Jun 12
Ribery, Sanchez, Silva or Eto’o? Who will replace Ronaldo?!
So Ronaldo has finally got his way and his extensively protracted move to Real Madrid is happening. To be honest I’m gutted that we’re losing a truly terrific talent but then again the Madrid switch was an inevitability and in a way it’s good that it’s over without dragging on into the summer which gives us a chance to find apt replacements.
Although rather than discuss replacements for Ronaldo, a nion impossible task as, in my opinion, only Messi comes close to the Portuguese winger and we’ve no chance of landing him, let’s look at what Sir Alex may decide to do with that handsome sum of money.
Franck Ribery
I’m more inclined to say that we would have had more chance of landing Ribery before Ronaldo’s impending departure. Only because Bayern are clearly going to demand an astronomical fee for his services and while Ribery is a fantastically gifted player, he’s no Ronaldo.
All pessimism and financial constraints aside, Ribery would go some way to filling the boots of our departing number seven and his direct style coupled with his ability on the ball would make him a valuable addition to the side.
My View: I think the price will inevitably be the problem with Ribery. I can’t see Ferguson shelling out stupid amounts of money on any player this summer despite us having a substantial transfer war chest. In this sense Bayern aren’t stupid and they know Ribery is the wanted man now so they can demand as much cash as they so please. For me Barcelona is still Ribery’s most likely destination but then again if Fergie does see the Frenchman as Ronaldo’s ideal successor, he may just make a move.
Transfer Likelihood: 6/10
Likely Fee: Around £50-60 million
Antonio Valencia
Probably the most likely bit of business that Sir Alex will do over the next couple of months but it would be outrageous to label Valencia as the heir to Ronaldo’s right wing thrown. No the Ecuadorian clearly won’t have the same impact as the Portuguese but a useful addition he would prove to be nonetheless I’m sure.
My View: This one really does look on the cards. He’s proved he’s a decent player for both Wigan and Ecuador but it remains to be seen whether he would be good enough to make the step-up in the famous red shirt. Wigan chairman Dave Whelan claims Fergie is a huge admirer of young Valencia and if that is the case then now would seem as good a time as any to add him to the ranks at United.
Transfer Likelihood: 9/10
Likely Fee: Around £20 million
Carlos Tevez
Ronaldo may definitely be on his way but the Tevez transfer episode continues to ramble on. Manchester City are undoubtedly keen to get him onboard and I’m sure Rafa Benitez would love to give us the two fingered salute by making him a Liverpool player.
There’s no doubt in my mind that Tevez would be happy to stay at Old Trafford and now it all comes down to whether Ferguson still wants him at the club. His tireless workrate is certainly an asset but is it really a £25 million asset? That said money can no longer be the excuse in the Tevez transfer saga so we shall we see.
My View: Something tells me that despite Sir Alex Ferguson’s now bulging wallet, signing Tevez still won’t be anywhere near the top of the Scot’s agenda. Although it is fair to say that the permanent capture of the Argentine does make sense. It would appease the majority of supporters and soften the blow of Ronaldo’s departure that’s for sure. I just don’t believe that Tevez fits into Ferguson’s plans but I may be wrong!
Transfer Likelihood: 7/10
Likely Fee: £25 million
David Silva
The Times reports that Valencia attacking midfielder David Silva is being eyed as Ronaldo’s replacement. With the La Liga side’s financial worries the sale of their top players has become a necessity and we have shown an interest in Silva before don’t forget.
My View: Judging by what I have been reading, I believe that with David Villa on his way to Real Madrid (god knows where this cash is coming from by the way), Silva may just be staying put at the Mestalla. That said even if he was to move on I see Juventus and Liverpool being more plausible destinations. Although Fergie is certainly fond of the Spanish international so there’s nothing to say I could have totally lost the plot with my prediction.
Transfer Likelihood: 4/10
Likely Fee: £25-30 million
Arjen Robben
The Daily Star is claiming that Arjen Robben could be on Fergie’s wanted list. There’s certainly going to be competition for places at Real Madrid next season and Florentino Perez may even be willing to listen to offers given our co-operation over the Ronaldo deal.
My View: When we were chasing Robben before he moved to Chelsea I remember thinking that we’d missed out on a top class player there. I still believe the Dutch international is a quality winger now but I don’t think he’ll tickle Ferguson’s fancy. Tabloid gossip at its best for me.
Transfer Likelihood: 3/10
Likely Fee: Between £7-15 million
Alexis Sanchez
Setanta may be on the brink of crisis but today they’re reporting that this Chilean wonderkid is Old Trafford bound. I’ve watched Sanchez on a few occasions and he certainly has raw talent, not too dissimilar to a Ronaldo of yesteryear.
The 20-year-old attacker has had a decent season for Udinese and Setanta claim Sanchez’s agent Fernando Felicevich is in talks with a number of English clubs over a possible move to the Premier League.
My View: I like this kid, I really do but I feel he may be a little too erratic and too much of an unfinished product for Ferguson’s liking. With the likes of Nani, Zoran Tosic and potentially the likes of Ljajic and Valencia to chose from, I can’t see this one happening.
Transfer Likelihood: 3/10
Likely Fee: Between £15-25 million
Samuel Eto’o
The man who got the ball rolling for Barca in Rome a couple of weeks back has been mooted as the surprise target by a few of this morning’s papers. Eto’o is a pacey, decisive striker that would be a quality signing in my view and the Catalan giants appear ready to cash in on the Cameroonian this summer.
My View: Like I just mentioned, I’m a great fan of Samuel Eto’o and I reckon he would do a decent job at Old Trafford but unfortunately I really don’t see this materialising. The 28-year-old is apparently being courted by Inter and City and while I don’t see him ending up at Eastlands, a swap deal involving Zlatan Ibrahimovic doesn’t seem too unrealistic.
Transfer Likelihood: 3/10
Likely Fee: Between £15-20 million
Karim Benzema
Related items from Red Rants:
- Who is this Alexis Sanchez Chap?
- What is your formation?
- Breaking News: United accept 80m Ronaldo bid
- Possible transfer targets and their chances of coming to Manchester United
- Hot News Ahead of Barca | Gattuso and the Usual Nonsense
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (541)
Stephen (484)
RedDevilEddy (459)
Craig Mc (345)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
@RedDevilEddy:
M y ins and outs since that seems to be the trend today;
IN:
Fernado Torres or Sergio Aguero
Alexis Sanchez or David Silva
Antonio Valencia
Hernanes
OUT:
Anderson
Paul Scholes
Gary Neville
PIG
Campbell
Simpson
Martin
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@Dan: its becuase Barca have started negotiations with Valencia, if Villa goes to Barca then Ribery is a cert for Madrid.
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@Grognard: Im not sure if you heard but i thought i would mention it to you anyway as you mentioned downing a while ago. Now im personally not a fan of his, im not sure you were a fan, you spoke of his crossing ability and how it could be useful in tough defensive games and you do have a point there.
Anyway there was a rumour in the paper today middlesbrough would offer downing to us in a straight swap or for some small cash in exchange for neville and scholes.
As i said im not a downing fan to be honest, but if they were to offer him for a few million and would take these 2 off our hands i would deal. I know that sounds disrespectful of 2 legends but they are being kept on out of sentimentality not because of their playing ability and that is wrong. They are massive wages, about £3.5m a year each, thats £7m a season just for these 2 peoples wages. Neville is 4th choice RB for me behind brown, rafael and oshea while scholes for me is behind carrick, anderson and probably giggs too. Is it worth keeping on 2 players that are 4th choice in their position on these massive wages.
I would take this kind of swap in a minute even though im not a huge fan of downing. Its harsh i know but neville and scholes and to an extent giggs have no place in this team anymore and if boro did offer us a young player who could be moulded in a very decent player i would definitely accept this.
Its probably all media BS but i just thought i would mention this to see all your views as it hasnt been mentioned. Sounds anyway like neville is staying so i guess all this is immaterial anyway.
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when did you join the hernanes bandwagon grognard, did you read my report?
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@Grognard: The only player that SAF is genuinely chasing that seems to have no interest in us is Benzema, all the other big names in my opinion is just media speculation.
Wait and see, I would surprised if he did not bring in a few young prospects and maybe one more experienced player.
It would be nice to see Ribery, Benzema and players like them sign for the club but i cant see it happening.
Torres is a pipe dream, Villa is a non starter and the two previously mentioned frenchmen would only come if thier spanish desires came to nothing.
We would have more of a chance of signing Aguero and Silva, but even they are slim candidates, just my opinion mate.
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@Fred The Red: This begs the question…………………….. What on earth do we do with our 100 million transfer kitty???
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This is the time when we bring in our fantasy players that we have no chance of signing, here in my opinion is a transfer list that is realistic and contains players that we are interested in.
Costa, Gremio
Neymar, Santos
Valencia, Wigan
Silva, Valencia
Sanchez, Udinese
Costaignos, Feyenoord
Three dark ones
Young, Villa
Aguero, Athletico.
Eto, Barca
If any one can think of someone else then feel free to add, but try to stay in the real world.
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@Matt: Neville and Scholes have earned the right to say no to any deal involving them. They should be able to retire as United legends however, if they are ok with such an arrangement and they feel they could enjoy playing another year of footy in a lower division, I say all the power to them. But I don’t think it would be selfish or greedy of them to say no and that they would like to end their careers as United players. With that said, I hope for their sake and for the team’s sake that they pack it in sooner or later because they are truly past their best and are holding back younger players who are better and who need the playing time. As for Downing, he can be had for a bag of balls and Diners Club booklet. We don’t need to embarrass to great servants of the club in order to that.
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@Darth Red Diablo: I doubt that we will spend more than half of it, hope Im wrong and SAF pulls of a big one, I just cant see it mate.
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@Mr.Muhozi: Yes I did sir and I was intrigued enough to check him out and read some reports on him as well as watch some YouTube. I was impressed with his overall game and the fact that he is not just an attacking threat but a very strong defensive one too. In fact, other than Aguero or Torres, he’s the player I most want us to sign. I will not rest until Fergie has addressed the center of midfield. And Hernanes is young and looks like the perfect guy. Mind you, a trained pit bull would be better than Anderson and would score more goals too.
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@Fred The Red: Ribery is also not interested in coming to United and Fergie was chasing him too.
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@RedDevilEddy: Welbeck was removed from the u21 squad a few weeks back because he had an operation on his knee i heard.
@Dan: http://www.mirror.co.uk/2009/06/15/manchester-united-to-make-record-45million-bid-for-david-villa-115875-21441262/
something like that you mean?
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@Traverse: Villa has said time and time again that he would prefer to stay in Spain, with both Barca and Real trying to sign him what chance do you think we have, a big fat zero.
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@Grognard: How do you know Maradona hates United? You always claim that he does,, but if so then what is the reason and do you have quotes to back your theory?
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@Grognard: The only big clubs that have been linked to Aguero are City and Chelsea, so if we can match them financially and Maradona does not have a negative influence then we would have a genuine chance of signing him, the rest of the big names are pie in the sky.
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@Grognard: I would need to see something more concrete before I believed that we are really interested in Ribery mate.
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SAF can give a big surprise by deploying “Fabio” or “Rafael” as winger.
In that case “Fabio” will be the favorite because of goal scoring ability (which he already showed in reserve games…………..).
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@Grognard: Maybe you could enlighten me mate, and this is a genuine question, what has Ribery done that makes him a 40 to 60 million pound player.
Thats a lot of dough for someone who hasnt played in one of Europes top 3 leagues and was fairly average in the most recent international tourmament.
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@Fred The Red: Don’t get me wrong, I’d rather Aguero. Just the messenger!
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@Traverse: Haven’t thought of that! Still there are some duds in the championship and I’m not sure if the pace and tightness of the game is the same as the Premiership.
A very good championship player maximising his skills to these flaws can thus end up being quite average in the PL.
I think.
That’s why I think nothing beats PL experience, as would attest Mr Jonny Evans.
@RedDevilEddy: @Matt: Ashley Young.
Great crosser and good pace, maybe I’m showing my lack of knowledge about the guy, but just those two attributes are not enough to make a good player.
Downing is a great crosser. Walcott has great pace. I still think both of them are nowhere near world class.
The important element they both miss (and to a level maybe Young too) is sheer skill.
I remember a piece of play when Figo was in the last years of his Madrid career, he was very slow, or tired, and yet dribbled past 2 or 3 players and delivered an assist through sheer skill.
Maybe I’m harsh on Young, but I think Nani is much more skilled than Young!
David Villa:
Real lethal finisher but I just don’t like his hairdo! And he could end up real lonely in Manchester. No spanish contingent in our team, maybe he would get along with the portugueezers, though I doubt it. But really I’d love it if he settles in well.
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I am so feckin sick of all the players that the media say we are going to buy each and every bloody day. It makes us look like idiots. I don not believe that Fergie has been in for hardly any of all the suggested players making headlines with us. Everybody now seems to be jumping on the bandwagon, that we won’t win anything without Ronnie. So suddenly all these unbelievers in our club have become clairvoyents, who seem to be able to prophesy every day that Looserpool are a CERTAINTY for the PL trophy, and everything else next season. Yeah well we shall wait and see. As for Tevez, he can piss right off as far as I am concerned. If he is leaving just feckin leave, we don’t need the same comments from him every other day saying I am not going back to United. Know what Carlos, nobody gives a feck anymore
.
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@NicoQB: Nani is much more skilled then each and anybody Bro, he is an untapped little genious waiting to burst forth
. You all know I’m not biased – right? 
.
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@Andrei: Trust us mate, we have watched Tosic a lot in the reserves, and he isn’t all that good for them. So unless some miracle happens, I can assure you from what I have seen since he arrived, he is NOT a Man United class player. I can’t even understand so far Andrei why SAF has even bought him. Maybe he will prove me wrong though, but so far I haven’t seen much to shout about!
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@NicoQB: Tim Cahill (milwall), Joleon Lescott(wolves), Robbie Keane(wolves) and Theo Wallcott (southampton) have all come through from there and done very well in the Prem.
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@NicoQB: Have to say that I like Young. Seen plenty of Villa games this season and while he might not have great sheer skill, he still has plenty of attributes (including allegiance to the Premier League
)
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@Grognard: By Nanny for Ljajic Grog I presume you mean as a watchkeeper of him, and you are not talking about Lil Man Nani – right
.
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@Traverse: TBH, that is hardly a flattering list. Considering that Bendtner and Campbell were stars in the Championship, I would not put much faith in its ability to provide the platform for top players to develop on.
I would much prefer loans to the likes of Hull or Barnsley or clubs like Sunderland and Wigan with whom Ferguson has tight relationships – thus is less likely to be let down.
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@Craig Mc: I see… a bit disappointed really – had hopes for the guy. By the way, how old is he? Methinks he’s about 19 but cannot be sure.
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@Andrei: Tosic is in early 20′s I think. He has been working in the gym, because SAF wanted him to bulk up and strengthen his muscles a bit. Still hasn’t made a tremendous difference though so far, but we live in hope, because he cost us a good few million quid
.
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@Craig Mc: As unbiased as a Nani -supporting Craig, goes the saying!
As for Ferguson, when I just read his comment of how Ronaldo could not be retained against his will – I commented yesterday but my browser crashed- what most struck me was that the article mentioned, quote:
“… Ferguson, speaking from his holidays in the south of France…”
While every big club is trying to drive a bargain, his attitude is a bit disconcerting. Admittedly its not HIS job, but I just wonder if its part of the reason why we are now about to pay 20 miilions for Valencia…
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@NicoQB: Mate, you answered your very question there.. it is not HIS job!! You don’t see the coach of madrid negotiating with opposing clubs when signing players, neither is Pep Guardiola or any other coach for that matter… this is because that responsibility usually lies with some other figure in the club; ours lie mainly with David Gill. Besides, this is 2009, an age of prevalent digital technology. I’m sure Fergie is reachable at his holiday spot, as that paper interview proves. The gaffer deserves a break too!!
Pre-season starts in a coulple of weeks and it’s back to the office/training ground for not only the players but him also. If they can get a rest, why shouldn’t he? 
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@Traverse: All good players, but not starting material for us imho. More back up quality like Park. Has there been any world-class, or near world-class player to have come from the Championship?
Fletcher would be rated higher than 15 million Marouane Fellaini, if he played for any other team regularly.
Anyway I’m curious about that ex-United player from Wolves who ended top scorer… can’t quite get his name…
@Craig Mc: It was not for nothin that his nickname back in Serbia was Bambi! Has a sweet left foot, but he’s got to be more than the Serbian Downing to succeed for us.
Oi, I’m off to sleep for now…
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Btw, I have been thinking about this whole transfer flying circus that’s beginning to ensue now we have let ronnie go. I feel we shuldn’t chase a marquee signing, as the pressure to perform and fill Ronnie’s boots will be too great and no matter how he does – extremely well or poorly – he will still not measure up to ronnie and in the media/ABU eyes will be declared a flop.
I feel we just need three modest but promising signings this season.
A Striker – if tevez is leaving (which I hope he does), I feel we need a proper big, fast and lethal No9. A couple spring to mind, like Eto’o, Santa-Cruz, Huntelaar etc but Pavel Pogbrenyiak is the most attractive in the sense that he loves United, is almost at the end of his contract which runs out in November, hence realatively cheap and he’s just the type striker I feel Rooney and Berba can play off. Plus, he’s from Russia, so I don’t see him complaining about the non-trivial weather conditions these warm-blooded players seem to detest.
A Winger – I feel Valencia is already a dead cert and with Nani hopefully getting games this coming season, I feel we have two proper and lethal wingers which can attack and create. Add Park and Giggs as back up. Plus Ljajic is arriving in January(our future No7, I think), with Tosic apparently bulking up and Welbeck as an option, we are well covered there.
A Midfielder – This is the tricky one. At a glance, it seems like we have too many, but they are all similar and are holding each other back. The fact that we do not have a proper DMF (apart from the crocked hargreaves and to an extent Fletcher) will always prevent real attacking talents like Carrick and Ando from actually doing what I feel they are best suited for, attack. Instead, we employ two central midfielders who just sit back and help each other out defending. If Hargo is a dead cert to come back pre-seaon, I feel we shuld give him a try and if by January, it is evident he is not the same player, we make a move then. For now, I feel him and fletch can act as true defensive mids, which should allow the likes of Carrick and Anderson to move forward and create Attacks and goals.
It might be a bit lacklustre, given the departure of ronnie and the big-spending going on around us, but I feel what we need is a key addition upfront and a reliable winger to help provide the strikers with chances. Plus, if hargo is fit, we really do not need to buy a defensive mid, but of he is not, it is imperative we do. We will be switching back to a more flexible 4-4-2 this season, I think, and to do that we would need a proper No9, two attacking wingers and a proper Defensive mid paired with a proper attacking mid.
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@NicoQB: Its makes no difference wether you are talking on the phone from an office in Manchester or sitting under a tree in france, the gaffer will be doing what needs to be done though David Gill who will be in close contact with.
The talk is that Gill already has a list with potential recruits on it, Im sure the wheels are already in motion on a few of them, wether they are successful or not is another thing.
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I hope this is true.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2009/06/15/manchester-united-to-make-record-45million-bid-for-david-villa-115875-21441262/
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@RDJ: It sounds like a load of bull, to be honest.
At the moment, there is not one world-class talent that we are not being linked with, so expect to see more and more sensational stories that blow up like a Ukrainian nuclear power plant.
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@Mike: It’s not a case of hating United. It’s a case of telling those close to him to sign for Italian or Spanish teams because of his preferential bias. This has upset Fergie in the past because he doesn’t appreciate Maradona’s meddling.
I have read a few things in the past but sorry, I don’t copy and paste things in some file so that I can bring it up to people who don’t believe months or years later. You just have to accept what I say on faith.
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@Fred The Red: I don’t think we are anymore. Ribery has made it pretty clear he is interested in Spain and Bayern are asking too much so I think Fergie has passed on Ribers the pretty boy.
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@Fred The Red: You would have to watch the games I have watched mate. He has amazing skills, great on the ball, incredible dribbling, tricks and has really become a very good and clutch goal scorer to. Back in WC 2006 the big knock against him was his poor finishing but over at Bayern he has become lethal although I wouldn’t compare him with Ronaldo. I’ve seen him score cannons cutting in from the left side and he is also a great finesse play maker. He’s worth 50 million in my book but not a penny more. A fantastic little player.
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@Craig Mc: The best thing to do is to just avoid reading it mate and wait for United to report signings.
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@Craig Mc: He’s Ljalic’s nanny.
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@Craig Mc: No I am talking about Tosic. He is there to keep Ljalic company and to basically be big brother so the young guy doesn’t feel to lonely or depressed so far away from home.
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@Gabriel: I wouldn’t be surprised if Fergie goes after Pogrebnyak in January during the transfer window because then he won’t cost them anything to get him and all they have to do is worry about wages. No reason to buy him now in the middle of Zenit’s Russina season.
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We need to overthrow these trolls. How can they say this after their declarations against EPL spending.
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_5376909,00.html
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I dont know what this fuss is all about. We need a winger, a striker and a defensive midfield general. I would say keep it simple. Buy…..
1. Ashley Young
2. Gabi Agmonlahor (sorry for the spelling mistake if any…)
3. Flamini….
See the problem is solved…..
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Most realistic signings that could really improve us would be:
1. Sergio Kun Aguero – 40m
2. Antonio Valencia – 15m
3. Maruaro Felliani – 20m
4. Rene Adler – 15m
Total : 90m
Out you go:
1. Ronaldo – 80m
2. Campbell – 6m
3. Kuzack – 3m
Total : ~90m
Play 4-3-3 with Rooney and Aguero supporting Berba.
And yes, give No. 7 shirt to Kiko Macheda
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And if we still have our usual allocation of 20-25m then we can use that to lure Huntelaar so that we have 4 proven goal scorers. He should not cost more than 20m and surely must be surplus at Real if they sign Villa. They cannot play each and every player in their roaster!
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Goodbye Ronaldo, FIFA 09 version.
Tell me what you think!
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@Traverse: Could it be, i can see into the future?
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@RedDevilEddy: nice, i particularly liked the pompey FK!
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Looks like 500+ comments is more than enough to slow things up here. So move on to the new post that’s up.
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