to prove. We don’t have anything to prove to anybody. This is NOT the time to go in all guns blazing in the transfer market, because everyone wii FEEL we are desperate, and will play hard ball. Glad to hear Fergie saying, that he is NOT one of those folk, who has a lot of money, and that it is burning his fingers until it is spent. He says he is not foolhardy. Entrusted with this small fortune he intends to use it well, and in his own time. What a
– 
.
June 20th, 2009 at 15:41
@colver: The Ronaldo deal IS DONE NOW. Signed, sealed and delivered, thoroughly finished with. So the money is available for Fergie, but he does not want to be on anyone elses agenda time for spending it. That is the news leaking out of OT. They say, any players they want will be with us for start of new season.
June 20th, 2009 at 15:49
@Andrei: Evra is a monster? Yeah but NOT a monster footballer Andrei
.
June 20th, 2009 at 16:06
@JDWR: Is that what you play on FM? You’re in for a HUGE disappointment if you think we’re signing more than TWO big named new players.
@Traverse: What is the last sentence about? I really doubt Sir Matt would even propose any of what you’re saying, neither would he say “If I was in charge, I’d have won the champions league”
June 20th, 2009 at 16:15
@Rd: 1. The champions league thing was on OBVIOUS joke, I even employed the use of the roll eyes emoticon to emphasise this and making it glaringly obvious, seemingly to no avail.
2. Its a line from United calypso. A terrace song. It was meant to indicate that we should start playing like United again, 4-4-2, not pissing about with 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1 or Real Madrid’s 0-0-10. Again, I will refrain from doing anything other than spelling things out very slowly…. *
*emoticon used to express sarcasm
June 20th, 2009 at 16:16
@Rd – I don’t play FM m8, sorry.
Utd do have to compete with Barcelona and Madrid next season, as brands if nothing else. The centre Mid (De Rossi and GK – Buffon, – These signings are long standing necessities. I personally think he will rightly go with Berbatov & Rooney up front and expect great things, but he does need cover. Huntelaar is a shoe in for Utd at some point.
June 20th, 2009 at 16:18
@Craig Mc: I think Fergie is waiting till Ronaldo is unveiled, and we have the cheque has cleared. Madrid don’t want to pay the full £80mil upfront, and we are making them. If we go out and spend £40mil, Madrid can start pissing about, offering us £40mil now and the £20mil each the next 2 seasons, and we’d have no bargaining chips because we’d need for the £40mil to pass on pronto to secure our deals.
June 20th, 2009 at 16:31
So, now Utd says that they had agree to pay the £25m originally part of Tevez’s deal. If this is true, and irrespectively of what one thinks about Tevez’s worth, they have yet again mishandled a transfer. If they, as it appears to be the case, wanted Tevez to stay they should have agree to honour the deal some time ago and Tevez would still be a Utd played. Instead they sought to jiggle the price and lost the player.
June 20th, 2009 at 16:35
All this mouthing off from Lyon suggests to me that they are trying to promote a sale of Benzema, but they want to earn well from it. But now with Tevez going i think we need some serious work done on the team. whilst we have Tosic as (hopefully) the ready made Giggs2.0 and Adem Lijiacicicic(whatever) as the likely candidate to take scholes mantle, it still looks like a winger and a striker are needed… yes macadea and welbeck are looking good, but can they really be relied on for all the goals we need? saying that, bringing in a top class striker who will play week in week out will stifle their progress, something to think about.
on the good side i think that the silence about any transfers is a good thing, whilst all the big clubs are sounding off about their amazingly talented individuals, Utd are doing what they do best and using the quiet channels to unearth the next big thing.
and if all else fails, hunterlarr and Van der vaart/sniejder will do…. if only because we know Real Madrid won’t come knocking on our door for them in a few years time.
June 20th, 2009 at 16:49
I just cannot for the life of me see why we are constantly being linked with benzema. Hes a class player no doubt but he has said about 10 times he wants to go to spain to play for madrid. In fact i remember him quoting some time ago, maybe a year ago not sure, that he would prefer to play in the italian league than here.
So he publicly rejects us, spouts on about going to those twats in madrid, and yet here we have so many united fans who are prepared to overlook that apparent minor detail and will show him suppport and love until 2 years down the line he bitches about going to madrid and we have to replace yet another player. So much about football is how you plan for the future. You dont want to be bringing in £30million strikers every 2 years, you need a settled team which you can add to.
I dont know about the rest of you guys but im sick of players stating their love for madrid, fine piss of there then we dont want you. I dont want to be bringing in benzema and then having to replace him within 2 years. I just cant believe people dont seem to mind about that.
Now im not being like newcastle fans and saying everyone who comes in has to be from manchester or a supporter of the club but come on is it too much to ask for commited players who love the shirt and want to stay here for years to come. Huntelaar is a well documented united fan, i think coming from madrid and playing for his boyhood club would mean if he was in a position where he felt he wasnt playing enough, he wouldnt moan and bitch and demand to leave but would bide his time and show he could do a job. Aguero likewise is a well known united fan and i think the thought of him going to madrid ever would be extremely unlikely.
So my point being im not saying any player who comes in needs to pass a test showing their devotion to this club, but if its a choice between a guy like benzema who would simply see us as a stepping stone, or a guy like huntelaar who wants a real chance at a club and whos a fan and would show loyalty, i would pick the hunter every time.
And besides another thing to consider is that what we need is more or less a 3rd choice striker who can come off the bench and get us a few goals. I cant see benzema wanting to play that role. Huntelaar may not want to either but atleast he would be happy being here and would show some loyalty to us if he wasnt playing instead of mouthing off about madrid. Im sorry this benzema talk just annoys me talented as he is.
June 20th, 2009 at 17:18
@tevez: I feel we did not want to keep him, and being acutely aware that he would not sign, offered the money and contract with a time ultimatum, which they suspected would force him to reject. it was done to appease fans of tevez: “see, we offered, he rejected” but I may be giving our increasingly inept management team too much credit
June 20th, 2009 at 17:21
@Matt: I thin that Benzema is a much better player than Huntelaar. However, we have a serious problem at the moment with all the top playes in Europe (Benzema, Ribery, Villa) stating their preference for Real. Make no mistake, we have been weakened by the sale of Ronaldo and by not keeping Tevez and we not only need to buy high quality replacement but reassert our image as a team that top players want to join.
June 20th, 2009 at 17:24
@Matt: dont forget that he also publicly stated that he ” loves ” Man utd. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12876_3033179,00.html
June 20th, 2009 at 17:33
@Roge9: Inept Management Team??? WTF?
. Our Management weren’t inept in getting Ronaldo and Tevez in the 1st place, and they are NOT inept now 
. Dream on everybody who believes that Tevez chose to leave. Truth coming out from his agent now, is that they just wanted more time. Man United’s attitude was, if you want to play for us, as you have been bleating about, WTF do you need time. So Roge, our inept Management as you would have us believe, were in charge. They pulled the plug, and not the other way around.
June 20th, 2009 at 17:33
@Traverse: Spot on. It is important for the something close to the complete team be in place before the Asia tour to make the assimilation process easier.
It could be my imagination, but Ronaldo seemed to be developing a visceral contempt toward the other players, But as an outsider looking in, it’s hard to tell
To make discussing Ronnie more interesting, conversation should shift more heavily to whether he’ll miss united, how his first season will go, how his teammates will receive him at real. Just to get it out of our system before our tranfers come in
finally, I think we shouldn’t be holding our breaths expecting Fergie to sign any of the dutch contigent from Real. It is entirely possible that Fergie has some interest in Sneijder, Hunt and Vaart, but his pride would not allow him to purchase players perceived as Madrid rejects, especially having lost Ronaldo to them. But I hope business trumps pride.
June 20th, 2009 at 17:35
@Matt: Mate there are quite a few good players who have come out and said that they want to play for Man Utd more than anything. So it is swings and roundabouts!
June 20th, 2009 at 17:37
@Roge9: Well just imagine all those fucking massive ego’s in the Real Madrid dressing room, all wanting to be stroked. A fucking nightmare, and one we can do without at United
.
June 20th, 2009 at 17:40
@frankie: They sought that mate, because Tevez isn’t woth the 35 million in total we would have to pay for him, not to mention the extorionate wages he was demanding!
June 20th, 2009 at 17:41
@Craig Mc: mate, you’re just supporting my point. read the post again. I didn’t say Tevez didnt want to stay, I said we didn’t want to keep him and we knew he wouldn’t sign if we put conditions on the offer thats why we did it.
And I for one have no liked what ive seen from the management in the past year and half from how we play, to how we conduct our business, to our lack of urgency in addressing our weaknesses
June 20th, 2009 at 17:42
@Traverse: No they can’t Trav, because it is written into the contract, that is is UNCONDITIONAL terms, cannot be changed. United won’t sign over Ronnie’s registration until the money is paid. That is what the lawyers said in the setants interview!
June 20th, 2009 at 17:45
@Roge9: So in other words, Fergie and Gill both lied all the numerous times they said negotiations were going on? You don’t offer £25m for a player you don’t want to keep just to appease the fans, so what If Tevez had accepted? Then what does Fergie say, “ha you’ve been punked, we never actually meant it, we just put up a faux offer so just in case you rejected it, we can say at least we tried”. What a load of tripe, what is it about this guy that makes fans lose all their sense of rationality and just take everything he says as gospel whilst United are the big evil meanies. Smith ran around probably more than him but fans never blindly followed him.
June 20th, 2009 at 17:51
Who cares if benzena wants to go to Madrid. Ronaldo grew up loving Madrid and look how he ended up for us. I’ll take a world class player coming here and boosting his profile, win some trphies then Madrid can pay us over the odds for him. Put your “big club” ego aside and exploit madrids idiotic transfer policy.
June 20th, 2009 at 17:52
@frankie: Why should United have to overpay if they don’t want to especially where the player in question isn’t worth it? If Gill felt like there was still room to negotiate, then good on him. There was nothing in the contract that said we had to offer him a contract early, as long as we do so before his contract expired at the end of June. They didn’t jiggle anything, they still agreed to pay the fixed price, but he rejected. Whats the point anyways, he wants to play EVERY game and that’s not gonna be possible at United, so good riddance, if he can’t cope with rotation at a big club then he should move to one that suits his ambitions.
@JDWR: My point is, what Fergie thinks we need and what Fergie thinks we should buy is quite different from your thoughts. United are Real Madrid, Chelsea or City, we rarely buy more than one big named player in any transfer window, so you’re unlikely to see majority of the players you put up.
June 20th, 2009 at 17:52
@Rd: Ok let me rephrase, we werent desparate to keep Tevez. If you really want a player then granting several days to mull over the an offer is a small ask. For all intents and purposes, they felt he was worth 25.5 million and would have had one less thing to think about if he’d stayed, but to insist their manuveur couldnt have been also done on a gamble, based on strong knowledge of the players perspective, is silly.
And for one mate, i dont appreciate your tone. I’d recommend in the future you resist the temptation to insult my intelligence.
June 20th, 2009 at 17:59
@Rd: dude he wanted the money that scum and shitty were offering and this shit about he needed time to decide and united wouldnt give him time… bullshit. he already knew he didnt want to come back after he heard how much he stood to make with those wankers. and we lowballed him cuz we didnt rate him that much.
fack him and ron thanks for the mamories ya pair of tits.
heres to the rize of the new youngsters at utd. and maby bringing in benzema to pretend he is King Erick.
id rather get silva and aguero oh well
June 20th, 2009 at 18:00
@Will: Tosic is Tosh, you must be having a laugh if you think he is gonna be giggs 2.0
June 20th, 2009 at 18:01
@johnsom33:
, have to say that I fully agree with you mate!
June 20th, 2009 at 18:02
@Roge9: “you better check your tone, use your inside voice before i put you outside.” hahahaha i wish we had chepelle back on every week classic shit
June 20th, 2009 at 18:03
@Roge9: But also the question is, why should we be desperate to keep him? Good player but not that impressive, with his whining and b*tching, he has also shown he can’t handle being out of the squad and at United, no striker is going to get to play every game. Your second point also works in reverse, IF he truly loves United like he claims, then nine days should be more than enough to decide whether you want to play for United or City, Fergie was even ready to make him one of the highest paid players at United, but he still rejected. United probably wanted it to be sorted out quickly, so we know where we stand regarding the players we need. Plus you don’t gamble on £25m + wages. The last part wasn’t aimed at you directly but at the fan- boys to whom Tevez can do no wrong
June 20th, 2009 at 18:03
tosic
June 20th, 2009 at 18:06
You guys kill me with your vendettas against Ron and Tevez. Relax, its over they are gone now. Ronnie was immense for a team and he wa the focal point of bringing United back to the summit of world football. Obviously Tevez wasnt as inmportnant of figure as Ronnie but the man played a huge part in us winning the title and the champions league.
The relations ship may have ended poorly, but let that get in the way of the positives they gave us. because the positive from both players far outweighs the negatives.
June 20th, 2009 at 18:06
@gator: Ummm, maybe you misunderstood my point because we’re pretty much in agreement.
@johnsom33: How much have you seen of him to come to that reasonable conclusion especially since his still young? If you’ve followed the reserves and the U-21 championships where he’s been Serbia’s best player and still think he’s tosh, you must have really HIGH standards for a young player 5months into a new league.
June 20th, 2009 at 18:07
@gator:
, I see you have very strong feeling about it all mate 
. His agent is coming all over on tv still, that Carlos loves the Man Utd fans, and out of respect wouldn’t go to L’Pool. If any of you believe this bullshit bollocks, then you must be part of the Rent a fan Mob that Boo-es SAF and chanted him out when he tried to make his end of season victory message 
. Don’t be duped, because if the loserpoo offered him the money that Man Pity are offering, he would be going to them, and nobody will convince me differently. But he deserves thanks for those important goals he snatched, and his effort on our behalf in winning the EPL last two seasons. Apart from that, so long Carlos, and happy future with blue is the colour Chelski or Man Pity.
June 20th, 2009 at 18:07
@gator: Wow, a nutmeg that leads to a dive… I stand corrected, he is our saviour after all.
June 20th, 2009 at 18:09
@Rd: I’ve seen him REGULARLY Rd, and he isn’t great mate!
June 20th, 2009 at 18:10
@Rd: I overreacted a little; my bad. But i think Tevez’s point was that he just wanted a few more days to consult with his family to make sure everyone was completely comfortable. Not much to ask.
Anyway, I’m glad that he’s gone because there are better options out there.
June 20th, 2009 at 18:13
@Craig Mc: Looked good for Serbia and looked quite handy in his last outings for the reserves. He’s not the new Giggs, but should be a very handy upgrade on Park. He was Serbia’s best player against Belarus and looks to have good technical skills, not gonna set the world alight, but he should be good. Also I think its too early to start writing him off, he’s young and compared to when he first joined, he looks like the physios have been helping him bulk up in order to adapt to the physical nature of the league.
June 20th, 2009 at 18:16
Wait until Grog arrives into this discussion, we are in for The Great Defender part 2, only this time on Tevez behalf
. Just jesting Grog! 
.
June 20th, 2009 at 18:20
@Rd: Yeah Bro, but do we want below sub Giggsy? WE ARE MANCHESTER UNITED, we need outstanding players, not well he can dribble a bit, maybe, types. But hey, he may in the long run surprise me, I hope he does, but I aint seeing anything to excite me at the moment Bro
.
June 20th, 2009 at 18:21
@Matt: The main reason why United fans are pissed at Ronaldo wasn’t that he wanted to move to a new club, but the way he handled it. If Benzema comes, gives you a great 5-6 years like Ronaldo did and conducts himself in a respectable way to the club and fans, then I don’t think most fans would mind him much. Though I still think we should stay away as words coming from people who watch him regularly in France is that he also has an attitude, so we might just end up with Ronaldo- Madrid Mk II on our hands.
June 20th, 2009 at 18:25
@colver: There is one I would go after. His name is Hernanes and he plays in Brazil. Box to box and outstanding in all facets of the game. Only 22 but plays like a veteran. Didn’t know much about him until recently and then I watched some games and he truly is a great player. Has all the class and imagination to split defenses apart with precision finesse passes as well as score goals. He is also an outstanding defensive player as well. Considering how many Portuguese speaking or Brazilian players we have now, I am surprised that United aren’t trying to swoop up both him and Douglas Costa. I also think as far as good defensive midfielders out there that I would seriously go after I think Felipe Melo is great. Reminds me of a young Vieira and is a mean player as well. We need grit like that and I think he is being wasted playing for chumps like Fiorentina.
June 20th, 2009 at 18:25
@Craig Mc: We paid £8m, so it won’t be all that disappointing if we get a sub- Giggs level player, as long as its an upgrade on what we have now. Plus the rumours were that we actually wanted only Ljiac, but had to settle for a buy one, buy the other sale to secure Ljiac’s sale(not sure how true this is). Ljiac looks like quite a player, so it won’t be all that bad if his bonus turns out good. Plus he’s been a United fan since 12, props to him.
June 20th, 2009 at 18:26
@Roge9: Bro your making me SOB mate, my heart bleeds for the poor little mite
. I am looking forward to some of the others handing in their resignation papers to SAF 
, I have never experienced a true crisis at OT. If Ronnie and Tevez leave a club like Man United down on the ropes, I’ll do a TRIPLE NAKED STRIP RUN, around OT before a full house next season. We are Manchester UNited, you doubting fuckers 
.
June 20th, 2009 at 18:28
@JDWR: Yes that might work playing FIFA 09 on the XBOX 360 but has no chance in real life. First of all, Buffon is not for sale and secondly, I wouldn’t sit Huntelaar over Berbatov nor would I sit Valencia and play Carrick as a wide player. Carrick as a wide player. The guy is such a lead foot it’s hilarious to just think about it.
June 20th, 2009 at 18:29
@Rd: Well he has got the United fan since 9 years old thing going for him Bro
, I’ll give him that at least. I was a United fan since I was in the cradle, can I be taken on as a player, and payed 40,000 a week mate? 
June 20th, 2009 at 18:33
@Andrei: Evra had a more than a rough couple of months. He was bloody well useless and a major liability. He was the root cause for most of the goals we gave up after he came back from his four game suspension. I feel he has lost a step as well, he seems to have lost his focus and concentration which has caused Craig to give him the nickname “The Skinned Sausage”. A name that so suits him well. No way do I start him next season if I’m managing the team. I’d start O’Shea and work Fabio in slowly but surely the way Fergie worked Rafael in on the opposite end. As far as I’m concerned, Evra’s days are numbered. He offers little defensively and I cannot recall once in the last six months when he made run forward and ended it with a precise cross or pass to a player. I have no problem placing Evra as my second least favorite player on United just behind Anderson and just in front of Park. Just rubbish.
June 20th, 2009 at 18:35
@Craig Mc: Ronaldo is a poor copy of Nani. Nani rules the world. Nani is Manchester United and next season he will show his quality.
June 20th, 2009 at 18:39
@Craig Mc: You just lost the second best player in the world (Nani is the greatest
) and you don’t think Fergie should push the panic button a little? Oh I don’t know about that mate. This club needs to find a replacement for Ronaldo and needs to find 25 to 30 goals from somewhere. Sure we can sign a striker who is capable of scoring that many goals but we still need to find players who can provide the service. We need at least two big signing totaling around 50 million for any of us to feel satisfied and confident of the status quo being maintained this upcoming season at OT. Anything less and I’ll just let the team show you what can happen to them if Fergie sits on his hands and does little else other than buy Valencia.
June 20th, 2009 at 18:44
@Will: We have no way of knowing if Llajic even pans out yet alone declaring him the heir to Scholes. Many young prospects are bought and usually very few ever make the grade. Quite often too much is made of many of our prospects as being something far greater than they are. Lets wait and see if they can make the grade with the reserves before we anoint them as heir’s to living legend. Lets stop the unfair over hype of these kids and stop placing that kind of expectations and subsequent pressure on them. Adem is far from close or ready to make the jump to the team and he probably won’t even get a serious look for two years. He’s still a pup and that position requires a lot more than what is expected from a RB or even a forward.
June 20th, 2009 at 18:46
@Grognard: There’s a difference between pushing the panic button and showing a little sense of urgency. Doing the former just makes you seem desperate which leads to overpaying for players. I doubt Valencia will be our only signing as Fergie himself said you need at least THREE top strikers in a big club that’s competing on every front.
June 20th, 2009 at 18:48
@Matt: It’s the question I have been asking for an entire year. I don not understand Fergie’s persistence, hubris and what i feel is unforgivable naiveties regarding players like Benzema and even Ribery. Quite simply they have Real Madrid tattooed on their chests and yet we pursue them.
The only thing I can think of as to why is that Fergie wants him for two years until he retires himself and then he will be able to sell him to Madrid for twice the price. The only plausible scenario that I can come up with because nothing else makes any sense.
June 20th, 2009 at 18:50
@frankie: You are welcome to your opinion as Benzema does have his qualities but he is not the goal scoring machine that Huntelaar is. Huntelaar for me is absolutely spectacular and for the life of me I am wondering what Madrid is smoking and why Fergie doesn’t see an opportunity as great as this to swoop in and buy him for much less than he is worth?
June 20th, 2009 at 18:52
@Mike: Basically what he is saying is he loves all the big clubs in Europe. Just what I would expect from a mercenary. Trust me, his only club of choice is Madrid and because his idol Zidane is there too.
June 20th, 2009 at 18:56
@Craig Mc: I feel sorry for that pratt Madrid hired who is expected to manage these Galacticos. This guy made his reputation for succeeding with a fairly level headed and talentless team in Villarreal. He took a lot of normal players and turned them into the Yellow Submarine by playing Stoke City style football and by having them work their asses off. How does he deal with egotistical stars? Ask Juan Roman Riquelme? This guy will not last two months in that role. I bloody well guarantee it. He couldn’t deal with one difficult player and had him banished. Now try dealing with the petulance of Ronaldo as well as all the ego’s in that dressing room. HA! HA! HA! This will be a hilarious thing to look forward to.
June 20th, 2009 at 18:56
@Grognard:
, are you joining me then Grog, in the Nani sabre rattling brigade? 
.
June 20th, 2009 at 19:00
@johnsom33: I agree, Tosic is a tosser. I saw this one play the other day where he driblled the ball between an opponent’s legs and then never had the quickness and jump to get around him and clear. Instead he was fouled and went down like he was shot. He is slow of foot and his skills are held back because he doesn’t have that burst of quickness from a static position. I agree with Craig’s assessment, he is crap. This guy is suited to Italy where running at full speed is never attempted.
June 20th, 2009 at 19:01
@Craig Mc: Only if I am your Aide de Camp.
June 20th, 2009 at 19:02
@johnsom33: Well said mate. And I thought I was the lone voice of reason in the wilderness. Very well said.
June 20th, 2009 at 19:03
@johnsom33: Classic, I love it. A dive that was brought about because he lacked the burst of speed to actually skin his opponent. Yup, he’s the next Ronaldo, not doubt.
June 20th, 2009 at 19:05
@Grognard: Not always the case though Grog! If the lad does happen to be good enough, and Fergie likes the look of him, then he could become another Rafael. He was given chances very early on, so its not beyond the realms of possibility. The SAF motto is if you are good enough, your old enough. Giggsy got in at 17 on that very premise, and he didn’t let anyone down
.
June 20th, 2009 at 19:07
@Craig Mc: I just started a FIFA 09 season playing Hamburg and I bought three players to build the team around. Huntelaar, Hernanes and most importantly, this young bloke who I expect to be my player of the year, a fellow named NANI. I have just concluded 3 matches and Nani has a goal (a screamer form 25 yards out cutting in from the left side as well as 3 assists. Sure this is only a video game but the point is that I show confidence in the avatar version of Nani, I wish that Fergie would show the confidence in the real Nani because he’s a great little player that is dying to be given a proper run.
June 20th, 2009 at 19:07
@Grognard: If I knew what that meant, I’d sign you up straight away
. How much would appointing you cost me in signing on fee then? 
.
June 20th, 2009 at 19:11
@Grognard: Remember Bro we talked about to be a Colossus of a player, the coaches had to have the expertise to get into a players head, and WORK IT, until those players BELIEVE that they are World beaters. Some of our lads have inborn, latent talent, and SAF needs to HONE it as he did with Ronnie! I believe Grog, and so should he
.
June 20th, 2009 at 19:13
@Craig Mc: Sorry to burst your bubble there mate but I couldn’t care less about Tevez leaving. Sure he was poorly treated in my opinion but then again, he wasn’t good enough to be a regular starter and made that prediction before last season started. I said that if Berbatov or Huntelaar were to show up, Tevez would end up on the bench and would be gone by season’s end. So consider me right again. Therefore, Carlito can take his delusions of grandeur and go play for a middle of the able side who will love him until they buy a better player and then stick him on the bench where he belongs.
If I am to be a defender for any other player besides Ronaldo, it will be for Lil Man Nani. A player I demand that Fergie give a starting role and a prolonged run of games. He will prove Fergie wrong if he is given the chance. He is ten times the player Park is and having sat him at the far end of the bench all last season was not just a mistake, it was a disgrace.
June 20th, 2009 at 19:18
@Rd: Listen mate, when you have 100 million to spend, you are going to overspend anyway. Teams see you flashing that kind of wad around and they get greedy. Also, we are Man Utd. We always pay more for players. It’s our unfortunate lot in life. But make no mistake, we need to buy a few players that will make up the difference in the goals we lose from Ronaldo. We can never replace Ronaldo as he is a God, but with two or three key players added to the starting eleven, we can make the team as good if not better and more balanced. But in order to do that, we must spend money. There is no getting around that. And standing pat and doing little will just lead us to struggle for fourth place.
June 20th, 2009 at 19:19
@Grognard: Yeah, lets go and get Fergie Grog, and duff him up at the Railway sidings by OT. He will play Nani then out of scared shit-less-ness
.
June 20th, 2009 at 19:22
@Grognard: They are not doing nothing Grog. SAF said that they will have all the players they intend to bring in at the end of July/beginning of August, so something is afoot. He is not going to buy big name players though, just because they have a big name. He has to think TEAM. His words, not mine!
June 20th, 2009 at 19:23
Well, I am off now to watch the Euro under 23 games. See you later!
June 20th, 2009 at 19:32
@Grognard: I certainly care about Tevez leaving, in fact i care a lot.
I’M FUCKING ECSTATIC!!!
The two things that puzzle me the most about his departure is why would we dangle the 25m, my god he might even have snapped it up, and secondly, why did so many fans love him so dearly?? He played like utter crap for most of last season, and then aired his grievances to the press and the OT crowd. Doesn’t make any sense to me, we can do soo much better than him!!
June 20th, 2009 at 19:35
@Craig Mc: Central midfield requires twice the amount of concentration as well as duties. It is the bridge between defense and offense and therefore, the player has twice the responsibilities and pressure on him to perform. He will need to mature more before he gets that chance. I predict we will see him in some Carling Cup action this season but we won’t see him on the team in EPL action until the following season unless we have clinched early and Fergie throws him in to game similar to the game vs Hull at the end of the year.
June 20th, 2009 at 19:36
@johnsom33: hahaha the new ronaldo for sure
June 20th, 2009 at 19:37
@Craig Mc: Money is not an issue. Just stroke my ego by telling me how brilliant and visionary I am with my training regiments and tactical nuances and how irreplaceable I am to both you and Nani.
June 20th, 2009 at 19:39
@Craig Mc: Nani has the talent but he needs to know when to turn it on and off. Become a more complete player. And he needs to stop thinking independently of the team. Once he does that, Fergie will have succeeded and Nani’s path to glory will be defined.
June 20th, 2009 at 19:42
@Grognard: 2 big signings aguero and silva for me
June 20th, 2009 at 19:45
@Craig Mc: The only big name player and by big name I mean over 30 million that I would dream of having is one Sergio Aguero. Other than that, I am fine with 3 or 4 player in the 15 to 30 region. But I want them to be players that can fit in immediately. We have more than enough kids right now. We need players to make the club more dynamic and also make the club look and feel different than it has for quite a while. I would like to see the following done within the concept of quantity rather than extreme quality. Valencia, Huntelaar, Hernanes and either Yaya Toure or Felipe Melo. I wouldn’t mind a Douglas Costa or an Alex Sanchez either. Also, if their is a sliver of a chance that we could pull of a real coupe and sign Casillas, that would be frakken fantastic. But I’m not holding my breath on that rumour
June 20th, 2009 at 19:50
@Redrich: I don’t get the love affair many of the blue collar faithful had for him either. I mean I think he was a solid player that did offer a specific dynamic to the club which was an energy boost, desire and chaos to defensive units trying to mark him. But when the ball was at his feet he would often make a meal of things and had a terrible first touch and ability to mess up the simplest of passes or shots. Sure he occasionally scored some really spectacular goals but they were far too few and not too often for a player that was being offered for 25 million not to mention his ridiculous wage demands. He just wasn’t good enough and i for one wouldn’t pay 15 million for him. So off with him and I wish him luck as he tries to prove us wrong
June 20th, 2009 at 19:51
Grognard Ive not seen much of Hernanes but I have a Brazilian penpal who supports Sao Paulo and she says he is a class act.
Ive seen Melo play a bit as well and I think he’d be superb for us.
June 20th, 2009 at 19:52
@Craig Mc: I feel a little sorry for Tevez, apart from the last few months, he was very professional about everything. Still happy to see him go though.
Inside info or is there a link to SAF saying we’ll have all the players we are after or need by july/august?
June 20th, 2009 at 19:53
@Grognard: Once again (see above) sorry to disappoint re the ‘game’ references but I don’t use them. Isn’t that becoming a lame sort of a standard pretensious opening comment now?
Re: ‘Buffon is not for sale’ Buffon is ripe for a sale! and for the Premier league! and is exactly the sort of buy who would quickly make other players reassess Utd as World Champions.
Re: ‘I wouldn’t sit Huntelaar over Berbatov’ I hadn’t but we do need to provide cover in both of the main striker positions and provide the option to rotate. I’d definitely lead with Berbatov and Rooney.
Re: ‘nor would I sit Valencia’ I see Valencia as being a cover player for this season.
‘Carrick as a wide player. The guy is such a lead foot it’s hilarious to just think about it.’ So why are you thinking about it – Read what I put above.
June 20th, 2009 at 20:36
@gator: nice piece of skill that!
June 20th, 2009 at 20:41
ranter and all the rest of you guys seriously need to keep writing reports you have talent, but its your lack of attention and at times care tht is frustrating me you call yourselves bloggers but that involves being up to date with the rest of the world of sport around manchester united but right now you really need to up your game and I hope you do because you have potential enough to be up there with top bloggers. Consider this a serious message though up your game or just stop it becuse you should be able to write atleast once every 2 days!!!!!!!!!
June 20th, 2009 at 20:54
@Grognard: No offence mate, but thank God you are not the manager. If you would rather play O’Shea and ‘blend Fabio in’ than Evra…
Anyway, for reference, Rafael is not an exceptional right-back, he is not even a good right-back, he is not even as good as Liverpool’s Arbeloa. The reason that we are excited about him is because he is very good for an 18 year old. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that he is United quality. He has tons of potential and it looks like he will deliver on it but he will not be part of the Brazil national team any time soon.
If we were to play the two twins now, Rio and Vidic would have their work cut out. Evra helps our centre-backs immensely and he is good at going forward when our team does go forward (which was not very often this season).
June 20th, 2009 at 21:00
@Andrei: That assessment of Evra was true till the early part of last season. Not after that. He’s become a pale shadow of himself and suffered a puzzling dip in form.
June 20th, 2009 at 21:10
this is the best united blog by far¬ so i dont know what you are talking about Julio
June 20th, 2009 at 21:15
@Julio: I suggest if you don’t like it mate, that you go and frequent those other wonderful blogs you are pontificating about
. Nobody is chaining you to this blog eh?
June 20th, 2009 at 21:23
@Roge9: SAF’s comments were reported on Sky and the Radio mate. Why do you feel sorry for Tevez, he has got what he wants, to be away from Our club, and he will be collecting more money weekly mate, than you will see all your life. I notice now, that his agent can’t stop talking about United, and what a marvelous British record offer we made to Tevez, to prove that we wanted him. I mean who is he trying to kid
. We were paying the contracted agrred price, and that was it. United had not budged on the price of that contract, which incidentally they were trying to reduce. His agent didn’t like that United said he, and other party ownership agents are most difficult to deal with. Now he is just trying to build up Tevez, that United wanted to break the British transfer record to get him. Absolute shite, but he has to do that rather than admit that it was Man United in the end that pulled the plug.
June 20th, 2009 at 21:31
@Craig Mc: Nani Davis Jnr is rubbish
June 20th, 2009 at 21:33
@Andrei: Id rather have grog as our manager then you
Are you evras agent? hes shit, no, shit would be too good for him, hes beneath shit. Hes a member of parliament type of shit!
June 20th, 2009 at 21:33
@Craig Mc: just kiddin mate, he does look like Sammy Davis Jnr though.
June 20th, 2009 at 21:44
@Andrei: I’d play O’She at first to give Fabio time to blend in. Certainly wouldn’t be for very long and he still would be a safe if unspectacular alternative to the Skinned Sausage who prowls that area like the albatross from the poem of the Ancient Mariner. Once again someone comes out and shows a complete disregard and disrespect for a true United specialist like John O’Shea. Just comes out and does his job and still gets no respect. Instead we would rather have Evra screw us over game after game with his ineptitude and stupidity with the ball.
June 20th, 2009 at 21:48
@Julio: I’m not sure you what you mean about upping our game Julio? What exactly are we not doing? We see the same reports and news about United you do and we comment on them daily. We also try to avoid the most ridiculous reports from the internet as well the terrible tabloids, so I’m not sure exactly what your point is?
Are you asking us to be rumour mongers and make up stuff to satisfy the ravenous nature of readers out there? Please explain more fully and give examples.
June 20th, 2009 at 21:50
@Dan: And under that wise regime, Dan would be the starting attacking midfielder……Right?
June 20th, 2009 at 22:02
@Craig Mc: Like yourself mate Im glad to see Tevez go, not because of anything he has said or his behavior, its simply a football decision.
When I heard the news today I had mixed emotions, from a footballing point of view I think he was overpriced, overrated and was little more than an impact player who hadnt improved us in the way I would have liked.
Also todays news will hopefully galvanise SAF and spring him into action coz there are targets out there that will add a new dimension to our play, so the longer we waited on Tevez to make a decision the more chance these targets would be snapped up by different teams, those are the positives that I take from todays news.
But whenever I heard that United had met MSIs evaluation of the player it worried me coz when you look at it from the perspective of us keeping him it then brings into qusetion what the gaffers plans for the team actually are, coz in my opinion we would have been vastly improved by letting Tevez go and using the money on players or a striker in particular that would have improved the squad and our goalscoring potential, something that signing Tevez would not have done.
Now at least SAF will be forced into trying something different and aquiring different players, players that will hopefully add a new dimension and bring us something fresh and new, but I must admit mate, I have a bad feeling about this summer and have a gut feeling that maybe SAF has went off signing players from outside the premiership, if this is so, and I hope Im wrong, it will be a bad move.
June 20th, 2009 at 22:03
@Fred The Red: What the F…, I will not be responsible for my actions towards you on this blog, if you start on Super man Nani
.
June 20th, 2009 at 22:08
@Grognard: too right
June 20th, 2009 at 22:11
@frankie: I agree that management fucked up on the Tevez deal. They had 2 years to sort it out and they waited till the last minute and fucked up, just like they got fucked with the Berbatov deal. Thing is, United’s management has a history of doing this. I really though that perhaps the ONE good thing that could come from the Glazer takeover was that they would sort out the management…alas.
I for one care about Tevez leaving. Should Nani decide to leave, I think we will be fucked as a team. Not for their importance, but for the question as to why high-profile players want to bail ship, and why are non-Europeans (or in this case latinos) never successful at the club (exception Ronaldo).
To those with logic, consider that:
1. United met the asking price
2. United reports that Tevez turned down a deal that would have made him the highest paid player in the PL
3. SAF called him personally
As Frankie said, wether we think he’s worth it or not, management fucked up.
4. If Tevez was really after the money, why not accept United’s offer? Why opt (as is reported) for City where he might also end up being rotated?
I think, as greedy as what MSI might be, Fergie hurt the boy.
I will miss Tevez. I am not upset at his decision because I would have done exactly the same. I wish him well.
Now that that is behind us as well…Tevez who
June 20th, 2009 at 22:12
@Dan: Who are we talking about here? Evra is having a terrible dip in form, but he’s hardly shit. Talk about exaggeration, you’d think we were talking about some League One player here.
@Grognard: He probably means like the way ROM operates, with daily updates, sometimes twice or thrice. Users here already post rubbish from tabloid rags anyways, so not sure what difference it’d make.
June 20th, 2009 at 22:13
@Fred The Red: Listen Fred, United had no intention of signing Tevez. Yet they had to do things in such a way, to appease those misguided and Tevez minded United fans, who would have blamed SAF and the club for letting him go. So the engineered things to the degree, that they would see that the statement that went out, was that Tevez didn’t want to remain with United. So the fans wouldn’t start their boo hooing again. Do you really think that IF SAF had wanted Tevez really, he wouldn’t have seen to it that he got his man. Joorabchian himself is not saying that Tevez wanted to leave, but that he just wanted more time to think. SAF wasn’t prepared to give him that time, because he wasn’t that arsed, and Joorabchian is publically stating that Man United wouldn’t give them time. In other words WE PULLED THE PLUG. Now Joorabchian is making all kinds of boasts that United wanted Tevez so badly, that they would smash the british transfer record. PLEASE, its all Tevez machine propoganda. United pulled the plug, trust me on this mate!
June 20th, 2009 at 22:18
@Karl: Answer me this, why should we have sorted out the deal earlier? Is there anything wrong in waiting till close to the end of his contract to sort it out? What if after we’d signed him, he gets a horrific or a career ending injury, what happens to the £25m then? We have a time limit and that was till the end of June, we DID NOT have to sign him a minute before that because Fergie and Gill all throughout the season have assured him numerous times that they wanted him on board, what else does he want?
Cry me a river, the management acted like anybody in their right business mind would have. He’s more likely to be first choice than at United and he’d probably play all their games except when he’s injured and City probably offered him more as they can afford to.
June 20th, 2009 at 22:18
What bothers me about this whole scenario is:
United obviously did not feel Tevez was worth the money being quoted, therefore the long extended negotiation talks. I cannot believe that is was ever a case of we could not afford him (that would worry me even more). Suddenly, the club realise that they need and want him, offer his agent the requested amount, and agree to make him one of the highest paid players in the league? I cannot help the cinycism, but to me this indicates that there is no real plan of action at OT. I would have imagened that the roadmap would have been clearly drawn up some time ago already. I mean, I am not a United player, but even I knew that Ronaldo was leaving at the end of this season. Where’s the contingencies? To be honest, it appears as if there is none. For this I would advocate that the wisest course of action would be to NOT sign anyone.
June 20th, 2009 at 22:19
@Rd: Most of it turns out to be NOT RUBBISH though mate, in spite of the folk on here, who like to bollocks everything as rubbish! I told on here months and months ago many of the things that have happened at our club, and was told about scaremongering, but what I have said has proved right. I could tell you more, but I won’t because those who like to say everything is bollocks will no doubt continue doing so
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June 20th, 2009 at 22:21
@Hannoodi: Hey Superman, my bet is for No.7 to go to Berbatov. I don’t see it making sense to had it to anyone else.
June 20th, 2009 at 22:22
@Craig Mc: You don’t bid £25m for a player you never wanted to keep. Like I said above, what he had accepted this fake offer? What does Fergie do then? Manchester United gave him NINE days, if that isn’t enough for him to decide between United and City, then he doesn’t have his head screwed on right. Do you really think Fergie cares if the fans boo till they’re blue in the face. Fergie DID really want him, imo and Tevez turned it down.
June 20th, 2009 at 22:23
@Craig Mc: I disagree mate, we pulled the plug because Tevez wanted to take his time and consider his options and we needed him to make up his mind asap. Phoning the player twice while he was away and listening to the rumblings coming ouy of OT this last week or so did not give me the impression that we were simply going through the motions of pretending to want him ,coz the real reason that we delayed meating his valuation was not because SAF did not want him, its because he thought that he was overpriced and did not want to pay so much for him.
Its not often mate that I disagree with you mate but on this one I think you are wrong mate.
June 20th, 2009 at 22:25
@Karl: The very opposite to what you have said is true mate, and as Rafa says, that is a fact! It was the rent a mob fans who wanted Tevez to stay, not SAF. They had to make it look like they wanted him, because of those said fans! After all the lies about the Ronnie never leaving etc, you should know by now Karl, that Man United SAY THE OPPOSITE to what is actually truth. So yes we want Tevez meant, no we don’t but the fans have to think we do. I know that is the case mate. Even Joorabchian is saying that United would not give them time, so pulled the plug. United however are saying that Tevez chose to leave –
, the plot thickens. United never wanted him that badly, end of.
June 20th, 2009 at 22:26
@Rd: First of all, the fact that they agreed the amount, AND opted to make him the highest paid league player is an indication that they wanted him. He has been crying for over a year to get his contract sorted out. They delayed.
Secondly, if he gets injured, there’s such a thing as insurance. That particular scenario pertains to ALL players.
Thirdly, even though Fergie told him he was wanted on board, his actions towards him surely did not portray that he is wanted. I mean, demoting him to the CC games with youngsters, and then after he scores 4, benching him again? He was never given a fair chance since the arrival of Berbatov. You don’t do that to someone you ‘want’.
June 20th, 2009 at 22:27
@Craig Mc: Like what? Do tell
@Karl: Not sign anyone? You really want the suicide rates on here and in Manchester to rise do you. If that happens, we’ll probably have “FERGIE OUT” chants next season.
June 20th, 2009 at 22:28
New post up, and it’s on the United-Tevez-Kia soap opera. Jeez! A lot of soap operas are ending this summer, aren’t they?
June 20th, 2009 at 22:30
@Rd: About Ronaldo having told his United team mates that he was leaving at the end of this season. But then he also said Nani will be moving this summer.
June 20th, 2009 at 22:30
@Karl: Like I said, while you’re saying they delayed, what reason do they have to sort it out earlier? As long as he’s under contract, we can sign him anytime, just as long as he’s its within his contract window.
He wasn’t convincing even when given the chance. The only time you could say he was dropped was after Blackburn and Fergie had good reason to because there was another game 3 days afterwards. He came out himself and said he wanted to play most games, not possible at United.
June 20th, 2009 at 22:33
@Craig Mc: If management decided to ‘offer’ 25m for the player and announce that they wanted to make him ‘one of the highest paid players in the league’, just because they did not want him and wanted to save face afterwards, then I’m sorry, I will have even less respect for them. Compare to a saving of 25m, I don’t think Fergie will give a rats ass if the crowd boos him. Besides, it is the job of PR to clean up afterwards, not management. Trust me, they fucked up.
I don’t want to cry over Tevez leaving (even though I personally am very gutted), but moreso, as I’ve mentioned in my other post, it does not appear as if there is a vision or roadmap at OT. If there is, it is seriously going wrong.
June 20th, 2009 at 22:33
@Fred The Red: I know I am right Fred, just like I knew I was right about Ronnie, and told you all 12 months ago. Everyone told me I was wrong, and also when I told you all the players knew about it. I knew because my friend is a very good friend of one of the UNited 1st team players missus. I know also that SAF was absolutely incensed with Tevez going public with everything, and especially incensed that he referred to SAF as the Old Man who didn’t like him, and that he didn’t agree with the way that SAf ran things. We all know that anybody who fucks with SAF, gets kicked out the door!
June 20th, 2009 at 22:35
@Julio: Ok I believe when you meant bloggers, you meant those who write and contribute to the main articles on the top. Of course, regarding the strict definition of bloggers, you are right because bloggers are those on the top of the page and those below the fold are commenters. Ok, since we’ve cleared that up let me address your concern on upping my game (even though that question assumes I am in some competition, in which case it entirely misses the point). I see it like this:
If I’m not doing a good job of it, I’ll see fewer and fewer people interested giving up and moving on to other places. That’s how the internet works, so that itself is a good indicator of the job I’m doing. Even though I don’t see this a numbers game.
June 20th, 2009 at 22:39
@Rd: My THEORY is this. United was not sure that they wanted him. They were resigned to not having him sign up because they felt he was not worth the asking price. With the Ronaldo issue, their hand was forced. Similiar to what happened with Berbatov and City. Therefore, if you want someone, sign him up. There is a belief that Fergie always gets his man irrespective of the price. At least, that was the excuse after the Berbatov fiasco. If they really wanted him, why not sign him up then? If they then really though he was overpriced, why offer to meet all terms? Fact is, they were not sure. and that is the worrying part.
It is thereofore quite evident why they had to sort out things in time, and not at the end.
June 20th, 2009 at 22:39
@Karl: Don’t know about the roadmap, but I do know about the other thing. Also, Joorabchian is freely speaking to all the media outlets, and he said that until 10 days ago he NEVER discussed money with Man United. That 10 days ago United made a take it or leave it offer, and didn’t give the Tevez team enough time to decide in the 10 days, and United pulled the plug. That came from Joorabchian, unless he is blowing smoke out his arse mate, because the story seems to change with each mouthing.
June 20th, 2009 at 22:41
@Rd: “he wanted to play most games, not possible at United.”
Then how come it is possible with Rooney, Berbatov, Ronaldo,Park???
June 20th, 2009 at 22:42
@Karl: No what is quite obvious mate, is that THEY DIDN’T WANT HIM! That is Tevez main complaint, that United didn’t want him!
June 20th, 2009 at 22:42
@Craig Mc: What lies about Ronaldo not leaving? The last time Fergie spoke about that was when he said something about not selling them a virus. Which was true, he sold Perez’s mob a virus and not Calderon’s mob. Also the club statement said Ronaldo handed in a request, maybe the club did intend him to stay but that was the last straw? I still don’t get by “not giving him enough time”. How long does he really need, Kia himself alluded that United have him nine days, Fergie probably needed to know quickly where United stood with the Tevez transfer so he knows how to plan his summer spending. This is business not trading cards, how you could think United could make a mock bid of £25m to save face is beyond me.
June 20th, 2009 at 22:43
@Craig Mc: That puts even more fuel to my fire. Was there then not a roadmap from the OT hierarchy as to ‘where we are going’?
I think I will start responding on the other thread.
June 20th, 2009 at 22:43
@Red Ranter: TOUCHE RR
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June 20th, 2009 at 22:44
@Karl: The other thread ????????
June 20th, 2009 at 22:46
@Craig Mc: Mate, if we put in a bid of 25.5m it is for real. We may have things to say about United telling lies etc, but a bid for that much money can’t be a joke. Which is what really bothers me — that United really valued Tevez to be worth 25.5m!
June 20th, 2009 at 22:46
@Karl: Not gonna do your homework for you, check your stats and tell me if any of the players you mentioned played every game? Berbatov was dropped towards the end of the season just in case you’ve forgotten.
@Craig Mc: I mean this in the politest of ways, are you related to Kia or Tevez? Everything United says are lies and made up propaganda, but everything Kia says is truth in your eyes. Seriously, some people.
June 20th, 2009 at 22:49
@Red Ranter: Agreed mate, it makes me question SAFs vision for the team.
June 20th, 2009 at 22:51
@Rd: What do you understand about internal politics Rd? Also in a good few interviews on MUTV Fergie and Ronaldo insisted he was happy at UNited. United denied that a pre contract agreement did not exist, yet United agreed last summer to the transfer this summer. The players have all known, so please don’t tell me that United don’t feed the press and media outlets a load of bullshit. Fergie was saying on MUTV 2 to 3 weeks before Ronaldo went, that Ronnie was settled. Ronnie was keeping up the lie, his interview to the Daily Mail, that United was his heart, and his home, and he didn’t care about Madrid, that he was staying, and SAF agreeing with him. Please, why folk can’t see it, amazes me.
June 20th, 2009 at 22:53
By the way, they were reporting on Setants that Ronnie has spoken to the press, and said that he decided to leave last summer, and everyone knew inside the club. Lord what is it going to take to realise, that most things said by clubs and players is bullshit!
June 20th, 2009 at 22:56
@Rd: That is bullshit mate, read back thru my posts. I have said what United have been saying, and what Joorabchian has been saying. United did lie about the Ronnie saga, and they what makes you think we are getting the truth about the Tevez case. Anyway, they are both gone now, so what the fuck does it matter
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June 20th, 2009 at 22:57
@Karl: The management fucking up has become a trend of late I think.
June 20th, 2009 at 22:58
@Craig Mc: to say that people lie some of the time is not the same as saying that people lie all of the time.
As RR said, the bid was made, if things are as you say it would have been one of the craziest games of transfer brinkmanship ever, I would seriously doubt it mate.
June 20th, 2009 at 22:58
@Red Ranter: Whatever then RR, you believe what you want!
June 20th, 2009 at 22:59
@Rd: Yes will Julio needs to know that Red Ranter also has a life and Red Rants is not his main source of income or his main job. Like he is expected to troll the tabloids and news services 24/7 to appease the addicts. Nonsense isn’t it?
June 20th, 2009 at 22:59
@Fred The Red: Whatever Fred, whatever!
June 20th, 2009 at 23:01
@Karl: I say give #7 to Nani and tell him he is the answer and to go out and prove it. Otherwise I would wait for a new player to come in and get it or wait for Llajic to inherit when he is ready.
June 20th, 2009 at 23:05
@Rd: It seems like an act of desperation from United to all of a sudden throw in the towel and offer Tevez 25 million after stating for so long they had no intention of even offering him the original 22 million. This sends red flags up for me that they may indeed be having a Hell of a time trying to nail down any of their major targets and actually tried to settle by signing Tevez. Not a good sign at all and further more, it makes them look as stupid as a bag of nails and as slow as a blond stripper. Which is what I have said about Fergie and Gill regarding player purchases for a while now
June 20th, 2009 at 23:07
@Red Ranter: He didn’t say Nani was leaving, the players missus said he was leaving this summer. This is true, because Nani told Portuguese tv recently, that he has offers from Italy, and if he leaves United it will be for Italy, not to go back to Portugal.
June 20th, 2009 at 23:07
@Craig Mc: Like Fred the Red said, they lied once so they lie all the time? Not exactly sure what is BS about my post. I have read through everything you’ve said concerning the Tevez issue and all I can see is that you believe what Kia says and think United are the ones lying about what they say.
June 20th, 2009 at 23:07
@Craig Mc: If Fergie never wanted him to stay, why make such an absurd last minute offer of 25 million? Just say goodbye to him and slam the door in his face. Christ, what if he had a change of heart and accepted the offer? That would be 25 million oplus his salary that we would be kissing goodbye and 10 goals we would have to look forward too. Total lunacy.
June 20th, 2009 at 23:09
@Grognard: How would you know how slow a blonde stripper is??? You don’t like blondes, your a brunette lover
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June 20th, 2009 at 23:11
@Grognard: When did United say all along they had no intention of meeting the offer. Fergie and Gill have been saying all along that they wanted Tevez, I don’t think they ever said they didn’t wanna meet it. Gill had already said in May that his future would be sorted early June, so there was nothing sudden or “throwing in the towel” about it.
June 20th, 2009 at 23:11
@Grognard: Good point. Problem is, then he will always be playing in Ronaldo’s shadow, and everything he does will be compared to Ronaldo. Berbatov brings something different. He is not comparable. He is different. He is class.
@Grognard: Tha is exactly what bothers me. Not the fact that we didn’t sign him as such, but the message it sends out.
CAN WE TAKE THIS TO THE OTHER THREAD, PLEASE?
June 20th, 2009 at 23:12
@Grognard: Well maybe total lunacy is the name of the game. Never heard of finding a snag in the contract final negotiations, and calling things off! Maybe they made an offer because of all the fan fuss, and then had 2nd thought about it. Who the fuck cares?
I don’t believe they ever wanted Tevez, he would have been signed long ago.
June 20th, 2009 at 23:13
FFS, come to Red Rants, and follow the nightly SOAP OPERA!
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June 20th, 2009 at 23:18
@Craig Mc: I can see what your driving at mate and think there is elements of logic to your theory, I think they wanted him, but not enough to pay 25 million until Ronaldo left, which worries me mate, coz in my opinion it was clear that we would have been better letting him go and replacing him with quality.
I honestly thoughtbthat Tevez was a better player than he turned out for us.
June 20th, 2009 at 23:57
@Craig Mc: doesn’t mean they won’t try….
June 21st, 2009 at 15:48
@despicable: you male or female?