Sep 06
Robin van Perfect Fit
When Robin Van Persie completed his hat-trick on Sunday not only did he ensure that his manager would celebrate his 1000th league game in charge of Manchester United with a win, he also confirmed that Sir Alex Ferguson has still an eye for a good transfer coup.
Since the Dutchman signed from Arsenal less than a month ago many speculated, perhaps rightly, that he wasn’t what United desperately needed if they were to wrestle the title back from City’s hands and have a real shot at reaching the final stages of the Champions League.
United craved, and still do, a central midfielder. For some the player should be a replacement for Paul Scholes – hence the half-hearted and ultimately vain pursuit of Luka Modric this summer and Wesley Snejider twelve months ago – while for others such player should be in the mould of Yaya Tourè – hard to come by as they are – to provide a physical presence in the middle of the park and prevent more imposing teams from bullying United in such a crucial area of the pitch.
Fergie, though, had none of it, declaring himself perfectly happy with the signing of Shinji Kagawa and Nick Powell and, when the cries for a lack of activity in the transfer window grew deafeningly loud, he decided to splash £24m on last year top scorer – a move by many deemed far from essential.
A bit like going shopping for bread, milk and eggs and come back with a sirloin steak – tasty and appetising that it might be, a necessity it isn’t.
While all of these doubts still ring true as United have looked far from convincing in midfield so far this season, only two games and a bit into his United career RVP has already justified the investment, in the way, one suspect, was in Ferguson’s mind when he set out to get his man.
Forget about the superb finish against Fulham and even about his match-winning heroics at St’ Mary’s, the Dutchman has completely galvanised United – players and fans alike – since his arrival at Old Trafford.
Even among those United supporters who were left frustrated by what they perceive to be a stubborn act of denial as Sir Alex refused to land a midfielder were brimming with excitement at the news of Van Persie’s arrival at the club, unfazed by his injury record.
While the former Arsenal striker might not have calmed fears about the quality and depth in United’s engine room, he certainly infused optimism among the fans – a vast majority of them, at least – as much as he did within the team itself, for United hadn’t signed a world class player in many, many years – because of a policy of nurturing players as much as for a lack of funds and deplorable strategies.
Van Persie’s new teammates were quick to welcome him and endorse what his signing meant for the club – a huge psychological boost ensured by having a proven talent in their ranks.
That is not to say that United didn’t invest well last season – De Gea, Jones and Smalling could prove to be far more important signings for United’s long-term future than they look now – but sometimes the psychological impact provided by a new signing is as important to the team and the fans as his contribution on the pitch.
For that reason comparing the signing of Van Persie to the ones of Ronaldo and Rooney is wrong, as both of them were signed as raw teenagers because of their potential rather than to be a ready-to-use product, and while Berbatov was already a player of proven Premier League experience, his style differs a great deal from the Dutchman’s.
United still need to strengthen their midfield, but with RVP Fergie has bolstered his attacking options and sent a strong message to his players and to the fans.
Whether it’ll be enough to regain the title, only time will tell.
Dan (@MUFC_dan87)
@Red_Rants
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Tags: Classic Posts · Manchester United
The_Philosopher (408)
Redrich (225)
Opti (210)
Stephen (152)
Moscow (147)
The new Holland manager has decided to back Huntelaar as his no 1 striker. Great news, RvP comes through the international break unscathed and hopefully he isn’t too downbeat because he is still our star striker.
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Nani may leave ,that is an another issue. But why will he go to Russia during the best years of his career.He is an ambitious guy and wants to be recognized as one of the best players in Europe . Playing in Russia is definitely not the solution.
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@Owen: Gazprom now owns UEFA so they can “help” them recognize Nani as the best player. Anyway, it looks like the transfer is off as Zenit wouldn’t meet Nani’s wage demands.
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@Andrei: Good grief! Keep Nani, please
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@Opti: In the interview Zenit president stated that Nani was their #3 priority target after Hulk and Moutinho. He made it clear that they would continue negotiations even after transfer window is closed. He sounded very confident that at least Moutinho would become a Zenit player in January after they get all 3rd parties that own interest in Moutihno “rounded up”.
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@Owen: While everyone pins their pictures to their bedroom walls, it’s clear to me that most of these demigods are in it for the money, the money and more money still. They have no connection to the fans, they only connect to what their agent tells them. They listen to their managers only when it is politically imperatively to do so and are far more concerned with what lies in their immediate future than that of their club.
You can go worship them all you want. Their tantrums, their unprofessional demeanor, their pay-for wives and girl friends, their expensive cars and their ridiculous shoes (that they wear only for their super-dynamic powers and not for the untold millions that they’re paid to flash them) – NOT.
What happened to the simple idea that the club hires players to make them succeed, if they don’t succeed, move on to players that do succeed.
Why are we discussing players that have not succeeded because of their overall performance and then try to shift the argument against our club because our rant-du-jour make it like they’ve have been treated badly.
Who the F**k cares!! They are gone now, gone from the club, gone from our reality. They are now a part of the past and a past that will probably not see them in a good light.
I have no idea how we can still hold loyalty for them – when really, the only loyalty can be to the club.
Let them go my friends, they’re not worth it, I promise you.
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Saw summat on another blog about Fergie sounding out Guardiola about being our next manager. Ha. He is unproven outside of Spain, which is a joke league no stronger than the SPL. On top of that he is a massive ****, mincing about in designer sweaters. No thanks. I’d much rather have someone like Ole or Brucey – proper reds who know what this club is all about. Right, pissing off.
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@nm: have you looked at his trophy cabinet or the team that he created???
and comparing brucey to guardiola!!! what has brucey won as a manager, legend he might be for us as a player.
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It seems a bit premature to say Van Persie is a perfect fit. He will score a lot of goals but the question is whether his addition will allow other players to score goals too. We seem to have a habit of having one guy scoring most of our goals and very few goals coming from midfield or from our second striker. And there is more of a need to score goals because our defence looks woeful this season and the cracks that were there last season do not look like being fixed anytime soon.
I do not think Nani is going anywhere anytime soon. If we do sell we will wait till the summer as we will definitely need to sign a replacement as selling Nani would only leave us with Valencia and Young as recognized wingers.
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@colver: RvP is the only striker in our squad who can play up front on his own. So that makes him better than all of our strikers. It also allows us to use Kagawa, our most technically gifted player the freedom to play in the hole. RVP is also not a midget, so Nani and Valencia find him with their crosses. Kagawa can slide passes through the middle, safe in the knowledge that RvP won’t fall over his feet (Hernandez), won’t control it with the touch of an elephant (Rooney) nor will he finish wastefully (Welbeck). You want more goals from midfield? Tell Fergie to buy Moutinho, but don’t expect Anderson to increase on his career goal tally of 4 goals.
With such an embarassing midfield, the few chances we create must be put away, so RVP is the perfect fit.
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@Moscow: But Moutinho himself has only 3 goals in 56 games for Porto in 2 seasons and only 2 in 48 games for Portugal!!! How is he a goal scoring midfielder??
What we want is a central midfielder that can score – like Yaya Toure. Is there any quality CM available for cheap that can satisfy fergie’s value criteria. Hard pressed to find any really.
But I am still hopeful on Cleverly. He certainly has the right attitude and with some luck will start getting some goals. That Kagawa goal was actually his.
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@jos: Try FELLAINI
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@Craig Mc: love to see him wearing our red, in some ways the perfect transfer. Moyes will screw us over his transfer though.
The whole world knows we need such a player. Prices will automatically be doubled for us!
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@jos: Depends really as to whether Fellaini lets his contract run down, as nearly all footballers are tending to do these days, because they can be sold on for less money, and get far better wages/contract as a result. Can you imagine though, Fellaini and RVP will be just great for our club. Chelsea and City want him, but Fergie should make sure he gets him, because he is still young, and he has murdered the United MF every time he has played against us.
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@Craig Mc: who knows craig, maybe next year both him and Moyes would be at OT
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@jos: Maybe
– not so sure about Moyes though!
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@Moscow: I totally agree mate, Moutinho in tandem with RvP would be a dream. Fergie again neglected the midfield, we all know this and we can’t keep relying on Scholes. Anderson is as useful as a one legged man in an arse kicking competition, Cleverley is still learning and needs grow some balls and try and be a bit more adventurous. RvP is a brilliant player and we should be delighted he signed for us.
The real worry is in our first few games how we are getting bullied by sides. Fellani did it against Vida and Carrick, Fulham did it against De Gea who was dropped and Southampton targeted our to midget fullbacks. We need to toughen up and fight back.
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@Moscow: L.O.L.
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Did anyone see the wonderful goal from Powell last night against German U19s
Heres the video: http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/597310205?-11193
Hope he’d score some like that for us in near future.
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So Louis didn’t agree terms with Zenit, watch out lil man you are on the bench for United for rest of season like Berba was. Punishment for denying the Glazers 30 million quid. Upside, at end of season you will be on final year of your contract, and if you don’t let Fergie bully you into leaving to bring in money for grabbing Glazers, then you will be able to go to a club on the cheap, BUT GET THE WAGES you want. I should be your agent
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@Craig Mc: Hey you Bas—ds, why did I get 5 thumbs down for offering to be lil mans agent. You all jealous because you know I would be best agent ever? Right I am gonna hunt you 5 down and chop those thumbs off, with the french guillotine I just borrowed from skinned sausage
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Robin Van Persie has a case to be a top 5 player in the world based on his form last 2 years(he seems to be continuing it for us). He is no doubt a perfect fit for us as he would at any team in the world Barca, Real included. He seems to always be on top of his game and really will mask lots of our flaws because as like on Sunday he can win loads o games on his own
Zenit saying that Nani failed contract negotiations surprises me. Id be dissapointed to lose him but at 25 million wouldnt be bad if he wanted to leave.Hes good on his day and when hes not hes horrible.Normally will make one assist on a bad day even but sometimes he can end consecutive attacks on his own because of dumb minded decisions. Would have been criminal to sell him when we cant get a replacement in.Not like young is good enough over a whole season, or we have an upcoming youngster on the left wing
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Wazza latest comment – I want to retire at Man Utd. Of course you do Wazza, because who else would be idiotic enough to pay you 250 thousand quid a week, when you turn up for work in an UNFIT condition.
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@Craig Mc: Who cares as long as he scores 25 goals every season for us ?
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@Craig Mc: He thinks he’s tenured, but fact is he’s a hares-breath away from parking his butt on the RM bench.
This season will determine how he directs his career. I’m so down on him now I will reserve my prediction – but RVP will clearly light a fire under him. Lets see if wants to fight the flames or whether he wants to call 999.
Let’s face it, he doesn’t have many rocks left to hide under, does he
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what is the obsession with fellani? I know he is a class player but he plays in the kagawa position. So peolpe dont be calling out for a center midfielder and then ask for fellani
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@ash is the man: He is a defensive midfielder usually, but Moyes deploys him in a more advanced position against us to dominate our midfield and bully our unprotected defenders.
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RVP scored another belter for Holland tonight. Never rated him at Arsenal but since joining United he seems to have gone up a level. He is top drawer. Anyone see Ingerlund? Ha. Absolute dross, with the exception of Cleverley. Ran the show he did. Top player. Right, going for a slash.
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He’s the rare breed. A striker that has the natural instinct to score, and beyond that he is a talented player on the ball as well.
In short he’s like Berbatov but without the idiotic misses, the attitude and the liability to go invisible for 80% of the game.
4m in and 24 out nets a total cost of 20m for the most potent man in the PL, a 90 min performer, and much more importantly, a TEAM PLAYER.
Such a good deal !!
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@Redrich: Agreed, he also doesn’t rely on his pace so ABUs saying oh he’s 29 can kiss my ass. We haven’t had a complete striker like him ever since Rooney in the 2009/2010 season.
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@Moscow: Nationality aside, I would compare him to Ruud in the sense of being a lethal threat that has to be defended against.
Ole was a beneficiary of his dominance, have to think that Hernandez could follow in that mode.
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Rvp is top class- nobody can doubt that. Once we stop leaking goals we will be unstoppable-
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Wazza doesn’t know when to shut it. He says he wants to finish his career at OT, and in the next breath he says when his career is running down, he wants to go play back at Everton. Way to go numbnuts, the Everton fans will be pleased,, you think they are a club for playing finished players who want to graze on their football field. You just outdid yourself for stupid comments Wayne
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Lets stop it with the Rooney hating. He has been with us for a decade which is a long time for a player to stay at one club in the modern game. I know he wanted to leave the club a few years back but he wouldn’t be the first player to get a seven year itch and I think he was badly advised going public with it as most players do that shit behind the scenes and we never hear about it.
His goals over the last three or four seasons have kept us afloat as a team after the Glazers criminally refused to sanction the signing of a direct replacement for Ronaldo. I had my doubts that Rooney could become a 30 goal a season striker but he proved me wrong.
We’ve got Van Persie now and for now at least that means Rooney probably needs us more than we need him. I do admit I am glad that the balance of power has shifted. But I still think Rooney has a lot to contribute to the club if he gets his act together, stays in shape and is prepared to fight for his place in the team.
But yeah I don’t think we will actually win anything until we sort out the midfield problem.
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@colver: Well said. I cant understand just because we have rvp the fans think its ok to slag off Rooney. One hero in so one hero out sort of thing. Rooney has made mistakes but he has made up for them
Lets embrace our new striker and support our boy rooney too
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Okay – I just heard the Wazza big interview on BBC football focus, and he does seem sincere, and once again acknowledged his wrong in the whole shabby affair of his wanting out. So that together with the fact that I like Colver, and his post comments much of the time, that Yeah I will lay off Roon – that okay then Colver
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@Craig Mc: Hey Buddy you should ask the same question Stephen as well… How can you forget one of the Strongest Rooney supporter around Red Rant….
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@Onkar: Is Stephen the biggest Wazza supporter – No you don’t say
. I wouldn’t have guessed that if you hadn’t told me mate. Just jesting! Where have you been Onkar, you haven’t been around for a while on the blog?
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@Craig Mc: Yuup… Bit too busy… Make it point of reading some times.. But yeah trying to hang around with RR mates as much as I can…
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Sounds good to me Craig. Of course if he comes back from his lay off another 7lbs overweight then feel free to have a go at him : )
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Phil Jones out for 8 WEEKS after surgery on his meniscus (knee).
From back problems in pre-season to knee injury during training…
…. anyone want to finish this rant?
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@Opti: Didn’t he have a knee injury when he was at Blackburn. Wonder if it’s the same knee??
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@Redrich: Are you saying United physios aren’t capable of detecting wounded and weak players?
PS: Hargo, Saha, Anderson, Jones…
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@Opti: Wow we could start a whole new controversy about the inability of our transfer medical doctors!
Anyway, I did find that the fact he has recurring knee problems interesting. Could be chronic and that, in itself, is worrying.
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I have to wonder that the Nani issue, and what I mean by that is that his wage demand purposely scuttled the move to the Russian Front, is just another sign of his rebellious nature.
When you see him play he looks like a man working within his own agenda and sets of rules. He doesn’t comply by the standards that would make him an ideal “team player”. His greatest asset is his unpredictability, the fact that we never now if he will shoot at goal, pass, dribble at defenders or simply make a fool out of his self with his animated histrionics. In short a loose cannon!
In another age this would be a good thing. A weapon that has no particular shape nor form. Difficult to predict what is needed to defend against him.
But times have changed and there is no room left on a teams roster for these mavericks. Simply put, the 11 men you put on the pitch have to work together as a unit to succeed against oppositions that have the technical ability to isolate individuals.
The PL didn’t work particularly for CR. He was the cream on top of the cream, but he knew that it was only a matter of time before his skills were cancelled out by negative tactics. His move to RM was a career saver for him.
Nani is a similar example. He has great skills that he wants to showcase and he has a temperament that requires constant stroking. Fact is he belongs in another league.
Will hate to see him go, but United don’t need him now. So go with the wind, Luis, and please try not to spit at it on your way!
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@Redrich: My friend, not wishing to nit pick, but without Nani help at Southampton, we would have come away with a draw, 1 point instead of 3 – that’s the difference one piece of magic from Nani can bring. You won’t realise until Nani’s gone, and until you have to put up with the fare of young and welbeck trying to do something on the left and failing
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@Craig Mc: I agree and I like Nani mostly. It was really just an observation not a condemnation.
Best for him to move on, don’t you think??
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felliani about to plot his everton exit? come to united
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Hodgson thinks Cleverley is the next Fabregas
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@Moscow: And he himself is next Special One
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@Moscow: Funny, I think Hodgson is the next Cappello.
Strange how these first opinions get ahead of your best evaluations!
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@Redrich:
In all seriousness though, I think Capello is light years ahead of Hodgson. Replace Del Bosque with Capello and Spain still win 3 on the trot. Hodgson may prove more successful with England because he submits to the neanderthal English playing style that his squad is just capable of, he did it pretty well with Fulham.
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@Moscow: He didnt say that. He said he can perform the same role for England that Febregas does for Spain (i.e. play behind the striker). That is NOT same as saying Cleverly is next Febregas.
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@jos: For that to happen he needs to score goals as well
It’s a measure of how deprived England and United are in midfield that he has suddenly become the saviour after a few sideway passes against Moldova. You can’t take the safe option as he always does when you play in the hole.
Don’t get me wrong I like Cleverley but being better than Anderson just doesn’t cut it these days.
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@Moscow: I agree, Cleverley needs to start to score goals. He does have great ability, he passes and moves better than anyone we have had for seasons. If he could chip in with a few goals then he would be a top player.
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@Moscow: well that would be good but England’s main problem is their inability to keep the ball. England have always had good goal scorers. Lampards scoring record is brilliant but they cant control games.
I guess once Rooney and Wilshere are back, Cleverly will move back into a deep playing midfielder with Wilshere. Maybe England will finally play 4-2-3-1 with Rooney behind a striker dictating the play (thats what he might do for united as well) and the duo of Wilshere and Cleverly dictating the game. If it works (and there is a big if there) England will benefit immensely and might finally start playing good.
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@jos: Rooney needs to play as a striker, he is hopeless when he drops back into midfield. By your own admission, Cleverley will have to drop deep because he can’t fulfill the Fabregas role (Moldova doesn’t count), so Wilshere is the only player who can play in that position.
Rooney will never be anything but a striker, his touch, dribbling and passing is not good enough for a creative attacking midfielder.
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@Moscow: thing is you need to play a team and not individual players. rooney might be good as a striker but he can do a job at the CAM position and he has done well for us many times in that position. and he also likes to be a busy footballer. i think he is going to transition into that role eventually – he will be like kaka or ozil in future.
i m not sure wilshere can be a CAM. At arsenal he played as a CM. Long term he will be a CM only. I wish he comes over and joins us instead of wasting away at l’arse. it would be bloddy awesome to have both cleverly and wilshere running our midfield (and also for england). A real long term solution. make Arsene an offer he cant refuse
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@jos: Rooney cannot displace Kagawa in that position, and RVP is a better striker when fit. Haven’t you heard him say he wants to retire at the club recently? It’s because he’s scared shitless we’ll sell him, he earns 250k a week and can’t even keep himself fit so how the fuck is he going to be like Kaka or Ozil when he hits 30?
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Ronaldo = 50 million pounds + Nani
You heard it here first!!!
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@Opti: I have a better deal, Ronaldo = 30m + Fat Scouser
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@AndyCR7: What, our top goal scorer last season? That would be sensible….
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@Stephen: Like we have never done that before!
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@AndyCR7: Truthfully with RvP wih us now, hopefully it will ignite his desire and we could have two World Class strikers finally!!
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@Stephen: Just can’t wait for the awesome day Rooney and Van Persie line up alongside each other as a strike partnership.
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@Opti: Or since Nani is world class and Ronaldo is also world class and world class = world class so a Ronaldo Nani straight swap. That should be about right
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@Moscow: @jos: Good point. 50 million+Nani is a bit steep, considering Ronaldo is 28 soon and Nani is “just” 26.
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@Opti: Bebe = Ronaldo plus 50 million
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@Moscow:
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@Moscow: Ronaldo is not fit to clean Bebe’s boots
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@Moscow: do you have a sign error in this equation
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@Opti: Nope
Hit me Bebe one more time…
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@Moscow: Bebe = -(Ronaldo + 50 million)
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Some things I would do if I were the manager:
Sell Anderson, he has failed at the club, time to move on.
Release Bebe, he is awful.
Move Marcheda on, it is simply not going to happen for him
Sell Welbeck, he is English and someone will pay over the odds for him
Buy Moutinho, Tiote and Robert Lewandowski.
Allow De Gea to go on loan to another English club. Either in the Premiership of the Championship. It could be the making of him and will toghen him up at someone else’s expense!
Play this team as often as possible:
Lindegaard
Rafael Vida Rio Evra
Scholes Carrick
Nani Kagawa Rooney
RVP
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@Stephen: Then why are you buying Moutinho and Tiote and landowski if you dont intent to play them???
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@jos: Because we don’t have them? I am working in the now, with a view to the future…
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@Stephen: thats what sir alex also keeps saying.
btw I think we only need a good full back and a left mid to be really formidable force again. Not so much bothered about the midfield but the left side is so weak. nani is not the solution there. lets play nani where he is at his lethal best (ie right) but then another mind says that valencia rafael combo is just so much of joy there. maybe nani really needs to move on as he has lost his place in the side!!!
we need a young giggs and a young evra. where are they???
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@jos: There is no young Giggs, so we’ll have to make do with Nani mate. He plays on both wings for Portugal and played a key role reaching the Euro 2012 semi-finals. Or do you want more money to be spent on non-central midfield positions?
Edit: You’re not so much bothered about the midfield?
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@Moscow: if u want to keep nani its better to play him where he is at his best and that is on the right. but it destabilizes the whole setup as then you’d need a proper defensive right back.
some players like nani, rooney etc are more a problem than a solution.
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@jos: If we had Moutinho and Tiote then Scholes would have retired, Fletcher would have moved to the SPL, Cleverley would be playing in the reserves and Anderson would be hitchhiking out of town.
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@Stephen: So you want to play without Valencia who had been best and most consistent United Player for last 3 seasons..Great…
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@Owen: Afraid so, he is a cracking player but that system works better, there is always rotation mate.
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http://www.tomcleverley23.com
Who the fuck is Tom Cleverley? Scourge of Moldova?
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@Moscow: Pathetic, Jesus players get well above themselves these days.
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@Stephen: I heard he is asking Fergie for a 200K/week salary now and Fergie paid him in lollipops
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BREAKING NEWS: Robin van Persie… injured
“Van Persie took two knees to the thigh in a challenge with Hungary defender Roland Juhasz and was replaced by Klaas-Jan Huntelaar during the interval. The extent of the Dutchman’s injury has not yet been confirmed.”
http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/09/11/3369748/manchester-uniteds-van-persie-forced-off-for-netherlands
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@Opti: Judging by Welbeck’s finishing tonight, we’re fucked then.
By the way Cleverley totally controlled the game tonight, bossed the midfield
Man do I love watching England struggle these days 
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@Moscow: Didn’t watch the game, but judging from your laughter, Cleverly was treated to football outside of Moldova
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@Moscow: Yeh, we can now resort to the genius Hodgpodg tactics of playing Cleverly behind our main guy, who, happens to be a guy called LASTMANSTANDING.In fact we are now a team called LASTMANSTANDING UNITED.
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@Moscow: “Man do I love watching England struggle these days”
That’s not very nice, if you hate Egland so much why support an English club? You seem to revel in any English result, you sound like an ABU.
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@Stephen: I’m sorry mate
I don’t know if it’s the egos in the squad, ***** like Terry and Gerrard, or the media hype but I just can’t help having a go at them. I know it pisses English people off, but take what I say with a pinch of salt 
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@Moscow:
That is fine mate, I despise Gerrard and Terry more than life itself, as well as our pathetic media. I am going to Anfield next week and will be abusing the likes of Gerrard and Carragher to my hearts content. Just think about the poor humble normal Englishmen like Craig, Ian and myself, we have to put up with such shite!
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@Stephen: Yeah, international football sucks mate, it’s best if we just stay away from it and focus on United.
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@Moscow: Agreed, I bloody hate it. Do we have any news on RvP? I hear Kagawa may be fit for Saturday?!
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Given the possible casualty report, I would imagine a lineup against Wigan could go something like this.
Lindegaard.
Evra Rio Vidic Rafael
Anderson Cleverley
Valencia Scholes Nani
Welbeck
Safety first – because we’re as deep as a paddling pool on a hot day in Summer.
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Evra at right-back, Rafael at left-back, and Scholes in the hole….
Gentlemen, I’m leaving.
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He injured muscle. gah, How we gonna with cope stacking injured players list, no idea.
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