Feb 15
Brazilian’s United Debut and Other Stories
A very good morning to you all. Thank God it’s Friday! So now I can waste my time at work by making frequent trips to the water cooler, reading some football websites and also do some work in between; all in anticipation of the weekend that lies ahead.
In this jolly mood let’s do a quick one today.
Some news on the reserves front, as Rodrigo Possebon, our latest Brazilian import made his first full debut for the United reserves. However we can’t seem to be winning games of late at any level, it would seem, as the reserves slumped to a 2-1 defeat against Blackburn. You can read the full match report here. It mentions Rodrigo as being ‘outstanding’. It must be said at this point though, that match reports on Manutd.com always seem so euphoric that, had they not mentioned the result of the game, one could be led to think that we won the game 4-0. Sample this, for instance:
Danny Simpson and Dong Fangzhuo were introduced at half-time in place of Gerard Pique and Eagles respectively, and the Chinese striker immediately galvanised United’s forward play.
Dong galvanising a team? Really? I rest my case.
Some of the other bits and bob that got left out yesterday include Neville backing Ronny to shine (as if he was some kind of a star). The astral analogy extended further as he said that he seemed to be playing from a different planet. Hmm… stars and planets it is.
Pique is visibly frustrated at the lack of playing time but is willing to wait his turn. I feel for the lad. He does have a lot of talent and it would be a pity if he were to move on like Rossi.
Speaking of which, Joe Red is in the news again as Robert Pires — the ex-Arsenal winger and his current Villarreal team mate — reckons he will return to United in the future. SAF and Ruud considered him to be one of the best finishers they’ve seen. What saddened me was the lack of opportunities he got in our side — when he could have gotten some this season — before being moved on.
The club, it seems, might now launch a fresh work permit application for Angolan striker Manucho.
Ben Foster has said firmly to SAF that he wouldn’t want to go out on loan again and would rather challenge EVDS for a first team place. I like the lad’s attitude. Let’s hope that next season is when he comes into his own in United colours.
And that’s it for the day. FA Cup tomorrow as we play Arsenal. Join us then as we will look to preview the game prior to kick off. So till then, work your socks off for this one day before enjoying your weekend.
Till tomorrow.
Related items from Red Rants:- Two Reasons Why United Aren’t Looking for Fullbacks
- Man Utd Headlines 27 May 2007
- Man Utd Stories of the Day
- Roundup: Amazed Anderson; Hargreaves Tops Poll; Ole’s New Avatar
- Man Utd Stories of the Day
Tags: Daily Roundup
February 15th, 2008 at 11:01
If you’re gonna write a blog on United, maybe you should pop along to some reserve games, or subscribe to MUTV, rather than simply slagging off the MU website match reports?
Dong did galvanise the team when he came on. He had a big impact on the game, until he picked up a nasty knock and got stretchered off, that is.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say Possebon was outstanding, mind you, but he was impressive. He;s a big, strong young lad, who is very composed on the ball, technically adept (but of course, he’s Brazilian) and with an eye for a pass. Not a bad debut at all.
February 15th, 2008 at 11:08
Rossi coming back eh…now there’s something the fans would love to see. I still can’t believe we let him go, so stupid, he would have had at least a dozen games this season. I do enjoy the thought of the buy back clause, just wonder how long it’ll be before SAF uses it! You just look at Ole’s contribution last season, 11 goals I think it was, those are the goals we’re seriously missing this time around.
February 15th, 2008 at 11:16
To be fair I thought we should have won 4-0.
February 15th, 2008 at 11:26
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think it’s a buyback clause per se. It’s more that if Villareal wants to sell, United would have the first right to buy him. If Villareal is not selling, there’s no deal.
February 15th, 2008 at 12:18
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think it’s a buyback clause per se. It’s more that if Villareal wants to sell, United would have the first right to buy him. If Villareal is not selling, there’s no deal.
————————————-
How do you implement that clause?
So if Villareal demand 20m for Rossi, we bid 15m and Madrid bid 20m then how do we have first rights to buy him in this case?
February 15th, 2008 at 12:21
Guys, I read that Arseanl have HUGE injury-problems for tomorrows game. This is their injury list: Almunia, Diaby, Clichy, Rosicky, Senderos, Sagna, Van Persie, Walcott and Denilson! Sagna, Clichy, Rosicky and Almunia are all very, very important to Arsenal, so it looks like God wants us to win! Maybe also with a big margin
February 15th, 2008 at 12:32
Agree about not using Pique that much. He really is a talent. The way Brown has been playing of late surely we could have tried him, I know he doesn’t have the pace of Wes, but as defender he has a very good reading of the game. Delighted about the capture of Possebon, lets hope he does as well as Anderson.
February 15th, 2008 at 13:04
nope, thers a buy back clause, we and villareal made that very clear, and theres no logic to what you said, how do you put in a first-choice clause in a contract? nowa days first choice dont mean shit,look at tvez for example, we had first choice on him and mach, they went to west ham and one went to pool(bad example i know) but in the summer, inter had first choice for tevez and he went to united instead!
February 15th, 2008 at 13:51
My understanding is that the Rossi deal is a ‘Buy-back’ option and not a ‘First choice right’.
That means, if we want him, we can have him (regardless of whether Villareal want to sell or not) for a fixed fee of £11m (I think). Only person that can stop the deal is Rossi.
SAF wanted to cover United in the event that Rossi makes the grade.
February 15th, 2008 at 14:36
Gentlemen I hate to disagree but there is no indication what the exact situation with Rossi is. All SAF had to say was there was a clause in the contract, he did not specify the type.
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_2635775,00.html
The only other direct quote on the matter that springs to mind is one by the Villarreal president (sorry can’t find a link) denying that there was a set buy back fee in place. I’m not sure exactly how a first refusal agreement would work, but I have heard of them being included in some transfer deals. I presume they need some form of a gentleman’s agreement/an understanding in place to function.
Dan: We never had first choice on Tevez and Masch, nor did Inter have one on Tevez. MSI went round Europe trying to flog the players to anyone who would listen. However none of the big clubs fancied going near the deals at the time (in hindsight a very wise decision) and West Ham ended up with them. On Pique, I believe he was injured until recently, ergo the lack of appearances. He made a comeback in the reserves this week.
Finally, it appears SAF has managed to put humpty dumpty back together again!!!
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=532990
February 15th, 2008 at 14:44
I hear ya mick!
February 15th, 2008 at 15:15
I’m sorry but unless anyone actually has some sort of inormation about what sort of clause it is, then it’d be better not to start making up random valuations. Altough I was fairly sure we just had the first choie on Rossi, meaning that if Villareal accept a bid of 15m from someone, then we can bid 15m and he’s ours, basically.
February 15th, 2008 at 15:21
we’re not making up anything, it was really clear that theres a buy-back clause in it.
February 15th, 2008 at 15:30
Well no-one stated what sort of clause this was, Sir Alex said something about being able to buy him back, but that doesnt mean theres a set fee.
February 15th, 2008 at 15:51
it seems that the un-named striker might be named again tomorow:
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=532990
February 15th, 2008 at 15:56
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7BF9E570E6%2D407E%2D44BC%2D800F%2D4A3110258114%7D&newsid=449324
“I know he’ll do well. We’ve got a clause in his contract where he could come back to us at some point. We are covering ourselves in every way.”
putting a first choice clause in a contract is stupid and pointless and im sure saf would know that.
February 15th, 2008 at 16:00
The news on Manucho sounds very good. If we manage to bring him in now it would definitely help to bolster our ranks. Also would be nice to see how he makes out before the summer transfer window, that way SAF would have all the more reason to bring in a big name this summer if he doesn’t produce. Either way another striker is definitely on the menu. I don’t see Saha around to much longer.
February 15th, 2008 at 16:14
Dan: That is the exact same quote as I gave in my link. It isn’t a clear answer to the issue. At any rate it mightn’t be sensible for SAF to put a first refusal clause in, but it wouldn’t be particulary smart for Villerreal to put a buy back clause in either would it? And god knows where the figure of £11m has come from.
February 15th, 2008 at 16:27
well it looks like no1 can be sure about the clause apart from villa rossi saf and the managment side of united.
February 15th, 2008 at 20:23
i fear for arsenal, there squad only 4 defenders, only 1 is a first teamer and he’s a doubt, 1 is returning from injury and the next 2 are young and have next no no expirence at all. there squad is youthful and therefore dearing, there going to make alot of mistakes tomorow and like we’ve said we’re prepared to win ugly if we’re not plaing well.
Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Fabianski, Senderos, Hleb, Fabregas, Flamini, Adebayor, Eduardo, Bendtner, Traore, Song, J Hoyte, Gilberto, Gilbert, Randall, G Hoyte, Lansbury.
February 15th, 2008 at 20:50
It will be interesting to see what happens with Ben Foster. Clearly he is a great keeper and is eager for first team action. But is it really as simple as start Foster drop VdS? To introduce a new keeper in the final months of the season when we’re chasing the trophy is pretty dodgy.
February 15th, 2008 at 21:22
Dan, I think Eboue and Toure are a part of that squad.
February 15th, 2008 at 21:28
nope ive checked, not unless they become late additions.
February 15th, 2008 at 21:51
I think this will be the teams:
VDS—————————Lehmann
Wes—————————Eboue(read on the Arsenal site that he was in the squad)
Rio—————————Toure(He too)
Vida————————–Gallas
Evra————————–Flamini
Ronaldo———————–Hleb
Hargreaves——————–Gilberto
Anderson———————-Fabregas
Nani————————–Eduardo
Tevez————————-Bendtner
Rooney————————Adebayor
subs:
PIG—————————Fabianzki
Sheasy————————Senderos
Carrick———————–J.Hoyte
Scholes———————–Song
Giggs/Saha——————–Traore
2-0 to United, Ronaldo and Rooney to score in each half
February 15th, 2008 at 22:02
wait i see it, but even though, if they do play it is handicaped still, because its there first time playing in england for how long and there playing the biggest team in england straight of the bat so i wouldnt be suprised if 1 or both of them were on the bench.
February 15th, 2008 at 22:11
last month a deal was struck where clubs whose players take part in the next two European Championships and the 2010 World Cup will receive about £128m from Uefa and Fifa.
WOW, g14 struck this deal last month, we need to keep hold of rooney and ronaldo, maybe evra , def tevez.
February 15th, 2008 at 22:22
[Scott]
The keeper situation is very interesting indeed. While it could be a risk throwing him into the deep end anytime from now till the end of the season, it could also put tremendous pressure on him if we started the next season with him — you want to start the season quickly off the blocks with your best XI. And, sadly, EVDS still is our best keeper. I’d have liked to farm him out on loan had he recovered in January. Now it’s just a matter of keeping him fit and playing him in reserves — which is certainly unfair on the lad.
February 15th, 2008 at 22:24
[RedDevil]
Toure, Eboue and Adebayor are doubts.
February 15th, 2008 at 22:27
JB and Dan and everyone else - while posting Manutd.com links link to them using the menu “>>” right above your comments field — like how Conor does it for all his links. They are extremely ugly and the whole link does not get higlighted.
So for example if you want to provide a link, say skysports.com Here’s what you could do:
1. Just write a word, say, “Click” and highlight it — by clicking on the word and dragging your mouse till the whole word gets selected.
2. Click on the >> button, above your comment field and click on the Link button.
3. Enter your url, here http://skysports.com or some page from manutd.com or whatever and hit OK and you’re done. Simple as that!
Ideally I’d like you all to link with these instructions, but if you could do it for those long ugly looking URL’s it’s enough.
February 15th, 2008 at 22:34
the problem we have, is that we have 3 top keepers battaling for no.1, vds has his pros and his cons same with PIG, i havent seen the pros nor cons of foster yet so you know, what can we do, vds is coming to the end of his career, PIG cant kick, everyone is alwys rating foster highly so for me its a no brainer.
sorry and thanks RR.
February 15th, 2008 at 22:37
[Dan]
I don’t understand what you are getting at re:Foster. You start it off by saying it’s a problem that we have 3 keepers vying for the no 1 spot. But end it off by saying it’s a no-brainer. How did the problem suddenly become a no-brainer. Kindly explain!
February 15th, 2008 at 22:38
SAF
February 15th, 2008 at 22:39
See, now that’s neat and tidy.
February 15th, 2008 at 22:41
sorry its me babbeling on, what im trying to say is that we have 3 battaling keepers which can be a problem, but then i personaly believe we should pick foster, but of course i havent seen him first-hand im going off what ive seen and heard.
February 16th, 2008 at 0:07
Can anyone explain to me all the fuss about foster, i thought he was out until late march or next season?
February 16th, 2008 at 0:55
Was going to post an article about the original Ronaldo after his latest injury, now I can use it to show off my new linking skills
Hats off to, at his peak, the finest player of the modern generation. Why oh why did he have to leave Barcelona…
February 16th, 2008 at 1:04
I second that JB, Sad to see his career end this way but what a player he was.
February 16th, 2008 at 7:40
i’m not sad about ronaldo. i’m relieved. yesterday i was somewhere without television or internet and someone asked me if i’d hears the news about ronaldo and told me that he was out for at least the season and that he might have to retire. the problem is that i don’t live in a country where people know the difference between ronaldo the fat brazilian and ronaldo the fit portuguese.
after being misinformed, i’ve spent the last forty hours mourning the loss of the boy wonder, and by extension any hopes of silverware this season. so sorry Ron, but i am actually overjoyed to learn that you’re career is over.
February 16th, 2008 at 8:53
Maybe Bendter, Traore and Hoyte come in for Adebayor, Eboue and Toure. Would be great for United!
February 16th, 2008 at 10:00
i second that RD!
as always reports suggest that we’re chasing a congo “wonderkid” he is also wanted by spurs. He is 15 and spurs want to sign him when he’s 16. If its true the likelyhood is he would come to us if he knows how the premir league is run and whos in it etc.
February 16th, 2008 at 10:31
im confident of are tie against lyon, i dont care if we win loose or draw the away tie which is first leg, but i would rather a 1-1 or a 2-0, but it dont matter, in the home leg thats when we will destroy them.
February 16th, 2008 at 11:20
I second that Dan!