Jul 01
Ferguson Speaks as he Returns to Old Trafford
Sir Alex returned to Old Trafford and regular work as he spoke to the press. He said that whilst he’d be looking to start actively scouring the transfer market, he would really be looking to buy one or two players at the most.
Now some people may be worried about the apparent lack of ambition shown by the manager but I honestly think, if that player Fergie seeks to buy is a target man and if we keep hold of Ronaldo, then we’re good to go. Of course, the Ronaldo situation is the big if, and Fergie would also not want to be drawn into it. I will quote some from the interview he gave, but if you really want to see him for yourself so that you could form your own opinion based on his demeanour, his tone of speech etc, then here’s the link to the video
“The European Championship derails transfer activity. Nothing really happens during the tournament. But now it’s all over, managers will be back at their clubs and you can get some dialogue now if there’s interest. I wouldn’t think (we’ll sign) any more than one player. We are looking at one or two things. People think it’s easy to buy players nowadays but it’s not. Money plays a big part, first of all. And clubs with ambitions don’t want to sell their best players. So it’s not as easy as you’d think. We tend to look for younger players.”
This is the gist, and the video link has the full 7 minute interview. But it is nice to see him relaxed and fresh for the new season. So during the next week let’s see what the transfer market brings about.
Meanwhile the tabloids have already trumpeted Berbatov as our prime target. The story has been simmering for a while and now it has truly bubbled to the top. No substantial evidence to make that claim but if Spurs continue to bump his price, then we may as well show them the finger. I don’t think he’d be worth more than £23 million.
Speaking of transfers Deco has signed for Chelsea, which means Lampard will move to Inter. Honestly I don’t get the point of buying Deco when they already have Essien and Mikel. We’ll see how Scolari gets him to gel with Ballack.
And finally, Mikael Silvestre has decided to stay at OT for another season. That should be enough to dissuade Fergie from buying another left back.
News has been thin, but I expect it to be kicked into over drive rather soon. Another month and a half for the real season to start, although pre-season will start sooner.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Featured Video: Ronaldo – A Mini-Documentary
- Wenger Speaks Sense As Platini Loses his Mind
- The Day After Roma
- Hargreaves — so excited that he might pass out
- Cantona: Domenech’s the worst coach since Louis XVI
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (89)
Craig Mc (26)
Ian (18)
@Grognard: Your point must have been lost in translation then, because I am not sure what you are trying to say. All RR and I were saying was that United and Chelski are run differently and employ two different business models, with my point being that Chelski’s model effectively means that they are walking a very dangerous financial tightrope. Indeed, if you don’t condone their transfer strategy and spending habits, then we are probably singing from the same hymn book after all!
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@manuforlife: You don’t honestly believe in jinxes do you? Ballack not winning is simply down to his team’s as well as him not being good enough on the day. Something has to be said that he helps get his team’s that far only to fail at the end. His a quality player and just really unfortunate.
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@Nino: We both agree to not condone Chelsea’s business practices but I seriously doubt if they are ever going to be in financial trouble as long as Russian Money Bags is running the show. Abramovich is more loaded than many Arab Sheiks. 100 million pounds for him is like you and I dropping 10 pounds on a dvd. Also, my original point had to do with blaming many of the players for signing with Chelsea knowing they were in for a competitive battle to start. That certainly is not all Chelsea’s fault. Players have to take responsibility for the stupid decisions they make.
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Berba or Eto pls and Santa Cruz
as a replacement for Sahaargh.
As far as chelski scum are concerned, fuck them. Who cares what they do or dont.I lived in London for over ten years and you couldn’t meet more of a bunch of cunts than you would on the Kings rd every second sat. I’ve no love for that shower of nazi saluting yobbo’s. Isn’t it ironic that they now salute to a russian jew? This is a club with no class(more irony, considering where they’re based!) Let them buy themselves another second place!
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Wouldnt a striker partnership of Etoo and Rooney be amazing? Deadly I tell you!
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@ian:re;Radamel Falcao Garcia Zarate,Colombian International. Followed your advice Ian, what a player!? He looks the real deal, he can shoot with either foot(and from distance!) great positioning, good header, great on 1 on 1. sounds like just the ticket, and a steal at about £11 mill. He’s 22,plays for River Plate, Argentina, 1.77m or 5.9ishft(not tall but he can jump!) He’s a devout christian, was a student of Journalism before turning pro.Played as no. 9 for River Plate, but more recently played successfully in a 4-2-3-1 formation under Diego Simeone in the hole, middle of attacking midfield.Scored some vital goals in River Plates’ last championship truimph. His nickname is El Tigre
I advise all of you to have a look on youtube 
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is everyone asleep?
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Lot of people can be made to look like Pele on Youtube.
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Fair point RR, desperately looking for the ONE, the young one. His record isn’t bad either, presumably we’re looking for United class, to me this translates as potential. This boys’ got potential
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@Red Ranter: you’re not asleep !:shock:
have you heard anything about him? were the scouse interested?
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Read this blog for a while now, thought I might contribute.
As far as I see it, we need a striker that can do the job of Saha (should he not stay/continue with his injury problems). A “Plan B” striker almost. Yes Manucho could provide this, but can he be trusted to lead the line when we have injuries to Rooney and Saha and Tevez?
I, for one, wouldn’t mind seeing us go for Pavlyuchenko. Quick, Tall, Strong, Good Strike Rate (Roughly a goal every 2 Games for Club and Country) and has shown that he can lead the line with great success with other creative players around him in the Euros. Wouldn’t be too pricey either.
Just a thought…
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End of Euros +2 and all is quiet.
I will do this count up every day until something actually stirs at OT or if there is any sign of transfer life.
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@Grognard: Feel sorry for you.
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And regarding Berbatov. Yes he could end up like Anelka but he also has the personality and ability to end up like Cantona.
He’s not going to be Anelka – simply because he would have thrown a fit and moved last season if was going to go down that route, and jumped ship from Germany a long time ago if he was the sort. He’s ambitious, but he’s also patient and a lot smarter (although since we’re comparing him to Anelka that isn’t much).
Cantona – really? Berba neither has the on-field authority nor the off-field persona to have the same impact. He might get the crucial goals though, so if that’s what you meant, fair play to you but then again Ruud got us the crucial goals and so did Ronaldo, look where they are right now. It’s not just the goals mate…
On Chelsea (since I’m on a roll) – Roman’s investment in Chelsea is treated as a loan, and this will be paid back (presumably) once they start earning a profit. Some of us here are familiar with doing business, right? In some businesses you invest a lot in the beginning and take losses in order to quickly breach the barriers of entry in your target market. If you have deep pockets, you can withstand the losses and in the *long run* you will have gold in your hands (assuming that you went after the right market).
Roman is in the right market – what can be more lucrative than football and the emotional refuge it provides to people the world over? Why do you think Chelsea hired a PR company? So that 10 years down the line people talk about Chelsea in positive terms, in how they’re helping grassroots football in China and US, how it’s the beacon of light for equal opportunity in football, etc etc. They don’t want people talking about how Chelsea ‘bought’ its way to the top.
Of course, you can argue that sport is not a business, but that’s like trying to put the genie back in the bottle, something what Platini is doing (and will eventually fail – although his efforts will lead to a more socially-responsible method of conducting business in football). The battle’s been fought on that one, the war’s over, let’s move on.
We operate at a profit despite are astronomical interest payments and I’m very happy with our club for that, but Chelsea have deeper pockets and will eventually start turning a profit. They have more money, so they have the option to play hardball. Not for us to complain, I’d have us do exactly the same if we had the cash.
Chelsea have definitely made mistakes – notably in buying certain players (and the prices they’ve paid) but also in how they’ve dealt with their PR.
But in some cases they’ve been spot on in their purchases. The purchase of Essien and Robben – especially considering that both were United-bound – might just have changed the course of Premier League history. Ballack’s signing is as big – without him, Chelsea wouldn’t be where they were last season.
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Fab and Raf turn 18 on July 9…figure we’ll see them ‘officially’ brought in the squad next week.
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Count? Still think we’re broke eh Grog?
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@Nino: Chelsea and United have a debt of 750million each as far as I know (I read somewhere I’m not sure) and so a combined debt of 1.5billion. Chelsea’s 750million is without considering the oil money from Russia. So I don’t understand how United’s business model is better than Chelsea’s. Both are equally in debt.
Agree that Roman’s money revolutionized Chelsea, and to an extent EPL as well.
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@Grognard: Calling Abrahamovic a clown is unwarranted because then every foreign manager has to be a clown
That was my opinion until i heard Roman bid for next Euro!!!
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Aravind – 578m of Chelsea’s 736m debt is to Abramovich as an interest-free loan. Similar to United, but without the crippling interest payments.
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@Ahmed Bilal: I think you just wrote your longest comment on RR.
Only that if they actually knew how to run the business. Peter Kenyon made that prediction that by about now Chelsea are going to break even. You talk about PR? The PR guy must be shifting nervously when Kenyon made that remark. I don’t think they are going to do so even in another couple of years.
The bottom line is they are operating at a loss for God knows how long on one man’s largesse (or loan, however you see it) which despite deep pockets may not look exactly smart when the inflated wage structure.
Yes their system works for them; yes they had signings that were spot on (throwing that much money around with a good manager is always going to turn up a few good signings) but how long will they keep pumping money without breaking even — because, presumably, that’s their goal?
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@Aravind: Mate, this is a United blog. We even call United players names here. Don’t expect mercies for your beloved Chelsea. In fact, if you tell us not to, there’s a higher chance of aggravation.
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@Ahmed Bilal: It’s not just about goals with Berbatov. He has a flair and an ability to play the role of play maker as well. His finesse and accurate as well as imaginative play is very Cantona like. As a leader or as a presence in the dressing room he obviously is not the King. But on the pitch he could strut his stuff and keep his head high with the kind of confidence and arrogance that made Cantona such a success and such favorite. Similar type of player and that’s why Fergie loves him so.
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@k9: Yes I think we are broke but fortunately we are not broken. If Ronaldo stays we still have a fantastic team. But we could get so much better with two quality signings. But money is going to dictate how much better we will get. Right now I’m not overly confident. Sorry.
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@Aravind: The difference is simple. Roman could pay the entire debt off today with his own money. The Glazer’s would have to borrow to pay off the loan. They are not as cash rich since most of their wealth is tied up in other investments. Chelsea really don’t have a debt as long as they eventually pay it off. Why? Because there is no jeopardy with Roman there to back them up. He’s a smart businessman. Never use your own money unless you absolutely have to.
And you are right. I shouldn’t call Abramovich a clown. Instead i’ll call him an ASSCLOWN.
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So what’s next for Scolari? First it was Deco and now it appears that Ronaldinho is next. Who comes next Roberto Carlos and Cafu? How about Pauletta and Figo? Ah why stop with Brazilian or Potuguese players you coached. Convince Zico, Dunga, Romario, Eusebio and Bebeto to consider making a comeback. It would probably help bring Chelsea’s average down to below 50.
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@Red Ranter: I’m a football fan first and a Chelsea fan next. So I don’t care about names being called unless its against me
( in which case I would just silently disappear because I don’t stand a chance)
I’m a regular reader (subscriber) to RR since November last year because I feel this is a great site, and a well-maintained one. So as far as I know, I don’t think people here will throw abuses on players and other readers.
@Grognard: Very funny dude.
@everyone: Can Berba be called a ‘goal poacher’? What do you think? Wasn’t Fergie’s rift with RvN because Fergie wanted him to be something more than just a poacher?
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@Aravind: Trust me when I say people have abused even United players here. My point is you can’t tell people not to call anyone anything as long as they aren’t personal. So calling Abramovich an assclown or calling Saha a waste of space, as people have done here before (even Nani was called a faggot) is all fair play. And it has happened here.
Of course there no permission to throw personal abuses here. But with this being a United blog, you can’t expect most of us singing praises of Abramovich.
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But on the pitch he could strut his stuff and keep his head high with the kind of confidence and arrogance that made Cantona such a success and such favorite.
He could. He doesn’t. He hasn’t in 2 seasons, except for flashes. His is the quiet assasination, not the peacocking perfection. Semantics but hey, it’s not like we’ve signed a striker or anything.
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@Aravind: I don’t get why you should post here. It’s kinda weird to me. I feel that Chelski fans can fuck off to their Chelski blogs like how United fans should fuck off Chelski blogs. It’s kinda like where we belong. You want to support Chelsea in the middle of OT? Be glad if you can remember your name.
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And the tension thickens.
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@GuineaDevil: Mate, he hasn’t been rude to you has he? As long as he’s good, doesn’t look to wind people up and wants to look at the United perspective of things, I don’t think you should be having a problem.
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@GuineaDevil: A very interesting thought indeed. Hey, if you feel that much hatred when you see me comment, I’ll stop commenting mate. No problems. Just let me know because as you said this is a United site. Maybe RR will modify the comments policy also
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@Aravind: Aravind; Mate don’t let us get you to down. I for one welcome your comments and your views on Chelski and the Prem in general. Just don’t expect us all to agree with your pro Chelski way of thinking most of the time. I try to be fair…..most of the time and most of us here are decent and fair blokes. The one thing you will need to get used to is that we are all born with a deep hatred of all things Scouser, all things Gooner and most recently we have learned to despise Chelski and the horribly dull and overrated game of football they play, as well as the way they conduct themselves and the way the team does business. I for one hate them despite the fact that Michael Ballack is my favorite player. That still doesn’t make things difficult for me because I live, breath and eat Manchester United. And as for you, sometimes the perspective from the enemy trenches is welcome or even needed to better understand things. So don’t let a few bullies force you off this site. Just suck it up but watch what you say and never let our insults of Chelsea players, managers, owners, supporters upset you. You should expect it on here. We simply hate Chelski. But not as bad as we hate the Scouser bastards of Liverpool and their Spanish commandant with the lisp. “Hith Umboliebable”.
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That’s the spirit dude.
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