Jun 04
Manchester United get Aon Money
As reported in most dailies around, United have finally got a shirt sponsor on board to replace AIG. What’s with the club’s recent obsession with insurance companies, really? I guess the answer is £s;80m
Anyway, the facts…
Aon Corporation, founded in 1919 is a firm that specializes in insurance and risk management; which sounds to me like saving the insurance companies when they do something potty. Their 2007 revenue was over $7bn and, like we’d come to expect from most big insurance companies, they come with the baggage of being a successful insurance corporation.
Despite the grim sight of yet another insurance company adorning our shirt, the deal as such is good news for us. It’s a £20m-a-year for four years. That trumps any other shirt deal with any other football club. And is about £6m higher a year than our previous deal.
All round a good business deal. Which is all I can say for it. Now Nike can work on incorporating the new logo [Scott's got a preview] and come up with a hideously ugly 2009/10 kit. Sigh!
Related items from Red Rants:
- Interview with Aon – Manchester United’s future sponsors
- Gill on City and Ronaldo
- Join 08/09 Red Rants Fantasy Football. Win Prizes!
- The Most Insanely Arrogant Plan
- Heinze Set to Leave OT
Tags: Manchester United News
June 4th, 2009 at 6:53
Actually looking at the Photoshopped kit previews, it doesn’t look so bad. Better than the AIG kit I think!
June 4th, 2009 at 7:11
i think the deal starts in the 10/11 season. so we will have to stick with AIG on our shirt next season still..
June 4th, 2009 at 9:06
I couldn’t care less because not one dime of it goes towards improving the team on the field. Honestly, I am counting the days whe this purgatory the team is in will end and the Glazers fuck off and sell the club to real owners with deep pockets who are worthy of running a team of this size. The Glazer’s are nickel and dimers and their debt is now starting to hurt us on the field because we are making far too few changes every season. And instead of sending Scholes and Neville packing, Fergie decides it’s time to go for Gibson and Simpson. Makes no sense at all.
June 4th, 2009 at 9:07
Pretty useless job with Photoshop I must say.
June 4th, 2009 at 9:31
@Grognard: Simpson Ok I don’t mind selling him, but Gibson to me could have a future, loan him out Ok.
Maybe Fergie has to, he may need to raise revenue to bring in the players he wants to, we do have a big squad and maybe a sell before you buy policy has been put in place.
June 4th, 2009 at 9:58
@Grognard: Where did u come across this piece that Fergie wants to sell Gibson?? It would be highly stupid to sell him methinks.
June 4th, 2009 at 10:58
Yeah, I saw the thing about Gibson in the Mirror. Complete fabrication. Gibbo played in some high profile games last year, and when he was brought in from the right he was pretty solid. Worth a loan, definintely not time to sell yet he’s only like 20.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:03
oh fuck!
http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_5363008,00.html
Just what we needed.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:16
@NicoQB: I wouldn’t worry mate, my belief is that he has no intention of staying and is playing the game.
I still think he will sign for City, he is using this as a smoke screen for the fans, another “they don’t want me enough” “The club I have treated me badly” on his £75k a week and a further three medals in his cabinet, to mask his want to sign for Citeh.
It is also for us not the best use of money, but we all know that already.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:35
@Stephen: To think we could have easily got Gourcuff with that money…
Just like Ribery a few years ago I predict that we’ll regret not signing the new star of french football when he is still very much affordable.
As for Tevez, its the fact that Kia has seemingly won his poker gamble that frustrates me more than anything.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:43
@NicoQB: I agree I think he is a top player in a position we need more, but obviously Blanc had the option to sign him after the loan expired, unfortunatly he did but we were never interested in the player.
June 4th, 2009 at 14:00
@Grognard: The glazer’s give funds every year for transfers. £30 million for berbatov – yeah, they’re really tight.
Gibson and simpson aren’t good enough. What’s the big deal?? They get to leave and further their careers playing for a team where they are more likely to get a regular game. They were never going to be playing often for united. Scholes and neville are ancient, it doesn’t matter if they are just bit-part players here, but for younger players who can’t cut it it is best to move on.
June 4th, 2009 at 14:04
This is so frustrating…
Everyone is trying to get Kaka…
Come on United!
June 4th, 2009 at 14:09
I like the AIG logo better than the Aon.
June 4th, 2009 at 16:16
@tevez:
all over your comment. We are skint, fact, you have never seen gibson and simpson play other then the few minutes they play in the first team now and again, how do you know how good they are? Your name is tevez, your comment becomes useless because of it 
June 4th, 2009 at 17:08
@NicoQB: Im telling you right now, the last thing you want is a motivated tevez playing every week and playing for Liverpool or City. You watch, if we do sign him permantly fergie will play him regulary and you will see a player who is immense.
June 4th, 2009 at 17:31
@Rahul: It’s everywhere but here is a link.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2009/06/04/manchester-united-put-yuongsters-frazier-campbell-danny-simpson-and-darron-gibson-on-transfer-list-115875-21413092/
June 4th, 2009 at 17:38
@Stephen: This is how desperate and tenuous our financial situation is every year. We need to sell players like Rafa in order to afford whatever Fergie has in mind. These three players could easily have been loaned out but no, not us. Instead we are just going to give them away for a few bags of balls and a thank you card. Christ I honestly wished the Glazer’s would sell and leave the great game and this great team alone. Nothing I hate more than pretenders. They don’t have the financial wherewithal to own a team so they place themselves and the team into massive debt. As if that was never going to hurt us on the pitch. All I read so far this season is who is leaving the team and who other teams want to sign from Manchester United. And as far as who we would like to sign, none of those players look interested and we can’t afford them unless we sell our number one player. Since when do we do business like Wigan?
June 4th, 2009 at 17:43
@NicoQB: Tevez can fuck off. He’s not worth that kind of money and if all he cares about is money, then he can sod off. And if he feels embarrassed about not starting and uses that as an excuse then by al means Carlito, sign with Shitty where you will start every game and where you will finish 7th or 8th in the table and probably struggle to find a UEFA spot to play in. Where you will start all the meaningless games your heart can handle. After all, why stay with a team of winners if you have an attitude of a loser. And frankly, I can think of many ways to spend 25 million to get us players who can really help us improve. Carlito, see ya, wouldn’t want to be ya.
June 4th, 2009 at 17:46
@NicoQB: We could have gotten Gourcuff if Fergie was even mildly interested in the player. He hasn’t even ever mentioned the player’s name so enough with Gourcuff already. Lets talk about players who seem to be on United’s radar, no the hundreds that aren’t or who have already signed with other teams.
June 4th, 2009 at 17:57
@tevez: 30 million is peanuts compared to what Chelsea and Real Madrid are willing to spend to get their players. Both clubs as well as Man Shity of all teams are willing to go well over 100 million to get what they want. Our cap is at 30 million. WOW! How fucking impressive is that. It allows us to get a player, but we also need to sell three of our young prospects to add a few bucks more if we need it. We have become a nickel and dime outfit and it’s sickening.
I want to know that on the chance we need to buy a Kaka or a Ribery, that we have the 70 million it will take. I am not saying go buy either player, I am just saying I like to know that we have that kind of financial power. Because if we do not, then it’s only a matter of time before we become a second tier team who settles for the scraps available to us after the big boys have had a feeding frenzy. Has it really come to this? Has it come to the big teams buying up all the big names while Fergie sun bathes in France? Has it come that the big names we are going to have to get used to signing from now on are players who play for teams like Wigan? God give me strength. And am I the only one who can see the writing on the wall?
30 million in today’s game is chicken feed. Big fucking deal. So we shot our entire load on Berbatov, so what. Real Madrid has ambitions and the money to buy Kaka, Ribery and Ronaldo as well as Vidic and others. And unlike us, they have the smarts to drop dead weight in order to make it easier for themselves. Fergie, when will we drop the dead weight that is known as Neville, Scholes, Giggs, Park, Anderson, Tosic and even Berbatov. That’s at least 50 million right there to work with. Instead we hold on to senior citizens and failures while we let good young prospects who have impressed like Gibson and Campbell go. NUTS!
June 4th, 2009 at 18:00
@tevez: I’m not so sure that Gibson could not cut it. He was a good striker of the ball and pretty tidy in the midfield. Add experience and patience to his game and he would have been fine. We should have loaned him out, not sell him. Selling was nothing more than a desperation move to get a few dollars of cash, nothing less and nothing more. That’s how bloody strapped for transfer money we are. In fact last year we had to do the same thing and then sell Saha at the last second in order to match the asking price for Berbatov.
June 4th, 2009 at 18:00
I honestly couldnt care less if United sell any of those three. Simpson looked promising, but I think blackburn is a team where he would fit in better. Gibson has a nice shot, but other than that he is rather quite ordinary. Campbell has bags of pace, but is not a lethal finisher. the big thing about campbell is he is older than welbeck and macheda, but he falls well short of their ability already.
The problem we have at United is we can only use world class players. All three players look to be solid EPL performers, but they will never bee good enough to get into the starting XI.
June 4th, 2009 at 18:03
@john freakin’ o’shea: Who cares what the frakken logo is? Sometimes I just have to laugh at how trivial some of you get. I am concerned about the team that is put on the field not if a frakken logo on a stupid shirt looks nice. What do I care about looking good by beating Barcelona in a final or that we go out there and lose but damned we looked good with that nice new logo on our kit. Come on people, enough with the frakken logo. Lets talk football.
June 4th, 2009 at 18:04
@Grognard: “I want to know that on the chance we need to buy a Kaka or a Ribery, “
We did have the chance to sign Ribery, forunder 20m and we let him go to Bayern. Its so frustrating because Ribery was as close to a “cant miss” player as you can get, even more so than Arshavin. I cant for the life of me figure out why we didnt even atleast lodge a bid. Yet Fergie decided to go out and splash the cash on Nani and Anderson.
June 4th, 2009 at 18:04
@Dan: Nice one there Dan.
June 4th, 2009 at 18:06
@Johnsom33: OOOH, I’m so scared. He’s so motivated and so bent on showing how great he is that his EPL total will go from 5 goals to 8. Prolific and oooooooh so scary. They can have him. Go out and buy a player who actually knows what the back of the goal looks like.
June 4th, 2009 at 18:08
@Grognard: what player would you rather have than him, who we could realistically get?
June 4th, 2009 at 18:13
@johnsom33: I’ll tell you why. Because Fergie has his head up his ass when it comes to judging talent. Huntelaar, Arshavin, Ribery, Zhirkov, Adler, Neuer, Boruc, Lahm, Silva, Marin are just names I have commented on here for two years. Players I was high on and players who I felt we could buy on the cheap even a year ago. Instead Fergie wastes his time and goes after players like Tosic. Watching that guy play is like watching rye bread go stale. There have not been three players I have campaigned for louder or with more energy than Ribery, Arshavin and Huntelaar. And each and every one of them has shown what he is capable of. What really bothers me is that all three players are exactly what we needed and what we were lacking in our attack.
How Fergie can continually allow such good talent to go elsewhere while he continually picks crap like Tosic, Berbatov, Anderson etc is beyond me? His scouts should be sacked or he needs to get a new eye prescription.
June 4th, 2009 at 18:14
@Grognard: The Mirror, cuz they’re such a bastion of truth and honesty, you could have as well posted a link to tribal football or The Sun. The link you’ve posted is tabloid nonsense at its best. I’ll assume its your first time of reading the mirror, cuz if you’ve read the bull they’ve churned out in the past, you’ll be better off waiting for more sensible sources before going on a tirade about United selling players.
June 4th, 2009 at 18:15
@johnsom33: agreed. SAFs lack of movement for players like Ribery before he joined Byern frustrates me, he even was not interested in Zidane before he joined Juve after he was recommended to him by Eric Cantona, apparently he said that he did not know were he would fit or what position Zidane would occupy for United, in my opinion if someone like Zidane comes on the market then you find a position for him and build your team around him.
Its not just those two, where was our scouts when Kaka, Messi, Pato and Aguero were being snapped up.
June 4th, 2009 at 18:21
@Grognard: I agree about our scouts, if Douglas Costa signs for another European team and becomes a superstar then I will seriously question either our scouting system or SAFs final judgement in these matters.
June 4th, 2009 at 18:22
@johnsom33: Just wondering, but besides what you watch on Sky Sports and read in the rubbish English media, do you have sources on what goes on inside Man United when it comes to transfers?
June 4th, 2009 at 18:22
@Fred The Red: Where were our scouts at when we snapped up Ronaldo, Rooney, Vidic… It works both ways, we definately let alot of prospects slip by us but occasionally the scouts do there job. and to be fair in regards to messi, he was snapped up at 12 and Barca had to pay for his growth hormone treatment. So its understandable that most teams didnt go for Messi.
June 4th, 2009 at 18:25
@Rd: No sources whats so ever, I just see from what actually goes on the pitch. Last time I checked Ribery went to bayern for peanuts while we splashed the cash on Nani and Anderson
June 4th, 2009 at 18:25
@johnsom33: That’s easy. Huntelaar. I think we can get him from Madrid because he is unhappy there. One sign or indication from us that we are ready to deal and he will jump at the opportunity. Benzema may or may not want to come here but he is definitely on Fergie’s radar. If he wants to come, I’m sure we can sell furniture and some of our secretarial staff as well as a few bags of balls to get him. Not my favorite but certainly more talented than the club footed first touch of Carlito. How about David Villa or Samuel Etoo? Other than Huntelaar my personal favorite would be Tevez’s countryman Sergio Aguero. He may cost a bit more but each and every one of these players can be had for the money being asked for 5 goal scoring Carlos Tevez. Ridiculous and wasteful if we spend it, when so much more out there is worth going after.
June 4th, 2009 at 18:26
@Grognard: Whats the deal with Zhirkov? If I were fergie, I would be doing everything in my power to bring him to United.
June 4th, 2009 at 18:28
@johnsom33: So what are your sources on we LET him move to Bayern? Do you know if other things complicated the deal, like shock horror, he wasn’t interested in joining us like Ballack and Essien before him?
June 4th, 2009 at 18:29
@Grognard: Huntelaar is not coming here unless he is in a deal with Ronaldo. Villa, is not leaving Spain. Eto’o is a player I love(I thought you considered him overrated). and I think Kun is out of our price range. But I agree that all those players would be an upgrade over tevez, except Huntelaar. I think comparing them is apples to oranges. Huntelaar is by far the better finisher, but I think Tevez has more to offer in intangibles.
June 4th, 2009 at 18:31
@Rd: Look pal, I live in Canada. I am not in the know as to which English paper is rubbish and which isn’t. As far as I can see, they all publish lies and bullshit so if the Mirror publishes it over the Guardian, I couldn’t care less. I’ll say this, if it comes out to be true because United confirm it, somebody owes somebody an apology. Like they say, don’t shoot the messenger, even if he brings false tidings. How the Hell am I supposed to filter the truth from fucking newspapers. I never quote sites like Vital Football as they are strictly Internet sites, but the Mirror is an English rag and for that reason, I will quote them.
June 4th, 2009 at 18:38
@johnsom33: For every success we have in signing a player, we have five or sicx failures. And lets not give Fergie too much credit for Ronaldo or Rooney. Ronaldo was a fluke due to us having played Sporting just before the season opened and he totally ran rings around us and the players begged Fergie to sign him. Rooney was an Everton player. We did not sign him as a teen prospect. He had to thrill Fergie in the EPL before we got him and he had to see him up close before he committed. Even the King, Cantona himself fell into Fergie’s lap. The man has had luck with some key players. Most of the time though, he buys them a year or two too late because he waits for them to make a name for themselves with other clubs and then decides to pay five times the amount for them. He is not a risk taker as it never really is his own money he is spending. Personally, I’d like to see him take a few more risks on proven players and not kids. Anderson certainly wasn’t worth the money he spent on him. Tosic looks like a waste of funds. Add the money you spent on both of those stiffs and you could have bought Ribery last season.
June 4th, 2009 at 18:39
@johnsom33: Great point. Hell, excellent point.
June 4th, 2009 at 18:40
@Rd: In the silly season you do exactly that. Either discuss transfer targets or idle gossip. The Mirror is still a major rag in the UK — so what’s wrong in discussing it — even other blogs like RoM have brought it up. We’re not taking it like gospel, and certainly I won’t until I see quotes or see it confirmed, but there is little else to talk about mate.
June 4th, 2009 at 18:41
@johnsom33: Ronaldo was almost signed by Arsenal and Liverpool before we signed him and Rooney was the best young player at the Euros before we signed him, no way do our scouts or SAF deserve praise for having the foresight to spot those two, and Vidic was also on Liverpools radar at the time.
Our procastination could easily have cost us the signatures of all three, in fact SAF stated that only the movement of Newcastle at the time made them move for Rooney, who they did not want to sign until the following summer.
June 4th, 2009 at 18:41
@Rd: Ribery has said before he would enjoy playing for us.
June 4th, 2009 at 18:44
@johnsom33: Zhirkoff is an exceptional wide talent. A player who can play any of three positions on the left side. He is a world class caliber winger with great dribbling and play making skills. He can play left midfield and even more impressively, he can play Left back as he did for Hiddink in EURO 08. He can also play it a lot better than the Skinned Sausage Evra. I love his razzle dazzle and his ability to up the pace and overlap with Arshavin when on the Russian team. I said we should sign him last year before the EURO’s but after the EUROS I was begging for a double swoop of Arshavin and him. But Fergie never listens. Instead we have been dished out a dose of Poborsky’s, Cruyff’s, Djemba Djemba’s, Kleberson’s and other useless tools who only beg me to ask the question of Fergie, does anyone else scout for the team other than his brother?
June 4th, 2009 at 18:46
@Rd: It was a simple case that he wasn’t on Fergie’s radar. It’s really that simple. The whole world knew of Ribery from his outstanding WC 06, but Fergie was not interested.
June 4th, 2009 at 18:48
@Grognard: agreed, Chelsea are making moves, City are making moves, Liverpool are rumoured to be weighing up Tuncay, what are we doing, I hope we are doing something and not arrogantly waiting until the last minute, target the players that will improve us and go and get them, then go on your hols, thats my opinion mate.
June 4th, 2009 at 18:51
@johnsom33: Huntelaar is so superior to Tevez it is laughable you don’t think so. Intangibles don’t put the ball in the net at a prolific rate mate and we already have intangibles, namely Wayne Rooney. What we need is goals. And Huntelaar can be had for the right price because as good as he is, Ramos is in love with Raul and Higuain and van Nistelrroy is also returning. They have an overpaid surplus they would need to get rid of in order to buy the Kaka’s, Ribery’s and who knows, maybe even Ronaldo’s. Aguero would cost more but I have been reading of lat that Real showed interest in him and the price that was being quoted was between 20 and 30 million. As for Etoo, I have never been a fan but there is no doubting the man can score goals. At 20 million he is a much better deal than Tevez.
June 4th, 2009 at 18:51
look, Im not hailing Fergie and his staff as trasnfer market visionary’s. I get frustrated with them as well. But you guys refuse to give them credit even when they get it right! From what I read, we were tracking Ronaldo for some time, and Fergie was planning on leaving him at Sporting for one more year, but too many clubs were sniffing around and he had to tie up the deal earlier than he expected. as for Vidic being on other teams radar, I dont dont it. Its a small world and word gets out quickly when there is talent to be had. I dont care who had who on there radar, I care when a club pulls the trigger on a deal and brings the player in.
June 4th, 2009 at 18:54
@Johnsom33: Wait until Fergie puts the shackles on his improvisational style of play and tells him he needs to track back and mark the opposing winger.
Then I don’t think Ribery would find playing for us as enjoyable. Our present style of play just destroys player’s individualism and sense of adventure. So pragmatic and so conservative is what Fergie has turned us into. 
June 4th, 2009 at 19:00
@johnsom33: That’s not the case mate and Fergie himself has come out and said that Ronaldo was a fluke signing. It was Wenger who had him in his sites for a long time and Fergie just happened to benefit because he played against him, was wowed by him and because when contacted by us after the game, Ronaldo said his dream was to play for us and not Arsenal.
When we got Cantona, Fergie is on the phone with Leeds owner trying to sell or buy a defender and then he laughingly says for the hell of it, what it would take to get Cantona, thinking that not in a million years would Leeds be willing to sell him. He hangs up the phone and then ten minutes later the owner calls him back and says he would be willing to discuss a price for the King. Hardly shrewd and impressive ways to sign a player. Just lucky and blessed I’d say.
June 4th, 2009 at 19:01
@Grognard: You miss understood what I meant about huntelaar and tevez. As a striker he is no doubt an upgrade. But I meant as a versatile player they don’t really compare at all.
June 4th, 2009 at 19:02
@johnsom33: I doubt it, if we want energy in the squad, we’ve got lots of that, we don’t need anymore. What we need is someone who converts chances created cuz with what we did last season, if we’d put away half of the chances we created, our GD would be nearing Barcelona’s region and not where it is right now, Huntelaar would be an upgrade on Tevez and probably with a better attitude too.
@Grognard: I’m a huge fan of facts and unless you have facts to know that Fergie was not thinking about him, no use believing you, just because the media doesn’t carry an event doesn’t mean its not true.
@Red Ranter: When you know its idle gossip, I don’t see the point in discussing it further.
@Fred The Red: You win some you lose some, you can’t sign every good player.
June 4th, 2009 at 19:13
@Rd: Ribery plays for bayern, nani and Anderson play for us. How is that for facts?
June 4th, 2009 at 19:18
Iam sorry but the mentality at united is to praise hardworking players rather than skilful ball players.Xavi and Iniesta would struggle tomake the bench because they dont get “stuck in” and where did that phrase come from?
Any player we bring that cant track back will be a flop in united wyes,look at Berba and Nani.
June 4th, 2009 at 19:35
I wouldnt be reading into that daily mirror story too much its a rag of a paper.
And besides i swear gibsons contract runs out in a month anyway so why would he go on the transfer list. Whos gonna buy him when they can get him on a free in a month. Im pretty sure his contract is over soon but if anyone else knows different please tell me.
June 4th, 2009 at 20:11
With all the talk around Frank Ribery, here’s a small ditty for y’all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTYj93jfCH4
June 4th, 2009 at 20:25
@Grognard:
an article on how madrid can afford players we cannot
June 4th, 2009 at 20:28
basically because of taxes to give kaka 8m a yr after tax cost them 10m and would cost united 16m thats 35m savings over 5 yr contract helping them with negotiations with the player and the board for transfer funds.
also read where they were selling 9 players so i think that our 3 going isnt as bad as that at least.
June 4th, 2009 at 21:20
@Johnsom33: We don’t need versatility mate. We need an upgrade in goal scoring. I want “poachability” not versatility. We have Rooney for versatility. Tevez is just a poor man’s Rooney.
June 4th, 2009 at 21:22
@Rd: Facts? What do you want me to do, dig around and find the quotes for Fergie that I read years ago. Get real. You can either trust and believe me or do as you wish. Just don’t ever think that when I give facts, that I am making them up or that they are unsubstantiated. I don’t deal in bullshit. I leave that to the tabloids.
June 4th, 2009 at 21:23
@Johnsom33: Pretty accurate and pretty obvious to me.
June 4th, 2009 at 21:24
The thing with Cantona was that Leeds rang up and asked if we would be willing to sell Denis Irwin. Fergie said not a chance to that but then asked about the availabilty of Cantona. The rest as they say is history.
June 4th, 2009 at 21:25
@Matt: Every paper in England is a rag of a paper mate. I honestly feel sorry for a country where it is impossible to get real honest and professional acquired news in sports as well as pop culture. A truly sick country that allows laws to protect liars and charlatans to write and make up whatever they want about sports.
June 4th, 2009 at 21:28
@NicoQB: Just what we needed, an artist drawing Quasimoto. Personally I would prefer an artist pick a beautiful lady to paint rather than an ugly duckling.
June 4th, 2009 at 21:33
@gator: I’m aware of all that and most of their profits we can match in terms of overseas tours, licensing and home attendance. So we take a hit in taxes and also slightly in television, but that still does not mean the disparity should be for every 30 million we have to spend on players, they have 100. And that is what is happening. If you want to know the real reason why they can do what they do and why we can’t, look no further than at the massive debt that the Glazer’s have thrust upon this team. It’s crippling us slowly but surely.
June 4th, 2009 at 21:42
Does anyone watch Serie A and if so can you give us any info on Angelo Palombo, he is amazing on football manager (i know its just a game) might be the DM we need probably wouldn’t cost too much either.
just another suggestion.
June 4th, 2009 at 21:57
@Grognard:
BTW Ramos is no longer Real’s coach, it’s Pellegrini from Villareal.
That could complicate things in terms of us getting Hunterlaar. And rumours in spain say that Ruud is gonna be sold so doubt they gonna let the Hunter go unless they do end up with Villa.
June 4th, 2009 at 22:01
@Duffstuff:
Palombo is impressive and even though I’m an Italian supporter, I don’t think he is United quality… Yet.
He has been part of the national team lately and also named in the Confederations Cup squad. Though generally he hasn’t impressed on the international scene. He does have potential.
June 4th, 2009 at 22:05
@Grognard:
Apparently we always had an agreement with Sporting for Ronaldo from a couple years before we signed him, or thats what Fergie said.
And we tried signing Rooney since he was 14… But his parents wanted him to remain at everton at that age.
I agree our scouting method of signing players isn’t the best… But you gotta agree it has improved by far compared to before!!
June 4th, 2009 at 22:06
@MoYa: thanks sounds a decent enough player. maybe worth a shot
June 4th, 2009 at 22:19
I think the trick is to sign a player before they sign for a big club and become a star. We needed to sign Ribery before he joined Bayern.
That is becoming ever increasingly more difficult because big teams are snapping up players from such a young age.
United aren’t gonna sign superstars. And we have shown courage by signing Nani and Anderson who at the time were huge prospects. Perhaps some of our signings are hit and miss, but signing galacticos isnt the United way
June 4th, 2009 at 23:08
@DRed: Exactly. From an approach to Denis Irwin we go to getting Cantona from Leeds. And we all know how well Leeds has operated over the past decade or so. I give Fergie very little credit for finding his very best players. They were found for him by others who were far more awake like Brian Clough did with Keane, Everton did with Rooney, Leeds did with Cantona, a lucky friendly with Sporting got us Ronaldo. I’ll give him credit for van Nistelrooy and then I will also put him down for selling him because he wouldn’t put up with the selfishness we are all very aware of now regarding Ronaldo. As far as Fergie is concerned, I see his energy and interest in buying and studying players to buy as energetic and as enthusiastic as he seems to not have these days during a game. Just sitting on his hands and hoping isn’t good enough and that’s what he has been reduced to
June 4th, 2009 at 23:09
@MoYa: Yes I know. Consider it a temporary brain freeze.
June 4th, 2009 at 23:12
@MoYa: It’s good when it comes to young prospects in Brazil and Portugal and now it seems to be moving to the Balkans and Mediterranean but it is nil and void in places like North Western Europe and even in Argentina. We need to do a better job of pouncing on players like Ribery before they signed for Bayern. I knew he was good enough before then, United however was sleeping at the wheel when they could have bought him for around 20 mil.
June 4th, 2009 at 23:15
@MoYa: Big teams are snapping up players we should be snapping up but we are showing no aggressiveness and desire. We just sit on our ass and watch others benefit from these players during their greatest years then we snap them up when their best is past like Berbatov.
June 4th, 2009 at 23:15
@Grognard:
In your opinion is there a particular type of player we should be going for? For example a striker.
Or should we go for any world class talent available?
June 4th, 2009 at 23:17
@Grognard:
I think we just always seem to get it wrong with Argies!!
Veron, Heinze and now Tevez… Always seem to get screwd over!
June 4th, 2009 at 23:19
@Grognard:
I don’t think Berba is past it… Brilliant player, but perhaps doesn’t match our style. We should have gotten him long ago though!
June 4th, 2009 at 23:25
@MoYa: Trust me, grognard is a massive huntelaar fan, hes been raving about him for the best part of a year. Excellent player i remember i was mentioning him as well a while ago too but most people dont seem to be a fan of him for whatever reason.
Just a thing about strikers these days is what do the fans expect of them. I hear them complaining when they dont run the lenght of the field to win the ball back. Is it just me or is it not their job to do that, their job is to put the ball in the net. The bitching about the likes of berbatov cos he doesnt run back is bollocks really, ok hes not scoring enough but his lack of running back is not something to slate him for.
When i think back to the great strikers of years gone by, the shearers, fat ronaldos, ruud, henry etc, they werent running back all the time. Their primary job was to stay in the box and score goals.
Why is it in modern football players and especially strikers are expected to do things that arent necessary.
Huntelaar is an old school striker and i personally am a fan of his. I dont know why though fergie and others dont seem to rate him, all the crap about slowing down our pace is rubbish cos he will make up for the lack of pace about us with the half chances he would convert.
June 5th, 2009 at 2:25
@Rd: There is no point in discussing further, but in a comments board during summer when people at times run out of things to discuss, they may see a point in doing idle gossip. I personally avoid them, which is why I’ve hardly every talked about the youth transfer, but I can see why people might want to be involved in idle gossip when there’s nowt else to do.
June 5th, 2009 at 2:29
@Grognard: Mind your generalizations here, Grognard!! The very one who spouts on and on about freedom of speech is usually the first one to call for censorship when there’s something published that doesn’t herald the entire truth as he sees it!!
If we were to listen to the utter crap that you spout on and on about, we would not only be misinformed but utterly glad to believe all the bollocks that the tabloid’s rumor mill produce from day to day.
Frankly reading the UK dailies and reading your comments have an awful lot in common.
June 5th, 2009 at 2:34
you think we have problems.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8084182.stm
June 5th, 2009 at 3:51
@Fred The Red: The article about OT being expanded to 95k is pertinent to this idea! The teams that have the muscle in the transfer market are really the ones that can amass the biggest gate money.
For Liverpool to continue with it’s small stadium, doesn’t make much sense as a business decision, but could be the only option available to their cash strapped owners.
Good luck to Hicks and Co., because the big faux pas was to nix the stadium plan and to try to build a dynastay, like it was the 80’s.
They have a few really good players, but their eyes are full of green and I would imagine they’d feel that they’re on a sinking ship, and as such make the jump.
Hope we’re there to catch Torres!!
June 5th, 2009 at 4:11
@MoYa: Gosh mate, don’t get me started. I could go on for days.
Seriously though, I look at things from a couple of perspectives. What I would ideally like to see and what is actually realistically feasible. Manchester United is not only a huge team but they are a huge worldwide label. I personally believe that a team like that should have a world class player playing every position and at least three or four world class athletes on the bench. Having said that I have had a a couple of seasons now to asses what I really feel is great and not so great about the team. Surprisingly, the biggest problem on this team is not a lack of players as much as it’s a lack of leadership and grit on the field. We are no longer a tough team that opponents fear because if you mess with us, Keane or Ince or Bruce will make you pay. A team with real team cockiness and players with not just personal pride and arrogance, but team pride.
Today’s team is loaded with mercenaries. Ronaldo, Tevez, Berbatov are all examples of players who play for themselves first and team second. Vidic, Giggs, Scholes, Neville and Rooney are guys who play for the team first and themselves a distant second. Before we look at who we need to buy, we need to address this problem. Do we go along with this present system of buying players only to see them get disenchanted for this reason and that reason or because they have been seduced by the skanky odor emanating from Madrid? Or do we start recruiting and buying players that dream of wearing the red of United? Perhaps not as good as Ronaldo but good enough and proud enough that they become better players just because they are with this club. Keane, Solksjaer, Giggs, Scholes, Pallister, Bruce, King Cantona and many others elevated their game because of the pride they had playing for this club and because they played for a great manager. I want to see those kind of players but unfortunately this is is the age of the mercenary and those times are long gone.
So who do we buy? Yes we need a striker but not just any old striker. We play in the English Premier League and as European as we like to think we are, we play against a lot of old school traditional teams that like to play ten men behind the ball and park the bus. In this situation you need an old school in the box Ruud van Nistelrooy, Gerd Mueller style goal poacher. Fergie seems to be attracted to the kind of forward like Rooney who roams around and tracks back and does nearly everything asked of him except put the ball in the net. I guess a goal poacher in his eyes just isn’t sexy enough and doesn’t remind him of his wunderboy Cantona. Well Cantona’s are one in a million and I think he now sees that Berbatov is no Cantona. What we need is a Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Samuel Etoo or Didier Drogba type player. I would settle for a superstar of the roaming variety like Aguero, Villa or even Benzema but then again, I also want us to go after players that want to play for us. Benzema doesn’t yet Fergie wants him. Aguero has maintained to the media on more than one occasion that he grew up a United supporter yet for whatever reason, Fergie doesn’t know the lad is alive. Huntelaar has come out and said it would be an honor to wear the red but Fergie ignores his plea’s too. Instead he pursues players that don’t live and breath for the United cause.
Other than striker it is clear to me that the two other positions that need immediate fixing are in the center of midfield and on the left wing or left side of midfield depending on the formation. In the last two years we have passed on David Silva, Frank Ribery, Alex Sanchez Andrei Arshavin, Yuri Zhirkov and others. Instead Fergie sees fit to inflict JS Krap on us week after week after week. An embarrassment to the uniform. That little Korean gob of shite isn’t worthy of wearing a West Ham shirt yet alone ours. Why he doesn’t play the infinitely more talented Nani over him is beyond me and why he continues to play around and waste the abilities of Wayne Rooney by playing him wide is a mystery? Why when there are so many great players available for that position do we not address it? I want Ribery and if we can’t get him I’d like a player like Marko Marin, Alex Sanchez or Valencia from Wigan. I would have died for Arshavin or Zhirkov but unfortunately Fergie was asleep at the wheel and has been beaten to the punch.
Finally, the central midfield position needs addressing and now. We need two players because I have no trustor faith in Hargreaves returning. We need a central defensive midfielder who has pace and determination and who has the grit and leadership qualities to take charge of a team. A Kean, Makelele or Deschamps type. I deally Michael Essien would be the one but I doubt we could ever get him. The two that interest me are at Barcelona. Keita and Yaya Toure are there fighting for playing time with the new boy Busquets. There is room for only one to start so I feel one could be had for a decent price. After that, it’s time to get an attacking midfielder who can help set up and score goals. Diego is gone, but there are still Sneijder and van der Vaart available. Perhaps in a couple years LLajic will be that player for us but right now, we need one badly. If we were to sign a Ribery he could be that guy from a wider position but until then, we wait. Again I bring up the name Arshavin. It’s funny how the teams that have the great AMF’s are two or three deep in them. Barca have Iniesta and Xavi, Chelsea have Lampard, Ballack and even Deco, Arsenal have Fabregas and Arshavin as well as Nasri. We have squat. What I would give for a young Riquleme or a young Ballack? Kaka would have been nice but then again, he is going for thrre times our transfer kitty. Tough times indeed.
Finally
June 5th, 2009 at 4:14
@MoYa: It’s because Fergie treats them like shit. Heinze was fantastic for us. He get a serious injury and when he comes back, he’s like dead to Fergie because the lad wanted to play in the Copa for his country. Evra got his job and Heinze wasn’t even shown the respect to at least fight for his position. He was basically placed at the end of the bench. Veron, well don’t even get me started on that one. Bottom line is Fergie has his favorites and for those who aren’t he can be a resentful and spiteful old prick to them.
June 5th, 2009 at 4:15
@MoYa: That’s exactly it. A square peg trying to fit in a tight little red circle. He is just not fast enough or prolific enough as a goal scorer to be of any use to a team that plays such a slow pragmatic style of Italian football.
June 5th, 2009 at 4:18
@Grognard: Heinze wanted to go to the scousers, what other reason do you need to disrespect the prick??
June 5th, 2009 at 4:21
@Matt: They don’t get Huntelaar because most of them hasn’t seen more than 30 minutes of him and further more, they don’t appreciate the simplicity in an old school striker. The greatest striker of all time bar none was Gerd Mueller. He would positively be hated in todays game because he never tracked back. All he did was poach goals and try to break the offside trap. That is why in Italy Pipo Inzaghi is nicknamed Mueller because that was his idol and he patterned himself after him. And as good as he is, he never even came close. Never ever have I seen anyone come close to having the raw instinct of being in the right place at the right time like Mueller. van Nistelrooy was pretty good but Huntelaar is the closest I have seen since him. And the added feature to Klass’ game is he can hit them from outside of the box too. That was something Muller or van Nistelrooy could not do well.
And finally, what kind of a crap game is the modern game that we need strikers to track back when most teams never throw more than 4 or 5 bodies in the box anyway?
June 5th, 2009 at 4:22
@Redrich: they defo seem to be in a bad spot, at least we are still getting success to keep the wolves from the door, and like you said, the extra gate money every home match helps.
June 5th, 2009 at 4:25
@Redrich: I’m not asking for censorship. I am asking for responsible and ethical journalism. I am asking for the truth and the facts and nothing more. All you get now because of lacks laws is tabloid what if and he said and she said journalism and it’s wrong and tacky. Censoring garbage is a must for a responsible and respectful society.
June 5th, 2009 at 4:28
@Redrich: Further more I am not a journalist but a fan spouting my crap as a free speaking fan on a free speaking blog. The fact that you have to insult me and belittle my efforts with your insults only speaks volumes about your character pal, not mine. Frankly I should get mad as Hell and give you a peace of my mind as Red Ranter has let you sneak in with that barrage of insults, but as I see it, you aren’t worth the spit or the effort.
June 5th, 2009 at 4:29
@Redrich: And I’m full of crap? Thats red rich!
Dream on.
June 5th, 2009 at 4:32
@Redrich: I am talking before that incident. He wanted to go only after he was benched for a long period and not given a chance to regain his starting spot which only a year before he was picked as the team MVP. When the Liverpool thing happened I too was pissed off with hi and was glad we got rid of him. But Fergie brought it upon himself with his mistreatment of a good player.
June 5th, 2009 at 4:41
@Grognard: If you generalize negatively, you sweep everyone into the same corner. Don’t blame me for my reaction, you ask for it every time you do this!!
My sensibility of the UK Press is long gone, but it was a glaring example of hypocrisy, to call to task an entire country because it can’t pass rules of censorship. For god sake man, read your own comment!!
June 5th, 2009 at 4:50
@Grognard: I’d like to know , by who’s standards do you say SAF mistreats good players??
Perhaps this mystery example of managerial excellence, could be his successor??
June 5th, 2009 at 6:14
@Fred The Red: The big thing in the PL is the money. Sorry to have to put that bluntly, but the reason why teams suceed or fail is the abundance or lack of it!!
With all things considered, it’s not the overall revenue of a club, but the spendable equity! Even Chelski , with its moneybags owner, has to draw the line on transfers in – v – transfers out. The cash intake has little or no effect its bottom line, because the big issue is resale value!!
With United we have owners that will be prudent with its money for transfers, but have its eyes wide open to the future of their investment. So I would say there is a careful investment into the team, but not one that would put them in jeopardy of loosing their advantage.
The Glaziers said they are long term investors, and so I believe them so far!! No, they will not go and buy, Kaka, Messi, Torres and Gerrard, but they will make commitments to improving our squad. It doesn’t compare to the outrageous dealings of Madrid and such, but then we dont have to, do we??
If you worry about the debt, it’s like worrying about player injuries or suspensions – they, as debt, can be volitole and unpredictable, and about as easy to control as Ronaldo running behind a midfield.
It’s not ideal for us, and a godzillianaire from Kuwait may fill our coffers – but I do like the stabilty of the same owners that got us 3 PL championships in a row!!!
June 5th, 2009 at 6:34
When are we gonna get a sponsor that pays big money AND has a nice logo.
From crap (AIG) to crappier (Aon)
I long for the days of Vodafone.
June 5th, 2009 at 7:08
The muppets at redcafe wants Danielle De Rossi, sad to say but I agree. We need a DMF if Hargo is to miss next season also. And a goal scoring striker is also needed if that tevez is to leave also.
signings: DMF- De Rossi 25 mil – 30 mil range
STR- Huntelaar – 15 mil or Benzmea 35 mil -40
June 5th, 2009 at 8:44
@Redrich: You know the rules about getting personal on this page. I’d advise you to stick to them and stop becoming personal with your comments. If my views and comments bother you, ignore them and take a chill pill. Otherwise, blow it out your ass and shut the fuck up. I don’t much care for your attack on my personality or my views. You show absolutely no respect to me or any class attacking me in this manner. I certainly have never attacked you in a personal way despite the fact I generally think you are an antagonistic twerp. So how does it feel? Feels pretty shitty doesn’t it. You would n know since you are full of it. There you go mate, a bit of your own medicine. You brought out the worst in me. Consider yourself lucky we weren’t having this argument in a bar.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:17
lol @ liverpool
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1190962/Kop-meltdown-Transfer-shock-Rafa-Benitez-Liverpool-cash-crisis-deepens.html
June 5th, 2009 at 9:24
It is going to be a long summer if all we going to do is speculate of bullshit transfer rumours.
June 5th, 2009 at 10:15
Some interesting Real / Ronaldo news:
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/real-face-16326m-fine-if-they-back-out-of-ronaldo-bid-1697184.html
June 5th, 2009 at 10:23
Call me sentimental, but my dream signing would be Rossi.
Were Kaka perhaps going to Chelsea, I would break the bank to make an offer for Essien (and whilst we’re at it, add Drogba to the list).
June 5th, 2009 at 10:26
@Karl: I would rather die than have Drogba at our club.
June 5th, 2009 at 10:31
@Stephen: As much as what I hate Drogba, I think he will fit in perfectly with the Italian style Fergie is so persistent with. I think he is exactly what we need up front for both Rooney and Berba to flourish with.
June 5th, 2009 at 10:35
@Karl: He is hasn’t the class to play for our club mate, he is a battering ram of a player, also he is an animal and a thug, and being realistic we will never sign him or Essien simply because Chelsea won’t sell.
June 5th, 2009 at 10:44
We have enough class in Berba, Rooney, Ronaldo, Nani, ANDERSON to accomodate a classless battering ram like Drogba. I think he will fit in perfectly.
Essien, I won’t be too sure about Chelsea not selling. Abramovic wants the club to become profitable first and foremost. By adding a 60m Kaka to a midfield of Essien, Lampard, Ballack, Deco and Mikel (not forgetting Malouda and Cole, I think he might well be tempted to sell.
June 5th, 2009 at 10:50
@Karl: Anderson?
Drogba just isn’t a United player, the fans would never accept him either, if he had signed direct from Marsille then Ok, but that ship has now sailed.
Chelsea will never sell Essien, they rate him too high and especially to us, but I hear Carvalho is for sale and that would be a sensible purchase…
June 5th, 2009 at 11:48
Just a small point.. I thought tapping up was illegal? The fact that Madrid have been talking about secret contracts with Ronaldo should be looked into be FIFA. It is a joke, and if Fergie were to hint at a secret contract with Benzema or Ribery, UEFA would be stormign Old Trafford the next day looking for it.
Now Berlusconi, world renowned scumbag and jackass, is talking about trying to tap Ronaldo up at the Champions League Final. Either FIFA/UEFA put a stop to it or officially remove themselves as the governing body of football, and a new one is created that actually uses it’s authority.
June 5th, 2009 at 12:31
@Traverse: What about the fact that Real have a supposed pre-contract with Ronaldo?
June 5th, 2009 at 12:35
@Stephen: Couldn’t resist putting him in, knowing how you feel about him.
Regardless, in my dream team there would be:
EVDS, Rooney, Ronaldo, Rio, Vidic and 6x Andersons (with a GK, Tevez and 5x Andersons on the bench)
June 5th, 2009 at 12:39
To please people like you and Grognard, I will instruct the 5 on the bench to get proper haircuts (just for variation). The ones on the pitch will have total freedom wrt hair and gameplay
June 5th, 2009 at 12:40
@Karl: That is in my first sentence!
June 5th, 2009 at 12:47
@Traverse: Sorry, I got hung up on Berlusconi issue. I just found the whole thing so ironic.
I wonder if there is any truth in the Real to pay Ronaldo (his agent) 29m Euros story. Surely that should be proof enough.
June 5th, 2009 at 13:36
@Karl:
June 5th, 2009 at 13:37
@Karl:@Traverse: Is there buy out clause on Ronnie’s contract does anyone know?
June 5th, 2009 at 14:16
@Karl: Nah that’s a complete fabrication (although, to be honest, the whole saga is a fabrication).
Basically Madrid fans don’t want them to spend £100mil on him, so the Madrid hierarchy are saying ‘If we don’t buy him, it’ll cost us £30mil anyway, so we should buy him, it’ll stop us wasting money’.
It’s stupid, and they are stupid. REAL stupid.
June 5th, 2009 at 14:18
Also, does anyone else think that the silence from the Joorbachian camp after their recent meeting means we’ve taken the plunge and signed Tevez?
Normally if things haven’t gone his way he’s straight off to the press, talking up Tevez to the market, but none of that has happened this time
June 5th, 2009 at 14:18
@Stephen: Not sure. But, I doubt there is, otherwise there would have been mention of it last summer already. Perhaps that was why his agent wanted to re-negotiate a new contract this past season.
Also, if there was a buy-out clause, he would not have had grounds to call himself a slave – they would have told him to simply buy out his contract.
I don’t know, but I don’t think there is.
What is interesting though is that Real apparently signed a pre-contract with his agent that might cost them 29m should they not pursue it. Then again, it’s just rumours at this stage.
June 5th, 2009 at 14:21
its so quiet on our side, there is no one denying that ronaldo is leaving
and i am guessing that ronaldo will say something after his match with Portugal
June 5th, 2009 at 14:23
@Karl: Good points mate, cheers.
@Traverse: Not at all Carlos is away on International duty against Colombia on Saturday and Ecuador in Quito next Wednesday, so nothing will be decided until after then.
June 5th, 2009 at 14:27
@Stephen: I don’t think Carlos has anything to do with it at this stage. The contract we signed for the loan deal states a price and wage that if we offer they will accept. We 100% had a meeting with Joorbachian in the last couple of days, and he hasn’t been on sky news, and he hasn’t been sounding off to the guardian. Just seems unlike him.
June 5th, 2009 at 14:30
@Traverse: Makes sense. Both Real and Tevez.
June 5th, 2009 at 14:32
@Traverse: Ha ha good point, when does the loan expire is it the 1st of July??
There would be no point for us to sign him if he doesn’t want to play for us, which he quite clearly doesn’t want to do. Either we have tried to call his bluff, or they are still in negotiations, to me why bother?
He has showed no respect for the club or manager, and has said he wants to leave, why should we waste our time with him?
June 5th, 2009 at 14:55
Don’t get me wrong, I hope we haven’t signed him. The way he has treated SAF and mouthed off at every conceivable opportunity coupled with FIVE league goals this year, only 3 more than Macheda managed, means we shouldn’t even contemplate spending a combined £33 million on him.
We should cut our losses and spend £15mil on Huntelaar, and put the rest towards a midfielder. We don’t need strikers who hustle, we need strikers who score goals. Hustling is for midfield and defence.
Andy Cole, not a hustler. Ruud Van Nistelrooy, not a hustler. Ronaldo, not a hustler. All of them bang the goals in wihtout a moments thought for defence. That’s not what they are there for. Tevez simply does not score enough goals. Lets get someone who can.
June 5th, 2009 at 15:07
@Traverse: Spot on, if we bought Huntelaar and a top draw midfield player I would be more than pleased with our summers work.
June 5th, 2009 at 15:26
@Traverse:
As if Huntelaar is available!!!
Why would Real sell Hunter to us??? If rumors are to be believed it is Ruud who will be leaving Real as he is on the wrong side of 30s…
June 5th, 2009 at 15:26
@Stephen: What top midfielders are available though? Also, if we bought huntelaar how do we accomodate berbatov, rooney and him?
June 5th, 2009 at 15:38
@tevez: We rotate mate, horses for courses all our strikers are rotated.
We could sign, De Rossi posibly Roma are up shit creek and have no Champions league football and may cash in, I have brought up Flamini before hand who would do a good job for us, Arteta was be a super buy.
June 5th, 2009 at 15:44
@jos: He has never had a great run in the side and Real are or are trying to spend money like confetti, so maybe want to free up space in the squad, also get some money back.
June 5th, 2009 at 15:52
@tevez: Also Riquelme would be I know a punt but is still only 30, and one last hoorah at a top European club might be too tempting for him.
June 5th, 2009 at 15:53
I would reckon we should sign Sebastian Giovinco before he breaks into the Juve team this coming season. He would solve our playmaking problems.
We need a hard man in our midfield.. Palacios would have been brilliant. De Rossi or Essien in an ideal world.
Been following Alexis Sanchez for a bit and he looks very impressive as a winger.
Then we just need an out and out striker, who must be able to hold the ball up. Somebody like the animal Drogba.
Sell Ronaldo and don’t sign Tevez.
June 5th, 2009 at 15:54
@Stephen: Rotation doesn’t work. It would end up like last season, with one of the three finding themselves out of favour. Fergie may even end up playing rooney left wing more and more often. I certainly don’t want that.
June 5th, 2009 at 15:57
@tevez: We have always rotated, Cole, Yorke, Ole and Teddy, and that season we won the treble and this we won the league, Carling and World Super cup thing, so it does mate.
June 5th, 2009 at 16:00
@MoYa: Sebastian Giovinco, is Ok but is 5′4 and would get kicked all over the place in the prem as too light weight.
June 5th, 2009 at 16:00
@Stephen: Riquelme is brilliant but he needs a free role. He’s a luxury player and i don’t think we could fit him into our team right now.
June 5th, 2009 at 16:01
@Stephen:
Only thing with Riquelme, great player though that he is, is that you have to completely build your team around him. The days when he has an off day you completely suffer.
He has a lot of baggage that comes with him… Always seems to fall out with managers.
I hoped we signed him like four years back when he was at his peak.
June 5th, 2009 at 16:04
@Stephen:
Agree that the premierleague is extremely physically demanding… But great players shine through. Arshavin and Messi aren’t the biggest.
And Giovinco ripped Chelsea apart in Europe.
June 5th, 2009 at 16:07
@Stephen: It wasn’t really a true rotation system though. Cole and yorke were first choice starting strikers, teddy and ole were back-up. Tevez was back-up to berbatov and rooney last year. There is always rotation, but generally you have a first choice strike partnership.
June 5th, 2009 at 16:41
Why are people so on Tevez’ case? Especially his goal-scoring?
Believe it or not, he actually scored more goals than Berbatov this past season. Personally, from my point of view, I would love if we sign Tevez. From his personal development point of view however, I think it would be best if he move on. By staying with us, he will never reach the heights that he possibly can.
From the club’s point of view regarding strikers, I would sign Tevez. It’s not just a matter of finding the right player, it’s also a matter of giving him time to settle in (ala Berbatov?). Even Carrick took about a season to 2 to settle in. Before Hargo’s injuries, he also have not yet cemented a place down in the center of midfield. (Same with Seba, Rio, etc).
Do we really have that luxury?
June 5th, 2009 at 16:48
Another point, I’ve heard people criticise Tevez and Berbatov for goal-scoring and claim “Why didn’t we sign Torres”…
Torres, for all his greatness, scored a massive 17 goals for Liverpool this past season. (One more than Tevez, 2 more than Berbatov). How good a goal-scoring machine is he really?
And we say Ronaldo had a bad season?
June 5th, 2009 at 16:50
@MoYa: I agree but could be a master strole!!
@tevez: It was matey I suppose depending how you view it, Ole and Teddy started both the FA Cup semi and FA Cup final bro.
June 5th, 2009 at 16:53
@Karl: I have been saying this for a while mate, the season before last as I see it was a one off, the two previous seasons with Atletico he scored a massive 13 and 15.
June 5th, 2009 at 16:54
The point that I want to make is that “other” players are not always better than our own. People have a tendency to think because someone plays for another club, they must be better than what we have. (Case of I want what I don’t have).
IMO, our players are fine as is, it is our current tactical system that need re-assessing. Sorry, I also don’t buy this crap about how good Xavi and Iniesta are. For starters, they could not do jack-shit against Chelsea. The reason they seemed so good during the final was because we played bad and made them look good. I would take our current players over them anytime. And that includes especially Anderson.
June 5th, 2009 at 16:55
@Karl: Do we need to spend all in £35m for a player who scored 5 league goals, and has turned into a disruptive influence?
June 5th, 2009 at 16:56
@Karl: I know you are an Anderson fan mate, but are you telling me you waould not swap him or Fletch for Xavi and Iniesta?
June 5th, 2009 at 16:58
@Stephen: So why do people think he’s so great? And, what makes Benzema so great? Considering he will need time to adapt, including the burden of a huge transfer fee on him? I seriously don’t think so.
June 5th, 2009 at 17:01
@Stephen: I think Xavi and Iniesta are over-rated at the moment. Don’t get me wrong, they are good, but at the moment a bit over-rated.
. I know this is bias talking, but think about it… They could quiet Essien, Ballack, Lampard and Deco. Xavi and Iniesta couldn’t.
I might consider swapping Fletch for them both, but NEVER Anderson
I’ve even seen them take on Alonso, Gerrard and Mascherano, and come up tops. Why swap them?
June 5th, 2009 at 17:06
@Grognard: Heinze was shit for us. Even before his merseyside infatuation, even when fans were cheering argentina week in week out. He commited himself way too easily in tackles, was slow, and was an even worse crosser than evra. Fans took to him just because of his bustling style, same story with tevez really.
June 5th, 2009 at 17:13
@Karl: They are good players mate, I know they are the press darlings currently but sometimes we have to admit that sometimes the press rarely but sometimes get it right.
June 5th, 2009 at 17:14
@Karl: All players must have proper haircuts and pink is not allowed anywhere on or off the pitch.
June 5th, 2009 at 17:15
@Karl:
Fergie said we tracked Torres for a few years, but became fed up as Athletico didn’t want to sell.
Personally I thaught he would flop with Liverpool as he had such a poor scoring record in Spain and half his goals were from penalties.
But my word… What a fantastic finisher. He scores goals out of nothing and his pace is scary
You have to take into account that this season is was injured for large chunks and whenever he has played he has looked so dangerous.
Imagine him and Rooney
But I hate him as he’s a scouse bastard!
June 5th, 2009 at 17:17
@Grognard:
And what are your opinions on Bendtnar’s PINK boots?
June 5th, 2009 at 17:19
@Karl: There comes a time mate when we all must stop reading all this tabloid garbage. Wild and vivid imaginations by unscrupulous journalists trying to sell their papers or information. It never ends and I reckon 5% of everything they write is true. I learned after last season that unless they actually quote a player or individual which places them in legal jeopardy, that nothing that is said can be taken with any seriousness. So this year I’ll just sit back and ignore the crap and just wait for things to really happen. And we will know when things truly happen. As for Kaka, last year he was rumored to have been sold to Man City and then all of a sudden an outcry by the Milan fans scuttled the entire deal. I could see the same thing happening again. The longer they wait to make a deal, the less chance I see a deal being made.
June 5th, 2009 at 17:24
@Karl: @Stephen: Why go for a player on the decline when we can have an equivalent player on the rise. Guillaume Hoarau is a young battering ram, and has a good shot and good ball control. Probably the best header of the ball in world football today. Cheaper too.
June 5th, 2009 at 17:25
@jos: The only conceivable scenarios where Huntelaar comes to us is if he is part of the deal that sends Ronaldo there or if he demands to leave Real because he is unhappy there. And I know he was unhappy with his lack of playing time under Ramos. Now that Ramos is gone, that may no longer be an issue. And also, Fergie just isn’t ga ga about him like he is over Benzema.
June 5th, 2009 at 17:26
@NicoQB: Not a bad shout mate, but I only have eyes for my Hunter!
June 5th, 2009 at 17:28
@Karl: Can we please put this MYTH to bed?
Premier League stats 08/09.
Tevez : 5 goals, 3 assists
Berbatov : 9 goals, 9 assists.
Champions League stats 08/09.
Tevez : 2 goals, 1 assist.
Berbatov : 4 goals, 0 assists.
Berbatov had a hand in DOUBLE the amount of goals Tevez did. 22 against 11.
I don’t think we should spend £33million for a player who might score 4 in the Carling cup against Blackburn’s reserves….
June 5th, 2009 at 17:30
@tevez: If we bought Benzema or Huntelaar, I think that would mark the beginning of the end for Berbatov. I say that he would be sold immediately or by the January window. January would give Fergie time to see if Welbeck or Macheda are up for a promotion or if he needs to buy yet one more striker at a smaller price to fill in as #3 man. A Dzeko or Ibisevic type who can poach but who won’t cost an arm and a leg. Then again, those two examples price tag went up because of their past season’s work. Perhaps somebody young and unheard of.
June 5th, 2009 at 17:32
@Karl: because he has the same number of assists as o’shea and the same number of goals as vidic
berba, 14 goals, around the same number of assist, thats 30 goals hes contributed to in 41 appearances.
June 5th, 2009 at 17:35
@Grognard: I don’t agree mate, because I have said Berba played well with Keane simply because he had someone who liked to play on the shoulder of the centre backs, Berba could then drop deep and create.
June 5th, 2009 at 17:35
@NicoQB: Hes an amazing talent in FM.
June 5th, 2009 at 17:35
@Stephen: No disagreement there. Based on the way we play I am actually surprised Fergie isn’t checking out Italy for that big midfielder. De Rossi or Flamini would be good although I have to say I am not a big Flamini fan. But he has got plenty of EPL experience and he was super last season with Milan. I still feel that we should go for either Keita or Yaya Toure at Barca. With Busquets doing really well for them, they only need one of those guys for backup, not two. And I am already hearing that Arsenal is working on getting Toure and united him with his brother. We would probably lose in that battle if the player had a choice but if money offered was quite different, and we know how cheap Wenger is, then perhaps we could land him.
June 5th, 2009 at 17:39
@Grognard: Flamini is not the glammer option but you said it, he has premiership experience and is a jack of all trades, and we know Fergie likes them!!
De Rossi would be great, as near to Keano there is out there.
June 5th, 2009 at 17:39
@Stephen: Nobody on this planet that isn’t Argentine loves Riquelme more than I do and I would have jumped at a chance a couple of years ago but unfortunately that ship has sailed. At 30 he has very little left in him. He’s moody and difficult, would never bother to learn English and quite frankly with all his incredible skill set, he’s quite slow and that lack of pace would hurt him in the English game. The man was born to play in Seria A. I also have gotten the impression in past years that he has no urge or desire to ever play in England for cultural reasons. But we can dream eh?
Also, he would not be coachable in the manner Fergie demands of players. Riquelme does not like to track back a lot.
June 5th, 2009 at 17:42
@Grognard: It was somewhat of a guilty pleasure of mine I must say
June 5th, 2009 at 17:42
@MoYa: Fergie dropped the ball last January by not buying Palacios. I know he really wanted him but here is a perfect example of the Glazer’s not coughing up the necessary cash to buy him midway through the year. I think he would have loved to buy both Palacios and Valencia in January or at least one of them bu t the money was not there. Just my opinion on what I am seeing and reading between the lines.
June 5th, 2009 at 17:53
@Stephen: That was a very different time and that was four players who willingly accepted their roles and the rotation for the good of the team. As the years have moved forward, the Bosman rule has turned many footballers into greedy selfish mercenaries. It’s no longer about what is best for the team. It;’s about what is best for the team as long as I am starting. Tevez loves the team and wants to be a United player but only if he is starting. I can’t blame him for that but then again I can. It’s that old saying you can’t always have your cake and eat it too. Some players accept their role on the bench because they know they have limitation or they know they are not good enough. But on big clubs with deep pockets, we buy buy more world class or international class players than the eleven starting positions on the team can accommodate. Players being the egotistical prima donas that they are all believe that they are bound to start. Tevez was delusional if he thought that Fergie was going to spend 32 million on Berbatov only to sit him on the bench so that Tevez could run around like a hyped up headless chicken and offer us a paltry amount of goals in return. Sure Berba didn’t deliver either so in the end, they were both benched. Not good for such large ego’s with such small production. It’s the nature of today’s game. Every player worth his salt in gold wants to play for a total of 5 or 6 clubs in the world. That’s 60 starting spots and over 150 plus great player who want to be starters. Can’t be done.
This is why I despise the ambition and greed of players like Ribery who has it perfect on a big club like Bayern. At Bayern he is the man like Ronaldo is here. He starts nearly every game and is the go to man. But instead, he want s to go to a team where he will risk being benched half the time because other world class players like Robben etc will also fight for playing time. I just don’t get that. Personally, I’d rather be a big fish in a smaller or medium sized pond than become a small fish in an ocean.
June 5th, 2009 at 17:53
xavi 29, iniesta 25… fletcher 25, anderson 21
imagine how they are going to be in 2 years not 4.
we don’t need CMF, we need fast, crosser winger aka valencia
other positions we rely on our youngsters.. even if lose
tevez (i hope), but we should keep ronaldo.
the right time for ronaldo to leave is yet to come, when nani
improve his game and starts to play and gel with the team and
with the talent he has we can sell ronaldo..
June 5th, 2009 at 17:59
@Grognard:
Would be great if some Mega Rich Group would be interested in buying us from the Glazers. They would eliminate our debt, be able to extend our stadium and flex some muscle in the transfer market.
Somebody to match our ambitions.
Though would have to be one rich ass Mo’Fo’
June 5th, 2009 at 18:04
@Karl: I don’t rate goals in the Carling Cup against lower division clubs mate. Tevez works hard but he just doesn’t score goals and his first touch and ball control at times reminds me of a man with stones for feet. We are down on him because he has been outed for what he really is. He’s not all about the team or he would accept his role and say just pay me and I will stay here. It’s not about money for him, that’s more Joorabchian’s problem. For Tevez, it’s about respect from the manager and respect comes by the playing time he receives. And it’s clear to me that Fergie has learned over two years that all that running around and desire does not equate in that many goals. Try telling Tevez that.
Tevez is a big ego that needs to play for a mid table team that thinks he’s great enough to start. Tevez would not start for Barca, Real Madrid, Atletico, Villarreal, Chelsea, Arsenal, Bayern both Milan’s or Juventus and Roma. He’’s just not good enough because all those teams have at least two strikers that are better and more prolific than him. So really, it’s only Liverpool that has room for him that is a top Champions League side. Man City may have money but they are a middle of the table side. Hell, I seriously doubt that Tevez would even start for his beloved Boca Juniors.
From a skill set point of view, he’s just not that great. But so many United fans love him because he attracts their blue collar sensibilities for hard work. All I say to that is, if there aren’t any goals being scored by him or set up by him, then big fucking deal. At least Berbatov set up over ten goals this season along with the goals he scored.
June 5th, 2009 at 18:07
@ all: Since we’re all deep in the game of unfounded transfer musings, what would be you opinion of signing a great, proven goal machine on the cheap?
I’m talking about one Ruud Van Nistelrooy.
From all his interviews I read about him after he left us, he sounds like he really regrets leaving OT. Maybe he would understand the need for rotation now that he’s in the last years of his career. From his showing in the last Euros, I also thought that his collective game was top notch, he was really one of the best stirkers in the tournament.
Also anyone heard about the rumour of Christian Vierei going to play in Brazil? He was one of my favourite stikers in the early 00s, and while I think he’d be past the sell by date for us, smaller mid-table teams could have tried their luck landing old bobo.
June 5th, 2009 at 18:08
@Karl: We tried to sign Torres because Fergie was an avid admirer of him but Torres didn’t want to come. Not because he didn’t respect United but culturally, he was not interested in uprooting himself. The reason he finally chose to go to Liverpool was because of a Spanish speaking manager and head waiter as well as at least half a dozen Spanish compatriots playing for the club that would make him feel more at home and in a comfort zone. We wante dhim but we never ever had a chance at getting him. And if Liverpool was to financially implode, he would be off and would still not sign for any other club in England. It would be back to Spain for him.
June 5th, 2009 at 18:12
@Karl: Sorry mate but although I see your point and it’s valid, there positions on this team that need addressing. Our goalkeeper is getting way too old, our left back has lost the plot, our central midfielders are international class, not world class, our left wing situation is woeful and we need a true proven goal scorer up front. As good as we are as a team, we are lacking some major parts that would make us a better and far more intimidating team. Above all, we are lacking in the middle where Barcelona tore us apart.
June 5th, 2009 at 18:13
@NicoQB: And also considering that there’s always the possibilty of Ronaldo going to Madrid, what if RVN was used as part of the deal?
June 5th, 2009 at 18:15
@Karl: It’s kind of funny and perhaps it’s a bad omen but I recently started a season on FIFA 09 where I added Benzema to our team and got rid of Tevez. I have played five games with Benzema starting and the guy cannot buy a goal. He is totally snake bitten. He’s hit the post and crossbar more times than I can count and just seems out of place. Sure it’s just a video game but I honestly felt a chill and believe it’s an omen. Don’t do it Fergie, don’t buy this guy.
June 5th, 2009 at 18:19
@Karl: Xavi and Iniesta are not overrated mate. They not only came up studs for Barca but for Spain too. I personally think they are both puffders and soft players but there is no denying their skill and class. Fletcher and especially Anderson aren’t even in the same universe with them yet alone the same class. Sorry but I vehemently disagree with you there. Anderson is a colossal waste of time and space and Fletcher is nothing more than a good journeyman. The only players we have that I even rate close to them is Carrick and Hargreaves. Scholes at one time was equal to them but certainly not now.
June 5th, 2009 at 18:21
@NicoQB: Totally disagree with you mate and his being chosen MVP for his only full season for us backs up my claim. He was great and he showed great determination and courage as well as offering timely attacks upfield. If you couldn’t see what the whole world could, it’s not my problem.
June 5th, 2009 at 18:24
@Dan: So that’s why we haven’t been hearing much from you recently!!!
Hoarau was great mid season, but his form was average come the end of season. But by that time PSGs dressing room was in tatters.
June 5th, 2009 at 18:24
@Stephen: Vision, imagination and tidiness with the ball. Something Scholes used to produce for us and even people like myself never truly respected or appreciated because he wasn’t loud and boisterous enough like the useless as a bag of nails Anderson. Subtly lethal is what I would call those two. Also, they should wear pink because it suits them. Especially Iniesta who just looks like a flaming flamingo.
June 5th, 2009 at 18:28
@MoYa: I was fortunate enough to see him play enough times for both Atletico and Spain and I for one never doubted he would do well. He scored better for Spain than Atletico because frankly, he got better service from his National teammates as they were all world class. Atletico’s midfield at the time had a few scrubs and so both strikers were not always getting the ball and also, Torres played farther back in the second striker role and not always embedded in the box. But his skill on the ball was sublime as well, he was a sweet striker of the ball and decent with his head. We all know that now because say what you want about Liverpool, but they have players that can provide service to him.
June 5th, 2009 at 18:33
@MoYa: A puffder.
Honestly, that kind of crap would not be tolerated in North America. In the US and Canada we are very homophobic in our sports environments. Athletes who play any of the top four sports here, Football (US version), basketball, hockey and baseball would be laughed out of the stadium and ignored by their teammates if they pulled a stunt like wearing pink or prancing around in tight feminine shorts with a flower on our ear. Over here men play mens sports, not hopeless little shemales like Ronaldo or Bendtner who prance around and make ass clowns of themselves in their androgyny induced fashion statements.
June 5th, 2009 at 18:34
@Traverse: Well done mate.
June 5th, 2009 at 18:41
@Stephen: Oh trust me mate, I have placed him on United and Bayern so many times in my FIFA and Football Mamager games, it’s not even funny. I love him to death, but it is true, you have to design a team that revolves around him on the pitch. Basille did this with Argentina and they played well and Riquelme was absolutely massive in the last Copa. But Maradona being the dumb as fuck ex druggy criminal that he is, chose to snub the great one because he hates being reminded that Riquelme may actually have more talent and vision than him. Maradona only had pace over Riquleme. And we see what has become of Argentina. 6-1 loss to Bolivia tells me it’s a team in turmoil lacking a leader and a midfield general. So what if you have Aguero, Tevez and Messi up front. It matters not if you don’t have the magician to service them. Riquelme’s talent is second to none. Sure he brings baggage with him but he is a gift from the gods of football. Like all true artists, he is an eccentric that prefers to beat to his own drums. And few managers have it in them to contain their own ego to accommodate Riquelme’s.
June 5th, 2009 at 18:42
@Grognard: He was moderately good at a time, but nowhere near being a world class full back. I thought he was better when he played for PSG! I was actually happy when he signed for us as he was one of the best players in Ligue 1.
But the number of times he fell on his back when players got past him made him look like Park, he was NOT a clean tackler of the ball like the best defenders are, he often took the man and the ball, and made us concede many free kicks, just like phil Neville or Butt did.
I observed that his play was the exact opposite of G.Neville (he was at his peak then). Neville was never the greatest of players, but he kept on his feet and hounded his opponent, more often than not resulting in the opposition player going back round and playing the ball back in the centre where our whole defence well in place would have eventually gotten the ball back thriugh some interception. No foul, clean defending and no danger of set pieces.
Once again I make the Tevez affiliation, where a large number of our own fans considered him to be better than what he actually was due to personal fondness and player style. It was really interesting to read internet comments just after Heinze left us – while I wasn’t on redrants at the time (did it even exist?) I remember being mildly satisfied when reading about opinions telling more or less the same thing I’ve been
saying.
Note: I’m not anti – argentina. I loved Veron
and Batistuta… 
June 5th, 2009 at 18:44
@Grognard: There must be plenty of gay footballers. Isn’t it something like 1 in 11 men are gay?
Or in Chelsea’s case 11 out 11
June 5th, 2009 at 18:44
@MoYa: It’s only a matter of time mate. Eventually there will be an outcry form the fans of the club demanding a regime change. We are spoilt on winning and if we hit hard times and there isn’t enough of a transfer kitty to help fix the problems, the Glazer’s will be ridden out of town and to the nearest hangman’s tree. It’s only a matter of time.
June 5th, 2009 at 18:46
@NicoQB: That bridge unfortunately was burned many times over with Ruud’s big mouth as he was quoted on several occasions putting down Fergie for what happened. He’s dead to Fergie. Of that I am reasonably certain.
June 5th, 2009 at 18:49
@NicoQB: I’m sory mate but I just can’t agree with you there. In his first season with us the player I saw was confidently awesome. He had his problems when he returned because he was still recovering from injury and was not in good shape, but before he got hurt, I never saw the player you are referring to. I did however see him after his return. So perhaps playing Evra was the right thing to do then but I still felt that if you want Heinze to recapture his form, he needs time on the field. Fergie didn’t give him a realistically fair run of games to recover his form.
June 5th, 2009 at 19:00
@Traverse: Hey! Ballack is not gay. 10 of 11 OK! But seriously, I would not hesitate to say 2 or 3 out of every 11. Some of them just carry themselves in such effeminate ways that I can’t help but think they are either puffders or just incredibly tacky people with no taste or self respect. It starts with the hair and continues with the way they dress, but mostly it has everything to do with their drama queen ways of expressing their rage or reactions to fouls or injuries. Real men don’t roll around the pitch and act like they have been shot over a stupid tackle. As for hair, what;s with Malouda and that gay puff ball of hair on his head? He looks like an HB pencil or felt marker. How about Pienaar at Everton with the girly pigtails or Sagna with the puffy cornrows. Need I say Anderson. How about Ronaldo inhis early days with the little blond curly lock in front. Now it’s the pink shoes. I’d personally like to thank Nike for designing a show that brings players out of the closet. The ultimate puffder for me though was David Seaman who decided wearing a 60’s pony tail made him look so incredibly sexy. I just felt like telling him to grow up. There is no accounting for people’s bad taste. Perhaps that is why I like German players so much. Very few if any of them dress or act like puffders. Although Klinsy was a pretty good diver and drama queen now that I think about it.
June 5th, 2009 at 19:02
@Traverse: Lol
@Grognard: Such a shame. While I think that our play was too one dimensional when RVN was with us, I also think that we had less variety in our game due to our limitations in midfield. I’m only dreaming but I wouldn’t mind RVN becoming an old supersub. We keep Macheda and Welbeck should be loaned to the likes of Wigan.
June 5th, 2009 at 19:04
@Grognard: Maybe Fergie didnt give him the chance to recapture his form, but I’m glad he didn’t after what happened!
June 5th, 2009 at 19:48
@Grognard: Oh god maloudas hair is the worst ive ever seen. Sort of looks like a tea cosey on his head, what the hell is he thinking. It really is pathetic the way some of the footballers have their hari styles, and also the coverage it gets in the paper. Its one thing making a short thing about it on here but going back to about 2000 when beckham shaved his hair and its on the front page of every newspaper seems a bit pathetic doesnt it. Shows how bad the british press is eh.
June 5th, 2009 at 19:49
Heinze was a fantastic player for us, full stop. In Evra’s first full season we played Heinze in most of the big games where we needed a defensive angle. He may not have been the best going forward but he could read the game really well, could tackle and mark far better than most full backs, and was as strong and combative as you could wish for.
The modern game tends towards fast fullbacks shouldering a lot of the responsibility for providing width which Heinze couldn’t do, but he was (is) a fine defender.
June 5th, 2009 at 20:38
@michael: He could tackle, taking the entire player with him and end up conceding a dangerous set-piece. And no, he was very suspect at man-marking.
I’ll give it to you that he was strong and combative, but most good defenders are.
June 5th, 2009 at 21:37
This sucks…
June 5th, 2009 at 22:06
@NicoQB: It would be nice but I still would want him to start simply because he scores goals. All the more reason to get a RVN clone like Huntelaar.
June 5th, 2009 at 22:09
@NicoQB: Yes but that wouldn’t have happened had Fergie not frozen him out. See what people fail to realize is that Fergie’s treatment of players more often than not leads to their ultimate betrayal and departure. He snubs them and places them head first into his doghouse by not playing them and even insulting them by how he uses them (ie; bringing someone on in the last minute or not starting them after they score four goals in a Carling Cup match). He’s just a very hard strict man and you either learn how to work with him and conform to his regime, or you are on the next boat out.
June 5th, 2009 at 22:15
@Matt: Malouda is bad but for me Pienaar is the worst with the little pigtails. God that looks so frakking gay, I’d die for the chance to bitch slap the frakker. I also think Sagna should have serious session with a therapist because only someone who is completely brain dead would carry himself around with that Medusa hair style. As for Malouda, in North America, a player comes into a lockerroom with a hairstyle that looks gay, not just bizarre but totally gay, he’d wish he never showed up. Forget the Valderrama’s, Cisse’s and Fellaini’s, as those are just juvenile hair styles. It’s the gay looking doo’s that would not be tolerated. I had teammates in high school and in college that would have tied either of those guys down in a chair with duct tape and would then go and have his head shaved. And that just the stuff I can mention. I won’t go into the other ways they would embarrass them.
June 5th, 2009 at 22:16
@Matt: I hated Beckham when he got the mohawk and then went to the World Cup supporting that ridiculous look and making an ass of his himself as he represented his country looking like a true punk.
June 5th, 2009 at 22:18
@michael: And yet I thought Heinze was decent going forward and was a much better passer and crosser of the ball than Evra will ever be. What he never had that Evra had was the pace and dribbling ability. But what does that really offer us when Evra always ends up giving the ball away with a bad pass or inept cross?
June 5th, 2009 at 22:20
@NicoQB: And Evra is a good marker? There is a reason why he is referred to on this site as the “Skinned Sausage”. Evra is completely useless at man marking and getting skinned continuously. Heinze looked like a dream compared to him.
June 5th, 2009 at 22:24
@Grognard: Can you recall one single occasion where a cross, low pass in the area by Heinze yielded a goal?
.
.
.
.
I thought so!
June 5th, 2009 at 22:27
united’s south american tie ups — > good read
June 5th, 2009 at 22:34
Maybe my the way I put the previous comment was not good. Gary Neville, Denis Irwin, heck I can even remember Wes Brown and O’shea to have provided the odd assist.
Not Heinze and neither Evra.
At least Evra had good penetration for a full back. And no, Evra is not good at man-marking, certainly he has not been this season. He was better imho in the 2007-2008 season.
And one of the reasons Heize committed so many dodgy fouls was that he was caught out in his man marking. He’d come rushing back and foot held high and crash in the player and get yellow carded. The crowd would then go mad! Argentina! Argentina!
And for info Sylvestre had a good scoring record for a full back.
June 5th, 2009 at 22:41
@Grognard:
Hey! i had a pig tail 
June 5th, 2009 at 22:44
in my eyes heinze and evra are both shite! heinze was the better defender, evra was better going forward, but evra has the crossing ability of park and the touch of tevez
Dont worry though, fabio will right theses wrongs
June 5th, 2009 at 22:51
@Grognard: “what people fail to realize is that Fergie’s treatment of players more often than not leads to their ultimate betrayal and departure”
I sort of agree, but it reminds me of something that has been troubling me a little for a few seasons: is Fergie killing some great attacking talents? Rooney is a better player now, but he has barely increased his scoring rate since he was 20, and Anderson, a promising creative midfielder, since struggling to get a goal has clearly now been told to not even try and shoot.
On the other hand he made Ronaldo, so I don’t know how right I am here, but I feel that at least with Rooney, we may have squandered one of the greatest attacking talents I have ever seen simply because he is willing to play the team game. He needs to be taught patience and the ability to wait for the ball, not to track back more and more.
It even applies to Giggs, Fergie’s ideal player. Absolute quality player, of course. But in his first seasons he looked as though he would become a truly free scoring winger, emulating Best, but instead he became an outlet for the team on the left, drifting wide rather than cutting in. In his first three seasons his scoring rate climbed every season, then it dropped off and never reached the heady heights of 17 again.
I don’t want Fergie to leave or anything crazy, I just think that his approach to youth development isn’t individualistic enough. He’s afraid of stars (with good reason, look at Beckham/Ronaldo) and maybe that has lead to the creation of team players from potential world-beaters.
Just a thought.
June 5th, 2009 at 23:39
@NicoQB: Ah come on man, it was so long ago. Be fair. I just remember he would cross well and give RVN and others a chance at a goal. Evra is completely and totally useless at getting the ball into the box with any accuracy or proper height.
Tell me when the last time Evra crossed a ball high onto the head of a player that ended up as a goal?
June 5th, 2009 at 23:42
@Dan: I’m very sorry for you mate. Fortunately you say that in past tense, so at some point you woke up or grew up or checked and found out you had a pair.
June 5th, 2009 at 23:44
@michael: Rooney just came out today and complained about playing wide for Fergie and that he believes Capello uses him best in the middle and up front. Truly, Fergie doesn’t give a rats ass about his players or their fragile ego’s. He will sacrifice them to get a win and that’s all that concerns him.
June 5th, 2009 at 23:56
I dunno much about that Petric guy, the croatian one that plays for Hamburg, but some of my friends say he is a really good striker. Great with both feet, header, fast and clinical. Are there anybody here watching the Bundesliga that can tell me something about him, cause all my mates say he is class.
BTW, wasnt he the player that sent England out of the group stages for the Euros?
June 6th, 2009 at 1:09
“Valencia Set For Old Trafford”
That’s a nice positive sounding headline now isn’t it? Well before you get all happy, warm and fuzzy, let me burst your bubble by saying that I caught this headline and decided to read more by clicking on it. To my horror the story was not about Antonio Valencia coming to Man Utd. No instead it was to let us starved for some news supporters that United has inked a deal to have a friendly later this summer at OT with Valencia, the team from Spain.
Well that was just the last straw for me. It’s come to this. Now we are being teased by the fucking media. “Man Utd nears deal”
WOW! That’s great. I read on and all it’s about is that bloody useless shirt deal with Aon. Like I give a rats ass. What I’m getting at is that it has become a real habit thelast two years for us to be linked to our own players leaving and us being linked to licensing deals that help the Glazer’s pay of their debt but nowhere do I see concrete rumors or news linking us to an actual purchase of a player. Instead we are stuck in limbo watching the entire planet go spend crazy for players but we sit back and do our very best West Ham Utd imitation. Whatever happened to the team that used to go out and get it done in the off season? My God it’s not like the team doesn’t need some fresh blood and some needed help in certain positions. What the Heck are they waiting for. Serious predators are out there already making the rounds. And we sit on our ass and whittle our thumbs. Seriously, it sucks being a United supporter in the off season. It’s like the team goes into a self induced coma.
That’s bad enough but does the media half to tease us with useless headlines that mean nothing?
June 6th, 2009 at 1:20
@RedDevilEddy: He’s average at best. Trust me, the Bubdesliga has over a dozen strikers I would pick over Petric.
Toni, Klose, Gomez, Pantelic, Dzeko, Grafite, Olic, Helmes, Ibisevic, Pizarro, Novakovic, Podolski, Ba, Kuranyi, Kiesling, Voronin and Almeida are all better strikers than Petric. I especially rate Ibisevic, Novakovic, Ba, Dzeko and Grafite high as well as Gomez. Petric is a decent player but I’d take Pantelic over him any day. Pantelic had an off year with injuries and such and thus, only scored 7 goals but he is very talented. Ibisevic scored 18 goals in 19 games before he got injured. Grafite scored 28 and Dzeko scored 26 goals all for one team. What a tandem. Gomez scored 24 and Helmes scored 21. Petric scored a shattering 12 goals, and this was a good year for him. He’s average at best.
June 6th, 2009 at 3:39
@Grognard: That would be vital football – it’s not a mainstream media outlet, just a humungous network of blogs and forums. Even if it was the English media it won’t surprise me — they, during the summer, tend to write teasing headlines about nothing. I’m surprised this is the first time you’ve ever felt teased about any headline.
It’s currently in the top stories on NewsNow. I am always wary about the top stories on NewsNow; they are top stories because they’ve tempted zillions of people to click through. I click them anyway, but always prepare for the worst — except for sites I know that won’t take me for a ride.
June 6th, 2009 at 7:17
@Red Ranter: It was not Vital Football and it wasn’t the first time I have been teased. It just finally got to me because I am so sick of hearing about the players we are going to lose and nothing about players we are going to buy. And I am also sick and tired about hearing about United’s little business deals that have nothing to do with the team on the field. I’d care if I didn’t know that every penny was going to pay off the Glazer’s massive debt. Despite the fact we are champions, it’s really not much fun anymore supporting this team because the supporters seem to be totally left in the cold. Then again, I guess I should count my blessings that I don’t support Newcastle.
June 6th, 2009 at 7:23
@Red Ranter: Actually, based on the news thats come out the last few days, I guess we could be worse off, we could be Liverpool. I read that Barca is thinking of going after Mascherano. Now I take anything I read with a grain of salt but if this is true, that would give them 4 defensive midfielders. Keita, Busquets, Toure and Mascherano. So my question to you and to all of Mancunia is why are we not going after anyone of these defensive midfielders? We are in desperate need of one in my opinion. I just don’t get Fergie anymore.
It’s so frustrating.
June 6th, 2009 at 8:27
according to the telegraph, lyon are willing to sell benzema for £25mil. Dont know if its true or not, but i could see it happen.
Benzema £25mil
tevez £35mil
No brainer really.
I just hope fergie or his yes man sees sense.
June 6th, 2009 at 9:39
@Grognard: It’s all a part of supporting a football club. In your case — with your own admissions of being an elitist and a demanding and impatient person — being a supporter of a football club would be frustrating business.
Thankfully, I’m not like that, so these things affect me less and are better for my heart. For me, I wouldn’t be surprised if we do nothing this year in the transfer market.
June 6th, 2009 at 10:40
What do you do if you see a Scouser jogging?
Trip him up and give the lady’s purse back to her.
June 6th, 2009 at 11:52
@Dan: Why couldnt Jesus have been born in Liverpool?
Its impossible to find three wise men and a virgin there.
June 6th, 2009 at 12:31
@RedDevilEddy:
June 6th, 2009 at 13:29
@Grognard: Arsene Wenger is after Yaya Toure BIG TIME. So if SAF does want him, he needs to get in there before Arsene
.
June 6th, 2009 at 13:38
@Grognard: Well that may be all that concerns SAF Grog, but IT DOESN’T get him the WIN
. CL remember, Rooney the invisible man on the left flank – was shite on the night. I think it is about time that the Roond had a moan, because he sees that Ronnie, Tev, Skinned sausage etc etc etc whining full time, and being accomodated. So I don’t blame the Roon, because he is not a left winger, and yet he is always being sacrificed for the team. No wonder he get get his shooting how he wants it, when he is placed continuously out of position by SAF. Rooney does love United above himself, I will give him that, but I understand him saying after 3 seasons of accomodating others, I want to play in my right position please. Won’t get the best out of him if he doesn’t.
June 6th, 2009 at 13:40
I can’t make my feckin mind up whether to watch the England or the Portugal game
. I am going to see what the Portugal team is, and if Lil man Nani is in it, then I will watch Portugoals 
.
June 6th, 2009 at 13:45
@Grognard: Keita is actually a striker not a defensive midfielder.
Everyone,this whole tevez thing has gone beyond a joke.He is a better player than Rooney or atleast an equal.You judge him for the goals he scored but no one judges Rooney on his goals,all we hear is that his all round game is perfect,but isnt that why we have park?At least tevez scores match winning goals,Rooney on the other hand has become our new Dirk Kuyt. As long as he is running,and Ronaldo is winning us matches,we say he is okay.He is probably the only striker in the world who is not judged on goals scored but tracking back.
If Rooney was worth 26mil,surely tevez is around that much.
On the issue of who we need to bring in say a creative midfielder who is not scared to attack,since we lack that at the moment.besides we should stop playing like cowards with a back 4,2 defensive midfielders,a defensive winger,a defensive striker and Ronaldo and start attacking.
Only at united can you find a luxury of attacking players on the bench and boring workaholics being favored by the manager.
June 6th, 2009 at 13:49
@Craig Mc: Mate if we went for yaya i would be over the bloody moon, the guy has really come on big time in the last 18 months from a good player to an excellent player. 12 million i heard wenger is bidding and apparently barca are considering this offer. 12 million for an excellent young player like yaya would be a bargain.
I cannot understand fergie at times i really cant. Like grognard said if theres any truth in the mascherano barca rumours we must take advantage and take one of their 4 DMs, anyone of them. Yaya of course would be my first choice but keita could also do a job there aswell.
Annoying thing is we were practically offered yaya in 2006 i think it was for a paultry 2 million and we turned it down. I mean come on, 2 million quid isnt exactly a fortune and i would have taken the risk cos its such small money. Fergie prefers to wait a few years though and buy them for at least 10 million more.
June 6th, 2009 at 13:50
@donibrasco: No, hes a CDM…
June 6th, 2009 at 13:53
@donibrasco: btw, i stopped reading when you said tevez was better then rooney
tevez isnt fit enough to lick danny welbecks ass crack, lace the shoes of macheda, even look at berbatov, and be in the same squad as rooney
June 6th, 2009 at 13:57
@Matt: I believe SAF doesn’t go after Real Madrid players, because of the hatred that developed with Madrid’s dastardly and blatant tactics in trying to get Ronnie last season. Fergie is a proud old GIT, and everybody with a brain knows that once he has a beef with someone, he just CUTS THEM OFF. This is why we are fast running out of TV sports companies Fergie will appear on for post match interviews, and reporters who have printed things SAF didn’t agree with BANNED forever more from SAF pre and after match interviews
.
June 6th, 2009 at 13:59
@Dan: Mmmmm, m’thinks you have truly GONE OFF The Tev
.
June 6th, 2009 at 14:03
@Craig Mc: off isnt even the word anymore, i hate him with a vengance and the sooner he leaves the better!
June 6th, 2009 at 14:28
If as reported Lyon want £25million for Benzema, I’d manhandle Tevez out of the building, fill up a big fucking truck with money, and drive it to France for them. It’s a massive bargain if true, and we should act now and get the deal done by Monday. No fucking about, just actions.
A man can dream…
June 6th, 2009 at 14:35
@Traverse: thats, exacly what i was thinking! for £25mil? FUCK thats CHEAP!
I am certain we have roughly £50mil to spend this summer, i thought we would get benzema for some shit like £40mil, and buy valencia for £10mil plus “future incentives,” but if we could get him for £25mil, and have £25mil to spend on a winger, well the likes of silva or fill a position that really needs filling, like the fullback position, im sure we could get lahm for £25mil.
June 6th, 2009 at 14:43
Errr our MAIN priority should be getting a couple of excellent MF players. One should be a General who is not afraid to bollox players who are not performing. The other should be skilled at scoring a good quota of goals as MF, and who eyes a brilliant eye for a pass and can actually EXECUTE the pass. I am sick of the MF we have had for 3 seasons now – weak, weak, weak!
June 6th, 2009 at 14:44
@Dan:
.
June 6th, 2009 at 15:10
@Craig Mc: yes, the same midfield that has got us 3 back to back premier leagues, a CL, and 2 consecutive champions league finals. Im pretty sure a lot of teams in the world would kill for a midfield like ours.
If im totally honest, i dont see us buying a midfielder, i dont believe this bollocks about gibbo being sold, we have carrick, we have fletcher, anderson will be better next year when he finally gets a good run off games and not stop start like the past few seasons.
We also have promising midfielders in the reserves like matty james and danny drinkwater, Ra’vel morrison is already better thetn these 2 and he still only 16! Given the chance, gibson can be an excellent midfielder, his tackling is up there with the best, his shooting abillity is on par with gerrard, his physique allows him to become an agressive beast ala keane, his passing is good, but thats what needs work, think, if gibson had the passing ability of scholes, carrick or even bloody nicky butt, he would be an outstanding player, i know this, fergie knows this, and thats why he wont be sold.
I see us buying a striker and/or a winger.
June 6th, 2009 at 15:32
To the tune “im blue”
im red and id shit on a guy
if he was scouse he would die
and i would pee in his eye
hed get killed with his tie
Believe he will die
they’re stupid and bi
they are stupid and bi
Lol, im singing about killing scousers
how emo of me.
Brings back memory’s lol.
Yes, im bored…
June 6th, 2009 at 15:55
@Dan: Errrr anyone who isn’t BIGOTED will admit we were lucky in quite a few games this season, to get the league. Our MF was NOT good enough in CL this year or last. We were fortunate to beat Chelski, they hit the post 3 times, and John Terry GIFTED us the CL trophy
. None of our MF players chip in with a good quota of goals, unlike Lampard, Gerrard, and Le Arse MF. So we do need to get some steel, and goals from MF. We may have promising players, but that is all they atill are at present – promising. They will get their chances, but meanwhile we need to do something about that area. Sorry Dan, but that is just my opinion, but I know most United fans and football pros agree with it 
.
June 6th, 2009 at 16:41
@Craig Mc: If Arsenal are interested in him, the chances of us getting him are slim and none. After all, the player has the final say and Yaya will want to play with his brother Kolo. It’s not like we have the money to be buying him, Benzema and Valencia.
June 6th, 2009 at 16:43
@Craig Mc: I don’t blame Rooney either. He has as much of a right to want to play his most comfortable and most productive position rather than being turned into the club’s handyman.
June 6th, 2009 at 16:46
@donibrasco: No the Keita I have seen. I have seen him line up as a central midfielder and playing a very defensive role but I do notice him going forward more than the other defensive midfielders do so his tendency may be that of a former striker. I guess it’s just Guardiola’s way of maximizing his squad the way Fergie does with Rooney, playing him all over the place.
June 6th, 2009 at 16:49
@donibrasco: Also, I am no there to put down Tevez. Regardless of his limited ability to score goals, I like the player. I think he is an excellent player and a very hard worker but please, do not insult our intelligence by assuming that Tevez is a better all round player than Wayne Rooney. In your dreams mate. Rooney is so much better than Tevez in so many departments, it’s not even worth debating. It’s a totally ludicrous statement from you mate. You are more than welcome to believe that if you want and if so, I have some swamp land in Florida you might be interested in.
June 6th, 2009 at 16:50
@Craig Mc: just like how chelsea were lucky not to be at least 3-0 down at half time
it works both ways mate.
June 6th, 2009 at 16:57
@Craig Mc: And so Perez has come out to extend an olive branch to Man Utd in the hopes that by making peace with Fergie and Gill, he will have a shot at Ronaldo. Good luck. He must think United as a firm full of idiots. You insult us, lie to us continually tap up our players and feed Marca lies and bullshit up until yesterday and now he wants to mend fences and claims that Real’s need for a good and friendly relationship with United is more important than getting Ronaldo and if he had to pick one of the two, he would pick the relationship. What a load of bull. Anybody with the IQ of a Scouser could read through all that crap. Nice try Florentino. Go work that on Liverpool or Arsenal, not us.
What nerve and what bollocks this man has?????
June 6th, 2009 at 16:59
@Dan: It’s time to kick the Apache off the Reservation and then let Dan scalp him.
June 6th, 2009 at 17:06
@Traverse: When you consider a year ago the asking price for Benzema was around 45 to 50 million, their asking price right now is a true bargain and I am not sure I understand why the delay? What are they waiting for? Milan, Real, Barca, Inter, Juve to all pounce in and make it a competition we will lose. Stoke the fire while it’s hot. United are too slow and too lethargic in their transfer strategies. And I attribute this to the lack of urgency created by a lack of competitive funds available to Fergie to make deals happen immediately. I like big clubs to isolate the players they want and then just swoop in like vultures and get them. But United play this bartering, old marketplace mentality like they are paupers negotiating the price for a bag of fruit. What 4 pounds? Those grapes aren’t worth more than a pound. I’ll give you 2 pounds for them and not a penny more, take it or leave it. Oh but not today. I have to wait until the end of the month when I get paid.
Sad but true. But at least we aren’t Liverpool……………..YET.
June 6th, 2009 at 17:07
The thing about getting benzema is that should we buy him i really cant see us splashing out on a midfielder as well. Now whether we sign a DM general type player ie flamini, de rossi, yaya toure, or a creative midfielder ie moutinho, modrid, arteta etc, all i know is we definitely need a midfielder of some sort. My opinion as i say is if we sign ben we wont be seeing a midfielder coming in which to me is the primary position we need.
I wouldnt be surprised at all should we sign ben and by xmas time hes stuck on about 5 goals for the season because the midfield as it usually is, is crap and not creative enough. What will be the excuse then, oh benzema is crap just like berbatov. For everyones information berbatov is a class player but we dont get the best out of him becuase of how we play him and formations. I say its too early to give up on berba and leave him on the bench. Play berbatov up top and leave him there, rooney behind and spend the money on a seriously world class midfielder. Whether that midfielder is a midfield general or creative midfielder is down to preference and whos available. I have no doubt benzema is a class player but a midfielder is needed more and i really cant see us splashing out on both. Come on guys lets not give up on the berb, hes a class player and he deserves another season before we bench him for another 30 million striker.
June 6th, 2009 at 17:12
@Grognard: Perez would beat his own mother in the back of the head with a pool cue till she got detached retinas if he thought that would get him Ronaldo.
June 6th, 2009 at 17:22
@Dan: They may not kill for our midfield but I do know Barcelona KILLED our midfield. They were exposed for what they are, not good enough and the only average lot on an otherwise excellent team. Add a player or two of true world class renown and we become cles to unbeatable. It was our central midfield and their inability to cope with an injured Iniesta and awesome Xavi going forward that killed us and it was our midfield that continually gave the ball away and broke down whenever they ran into Busquets or Toure. If you cannot see that mate, I can’t help you. Fuck the League, the Carling Fucking Toilet, the FA Cup and all that crap. It’s all about the Champions League today my friend. And we are second best and miles behind the best because they can match us position for position and then they murder us in the center of midfield. But I guess next year you have the master plan to sick old Scholesy and Lead Foot Carrick after them for sweet revenge right? Or are you planning on boring them to death by inserting Fletcher with the human Headless Chicken known simply as Anderson? Boy, Pep’s just shaking in his boots. Good luck with that.
I’m not one who is prone to pushing the panic button after any old loss. But Barcelona was not any old loss. It was the showpiece game for all the world to see between the two teams perceived to be the best in the world. And we came up woefully short in that game and looked terrible in the process. Now only a manager high on arrogance and blind on reality would ignore the truth and the signs that we have player needs and problems to fix. Because as we are now, we will not even win the League next season. Our competitors are bound to improve their squads (although I am no longer sure about the Scouse). If we stand pat and only improve cosmetically by buying a few kids and bringing in Valencia, then nothing much is going to change for the better.
We will be a year older and not any better. As I see it we have five spots that need fixing. Replace Tevez (although I would be happy doing nothing there and giving Welbeck and Macheda time to play), buy a left winger who will finally sit Park down for life, possibly look into selling Evra and bringing in somebody who can do the job until Fabio is truly ready and finally, we must get a midfield general who is box to box and who will not let us down and let creative midfielders have their way with us. Add to that the hope and prayers that Hargo returns and plays again and we are set. But nothing improves unless our midfield is rejuvenated with new and improved blood. And spare me with the stiffs from the reserves. We are United, challenging for major titles and you want to pin our hopes and dreams on the reserves?
June 6th, 2009 at 17:26
@Craig Mc: I think you meant biased, not bigoted mate. To be a bigot, you’d have to be a racist.
June 6th, 2009 at 17:31
@Matt: I agree. I can see the possibility of Fergie buying Benzema and Valencia but no midfielder unless he sells Berbatov and possibly either Anderson or Nani or both. Then he would have money to play with. But I don’t see him to any of that although I suppose Nani is a possibility if he buys Valencia. Remember, there is no money being made for letting Tevez go. To buy Tevez and spend that kind of money on him, would be a true waste of money and resources when we have more pressing needs and there are better forwards available to us for less money. I am not a big Benzema fan and I doubt he wants to play for us but we know that Tevez doesn’t anymore. At least with Benzema you have greater goal scoring potential and a better first touch.
June 6th, 2009 at 17:33
@Traverse: One of the criteria for becoming President of Real Madrid is the ability to pull down your pants and take it up the backside for the team. Perez will do this if it gets him Ronaldo, Kaka and Ribery. Another criteria is they must possess no backbone or any scruples.
June 6th, 2009 at 18:45
tevez, a poor mans kuyt?
June 6th, 2009 at 19:09
fergie wont buy anyone, unless owen is out until 2010
June 6th, 2009 at 19:21
@Grognard: Yeah but I believe in the old adage Grog, that we have to speculate to accumulate! What I am saying is this, that great players are the greatest investment of ones money, because they bring in the butts that sit on the seats, and that keeps the money flow going. For us to keep bringing the money in, we have to win the important BIG games that matter, and especially the PL and CL as you say Grog. To do that, we need to bring in players that PERFORM when it matters. Our MF don’t, not in my opinion anyway. Why is Real Madrid about to shell out 250 million, because they know if you invest in the best, you will get the revenue come back in its multitudes, from TV rights, merchandise, advertising backers, and Uncle Tom Cobley and all. Real M have already stated that Ronaldo will be for them THE phenominal Cash Cow that Beckham was. You all know what Becks brought in advertising revenue and merchandising alone for Real Madrid. So we need to stop pissing about buying the little people, paying 15 mill, 17 mill, 18 mill, etc, and go for the jugular by fighting for those top players. Not many 17 mill Ronaldo’s turn out to be world players of the year do they???????
June 6th, 2009 at 19:21
I don’t expect much transfer activity happening at United… Sadly. Unless we sell Ronaldo and Hargo doesn’t return.
I pretty much agree with Grognard (sadly!
) on our transfer needs. As a bare minimum we should sign a really solid midfielder which I see as being most important. Ideally someone who is ready to go straight into the team and add steel and quality. De Rossi would be perfect. You cannot compete in Europe without a solid spine in your team and our midfield will continually be bossed.
June 6th, 2009 at 19:25
@Grognard:
, I agree.
June 6th, 2009 at 19:32
@Grognard: Did you see the Roon playing for England today Grog? Apart from the spectacular goal he scored, he made no other contribution of worth today. His game reminded me of his CL performance, which was shite. He wasn’t supposed to be playing on the left, but 1st half thats where he kept turning up. He has a good amount of anonymous games Grog, and although he has some really great, thoroughly exciting games, I still have an issue with the consistency of his performances which seem to come in spasms. I wouldn’t like to think that over a whole season, in PL and CL that we were having to depend solely on the Roon, if Ronnie and Tev go. That’s all I am saying mate.
June 6th, 2009 at 19:34
@MoYa: A solid spine, yeah, that just about covers it mate
.
June 6th, 2009 at 19:35
All this never ending talk about Valencia joining us… But is he really United quality?
I’m not convinced he’s better than Nani (if he had a run of games) and think we should be chasing bigger fish like Silva or Mata.
Sure he is fast and can put in a good cross, but its not like we have strikers lurking in the box waiting for crosses.
What impresses me is that he does seem to use his head in decision making. I just think if we are gonna sign a winger that sign someone of exceptional quality. United have always been a team with a tradition of having high quality wingers.
June 6th, 2009 at 19:43
@MoYa: Another fan wanting to give Nani a chance
. I think Lil man Nani fans are beginning to ‘out’ themselves, as I have been OUTED as a Nani fan from the beginning. 
. So all the rest of you hidden Nani fans, come out and get punished like the rest of us 
.
June 6th, 2009 at 19:47
Rooney isn’t a fucking left winger, it’s bullsh*t!!
I believe he will never reach his full potential if we keep playing him outa position.
I remember when him and Ronaldo joined United, Rooney was way better from the two. And now Ronaldo is World Footballer and Rooney is being made to cover for his wing back. It’s so frustrating. I mean sure he does a good job but we know doesn’t have the pace or trickery to be a star winger. It takes away so much from his game. It’s so frustrating.
I just hope it’s only part of his development and gets to take up his natural most threatening and obvious position behind the striker soon!
June 6th, 2009 at 19:53
@Craig Mc:
Lol whaoh whaoh whaoh… I’m not Nani’s biggest fan, but a fan of any United player. What impressed me was how even though he wasn’t playing he didn’t complain and said his future is with us. And that rules out Ronaldo and Tevez!!!
All I ask is that Nani should be given a decent run of games because I don’t see Valencia as an improvement. Nani hasn’t been that good this past season, but hey he also needs a consistent run in the side.
June 6th, 2009 at 20:00
@Craig Mc: The problem mate is we don’t have the kind of ownership that first of all sees things that way and secondly, they just don’t have the liquid capital to make that happen, even if it brings them back money. As they see it, OT is always full, and the tv money will not increase if we buy better players. There is no other motive to buy great players other than the marketing capital gained from licensing. A massive amount but when you are thinking with a small mind while constantly grabbing to see if your wallet is still in your back pocket, then you will never become the risk taker and progressively spending machine that Real are. The Glazer’s are in just too much debt to allow Fergie to spend to his heart’s content. Not until we get some Arab consortium owning United will we see a free for all spending mentality. Until then we have to suck it up, curse the name Glazer and watch the Man City’s Chelsea’s and Real’s of the world have fun buying players.
I’m a big proponent that no team, especially champions should ever stand on their laurels and not try to always push the envelope and improve. All teams need to be refreshed after every season. And I don’t mean by just one signing like a Berbatov. I mean get rid of two or three players and bring in two or three. The window for footballers to perform at their top potential these days seems short due to the massive requirements by teams for players to run and play as hard as possible every minute of every game. In the past teams could coast a bit and rest players but the massive schedules and the amount of money at stake in winning is burning out players far quicker than in the past. Therefore, you need to look at what you have, get rid of those who no longer can give their best, and replenish with new blood. Thats my opinion anyway. And I think it’s Fergie’s too, except he has been forced to stick with the same old gang without adding too much new blood other than kids. It’s really a concern for me as I see our team get older in terms of starters and too young and inexperienced when it comes to new players coming in. We need to buy players who fill the middle ground. Experienced but not senile, and not too young to be green and useless.
June 6th, 2009 at 20:01
@MoYa: It’s never a sad thing to agree with me. It just shows your increased wisdom.
June 6th, 2009 at 20:06
@Craig Mc: No I never saw the game as it was not televised here in Canada. It will be on in a couple of days on tape delay. As for Rooney, he is simply exhausted mate. Totally and completely knackered and wasted. Too many games and too many duties to perform for a manager who runs him silly. He ran out of gas right after the Arsenal game. Since then he has been invisible because he is lacking that extra gear and the concentration to really be himself. Once he gets his summer’s rest he will be back to what he was. Unfortunately I don’t see Fergie finally waking up and using him properly.
June 6th, 2009 at 20:08
@MoYa: He’s a good player mate but I have to agree that there are better players out there that we should be chasing. For me the players to go after in order are Ribery, Silva and Marin.
June 6th, 2009 at 20:09
@Grognard: Lol either that or we going outa our freaken minds!!
Don’t worry Grogs maybe Fergie is gonna bag us a huge transfer window present. Gonna be a long summer… (or winter where I come from!)
June 6th, 2009 at 20:13
@MoYa: You can look at that from a different perspective too mate. I have coached a few sports in my day and I have always preferred the player who screams and bitches and complains about not playing enough. They show a hunger and a desire to be out there and to prove me wrong, when they get their chance they give their all. A player that is quiet and respectful tells me he lacks the courage, heart and desire to take the necessary steps needed to get to the top.
Now I am not saying that is the case with Nani. I am just saying that coaches can be wrong and can misjudge a player because his personality does not suit the manager’s requirements. In Fergie’s eyes, Nani make lack the fire and desire to make the grade. I don’t know but what I do know is the Gaffer doesn’t seem to want to play the lad.
June 6th, 2009 at 20:15
@Grognard: Perhaps Fergie wants to play it safe by getting someone already used to the English game.
Ribery would be awesome or perhaps a younger talent like a Hamsik or Luis Suarez
June 6th, 2009 at 20:17
@MoYa: Hard to sign a good player when Real beats you to it.. Lets see, on their squad I can call of the following names of players I wanted us to buy over the last two years. Sneijder, van der Vaart, Drenthe, Huntelaar, and pretty soon they will probably have Kaka and Ribery too, not to mention Villa and Silva and I am hearing rumors of Beckenbauer, Maradona, Zidane, Mueller, Cruyff and Pele are being asked to make comebacks.
I put nothing past the Real gasbags.
June 6th, 2009 at 20:19
@Grognard:
I agree, but what I mean is you have to show some respect. It’s what has put me off Tevez, I mean he shows lots of fire, but no respect for our manager or club.
Fergie really didn’t want to play Nani so in that case I would expect Fergie to sell him this summer, though I don’t see that happening. I really dunno…
June 6th, 2009 at 20:19
@MoYa: Fergie overrates this myth that playing in the EPL and having that experience is an advantage. Especially since he values the Champions League more than anything. A great player is a great player no matter where they play. The only factor to sometimes consider is size and frailty.
June 6th, 2009 at 20:22
@Grognard: Lol Lol wouldn’t surprise any of us frankly!!!
I guess the only way for us to compete is to buy them before they make it big at a big club. Like we should have signed Ribery before he went to Bayern.
June 6th, 2009 at 20:26
@Grognard: Perhaps he has been burned before in the past, maybe Veron…
Everyone had their doubts bout Arshavin, but he showed them!! I’m worried what he’s gonna do next season
June 6th, 2009 at 21:15
Some interesting stats on the Tevez and Ronaldo enigma
http://a-kick-in-the-grass.blogspot.com/2009/06/ronaldo-and-tevez-conundrum.html
June 6th, 2009 at 21:55
@MoYa: There’s always risks, but that should never mean you should never take them. All businesses have to take risks, all people have to take risks in life. When you meet the woman you want to marry, marrying is a risk. You can never know for sure what you get. But we still take those risks because frankly, life would be pretty dull without them. And frankly, United despite their success have become a bit to dull for my liking because it’s the same old song every year with the same old players we should have gotten rid of two years earlier. Sure we are successful but success alone does not motivate Barcelona and Real Madrid. They have a real pride and hubris towards being an awesome force, not just a winner. I like the idea of winning a championship and saying we are still not good enough. What I see from United is a manager that seems more than content with the team centering itself around Ronaldo and offering very little else. I for one like a team where attacks can come from a variety of different sources and that those attacks do not have to go through or be centered around one player. That kind of team is much harder to defend against.
And don’t remind me about Arshavin. That and Huntelaar have to be my all time greatest disappointments as a United supporter.
June 6th, 2009 at 22:08
@MoYa: He hasn’t been that good because he hasn’t played mate. Nothing wrong with his performances in his first season with us, but then he got FAR more games. Fergie has given his word that Nani will be more involved next season, so lets see if he keeps his word. Nani made his feeling known to Fergie, but he just did it the right way, and NOT thru major derision of our club and Manager in the media. Some people like to SHOUT to the whole world when they are not happy, others like Nani just go to the boss, and tell him personally, in heart to heart in his office. I would be in that 2nd category, and if I was a boss, I would kick the arses of those like Ronnie and Tevez who disrespected me thru continual GRIPING thru the media.
.
June 6th, 2009 at 22:29
@MoYa: I’ve been saying this for months, and the Tevez lovers can not see it. “But he runs everywhere” is not worth £33 million.
June 6th, 2009 at 22:34
@Traverse: I think United fans are split about Tevez now mate. Course he is not worth 30 million, just like Rio, Rooney, Berba weren’t worth that either. In the present climate that is the going rate, but when we bought Rio and Rooney, prices weren’t so inflated. I know Rio didn’t cost 30 mill, but he was still overpriced for that period of time
.
June 6th, 2009 at 22:38
@Traverse: But he gives it his all and berbasloth doesnt look like he wants to play for us despite turning down better offers from citeh and chavski /sarcasm:roll:
If there is one thing that pees me off more then tevez himself, its his fan boys, these are the people i would never hire at united.
June 6th, 2009 at 23:05
@Grognard:
A team can never be at a stand still thats for sure. Especially not in football in todays times with every other team constantly improving vastly. It’s the losses and years where you don’t win anything which makes a team wake up generally. I just hope we use our loss in the final to learn from our weaknesses instead of not doing anything because we won the league.
I still have faith in Fegie and I know he burns to be successful in Europe. We are moving in the right direction compared to years before. We just to sort out the spine of our team most importantly.
For some reason we just haven’t seemed to be carrying a goal threat, I just hope that problem can be sorted out. Our players should strike fear into opposition players.
June 6th, 2009 at 23:08
@Craig Mc: Ronaldo and Tevez need a major dressing down thats for sure. Fergie should tie them up and use them for target practice during training sessions!
June 7th, 2009 at 5:37
Did anyone? ANYONE see THAT goal of Rooney? Blew my mind off! What a goal!
Thank you Fergie you arse.. Thank you for destroying a player like that… You’re good at destroying careers.. Keep playing Rooney on the left.. Keep on sucking Ronaldo’s balls and sacrifice Rooney!
Well… Last thing to say!
Capello for United manager!
June 7th, 2009 at 6:19
@Craig Mc: Ah come on Bro, that is the most biased BS you’ve spouted in a long time. You have absolutely no idea what goes on between Nani and Fergie. Nani is a shy timid little fellow who would piss himself before he stormed into the Boss’ office and confronted him about playing time. I’m not questioning Nani or putting him down in any way but I’m not going to listen to you anoint him into sainthood because he doesn’t make an ass of himself in public. The reason he doesn’t make an ass of himself is simply because he can’t speak English for one. Secondly he is too shy and timid to go out and make a case for himself to the media and thirdly, the media doesn’t care about Nani because Nani doesn’t sell papers. So under those scenario’s I guess shutting up and saying nothing is not really a choice but a duty.
I for one would love to see the Lil Man stay and prosper with United but I’m sorry, I just don’t see it. And Fergie saying that Nani will be involved more next season may be true, but not with United. The bottom line is if he didn’t think the guy good enough to keep a stiff like Park on the bench, i cannot see him surviving for another season with the club. Not when the team is strapped for transfer money. Trust me when I say that if Nani stays for next season, it’s for one reason and one reason only. To keep Ronaldo happy culturally. If Ronaldo does end up going to Real, Nani’s days with United will also be over. Of this I am sure. Oh sure I could be wrong but I honestly don’t think I am. Here’s to keeping our fingers crossed that I am wrong and that Nani comes back and Fergie keeps his promise. And Wolves are going to win the Premiership next season too.
June 7th, 2009 at 6:22
@Traverse: Totally agree mate. United is a football club, not a track and field club.
June 7th, 2009 at 6:27
@Dan: They are all closet Newcastle fans. I like Tevez a lot but unlike the blue collar types who seem to think running like a chicken with your head cut off is the quintessential blueprint for a great footballer, I disagree. For me Tevez does not have enough skill on the ball, does not have the pace to get behind or by a defender, and also doesn’t have a soft first touch or ability to finesse a ball into the goal. Sure his back heel goal was a nice finesse move but in the 30 or so goals he has scored for the club, they are either headers from close range or booming shots. He always seems to roof the ball into the top of the net and quite often when he doesn’t score the reason is because he hits the ball at a height where keepers have a shot at saving it rather than having to dive low and stop it. Frankly he has feet of stone and the finesse of Quasimoto. Other than he’s frakken fantastic.
June 7th, 2009 at 6:33
@MoYa: It’s not just a question of sorting out the spine on this team. What I really feel is missing and has hurt us even when we have won is the lack of a take charge no nonsense leader on the field and in the dressing room. Much is said about Roy Keane because he filled both those needs of a central midfielder who controlled games and opponents, but he was also an inspirational and intimidating leader of men. Name me one player on our current squad that has a personality like that and that can be a take charge type that will get into the face of an opponent or a teammate when they are out of line? A player who when things are tough will shout and wake the lads up, who will lead by example and who will make sure the stars of the other team respect us and fear us as well. No tone player is hard as nails and willing to show it. Vidic is the closest we have but it’s so important that that leader be a central midfielder because they are the link to both attack and defense and they can also derail the opponents attack because of their presence more from that position. Where are the Roy Keane’s of the world?
June 7th, 2009 at 6:38
@Darth Red Diablo: OK, that’s a bit over the top their former apprentice and pink wearing Jedi.
We can disagree with Fergie over a lot of his decisions but lets show the Gaffer a little more respect than that. OK. I mean what the fuck???? Do you recall the past 20 years or is it just the last 20 minutes that you are concerned with? Disagree with him as that is your right but what you said about Fergie was just low class mate. Seriously, get a grip. I don’t offend easily because of my dark nature but that was crossing the line. Just some friendly advice from your former master, who you stabbed in the back and turned on also, I might add. 
June 7th, 2009 at 7:05
@Grognard: @Traverse: If you guys or anyone else has a clear understanding of our financial situation and Liverpool’s can you please explain? The differences and how the whole situation is, basically. And why we would “do a Leeds” if we do not sustain success on the pitch. Also, I’ve heard that within two years time we have to repay our debt just like how Liverpool have to repay theirs now.
June 7th, 2009 at 9:46
@Grognard: Frankly there isn’t another Roy Keane mate. I’d say perhaps the closest we have is Rooney, but only in a couple of years time.
It’s difficult to go out and buy someone who is gonna be your captain immediately. Also language might be a problem. He would also need time to settle in.
Honestly there are some solid centre mids, but nobody jumps out as being Roy Keane material. The closest I would say is De Rossi, who is an absolute monster and can certainly control a game. Otherwise Essien, but not sure if he can control a dressing room.
Generally you need experience and charisma to control a dressing room.
What I wouldn’t give for another Keano…
June 7th, 2009 at 12:34
We’ve just bid £16mil for valencia according to sky sources…
June 7th, 2009 at 12:53
@UnitedUnited: Liverpool’s position is pretty similar to ours really. Taken over by pretty rich people who use loans and then the clubs income to pay off the loans.
There is one ALMIGHTY difference. Anfield : 45,370. Old Trafford : 76,212.
Our matchday income alone dwarfs theirs, and I don’t have the facts at hand but I’d imagine our merchandising and sponsorship does similar. We can keep our heads above water due to the sheer amount of money we have coming in. Liverpool are finding it much more difficult.
One note to this is what else Tom Hicks owns. He owns outright the Texas Rangers Baseball team, and the NHL team Dallas Stars. Dallas stars were last week put up for sale, valued at around $400million. If he sells this, it’s rumoured that he’ll buy out Gillet and half Liverpools debt.
I think we are actually in a worse position. If someone were to come and try and buy us out it would cost them upwards at lowest of £700million to purchase us from the Glazers. For that £700mil they will buy a club with £600mil of debt attached to it. That’s a combined £1.3billion.
Until we are allowed to start negotiating our own TV deal it’ll be very difficult for us to pay off this debt through our own earnings. We currently rake in £30mil from the Premier league TV deal. In contrast, Barcelona get a whopping £81.4m a year for the next 5 years and Madrid £77mil for the next 7 years by negotiating their own.
With our standing in Asia and the rest of the world it wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect us to be close to hitting the £100mil mark a year. That’s an extra £70mil a year, which would go some way to paying off our debts. This seems unlikely to happen in the near future due to Premier League rules. Pressure of a European Super League could cause the Premiership to compromise and allow each team to negotiate their own TV deals, but this is probably bad news for everyone outside the top 4.
There’s a reason why it looks cheaper to buy City and try and turn them into United, instead of just buying United.
June 7th, 2009 at 13:00
at this point i dont mind bidding at anyone LOL
June 7th, 2009 at 13:08
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article6446668.ece
June 7th, 2009 at 13:14
@Dan: It’s bollocks. Posturing. They are on a strict sell to buy budget (Alonso, Mascherano.. talk of buying Crouch back instead of David Villa!).. I bet Arsenal could outspend them this season, if they buy anyone over 14years old!
@Dan: Wigan have confirmed that United and Madrid have bid £16mil for Valencia and he is deciding where to go. This means we are busy, and maybe other transfers will not be too far away.
June 7th, 2009 at 14:19
@Grognard: Actually… I am just showing my dark qualities which Grognard had showed in the past summer!
And we both know Rooney has been misused and forced to become impotent!
June 7th, 2009 at 14:38
@Traverse: nice, we’ll get him(im 100% sure he is ours because he turned down the chance to go to madrid in january) and any other transfer target by the end off next week.
And fraizer campbell is going to hull, its not a shocker, he is a good player and if it wasnt for his age, the players infront of him and welbeck/macheda im sure he would have gotten games for us this season. I hope he does well for them.
June 7th, 2009 at 14:45
£6mil for a united youth product is not a abad peaice of buisness at all is it
it just shows how good our youth and reserves are compared to everyone elses.
June 7th, 2009 at 14:54
I dont understand valencia’s bid, is it to replace nani? is it cause ronaldo is leaving? or was tosic just part of a deal to get adem..
June 7th, 2009 at 15:03
@Traverse: Not to mention Trav, that Rafa was whining to the media towards the end of last season, that L’pool COULDN’T outspend United. Anyone notice how obsessed L’fool are with our club, they bring us into everythings – SAD GITS!
June 7th, 2009 at 15:23
@ROOOOONEY: Dans idea of the plan:
valencia CM CM Nani/tosic
——-rooney
———-ronaldo
with 2 quality midfielders, tosic/nani and valencia both playing at top form, this could be an excellent line up.
June 7th, 2009 at 15:25
@Grognard: Errrr I SUGGEST you reread my post comments! I didn’t say that HE STORMED the bosses office, I said he went to see the boss to discuss his future and what the score was. I know this because I saw the interview of it on MUTV, and also on MUTV where Fergie himself said he had spoken to Nani, and that the boy would definately play a bigger part next season. I saw it, and I heard it, and know its the truth. So please don’t accuse me of talking bollox when I know I am telling the facts of what happened. Yes Nani is shy, and you know what so is Scholesy, Giggsy, and Ole, and it is the quiet lads, who go about their business KEEPING things INSIDE the club, and not screaming and shouting to the press that FERGIE likes, and keeps around. Players don’t always have to be gobshites to bring their grievances before Fergie, in fact the Gobshites more often than that are shown the door by SAF. There are more than one way to skin a cat, ASK EVRA, and SAF appreciates some ways more than others. I think everybody knows you would be a screamer Grog, that’s just your personality, and so you like players that give it large with the boss, as you have stated many times. I often do my fair share of gobbing, but in the workplace I know when it is profitable to use diplomacy, and achieve my aims in a way other than the disrespectful ways of Ronnie and Tevez. But hey each to his own. All I know is that I saw Nani in interview where he talked about his speaking with the boss, and I saw and heard Ferig say he knows the lad hasn’t had the opportunities he would like this year, but that it was because Park had come into some form. He said Nani had been unlucky, and that he will get more opportunity next season. So as I said, lets wait and see what happens. If SAF keeps his word, than Nani should get a run. But with all the bigheaded whiners and egos in our squad, I wouldn’t be surprised if Fergie doesn’t keep his word. That’s why I have always believed that Nani should take up the offers from other clubs.
June 7th, 2009 at 15:25
United have bid for Valencia… Im delighted, and I hope he joins us over those cunts from Madrid as he is one of my three favorite players to buy this summer. Although this could mean one fo these things.
1. Nani is leaving, Valencia arrives.
2. Ronaldo is leaving, Valenic arrives.
3. Fergie has understood that Tosic is far from good enough for us.
4. They are all staying, and Valencia comes to United just so we have a first choice left winger over Rooney.
Although, I feel it might be this last point:
5. Parks contract goes out this summer, and even though Fergie has said United wanted to make it longer something may have happend so that Park doesnt get a new contract and is released by us… Would mean that we replace Park with Valencia.
Anyway, Im delighted if we get him.
June 7th, 2009 at 15:33
By the way Grog, you know that in fighting Nani’s corner, I have said that if it was me, at times the way Nani has been treated I would have stuck two fingers up at Fergie, told him to eff off and signed for a club where I could get a good run of games. I know however that Fergie would have shown me the door for that kind of disrespectful behaviour – soooooooooooo there you go.
As for sad git Tevez, well I am pissed as pissed can be with him. After all his pouting performances, the latest is he is asking Maradona whether he should stay with Man United or sign for City. Piss off to City I say, and the sooner the better, because anyone who has to ask that question is not fit to wear the Red devil shirt of United any longer. I am pissed HE EVEN HAS BEEN GIVEN THAT CHOICE by Our club!
June 7th, 2009 at 15:36
@Dan: Aaaaah Dan mi man, I am getting to like you more and more
.
June 7th, 2009 at 15:37
@ROOOOONEY: Maybe it’s to replace ROONEY
.
June 7th, 2009 at 15:40
@Traverse: Wowza Trav, you have a whole lot of knowledge about the financial situation, BRAIN-EEEEEEEEEEEY
. If your not a member of financial MENSA yet, you should be 
. Thanks for the info mate.
June 7th, 2009 at 15:43
June 7th, 2009 at 15:46
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXUr68gmI7M&feature=player_embedded
this, this is how united should be playing!
June 7th, 2009 at 15:49
I’m still not completely convinced by Valencia, but always exciting to get a new signing (if we do end up signing him). Though I believe he doesn’t offer us anything different to what we have in Nani already, perhaps better decision making. 16m seems a bit high. Would have prefered Mata or Foggia.
Hope Valencia would add balance to our team and get our transfer dealings rolling and done early.
June 7th, 2009 at 15:55
@Craig Mc: Tevez has been getting on my nerves for a while now! Who knows whether he will even be first choice at city with the type of players they gonna sign. And we all know FSW only likes to play one striker up front.
The sooner he signs for someone else the sooner we can be at ease
June 7th, 2009 at 15:55
Stephen mi man, where the hell are you Bro. I took the GF to the girls aloud gig in Geordieland, under the pretence of course, that I am going with you under duress, because I am a ROCK fan
. She fell for it hook line and sinker, but I complained about the flashing lights and put prescription dark glasses on, so the GF couldn’t see all the oggling going on behind them 
. Seeing Kimba in the flesh, well………. I could have watched her shaking that arse all night. What a dancer, but played havoc with my raging hormones. But shuuuuuuuuuuuush, don’t tell the future Mrs Craigmeister eh? 
. The GF and her mates love Girls Aloud, so I did have to suffer screaming wenches all around me. I was designated driver because they were all pissed up with Vodka tonics. So wasn’t all bliss eh Bro 
. The GF didn’t drink, for obvious reasons!
June 7th, 2009 at 15:58
@MoYa: Or the sooner we can get a BETTER replacement for him eh?
June 7th, 2009 at 16:03
@Craig Mc: Definately! Only thing we aren’t gonna any funds from that. Perhaps Fergie wont even sign a striker… With Rooney, Berba and Ronaldo… Also Kiko and Welbeck breaking through. Could do with an out and out striker.
June 7th, 2009 at 16:04
@MoYa: I hope Valencia isn’t going to be another Fergie cock up of a player, because he does come stuck in that area quite often. I mean David Silva who is miles better is going for 20 million to Madrid, but then he doesn’t want to leave Spain. So if Madrid are signing Silva, why would they need Valencia? Maybe they just want to PUSH the price up for United, so that we will need to sell to recoup, and in this way they hope they will get Ronnie! Asseholes the lot of them! Madrid know every trick in the book when it comes to scheming to get what they want!
June 7th, 2009 at 16:05
@Craig Mc: *cough* benzema *cough*
June 7th, 2009 at 16:05
@ROOOOONEY:
, don’t be sad mate, just jesting with ya!
June 7th, 2009 at 16:07
@Dan: The papers are full of talk today though Dan, that Barcelona are in negotiations with Ribery and Benzema, and hope to keep them out of United’s hands
.
June 7th, 2009 at 16:23
@UnitedUnited: The big difference between us and Liverpool is that as an organization, we generate a lot more revenue than the Scouse. More at the gate from home games because of the seating prices and the private boxes, more from world wide licensing and shirt deals etc. We are in massive debt but our stadium and those factors seem to indicate that the Glazers can make their annual payments whereas Liverpool’s owners are not getting the revenue stream that they need coming out of games played at Anfield and from worldwide marketing and licensing. So unlike the Glazer’s, they have lest profit per year to show from sales and thus their debt only gets bigger with less chance for them to pay it off. United’s is in a precarious spot too because if we were to lose for example, our annual 12 to 13 game jaunt in the Champions League, that could be catastrophic. Liverpool are hitting the skids right now because the lenders are demanding their payment and Liverpool don’t have it. We are not quite there yet but based on the similar model being used, we also are in severe jeopardy but like I said, there are asset factors that keep us solvent and viable.
June 7th, 2009 at 16:25
@MoYa: Well according to Fergie and this article we already have that central defensive midfielder who will contain teams and make his presence. Check out the link;
http://www.footballfancast.com/blog/manchester-united/united-ace-finally-steps-and-could-save-fergie-millions-a-re/13783
June 7th, 2009 at 16:32
@Dan: And apparently Barca is really stepping it up to sign Ribery and Benzema. They just finished winning everything and taking us to school in the process and do you see them sitting back and living in the past? NO. The are going out there to improve themselves. What I don’t get however is what it is about Samuel Etoo that they don’t like anymore? I keep hearing him being offered everywhere for around 20 million. The man just scored 30 goals this season in La liga alone. Who could possibly improve on that? Perhaps Fergie and United should wake up and see how a champion aggressively attempts to stay ahead of it’s main competitor. We have become the Rip Van Winkle’s of post season activity. Fergie is asleep under a tree in the South of France without a care in the world because he knows he has all the tools to compete and win with. He just needs Valencia and then all is fixed. RIGHT! Wake the Hell up Fergie before you start looking at third or fourth place next season in the Prem. Or based on what’s happening to Liverpool with money, and Chelsea’s advancing age, we will once again win the EPL by boring an entire nation into a coma, but we will fail where it matters the most, at prying the Cup out of Barcelona’s hands.
June 7th, 2009 at 16:36
@Dan: Ironic that we can brag about being able to outspend a club that is headed down the same path as Chrysler and General Motors. What I am more concerned is being able to compete for players with the two big Spanish giants, Man City and Chelsea. As long as they flex their spending muscles, we will get second tier talent coming to OT.
June 7th, 2009 at 16:40
@Traverse: If I wanted Valencia that much, I wouldn’t be sitting on my hands or tanning at the beach waiting for him to pick between me and Satan. I would be in contact with the lad to convince him that OT is the place to be and what my plans for him are. Fergie forgets the lure and ability a Spanish club has with Spanish speaking South Americans. I’ll bloody well cry and laugh my head off if we lose out on him too. It would serve this club right for the nickel and dime bargaining tactics they have been using to get players to come play for us.
June 7th, 2009 at 16:41
@Darth Red Diablo: I don’t think I ever spoke that rudely about Fergie though. I mean you are being a little hard and very crass towards the Gaffer mate.
June 7th, 2009 at 16:50
@Craig Mc: Fair enough mate but you still have to question Fergie’s true intentions if heis blind enough to still pick Park over Nani regardless of the South Korean’s improved form. Improved form or not, Nani is ten times the player Park is but Park offers Fergie something Nani doesn’t and that’s performing defensive duties , tracking back and being ultra conservative. Nani’s nature as a football player is the antithesis of what Fergie is looking for these days with his Italian style of football. So whether Nani is a gentleman or a screamer, I would be shocked and surprised to see the Lil Man have much of a playing future with the club. We can only hope. I still feel Nani needs to demand a real answer from Fergie because Fergie has been unfair to him. A starter a year ago and now placed on the bench for a talentless stubby legged git who spends 60 out of every 90 minutes of a game flat on his ass.
June 7th, 2009 at 16:56
@RedDevilEddy: If Valencia was truly a replacement for Park over Nani, I’d be ecstatic, but I really don’t think so. Fergie just adores that South Korean bag of uselessness and he would literally have to have a career ending injury to not be part of Fergie’s plans for the future. Fergie really puts a premium on effort, desire and work ethic over raw talent, finesse and flair. You would think then that the would love Tevez over Berbatov. I just don’t get the man anymore.
June 7th, 2009 at 16:58
What’s frustrating is that we could have signed Valencia earlier and paid half the price… Bloody Hell
For club thats sitting in debt we somehow always manage to pay out of our asses… Same thing happen with Berba.
We need to sign players before everyone else wants them, especially since we identify them long before.
June 7th, 2009 at 17:00
@Craig Mc: Tevez was smart. He played the supporters card which was to stand behind the legion of United pro Tevez supporters and have them make his case for him. He should know that when it comes to the supporters, Fergie couldn’t give a shit. I do feel that someone should be kind enough though to help him move his stuff and give him a ride to the derelict and criminally infested part of Manchester where all the Shitty fans live and where they support their so called football team.
June 7th, 2009 at 17:02
@Grognard: Lol well Grogs Fletcher has impressed me hugely… I mean it shows there is hope for any player!
I think it’s all gonna depend on Hargo… If he’s not fit you can bet Fergie will sign someone.
I just hope he acts soon before we gotta pay over the top again!
June 7th, 2009 at 17:05
@Grognard: Tevez? Smart? Ah that doesn’t sound right
The man’s been in England for like 3 years and can hardly speak any english!
I think using the supporters card was really low and shame on those supporters who showed more faith to Tevez then Fergie by booing his decisions.
June 7th, 2009 at 17:07
@Dan: I like the way you left the two central midfield positions open, like they were insignificant. The team is nothing without those two positions manned by great players. And Fergie has just the men in mind. Carrick, Fletcher, Anderson, Giggs. Now all of a sudden your team doesn’t look so good does it?
June 7th, 2009 at 17:13
@MoYa: The reason nobody is excited about Valencia as a player is simply because he comes from Wigan. We are generally used to purchasing our players from bigger clubs and lets say more romantic and historic clubs abroad. The idea that a solution to one of our problems is actually in Wigan, speaks of mediocrity to us all. But Valencia and Palcios before him were top talents for that club. I am more upset on losing out on Palacios. He is a hard player with plenty of grit and determination and I will have all of you look at how badly Wigan went fro 6th and 7th in the table to relegation territory once they sold him to Spurs. They could not replace him. Valencia did all he could considering the club had very little else to support him with up front. Put him on a club with real talent and I think Valencia will really shine. And if Valencia is smart, he will realize with Real’s intentions of signing Ribery, Ronaldo, Silva and the works, he has no future but on the bench at Madrid. Hopefully he sees that his chances of playing a larger role as a starter are with United.
June 7th, 2009 at 17:16
@Craig Mc: Christ you like to play with fire mate. Does the GF ever visit Red Rants to see what you are up to? If so, you are busted.
June 7th, 2009 at 17:19
@Dan: Yeah I feel bad fro Frazier, He’s good, but not United good and never really got his chance in the first team. £6million from Hull will do nicely to add the Valencia/Benzema fund as it looks to be.
June 7th, 2009 at 17:21
@Grognard: Agree with you on Palacios… Everytime I have seen him play he has impressed me hugely. He would have been an excellent option for us.
Do you think Valencia is that much better than Nani?
June 7th, 2009 at 17:23
@Grognard: I think we will be alright for another season with Fletcher there as he stepped up at the end of this one. This is obviously while Hargreaves recuperates. If he comes back as good as ever, we’re fine. If he doesn’t then next summer we’ll buy a DMF.
June 7th, 2009 at 17:25
@Craig Mc: That’s the power that comes from financial strength and security. Madrid play with the rest of the teams like that but last time I saw, they never did so well in La Liga and in Europe. They have all the money and clout based on previous decades of success but what have they really done for anyone lately? Fuck all. They have all this money but they don’t use it smartly and with common sense. They buy players so that they can be called Galacticos but they never buy their players with balance and chemistry as part of the strategy. I fully expect them to play a 1-7-3 tactical formation next season because God knows they have no defenders. Ramos is a winger masquerading as a RB. They buy all these world class strikers and wingers and have no grit or defensive quality. Poor Casillas is left fending for himself. And they will never learn their lesson simply because of the way they elect their leaders and the way they are allowed to be dictated to by shareholders and fans. I am opinionated and I have my own views on what United should do, but trust me, the last thing I would want United and Fergie to do is to listen to all us morons on how to run the club. Well lets say all you morons. I should be listened to because I am the all knowing Grognard.
Anyway, despite our concerns and questions over buying policies at OT, I feel more secure knowing that the inmates do not run our asylum and that our manager is more concerned with team chemistry and balance.
June 7th, 2009 at 17:26
We need a goal scoring threat from midfield and somobody to play off the last defender. What I have noticed is a lot of teams defend quite high up against us, thus cramping our midfield. If we had a striker which would push back defences causde otherwise they would get caught out, I believe it would free up our midfield. We need a goal scoring threat from midfield.
June 7th, 2009 at 17:32
@MoYa: It was smart mate. I didn’t say it was nice or even fair, but it was smart on his part because he put United and Fergie in a position where they now have to consider paying for him. What Tevez was not counting on was the complete snub in playing opportunities he got in the last couple of weeks. Fergie made sure that when it came down to negotiating a deal, Tevez needed to know that all he was in Fergie’s mind was a bench warmer and that would finally get Tevez to bolt to another team even if the team played their bluff and offered the amount of money Joorabchian is asking for. Fergie played it like a grand master because although Tevez does love the club and the fans, he also wants and demands he play a larger role. He now knows that isn’t going to happen so I will be shocked silly if he picks United. I don’t think he will because he wants to play and also give reason to be in Maradona’s Argentina plans. Something that could be jeopardized if on the bench at United.
June 7th, 2009 at 17:33
@Grognard: Lol Grogs you should be giving advive to Liverpool… So that they can crumble in absolut chaos!
June 7th, 2009 at 17:34
@Traverse: Frazier is alright but he is not in the same class as Welbeck and Macheda. It was an easy decision to make and I am shocked that we would get that much money for him. That was a good bit of business. Now if we could only sell Anderson……
June 7th, 2009 at 17:37
@MoYa: Valencia has better pace and is smarter on the ball than Nani but I still feel that Nani has more one on one skill and is a far superior striker of the ball. Valencia also doesn’t mind tracking back. Nani doesn’t and that bothers Fergie yet Ronaldo for obvious reasons is allowed to get away with not tracking back. The way Fergie sees it, we can’t have both wingers neglect defensive duties and tracking back, thus the emergence of Just Shite Park.
June 7th, 2009 at 17:40
@Grognard: He still played a lot. And he has never been dropped by Argentina. According to the stats he played the most minutes from our strikers. He also had his share of big games.
He’s just greedy and disrespectful.
June 7th, 2009 at 17:42
@Traverse: My God so many of us are so counting on Hargreaves to be our savior and I who am the biggest Hargreaves supporter of them all and a card carrying Canadian to boot, shares no illusions of ever seeing that boy again. I love Hargo but these knees of his are chronic I’m afraid to say and I have doubts of whether the surgeries have corrected the problems. Time will tell but I also think it would be foolish for the club to bank on his return. We need to look for his replacement because as I see it, it 60/40 he will not be back. The latest news to be circulating is not encouraging and United has not come out to dispel the rumours.
June 7th, 2009 at 17:44
@MoYa: If we had a truly outstanding central defensive midfielder with pace, range and grit, this would allow Carrick to move up and become more involved in the offense and I think he could evolve into more of a goal scoring threat simply because he would not be playing so far back and would not have so many defensive duties to worry about.
June 7th, 2009 at 17:45
@Grognard: Yeah well lets first wait for the deal to be confirmed. Time will tell if it’s a potentially shrewd piece of business.
Lol and you clearly hate Ando… Your opinion, but I feel he’s still young and has shown promise.
Don’t Shoot!
June 7th, 2009 at 17:45
@MoYa: Hey is that a veiled insult or a compliments.
Don’t worry, I get your drift.
June 7th, 2009 at 17:47
@MoYa: True but seriously, I would never count the minutes played in a Carling Cup competition. Surrounded by kids and playing does not count for shite with me. In the EPL and CL, his role was very diminished.
June 7th, 2009 at 17:49
@MoYa: I will not rest and will not be happy as a United fan until two things happen. Until Anderson is sold and until Huntelaar is bought. So I guess I have many years of misery to look forward to.
June 7th, 2009 at 17:50
@Dan: Louis Saha. What a player! (when fit
)
June 7th, 2009 at 17:57
We get away with a lightweight central midfield most of the time because we are so damn strong in all the other positions and our midfield usually does just enough to break up play and get the ball to the players who make our team tick. But put our midfield up against a good midfield like Pool or Barcelona and we get overrun and cannot keep the ball.
Having Valencia and Benzema is no good if we cannot get the ball to them. Against Barcelona we had Tevez, Berbatov, Rooney and Ronaldo: £150 million worth of talent and we didn’t manage a single goal.
Im with Grognard, Hargreaves is going to be injury prone for life-damn shame but part of the game. We need to replace him because Fletcher should be used as an extra in a three man midfield not a partner for Carrick long term.
By the way anyone know anyone about this Dodo-central defender we signed for £5 million. The best brazilian youth defender.
June 7th, 2009 at 17:57
@Grognard: We have been linked with Huntelaar before and Real seem to be going crazy on a transfer front, so who knows, perhaps somehow he ends up with us. Also he doesn’t fit their galactico billing.
At this moment I would be pleased if we signed any noteworthy striker.
June 7th, 2009 at 18:01
@colver: Apparently he’s the best defensive Brazilian prospect. Currently a left back, but rumoured that we gonna mould him inti a centre back.
Haven’t found much info on him as he hasn’t even played a senior game for his club.
June 7th, 2009 at 18:01
@Traverse: @Grognard:
Thanks for your replies. I did a bit of digging myself and found out that the Glazers and this is what I found.
In July 2006 the club announced a refinancing package. The debt taken on by the Glazers to finance the club was split between the club and the family, approximately £256 million is secured against Manchester United’s assets.[9] The total amount will be £660 million, on which interest payments will be £62 million a year. The club stated, “The value of Manchester United has increased in the last year, which is why lenders want to invest in the club… ‘This move represents good housekeeping and it ensures that Sir Alex Ferguson will be provided with sufficient funds to compete in the transfer market.” The Manchester United Supporters Trust responded, “‘The amount of money needed to be repaid overall is huge… ‘The interest payment is one thing but what about the actual £660million? It is difficult to see how these sums can be reached without significant increases in ticket prices, which, as we always suspected, means the fans will effectively be paying for someone to borrow money to own their club.”[10][11] Under the terms of Glazer’s financing, in the event that Glazer is unable to repay bondholders, majority control of Manchester United will pass to three New York hedge funds in August 2010. The three hedge funds are Citadel, Och-Ziff Capital Management Group and Perry Capital.
Sounds bad.
June 7th, 2009 at 18:07
Anyone else got the feeling of an underwhelming transfer dealings from us in the silly season?
i) A bid for Carlos Tevez.
ii) Frazier Cambell leaving – ok, good money for a home grown player, but I’m confident he’ll develop in a player at least as good as D.Bent. Everytime he played a full season with a team he achieved 15+ goals.
iii) Valencia signing. I’m divided. I admit that I didn’t see much of him, but I nevetr heard he was world-class.He didn’t play particularly well against us. I don’t want another utility player like Park, not at that price, and I hoped for Nani being given a fair run in the side as well as seeing Ljajic.
iv) No word of us being remotely interested in a new CM or DM, the real area where we need serious improvement. The only name in world football touted as the next big thing at CM is Hernanes.
v) It looks like Ronaldo has a greater chance of staying at OT next season, compared to the same situation we were in last year. Should he stay, then it’s more than likely Rooney’s development will once again be sacrificed.
And looking at all the players on the market, I don’t feel there’s really any player that can make me get real excited of him joining us… Well, Ribery, but I’ve lost hope for him to come…
On another note: Anyone think the EPL really needs Mario Balotelli? I don’t think he’s as good as the Italian media paint him to be, but for sheer entertainment value – and especially controversy – he’d give us stuff to talk about.
Just don’t come to Man Utd please!
June 7th, 2009 at 18:25
@MoYa: nice, that means hes already better then lucas
June 7th, 2009 at 18:27
@NicoQB: dont worry lad, fergie will sign benzema, and cocks will be out
June 7th, 2009 at 18:37
@colver: What I can never get my head around Colver, is that SAF could have had so many of his buys soooo much cheaper IF he had bought quicker, but United always LOSE so much money BECAUSE they are too feckin slow to pick up the bargains when they present themselves. Carrick was bought by spurs for like 3-4 million, when West ham were in trouble, Lampard and Joe Cole were bought on the cheap for Chelski for the same reasons, and Rio went to leads for a very reasonable fee. SAF just delays and delays and it costs United in the end. Look what happened with Berbatov. United are the benefactors to so many other teams, because we don’t move when the climate is good. Sorry but that is the truth Bro.
June 7th, 2009 at 18:39
@NicoQB: I also have that feeling, but at the same time hey look it’s still very early days. I’m actually surprised we already put in a bid for Valencia. Probably because Real are also after him.
And Balotelli is a serious talent, especially considering his age. Physically he’s gonna be awesome. And the lad certainly has no confidence issues. If only his attitude was right he would be much better. Lol but I agree he is entertaining and certainly gets under oppositions skin.
June 7th, 2009 at 18:40
Who thinks we should just say FUCK it, we have a lot of good players on our books, what we need is a genious coach, with tactical brilliance, who can bring along players and ENHANCE their performances greatly. A great coach can have the team players thinking they are feckin Titans, the worlds best players. We need that more than anything!
June 7th, 2009 at 18:47
Oh and in case anybody thinks I am dissing SAF, NOT REALLY, I just think that SAF has so many responsibilities other than wet nursing the lads, sooooo much he is responsible for, that he looks to the backing staff to work with the lads. I personally feel, that even though we won a good few trophies this season, we DIDN’T do it with concinving football. Our play has become pedestrian and boring in many a game, and I still cannot get over the NON performance in Rome. We were like a team in the relegation – bottom of team stuff. Although I perhaps do a dis-service to those lower based teams, because they have showed more fight than our lot did in Rome. I cannot believe what happened, and Barca were NOT as good as everyone is making them out to be. We made them look fuckin Herculean. I just can’t get past it, no matter how much I try!
June 7th, 2009 at 18:49
@Grognard: Ive had it!
Im abandoning this site until Andersons talent is truly respected by you lot, Ive just had it! Damn… 
June 7th, 2009 at 19:06
@RedDevilEddy: Eddie mi man, if you abandon a site every time someone comes against your fave player/players, well you wouldn’t have a site left to comment on. Take it on the chin Bro
.