Jul 02
Time to move on after Benzema snub
United signed Valencia, but their intent to go blitzkrieg on the transfer market suffered a blow when Benzema opted to go to Real Madrid. Reports say they were willing to pay £6m more than us. This can mean either of two things: one, we were trying to play hardball with them while staying firm in our [new found] commitment towards not getting fleeced. Two, we didn’t really expect Madrid to act so quickly so as to have gazumped us to this bid.
If it was the second it’s a shame. If it was the former, I’m not sure how to react to it; I am torn between lauding them for not paying £32m for a largely unproven, albeit talented, 21 year old and expressing bafflement over their refusal to budge on £6m when we have £90m lying around. [Correct me if I'm wrong, but Fraizer Campbell's this close towards completing a £6m move to Hull.]
Personally, whilst I liked Benzema, the player, I never really found his general demeanour endearing. For one, he seemed to favour a move to Spain more than England. He was known to be moody, although I wouldn’t rate that quite as important as the first reason.
It’s obvious Ferguson loves the player, and what Ferguson likes he tries his level best to get. Predictably, a good performance against us — in particular, his blinder of a goal in the 07/08 Champions’ League encounter when surrounded by gazillion red shirts — nailed it for the manager. Only on this occasion, Ferguson didn’t get what he wanted. It’s also unlikely waiting a year for his target is bound to work this time; unlike RvN, Berbatov et al.
Our current situation resembles that line from the Rime of the Ancient Mariner: ‘water water everywhere, not a drop to drink‘ (More like money, money everywhere, not a player in sight.) Of course, there is still enough time to bring in two players to get us going before things actually escalate towards desperation but it would be a stretch to expect to bring in everyone by the cut off pre-season training date that is July 13th.
We have been linked with the likes of Aguero and AS, the Spanish newspaper, have us linked with Huntelaar. Bringing in Huntelaar should be easier, provided Ferguson really wants him. Hell, if he really wanted him, he would have come in long before Madrid even had a sniff. Aguero gives us star power, real creative energy around the box, although, if Rooney is to be played in his preferred role, the Argentinian would have to be played out wide.
Despite all this transfer talk, I really have two major concerns that need to be addressed. Which is what I want to end this post with.
1. Rooney needs a full season where he can play in a central role. I think Ferguson has little excuse to sacrifice Rooney this time round. There’s no Ronaldo to ‘accommodate’ in this team anymore. Rooney plays in the role he plays for England. No dicking about sticking him in the wing. Most of Ferguson’s rebuilding exercises have revolved around switching focus and building the side around that focus. It could be based on a good strike partnership, like the side of ‘99; or relying on the interchangeable play of the front attackers, [the 2008 side with Ronaldo as a focal point]. This time attention obviously shifts to Rooney, and he needs to be played as a number ten. So why am I talking about Rooney in the midst of discussing transfer targets? In order to ensure Rooney does not get played out wide, we need to ensure there is enough credible depth on our wings. We have Valencia and Nani (and a rookie in Tosic) as attacking wingers (Park is a defensive midfielder, and Giggs is not a left winger anymore). We clearly need reinforcement there. Aguero might help, but his talent could be wasted out wide. So one more decent winger should fix that worry.
2. A box to box midfielder, or an attacking midfielder who’s capable of scoring from midfield.
The first one ties into the lesson learned from our defeat against Barcelona. Despite our success, we haven’t really got a midfielder who can grab the game by the cliched scruff of the neck. We have Hargreaves, but he’s not back until January. And I really won’t believe his fitness reports until I see him on the pitch. True Fletcher had his moments, but doubts still linger over his consistency.
The second part, regarding the need for a creative attacking midfielder, sort of ties in to our need to spread the goals around this season instead of relying on a couple of players. But this is an either-or requirement. I wouldn’t want both to be signed simultaneously. This would mean Carrick would be marginalised, or if we were to go for a 4-3-3, Rooney would be forced to plough a lone furrow on his own — again, not something I’d want.
Anyway, that should be enough tactical analysis from my side for the day. for general transfer stories, half baked thoughts during the day, you could either find me here, or in the comments section of this post.
* * *
In other interesting tidbits, Scott sheds more light on the scouse delusion.
And 101 Great Goals has a three part video link to MUTV’s Ronaldo tribute video. To be honest, despite my strong opinions over the deterioration of his attitude over the past year, there are still enough clips in the video to make me relive some of those special moments with fondness; especially the parts where he was a scrawny, little teenager.
Related items from Red Rants:- Transfer Talk: Lahm and Benzema | Evra’s Contract
- The Karim of the Crop?
- Breaking News: United accept 80m Ronaldo bid
- Teams Start Talking Big As Champions’ League Clash Looms
- Benzema, Benzema and more Benzema. But it’s only talk.
Tags: Daily Roundup · Manchester United Transfer News & Rumours
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:18
RR, We never lost Benzema because of the money. In the end the player holds the cards and decides where he goes. United could have offered 50 million and Benzema was going to go to Real Madrid anyway. Fergie and United knew that once Madrid made a serious bid the jig was up and they had lost. Their only chance was to get him from under the noses of Madrid while they were pursuing Villa. But why didn’t that happen? Because Fergie was in France getting pissed on wine and vacationing. Perhaps now people will see that what I was saying about his vacations being the end of us is actually true. When Fergie goes on holidays, they put bed sheets over all the furniture at OT and lock the doors. While he sleeps or gets pissed, we missed our slim opportunity to beat Madrid to the punch. But then again, I really don’t believe Benzema had any intention of coming to United. He was just playing us to get Madrid to act and make a move.
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:23
Breaking: Ribery signs for Madrid!!! Source: Gut feeling.
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:28
@Madschester United: Source more like, Ribery himself.
His quote from his interview to L’Equipe:
“I have made up my mind, I want to leave. It will be Real or nothing.”
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:35
We could have paid 26m and could signed Torres when he was 20 or 21.His talents were there to see.Benzema is the same case.We were interested in him but never bother to act.Why can’t we pay 35m for him? we have the money,we did spend 31.5m on Berba and Benzema is much younger than him,so he has resale value.We signed Anderson for 17m,a huge gamble.We are linked with Douglas costa,who for me is worse than nani,he is very raw.We certainly need to replace the goals Ronaldo scored and i dont think Rooney and Berba can cover that.
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:39
@Sunny: With Torres we tried to sign him but couldn’t get anywhere to say his talents were there to see that is partly true but in his final two seasons for Atletico he scored 13 and 15 goals in 40 games each season, so spending big money on him was a gamble.
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:44
@Sunny: We can never instantly replace Ronaldo’s goals. Rebuilding takes time. Aguero and Huntelaar are viable alternatives. Aguero is proven in La Liga as well as in the international stage.
Also I never saw Benzema coming to United. I was actually surprised we were that close. Also we delayed over Benzema because he only returned a couple of days ago from his holiday and he wasn’t willing to commit to anything till he returned. Real are on a roll, and I seriously doubt we can snare any player in the current climate until the player himself wants to come to us.
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:49
@Sunny: Errrr Sunny, the latest from Lyons announcement is, that Real Madrid had already offered 30 million for Benzema and a prospective deal had been agreed. Then Man UNited came in and offered 35 million, but Real Madrid talks had progressed to the point of agrrement between the clubs. However United’s 6 million MORE offered to Lyon threw a spoke in the wheel, but Real agreed to pay the extra to meet United’s ATTEMPT TO GAZZUMP REAL. So contrary to popular media belief, it wasn’t United who were GAZZUMPED, but United were the ones trying to GAZZUMP the Real Madrid deal
. The ABU’s will always try to say Real did us though, because it suits their purposes to denounce UNited, as that is always their agenda 
.
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:50
@Stephen: Mate,Rooney never scored many goals,even when playing for us,i think his highest is 23.Torres had the same attributes that rooney had,his 2 goals were never the same and his overall attributes were great.And for Benzema,i think having him in our team will make rooney even better.Another thing is there arent many quality strikers available on the market,its better to spend some money on benzama than on 27 year old Villa or overrated fabiano.Furthermore,we have shown interest in him from a long time ago,so why dont we make Lyon a offer they cant refuse,we have the bloody money
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:55
@Sunny: I agree matey but Rooney was younger and not such a gamble as was English and played 45 mins up the road, Fergie did not buy for his goals as we had Ruud still but for what he could bring to the side, but get your point.
Benzema only had eyes for Real so for us to sign firstly would have been difficult but in a few years time if we had signed him we would be in the Ronaldo “dream of Real” issue again.
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:55
@Sunny: You don’t get it mate, Benzema WANTS TO GO TO REAL, no matter how much we offer
. He is a Zidane fanatic, Zidane is his idol, and he works for Real Madrid recruiting players, especially french players, so Benzema and Ribery were always going to go to Real M.
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:58
@Sunny: Here’s Lyon’s official statement:
“A few days ago, Karim Benzema informed president Jean Michel Aulas of his wish to join Madrid, which has always been his preference after Lyon, quicker than it was initially considered. The player wished to seize the opportunity that was offered to him by Real, which was to be one of the major elements of the club’s new, ambitious policy built around some of the largest players in the world. Lyon accepted the decision of Karim Benzema and negotiated the conditions of a transfer which satisfy the various elements. [...]“
If the player prefers Real, then we can’t pay Lyon 50m and kidnap Benzema to OT.
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:07
We need to get over the thought that we should only bring players who want to play for united.There are a billion of them,me inclusive,but the worthy ones may not have us as a dream team and still do the job ala Ronaldo.
Character off the field should not be any ones concern as aside from being footballers,they are different beings with different traits
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:07
@Red Ranter: No one player can replace the goals Ronaldo scored,so we need to even out the responsibilty of scoring and at the moment we only have Rooney and Berba as goal threats.Berba being slow,i dont expect him to play at Centre Forward position and score 30 goals a season and we all know Rooney’s best position is in the ‘hole’.
I totally agree with your point about a creative or box2box midfielder.We need more goals from midfield.
SO,you are saying that we cant compete with madrid in signing players even when we have 90m cash and have been in the champions league final 2 years in a row.We are left with Valencia’s of this world when Madrid are signing every top player
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:13
@Sunny: Real Madrid for some players is the eutopia in football, if a player has a preference in signing for one club over another then what can you do mate?
Real also have to try and make this side work, having the best players available doesn’t necessary make you have the best team, the previous Glactico’s had initial success but it did not continue.
I would rather have players who fit into our system and actually want and care for the club.
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:14
@Sunny: Yes we can’t compete with Real despite having the money. We can only do things we are good at: 1. Going after players who would actually like to play for us. and 2. picking out the best promising talent and nurturing them for a few years, before they eventually eff off to Spain
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:16
I have been in doubt about Benzema for a while now. While I wanted the player at Old Trafford, the person and the “Madrid-fan Aura” is something I never want to see at Old Trafford again! Tevez, despite all he says about loving our fans, was a dick. Ronaldo, a brilliant player who showed us loyalty for a few years, always wanted to go to Real. Now those two have left. We have Valencia, who chose us over Real. Other players that will bleed for this kit now is Rooney, Carrick, Vidic, Fletcher, Berbatov, Anderson, Brown, Rio and so on. All in their own way, but they truly love the club!
So Benzema and Ribery can fuck off for all I care. The only thing that bothers me is the way Real Madrid are ruining world football!!!
If I was president of FIFA, I would ban them from competing in every possible competition and reduct them points. They have spent over fucking £200 million on 4 players! 4 PLAYERS!!! 
Its amazing that PLatini and Blatter dont do anything about this, but because we all know what kind of fuck-ups they are Im not too surprised. But still, somehow I am baffled about this… 
I hope they end up outside of a CHmapions League spot and lose their group! 
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:21
@Red Ranter: If that is the case,we cant really do anything.
@donibrasco: I agree with you. Ronaldo’s attitude had everything to do with his upbringing and his character and I think Benzama had a better educational and social environment.So,my point is if we could signed him,he wouldnt do such things in the future that Ronaldo did.
“only God knows……….”
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:21
SInce the Real scum look like signing up anyone in world football who says he wants to play for them, our only options are to go after players who want to play for us, meaning we go after English players or players who Real have no interest in.
FOr striker, I am going to throw down a name….Eidur Gudjohnsen.
He’s cheap, experienced in the PL, wont mind sitting on the be
bench, is versatile and will be a great tutor for Kiko and Danny.
As far as midfield goes, I would like to see Mark Noble, who I think is a cracking player, and/or Mikel Arteta and Lennon/Young for cover in the wings..
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:23
I realy hope Frazier Campbell stays now… If he leaves, we are stuck with only Macheda and Welbeck as back-ups. Im not saying that it catastrophic, but it will be difficult for us. I still feel we need another striker, someone who wont be dissapointed with rotating and that cna score every tyoe of goal. I only see one player that fits that bill, and that is Huntelaar. Real are having a massive sell-out, and I dont see why we shouldnt at least make a bid for him…
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:26
@Sunny: Benzema grew up to Algerian immigrant parents in a tough neighbourhood. I don’t know what educational background you are talking about here.
@donibrasco: In Benzema’s case he had a clear cut preference. So I think we can’t beat up ourselves over not being able to sign him. When a player chooses a club, when given the choice, we can’t really complain. And when I said players who want to come to us, I was referring to the quality players — not any random player who wanted to play for us. That also included those who didn’t have a particular preference of club/country. Most players really want glory, but a good number of them are also whiny pricks like Jose Reyes in Arsenal.
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:27
@RedDevilEddy: Don’t forget Manucho the saviour.
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:27
@RedDevilEddy:
Hasnt a deal already been agreed for Campbell with Hull?
As far as the Hunter goes, I doubt Real will sell to us. They will now consider us as enemy no.1 after all those Fergie quotes, and try to hamper our every move in the transfer Market. I mean look at Valencia- we had to pay some 5 mill more just because of rumors that Real were interested.
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:33
@Stephen: Totally agree mate,Real is a circus.But its very disappointing to me,because we really started to rule Europe the way we never did before.I want United to surpass Ac Milan and Real so that Those Spanish dicks can never claim to be the best club on earth.We have to be more lethal in these sort of dealings because i want the next generation of footballers to dream about playing for United and only United
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:36
@Red Ranter: RR there is the other part of the Lyon statement, which is what I shared with you in my other post, where the United bid was mentioned, and considered, and was MORE than the Real M negotiated bid, but the player wanted Real M and so when Real M agreed to meet United’s they continued with the already agreed transfer they had with Real M BEFORE United came in with their huge offer. So your right, our attemp to GAZZUMP Real M was never going to get a player whose heart was in Madrid!
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:39
@Red Ranter: If so, we are screwed!
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:40
@Sunny: We can be as LETHAL as a stealth bomber mate, but if players hearts are in Madrid there is NO MONEY IN THE WORLD can persuade otherwise. We are only going to get players whose heart is towards United, or who are young, and come to us for a few years if they are latins, until they go follow their heart when they become BIG after becomming accomplished at OT.
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:44
I’m gutted he didn’t join but I don’t think you can blame the club. It doesn’t matter whether we offerred more money or less. He wanted to go to Madrid.
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:12
@donibrasco: Manchester United has a very, very strong identity and history, it is time to reinforce this identity, to differentiate from the nouveau riche clubs.
Love for the club is essential…otherwise United will lose its identity and will become just another bider alongside City and Chelsea…
Now Ronaldo is gone I would personally like the team to play as one…it’s in the the name…United
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:20
K so basically what your all saying is loyalty in football is simply non existent and that players such as anderson, nani, possebon, fabio and rafael are all going to leave OT when they become acomplished??
Well only “Go Knows” right lol.
Other than Aguero and Huntelaar i guess there are other talenst such as the likes of Sanchez, Costa but to be honest who else???. Can anyone name a proven box to box midfielder who would wnat nothing more than to join United?? cus im strugling their??
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:26
Obviously there are some missing elements for the team to work properly as a team right now. Forcefulness and stamina in midfield is just for starters.
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:30
@Julio: What about Hamsik?
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:31
Chinese proverb says “Hottest babe doesn’t always make best wife”
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:38
I really can’t understand this gung ho about Benzema and all. I mean any person on this blog was always knowing that Real ‘the mob’ Madrid was his preferred destination. But, still Fergi blindly tried taking him. So, i don’t think missing out on him should create such raw as it what more than expected.
Secondly about this strikers issue i am totally with VIVEK. As he has mentioned since long back i have been mentioning this thing. We need to understand the teams requirements rather than just saying that we need a world class player like Benzema, Kun etc. I mean common guys we have two strikers who if gelled properly can blossom into a very productive as well as an attractive partnership in this league. But, for that we need to give them at least a season. So, what i have been mentioning for long now is we need third striker and not the player who will come at a cost of 30 million +.
So, as i have had a chat before stephan that he wasn’t agreeing to we need some stop gap arrangement like we had with Henrik Larsson. We need someone like Eidur Gudjohnsen, Van the Man, or even Owen for that matter. All of them are proven goal scorers. Won’t complain if they seat on the bench and will definitely serve purpose with 15 goals a season in all competition. I am no where saying that we should go for these players but all i am saying is we should go for some arrangement like this which will allow us balance in the first team. Moreover i am a great believer in the ability Kiko and Danny, but as we all know they still cople of season away to be regd as a first team material so some arrangement will make sure that we are easing them into team rather than asking them to enter them into cut throat competition which may hamper there progress.
So now am i saying we dont need a world class player than. No, but what we need a world class or very promising midfielder. So, either we can go for a class DM like since day one i am have been raving De Rossi (i know it mission impossible but just to illustrate my definition of world class) or some one like Box to box form who can provide some goals from midfield ala BALLACK (again just an example).
I strongly believe our rebuilding should start this way. I am not putting any targets in this as we can fight about names all day long but i am definitely looking at the positions which i would like to strengthen in certain way…
July 2nd, 2009 at 13:27
Benzema made the wrong choice, he is 21 and still developing and madrid is the worst place to develop your talent, its either deliver instantly or get out, but he will soon realize that his dream team isnt so great after all.
July 2nd, 2009 at 13:27
@Julio: Box to box centre midfield players are a dying breed they either not sit like Toulalan or De Rossi who would be great or go forward but the are rare and expensive.
July 2nd, 2009 at 13:31
@Onkar: the way ronaldo was thrown into the deep end after the departure of becks is what should be done with kiko and danny, the talent is there and what that will do to them is add resposibilty and maturity. if they are as good as we all say they are, let them take up responsibility and help build the next generation of united after ronaldo. Isnt pato 19yrs doing the same for Milan and as rumours go, when he comes to chelsea he wont be eased in but thrown straight to the action.
RR I agree with the last 2 points in the post. need for Rooney to be played upfront and buying a box to box midfielder.
also lets all remember that for the last couple of season, we havent bought mo than 2 players in 1 transfer market except when we bought nani,ando and hargo all at the same time, This to mean that for success we really dont need to buy the way real are doing at the moment, lets all remember that what won us the league was the strength of our squad not individuals and I still believe in the the squad we got.with the inclusion of valencia.
its time for Ando and nani to step up to the plate this coming season.
July 2nd, 2009 at 14:10
Word on the street is that we are in talks with Michael Owen…
July 2nd, 2009 at 14:19
Interviewer: And to end this interview, let me ask you a personal question. How’s things with your wife, not so good we hear? Seems you’re upset cos she fakes them..you know..
Ribery: Yeah, I have made up my mind, I want to leave. It will be real or nothing.
July 2nd, 2009 at 14:35
@antsBoy:
July 2nd, 2009 at 14:59
@magno: Football has changed to a new game altogether.Where are you going to find Two stars that are not English and love United?Hell even Tevez declared his love!
Every player is happy as long as he lasts and enjoys favours only to open his mouth after losing the favours and has moved on.
July 2nd, 2009 at 15:23
@donibrasco: And that’s exactly the opposite direction Ronaldo took. Odd…
July 2nd, 2009 at 15:31
@ROOOOONEY: I still dont understand how someone can say someone else has made a ‘wrong choice’ before they’ve been given a chance to succeed (or fail). Remember, only hindsight is 20/20. I personally believe he will do well at Madrid. There’s no pressure for him there. If RM dont win, nobody will blame ‘cheap’ Benz, only Superstar’s Kaka and CR9 will shoulder that. Plus, how will he NOT be able to do well with both those player, and I’m sure a couple more, feeding him and taking defenders away. The only troubles I forsee with him going to RM is that he might get lost in the shadows, much like Huntelaar has, and then he’ll want away.
PS. Not too sure he would have worked here either.
July 2nd, 2009 at 15:54
Oh God we are going to sign an Owen who is injury prone and was good in Munich once………… haven’t we been there before!
July 2nd, 2009 at 16:13
I dont think huntelaar is lost in the shadows, he was phased out cause raul looked stupid playing along side huntelaar.
July 2nd, 2009 at 16:13
@Stephen: Realistically, that’s not really a bad thing. Granted Owen isn’s exactly made of stone, but we need cover, and someone who can lead the line. He can do both, and with him coming here he wont have to be the ’savior.’ hopefully he’ll be content coming off the bench though.
July 2nd, 2009 at 16:14
noo not owen….
July 2nd, 2009 at 16:18
@BAMF: I am justing reporting what I have heard, will be intersting to say the least if it did happen, similar to the Sheringham signing I would say out of left field.
July 2nd, 2009 at 16:18
@ROOOOONEY: That’s what I meant. Benzema wont be THE star at Madrid, and he will get dropped for anyone else on that team. I certainly will not argue that united probably would have developed him to be a great player, but I wont say he will be a flop at Madrid because of that.
July 2nd, 2009 at 16:23
@Stephen: I understand, and appreciate that reporting. But honestly, it gives us another ‘english player’ while providing cover. I don’t think anyone will expect him to come in and play every game leading the line. I will say that back when he wanted out of RM, it was a mouth watering prospect having him play in front of Rooney. Now, (hopefully) he’ll be third choice and Berbatov and Rooney will form a great partnership. I just don’t think it would be as bad as people think, glass or not, I rate him as much as Saha.
July 2nd, 2009 at 16:26
well all we can do is wait and see, they have a lot of egos now and they dont look like stopping to add few more. but we shouldnt be negative anyways, what they are getting two of our targets and they didnt want to play for us, ribery looks like a madrid player already, its only benefiting us by targeting the ones who really want to play for manchester united. hopefully those will do us good.
July 2nd, 2009 at 16:27
@BAMF: He won’t be a flop if he gets game time and they stick with a manager for longer than five minutes, they have had 11 managers in 10 years which surely isn’t healthy for the club, every manager has his own ideas and favorites.
July 2nd, 2009 at 16:30
@Stephen: Owen wouldnt be the worst signign in the world as long as we werent stupid and didnt over pay for him. I know hes on a free but i mean in terms of his contract hes on about 80 to 100k a week at newcastle, or was, and for a player who seems to be injured half the season thats a pathetic amount to be paying.
If we could sign him on say a 2 year pay as you play deal, very similar to the one everton have with saha then yeah im all for signing him. If it works out great, we have a good striker who can finish and score a good few goals for us, if it doesnt we havent spent too much on him and he can go.
From what i have seen of welbeck and macheda i honestly believe they have the talent to really make it here, so that in a few years they are starters for us i really do. The good thing of signing an experienced signing like an owen is 1- they will be learning from a real predator exactly how to finish and that experience may be invaluable from a man who would most likely be the best finisher at the club, and 2 say 2 years from now when owen left they would be fully ready to take over.
Overall i wouldnt be disappointed if we did sign owen but i wouldnt believe we would come up with a pay as you play deal and would most likely still be paying his £80k a week wages despite his injury record which would be typical of us.
July 2nd, 2009 at 16:34
I rather have welbeck and kiko play, ronaldo and rooney didnt become the players they are today by sitting on the bench and learning at 17. they may not be good enough to start like rooney and ronaldo but given enough chances they have a better chance developing faster.
July 2nd, 2009 at 16:37
@Matt: I agree in all those points, but we in my view would have to go again into the market as you cannot rely on Owen to stay fit.
We should sent Welbeck on loan next season to get Premiership experience which would do him the world of good and keep working on Macheda, and with those lads learning off a player like Owen can only be a good thing.
If we sign him it will be on a free, we should offer him as you you say pay as you play or reduce his wages to see if he still has the desire, and being realistic who will pay him the wages he was getting at Newcastle certainly not Hull.
July 2nd, 2009 at 16:41
@ROOOOONEY: Who’s to say an signing like owen will take away from that? I see both getting playing time, enough to develop anyway, and possibly contributing. But if you prefer to rely on only Welbeck and Macheda when Rooney and Berbatov get injured (probably a bad proposed situation considering I’m arguing Owen will be that ‘other cover’), then I think you’d be in the minority.
July 2nd, 2009 at 16:43
thats given the situation that owen is fit all the time to cover, which is never.
July 2nd, 2009 at 16:47
@ROOOOONEY: In fairness in the past two season he has made 31 appearances in both seasons, which is fantastic but not awful.
July 2nd, 2009 at 16:49
Generally agree about RR’s main post. The funny thing with Fletcherinho is that he’s titanic (in the good sense) against Europe’s top clubs, but more often than not disappoints against EPL minnows.
@antsBoy:
Not surprising, really. He needs the Ronaldo mask.
July 2nd, 2009 at 17:07
David Villa
Sergie Aguero
Klaas Jan Huntelaar
Samuel Etoo
Amauri
Luis Fabiano
Pato
“Super Mario” Balotelli
Van Nistelrooy
Michael Owen
In that order…
July 2nd, 2009 at 17:08
@Red Ranter: It’s more like we delayed in trying to get Benzema because Fergie just returned from his holiday. Benzema’s agent was always available and Benzema was always available for quotes. We were never going to get him but if we were in for a chance, we should have nabbed him immediately after the Ronaldo sale was made.
July 2nd, 2009 at 17:09
@RedDevilEddy: Balotelli is an liability he seriously needs to grow up in my eyes, talented but a handful.
July 2nd, 2009 at 17:10
Everybody is saying how “the player wanted to go to Real, in the end we could do nothing about it…”
I beg to differ. Remember Aaron Ramsey. He was thought to be a done deal for us. I think he even wanted to come at OT. Then Wenger came in in his private jet, wooed his parents, treated them to dinner, and explained how he would play more at arsenal than at United. I’m pretty sure now considering the state of our Central midfield that we could use some of his skills.
Lesson: If you really want a player, you should give yourselves the means to get him. We all know that the backroom staff at United are NOT the best when it comes to dealing in transfer matters. We pay over the odds, often get beaten when another European top side compete for a player (Ronaldinho, Batistuta…) So for myself, I would welcome a restructuring at boardroom level. If it does happen it be done silently, but the results would be seen by a more aggressive approach at transfer dealings and also the ability to strike much better deals.
Also, the point about Benzema’s preference for Real Madrid is for me not so relevent. If he signed we would have got at least 4 good years out of him. Whether he would have seen the light and would forget about the scum at madrid or still want to move, would still turn put to our advantage: if indeed he fulfilled his potential and turn out as good as Torres, Madrid would come sniffing and we would have sold him for a profit. And if he started sulking, he would give us people at redrants material to rant about! Can you imagine the silly season if last season Ronaldo; and this one Tevez had not thrown their tantrums? Yeah, very boring.
Only if he disappointed on the pitch – and to be honest I could not see that happening – that would the transfer backfire.
July 2nd, 2009 at 17:11
@donibrasco: There’s a middle ground between being a Real Madrid fanboy and having United tatooed on your chest…meaning, players like Ole and Eric who probably weren’t United fans before they came but ended up being icons for the club.
The trouble is, players these days seem to be incredibly juvenile…they don’t want to play for Sir Alex Ferguson, a living legend, one of the all time greats?! England can be grim if you’re down and out but it has incredible music and culture. Its football is just one example of its uniqueness…the Benzemas and Riberys are obviously unimaginative if they only want to go to one club. It’s not even Spain’s best club.
July 2nd, 2009 at 17:16
@NicoQB: I am never sure if it is Gill or Fergie being slow in the market or the Glaziers wanted to get the price down as low as posible, we seem to be going in lower and lower which Ok might not be a bad thing, if it works but Spurs last season called our bluff and we nearly got caught out and paid too much money due to time constrictions and Real have acted quicker this, not that I believe Benzema had any intention of joining us, but I agree I would like our activity in the market to be much, much quicker.
July 2nd, 2009 at 17:19
@Stephen: Bottom line with Torres is he also didn’t really fancy a switch to United. The only reason he came to England was to play for Benitez. The Spanish connection is what got him there. If we honestly want to compete with the Madrids and Barca’s for the signing of South American and Spanish players in the future, we will have to replace Fergie with a Spanish manager when he retires.
Look at Chelsea for example. They are struggling as much as us in trying to attract big name talent. England does not have the allure that those two Spanish giants have presently. But to be fair to the English game also, Italy is also suffering the same problem. Different factors and reasons for both countries but both countries are in a slump when it comes to signing the really big names. These things are usually cyclical in nature but the kind of money being thrown around by Madrid is very disturbing and may bring strong measures from UEFA and FIFA. Then again, it’s not like they will do anything to slap the wrists of their favorites Madrid. The game is in a world of pain right now with ridiculous money being thrown about. This is all based on this incredible obsession to win the Champions League. Perhaps United and other teams need to stop concerning themselves with that lofty goal and go back to concern themselves with winning their league and it’s domestic cups. Getting obsessed with winning in Europe is destroying the bloody game. It never used to be like that.
July 2nd, 2009 at 17:20
I have to say I love Bayern’s stance on transfers.
This is how I interpret Franck’s statement: either Real or nothing. And our clear response is: Nothing,” Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told the Munich daily TZ website. “We are not anxious. Franck is staying.”
This attitude is so refreshing and confirms that the German club are the best run in the business.
July 2nd, 2009 at 17:21
@Grognard: I agree with every word of that mate.
July 2nd, 2009 at 17:22
@Craig Mc: Good to see a convert to the world wide church of Grognard. It’s refreshing to see somebody who can see things for what they are and read through all the BS and pick out the truth. Now why can’t Fergie do this? I said two years ago that the pursuit for Benzema was going to be a forlorn hope and a waste of time. You and I need to go to OT’s offices with cow bells on and wake those idiots up.
July 2nd, 2009 at 17:29
@Stephen: They said the same thing about Hargo mate.
July 2nd, 2009 at 17:33
@RichmondRed: And we waited for over a season for him, paid big money at the time, and well he hasn’t exactly been in tip top health has he, did they know something we didn’t or was Fergie the Mounty in full effect, he must get his man regardless or fitness price and team balance!?
July 2nd, 2009 at 17:39
You know going back to the owen story, im hearing on talksport i really dont think it will happen but lets say it does on the face of it, ronaldo world player of the year out, in valencia and owen. It doesnt look too good does it.
Im not saying they wont do well for us, i think valencia does look a good player and im actually one of the few people i think who wouldnt mind owen if he came (you should listen to some of the anfry uniuted fans about owen) but it just doesnt look right when we see ronaldo out and no world class player coming in. The world class player doesnt necessarily need to be a ronaldo replacement, he can be a midfielder and that is a position i think we are in most need of adding to.
Crazy as this may sound i think i would go as far as to say after the valencia and maybe owen transfers with £60m or so left over i would be prepared to splash virtually the lot on none other than michael essien.
£60m on a DM may sound crazy to some but this guy, well i dont really need to talk about him do i, the guy is a bloody beast of a player and yes i would part with the full 60m to get him. If theres a time to get him its now, ancelotti im sure would love that kind of money to shape his own team and we just dont know if he even has plans for an essien, maybe he would prefer a gattuso we just dont know but the point is you wouldnt even consider it when mourinho was there but now who knows.
We have the cash, we were his favourite team, and i can honeslty see for over the £50m mark chelsea would accept it.
July 2nd, 2009 at 17:42
@Stephen: When was the last time that we actually had a quick and decisive strike on the transfer market while striking a good deal?
Oh! Vidic certainly, but he’s 1 in 10.
July 2nd, 2009 at 17:43
@Red Ranter: Excellent point RR. United is caught in a sticky situation or should I say crossroads in their team’s history. They are a top team that is having a hard time convincing players from specific regions to come and play for us. On top of that, despite the money, we have to rethink how we are going to sign players in the future and what kind of players we are going to go for.
The most overriding concern right now is our future transfer policy. The reason it is of great concern is that we are coming very close to the end of the Sir Alex Ferguson era at Manchester United. A couple of more seasons and Fergie will earn his rest and retirement from a very long and highly successful tenure as our leader. It is therefore paramount that we iron out a plan of attack for the foreseeable future in regards to signing players.
I do not see Fergie wanting to spend the last couple years of his career being a mentor and teacher to young kids. It has been clear for some time now that he is obsessed with attaining more European glory. So my question to all then is what is our plan of attack? Do we go for a youth movement knowing that the great man will not be with the team for 5 or 6 years in order to really benefit these young players and nurture them like he did Ronaldo and Rooney. or do we try to sign veteran players who can help us over the next two years?
My biggest concern is that we need to follow the youth movement scenario but our manager is not going to be here long enough to see that bare fruit. Ideally it would be great if we could sign big names to help us win one or two more league and European titles and send Fergie off in ultimate glory. But the present financial and transfer climate seems to be prodding us into a different direction. It is the youth movement that seems to be the better move for United’s future as very young players to not have the hubris, ego and greedy demands of needing to play in Spain and in the starting lineup.
But that mantra or simple plan is also destined to fail within a year or two if FIFA and UEFA get their way with rules of reform where they will implement a 6=5 rule or even worse, make it impossible for clubs to sign under 18 year olds from other countries like the way we got Macheda and the twins. So it appears we are in an are where we are facing a Catch 22 scenario. We are damned either way we choose to go. Well not entirely.
We still do have time to go all out in buying young players. Those rules have not come into place yet and if there are a lot of young players out there that we are interested in, then we should stock up now before it is too late. Fergie may not be around to see the real quality of these players but we should at least have most of them for 6 or 7 seasons before Real Madrid starts knocking on our doors. Getting players like Douglas Costa, and under 21’s like Marcus Berg, Ola Toivonen, Ozil, Marin, Neuer and other great young players is the way we should go. Take the risk and go for them young and hope and pray they end up great and they end up loving to play for us. It’s the only way. The days of convincing 23 to 26 year old superstars that we are the team to play for has become a futile and frustrating disaster. We just cannot compete with the Spanish team’s allure for players of that age group and class. Also, we need to start looking for players in regions where United is a major marketing brand and where players are growing up dreaming off playing for us and not the Spanish teams first. A tall order indeed but not an impossible one.
July 2nd, 2009 at 17:47
@donibrasco: For the first ime on this blog, I agree with you, donibrasco!
July 2nd, 2009 at 17:48
@NicoQB: Er bar Vidic and Evra not recently mate we were qick with Hargo, Nani and and Anderson and paid far too much, bar that Alan Smith, obviously I am joking there.
July 2nd, 2009 at 17:52
@RedDevilEddy: You could stop famine in Africa and still have money to spare for investing in sustainable environment thingies across the world with the kind of money real spent.
July 2nd, 2009 at 17:53
I’m not overly fussed with Benzema. We would have had to break the English transfer record for a player that may or may not turn out to be a one season wonder. Meh.
Bottom line is there isn’t an oustanding candidate, so we shouldn’t spend for the sake of spending. Unless Essien could be tempted, as a die hard United supporter (he once claimed).
July 2nd, 2009 at 17:57
@Beachryan: We had him as a kid and tried to sign him then but couldn’t get a work permit, realistically it is a pipe-dream Chelsea don’t want to sell, they don’t have to sell and he simply doesn’t seem to want to leave.
July 2nd, 2009 at 17:58
@Stephen: Until now, and I’m sad to say this, but Hargo has been a resounding failure. What’s his market value now?
Cue: Michael Owen.
Its sad that Bayern are the exact opposite of us when dealing with transfers. They managed to sell us the clone of Saha at the price of a Torres. Shocking really.
July 2nd, 2009 at 18:01
@NicoQB: When fit Hargo is brilliant and a real favorite of mine, but personally I think they sold us a pup and knew he had injury problems and Fergie with his stubbon streak just went ahead with the transfer, but maybe that is just me.
July 2nd, 2009 at 18:08
@RedDevilEddy: I find it amazing and really funny that all of a sudden there seem to be so many supportive pro Huntelaar fans on this site. For the biggest part of two years I was the loudest of a few voices that called out his name and for us to sign him. Hell even Dan is coming around. All this Huntelaar love is funny as Hell. Most of you remind of that guy who constantly tries to pick up the beautiful woman and fails and then finally decides to settle for the girl next door who is not ugly but clearly isn’t a drop dead beauty.
I at least loved the girl next door from the beginning. Fans are so fickle. I love Huntelaar and yes he would be ideal for us but I do not believe that Fergie really fancies him. Fergie unfortunately seems to suffer from delusions of grandeur as he always seems to be interested in the players that have no interest in him or his club. This is very counterproductive and very frustrating for me as for most of us who support the team. I think it’s high time he went after players that would love to play for us or who would be happy to play for us.
Players to pursue
Huntelaar
Pogrebnyak
Aguero
Adler
Hernanes
Melo
Berg
Toivonen
Ozil
Neuer
Akinfeev
Costa
Sneijder
van der Vaart
Drenthe
July 2nd, 2009 at 18:09
@antsBoy: Classic!
July 2nd, 2009 at 18:12
@Grognard: Someone’s changed their tune!! Were you not, some days ago, chastisising Fergie’s ’supposed’ plan of investing in youngsters instead of going for established stars?? What brought about these 180º ??? Don’t tell me it’s the Benzema loss, as you already knew and prophesied that this lad had Madrid in his heart. So, it should be no surprise to you that he opted to go for madrid when both teams put in equal offers!!
The fact of the matter is, we have only lost out on one of our ‘prime targets’ (targets we know Fergie openly admires); a target which unfortunately had his heart somewhere else. That’s no big deal. We move on.
I have been saying all along that we should go for younger prospects and nuture them the United way like we did Rooney, Ronnie and co. !! An exception to this would be a striker, and i’m looking at one Pavel Pogrebnyak!! This guy is the ideal No.9 for us. A tall, fast, big and skillful poacher with relative top-flight experience. He would be the perfect foil Rooney and Berba could play off and would be happy in a rotation. Not to mention his contract is running out at the end of this year, so if we employ Rooney and Berba till December, we can get him for free then. This will allow Welbeck and Macheda the chance to deputise more frequently in the first half of the season, giving us the chance to judge properly if they are really ready to make the step up to regular 1st team footy for United or not. If they are, then we might not even need Pavel, if they are not, then we can get Pavel.
Seems like a solid idea to me. Forget all these deluded stars who can’t see past the galactico rubbish in madrid
and the beautiful football in barca. Fact is, those are really the only two teams in Europe that can compete with us for signings. In England, we are the team every player would love to join. 
July 2nd, 2009 at 18:15
@magno: Thats a great point. It’s a problem in all sports. Players today are incredibly immature and suffer from incredible hubris and greed. They want their cake and eat it too, even if they haven’t paid their dues. Ronaldo earned his move. He played six seasons for us but Benzema really has quyite the ego thinking he deserves to be at Masdrid after doing well for two seasons with a French club.
It’s all about marketing their personal brand and gettin g as much out of footballing world financially and through endorsements and awards. “I need to play in the Champions League” is heard all the time as if the games mean everything. In reality it’s what the Champions League brings to players in endorsements, cash and individual awards. Player’s loyalty is a thing of the past and to be fair, clubs loyalty to players is not that much better. In the end it’s us fans who are too damned loyal to both that get screwed supremely.
July 2nd, 2009 at 18:18
@Grognard: I always loved the Hunter mate, but I would personally put Pogrebnyak on top of the list. That guy would be a star for us mate.
Not too mention, cheap, with a lower profile, hence less pressure to immediately deliver and ultimately more time to settle in and gel with the squad. 
July 2nd, 2009 at 18:20
@Stephen: I do too except when it came to Hargreaves of course.
I have always been a hard core Bayern fan and I like the fact that they force a player to look hard at his loyalty and the fact that he must honor a contract. Too many players today look at contracts as agreement that are made to be broken. Greed and selfishness has taken over the sport and this is the number one reason why I was mad at Fergie and United for letting Ronaldo go. By doing so, they opened up Pandora’s box. We needed to make a stand and show Ronaldo as well as the rest of the footballing woirld that players need to honor their commitments to a club and their contracts. But we caved in and all the things Fergie said about having him sit and rot qwere nothing more than bullshit. At least Bayern are far more stubborn and if they are to sell Ribery, it will be for well over what he’s worth. And in that terms, it’s good business for them but again, it sends a terrible message to players that they never have to live up to their end of a bargain.
July 2nd, 2009 at 18:24
@Gabriel: I haven’t changed my tune mate. I prefer we go after proven players because I want to win now and I want success in Europe. What i was trying to say is that what I want and what seems right is not attainable. We seriously do not have the drawing power to get the players needed to do that therefore, we have no other choice but to go with youth or settle for signing tier 2 players who do want to play for us (ei; Tim Cahill). Ideally I want superstars signed right now but that doesn’t appear to be in the cards. So despite the fact that Fergie will not be around for 5 or 6 years, we must look at Plan B and m0ve accordingly, before even that is taken away from us by UEFA and FIFA.
July 2nd, 2009 at 18:25
WE ARE MANCHESTER UNITED, and for me that matters more than any foreign fuck who naturally wants to fight and play on foreign fields. We have some great players, and if we DONT BELIEVE, neither will they. Right formation, right tactics and MORE GLORY coming our way – END OF
.
July 2nd, 2009 at 18:25
@Gabriel: He also is a lifetime fan of United. I prefer the Hunter but I cvertainly wouldn’t be upset at getting Pogrebnyak.
July 2nd, 2009 at 18:35
MwaHa!!!
July 2nd, 2009 at 18:43
@Grognard: Toivonen???
Btw, Van der Vaart = crap
July 2nd, 2009 at 18:50
@Stephen: If I recall, that is the same stance United made with regards to Ronnie last year when it was clear he wanted to leave!! We stood our ground, made him play for another year and got a whopping £80mil after all that, for a wantaway player who originally cost £12mil. If that’s not a properly run and effective business, I don’t know what is!!
Not to mention, the money used to purchase Ronnie came from the sale of Beckham to Madrid, a player that cost us literally nothing!! Come to think of it, Madrid, in a way, funded Ronaldo’s original purchase and now they are paying more than quadruple that amount for Ronnie, after 6yrs of brilliant service to our team. We should in fact, be grateful to those inglorious bastards at Madrid 
July 2nd, 2009 at 18:55
@Grognard: TBF, it doesnt sound like he was all that eager to get out of Lyon and by all reports he said he would have been perfectly happy coming to United. The problem was us not wanted to meet the valuation Madrid gave him, and thus he went there. You cant be suggesting SAF doesnt know where players want to play, can you? And as far as I can tell, however he’s choosing the players he wants, its worked so far so why change?
I was reading shit on the caf from some of the muppets crying about benzema not being signed, and some caftards brought up a good point. Other than Berbatov, who was the last ‘major’ signing by SAF? Huge signings tend to be the exception for united, who buy young and realatively unknown (usually paying over the odds) and developing their talent rather than spending mega money on a world talent and getting 4 or 5 years from them. Which is exactly why we dont panic sell or offload players who dont have a particularly good season. I’m pretty sure SAF doesnt use FM to scout, and bases his valuations on potential.
July 2nd, 2009 at 19:12
Get Huntelaar, he’s better than Benzema, but not so much of a “Galactico”. Basically a Marco van Basten clone, can score with both legs and head, absolutely ruthless in front of goal, incredible goal scoring rate. Where are the goals going to come from after Ronaldo? I say a Rooney/Huntelaar partnership would be incredible. Here’s what he can do (great video):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuNrhG03H2Y
July 2nd, 2009 at 19:35
Midget wrestlers died after a drink-fuelled night with hookers
link
Actually the article isn’t that entertaining, but the title itself made me chuckle…
July 2nd, 2009 at 20:07
Another example of United transfer dealing efficiency – except that time we won, but not quick and concise enough imho: copy paste:
Kenny Dalglish and Alex Ferguson never really got on as managers, and this was a major source of friction. Keane agreed a deal to take him from Nottingham Forest to Rovers and it is said that Dalglish tried to get the paperwork through late on a Friday afternoon, only to find everyone had left the Ewood Park offices ? it would wait til Monday. Ferguson didn’t wait and rang Keane that weekend (though why he left it so late is a mystery) and Keane changed his mind. Keane said later in his book that Dalglish ‘went crazy’, ranting: ‘Nobody does this to me, nobody does this to Kenny Dalglish’.
July 2nd, 2009 at 20:17
@Gabriel:
July 2nd, 2009 at 20:24
@Jaap: Actually, as per the video, he is a galactico. Is there anything he cant do? I personally dont think he’d fit here on the basis he wouldnt play as often as he would like. He’s not going to jump Rooney and Berbatov and become part of the first 11, so he going to have to take the role that tevez had last year, and that will make him just as happy as it made Tevez. In fact, I think its the same reason he wants out of Madrid. We dont need a ’superstar,’ we need a young kid with loads of potential but willing to learn from the bench for great parts of the season (read: Welbeck / Kiko), or we should snap up someone looking to resurrect their career and is willing to take any time on the pitch they’re given and make the best of it (read: Owen).
On that note, I’ll take Aguero or Pato any day, and Huntelaar when he plays from a youtube video.
July 2nd, 2009 at 20:25
I know we get linked with every name under the sun, especially now but for some reason I think getting Michael Owen may just be a master-stroke. Other managers won’t touch him with a barge poll yet… Just like Quentine Tarantino I can see Alex getting world class performances out of a telent most of the world has seen as washed up and hung out to dry. Could owne infact be our pacey creative midfielder?
Also, I think its important that we praise the club for again giving some of our youth players professional contracts and bringing them up to the plate. We, as a club often get labeled as a buying club and the league as a whole as import central and while clubs like Liverpool don’t seem to believe in there youth by not giving them the chance, we continue to.
Real may be setting up Galacticos mark 2 while we on the other hand may be on the verge of ‘you cant win anything with kids’ mark 2. While one may be the hollywood of football, I support this wonderful club because even though alot has changed in the game, we still believe in the grass routes of the game and our club.
Glory Glory Man United and once again through adversity we shall march on!
July 2nd, 2009 at 20:25
@BAMF: It is completely UNTRUE that we didn’t meet the valuation Madrid made. According to Lyon we offered 6 million MORE than Real, contrary to newspaper reports saying they Real M offered the 6 million more. Real M had already advanced and agreed terms though, and Benzema wanted Real, but Lyon wanted the extra 6 million United offered. It was then that Real M acted and agreed to equal the United 6 million extra!
July 2nd, 2009 at 20:25
@NicoQB: We lost out on Chris Sutton to Blackburn mate and Shearer the year before!
July 2nd, 2009 at 20:30
@sig: I am aggrieved very much IF it is true that Owen has a chance of coming to United. This player bleeds clubs dry and very seldom is worth the money given in wages. He has a shocking history for letting clubs paying thru the nose down. How the fuck do these players get contracts, when they are never available hardly to play. Didn’t think our club were that feckin gullible
.
July 2nd, 2009 at 20:32
That’s a very good article. You seem like a smart bloke! I agree 100% with every word you said; I believed the same as you did.
July 2nd, 2009 at 20:34
@Craig Mc: Really? Because I thought reports were RM offered X amount, we rated him at Y and we didnt want to bump our offer up to X becuase we didnt want to enter a bidding war we werent going to win.
July 2nd, 2009 at 20:35
@Craig Mc: I agree with that but look on the brightside he got three more league goals than Twatez last season
July 2nd, 2009 at 20:35
@Craig Mc:
Could you please give examples?
Liverpool – he played well
Real Madrid – victim of the same thing going on at Real (similar to what Kaka is about to go through)
Newcastle – he didnt play for the last part and was injured otherwise
injuries are my only concern, but otherwise I’d welcome him with open arms
July 2nd, 2009 at 20:38
I meant to also add that amongst class players he’s a class player (international performances have shown this)
July 2nd, 2009 at 21:00
@sig: Mate at the end of the day he is a punt, he might be a stroke of genius or he could break a nail and be out for the whole season being paid £100k a week, if we get him on a free and get his wages down then worth looking at, but we would need another forward as well.
July 2nd, 2009 at 21:01
F*kin hell! Owen.
Great.
What next, Stephen?
Viera?
July 2nd, 2009 at 21:04
@NicoQB: I felt it in my waters something like that was going to happen bro!
July 2nd, 2009 at 21:06
@Stephen: I agree we would have to get his wages down (I think he’d be more motivated to be at a top flight club again over money) and get another striker. He’s discaplined and scored 11 goals in a terrible side last season. If we get him at 60k wage its good buisness. people thought Sherringham was coming to the end when he signed…
I think this is a good move if it happens, he’d be worth the risk in my opinion, more so because he is a proven goal scorer and for what in relation to some of the recent paper talk is pocket change.
July 2nd, 2009 at 21:12
@sig: I agree mate he is worth a go but would be a little upset if he was it for the summer exspenditure another striker and I really believe the midfield is far from being right.
Back to Owen I suppose you know what you are going to get, we would need to get his wages down and get a the the best doctor in the world to perform his medical.
And I must get this in my head, he did not play for Liverpool!
July 2nd, 2009 at 21:15
@Stephen: Once he grabs us points that put us higher up the table than the dippers you’ll soon forget (besides he’s an everton fan)
July 2nd, 2009 at 21:19
@sig: We do need a box player and as he is free it takes the sting out of it also, if we sign him and the Hunter then our forward line would be quite strong, two players who like to drop and two who play off the shoulder.
July 2nd, 2009 at 21:29
I know we constantly talk about players not wanting to play for us… but is the whole Ribery move out of the question? The statement he made about ‘Real Madrid or nothing’ has been responded to by the bigwigs at Bayern… and I’ll paraphrase here ‘Nothing it is then, frank mate’.
Could we see something in the same line as the Robinho move where a player says he wants to move on and makes things so hard for himself that the club have to sell and tell him ‘your going where we tell you to go’?
just a thought
July 2nd, 2009 at 21:32
I dont see why we shouldnt get Owen. Despite I am not very keen on him becoming a United player, its not like we have to pay millions of quid to get him? He is free, and we would only have to pay his wages. Which should be lowered, if we really do get him. He wouldnt complain to be used as a sub, and he is an Englishman! As a back-up, I dont see why not? Of cource I would rather have an Fabiano, Villa or Huntelaar, but it looks like we will have to settle for hamburgers instead of stakes this summer… Plus, as a former dipper it would be enjoyable watching him score a winner at Anfield and win us the league!
July 2nd, 2009 at 21:34
Fuck Ribery, if he really wants to go to Real that much he should just be put in a room made of mirrors, so he could be tortured by watching his own ugly, bitch-ass face!
July 2nd, 2009 at 21:36
For those interested, Im working on my next FIFA 09 vid. Its about Giggsy, and Ive already re-created some of his most brilliant goals!
Stay tuned…
July 2nd, 2009 at 21:39
Tevez face gives children nightmares, his breath kills men.
July 2nd, 2009 at 21:49
@Stephen: At the end of the day, is the team going to be better with Owen?
Even if he is fit, would he contribute to the team?
One attribute I hated with Owen is that, apart from scoring, he did diddly squat. Now, with most of his pace gone, he’ll struggle to make those breakthrough one-on-ones…
I really hope that if he’s bought, he’s going to be used as a deluxe sub whenwe need a goal, and not as a starter. Feck, I thought even Macheda Campbell and WElbeck are right now better than Owen!
In other news, Possebon is to join Braga on loan. I say good for him. Let’s hope he has a breakthrough season there.
July 2nd, 2009 at 21:55
@NicoQB: Well you might be right pal, we will hopefully use him that is if we sign him that is as an impact sub so he can nick us the odd goal late on, but I agree his contributes netto for the team and he can control the ball further than I can kick it.
July 2nd, 2009 at 21:59
@BAMF: Yes BAMF, that is what Lyon said, and that is why their President was saying they had received a massive offer for Benzema, and it wasn’t Real Madrid. It wasn’t Real M who gazumped us mate, it was United who were trying to do the gazumping, but Benzema wanted Real M. Real M because of us had to COUGH UP extra 6 million
.
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:05
@sig
Ribery ain’t coming. Robinho wasn’t forced to sign for City, he went for the money. Madrid, although delighted with the extra money, were puzzled by his decision stating that “he wasn’t going for football reasons”.
Another theory of course is when he heard Manchester he became confused and thought he was signing for us
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:06
I cannot believe we are thinking of Owen
. Are we going backwards or what? Another day, another midget 
. Also he is nearly 30 years old isn’t he? I thought our new strategy was nobody over 26 yrs old. If they want somebody who is out of contract, POGREBNYAK is available for free in Novemember, and he would KILL to wear the United shirt, and he is a great player too.
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:14
@sig: I understood he had a lot of injury time out at Real M. Also he had his injuries at Pool didn’t he? As for Newcastle, – well they never got anywhere near their moneysworth, and feel very badly treated. Still if we want Saha No 2 – press on!
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:24
Owen could be an inspired moment of genius or a complete disaster.Either way he won’t cost us £35m.
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:29
well if we cannot attract players when we were european and english champions and cannot attract players when united win 3 league titles in a row and world champions then when can we attract players.
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:30
I don’t know one minute I think he is worth a punt the next I have a cold sweat.
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:31
Its not that we dont attract players, its we are going after the wrong ones.
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:31
It will be a sad day if we ultimately settle for him.
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:35
@Stephen:
, go over to Republik of Mankunia Stephen Bro, and read their comments, and your cold sweat will become all out PROFUSE 
.
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:37
@Cyclops-Red: No, he will just cause us to become the fucking laughing stock of the PL
.
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:38
who else agrees fergie never prepered 3 years in advance when ronaldo finally was going to leave. also if you want the attacking crafty midfielder there is that gem of a player still available in joa moatinho. hunteleer is 25 yet he still cannot hack it seems strange why united would go after him. he is not mobile enough and same with berbatov he wants ball to feet
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:39
@Craig Mc: I am on the verge of a nervous breakdown mate, we cannot have this Dipper in the famous red shirt!!!
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:44
Pay as you play contract??
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:45
Stephen if we had gerrard I would not mind, it is not the fact he is a dipper which the irony is he is rooney is from liverpool the point is owen is way past his sell by date his goalscoring talents has past him by it is that simple.
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:50
Even better still!
We are on the brink of signing a new player!!!
Who, you say? Huntelaar? Gudjohnsen? Gourcuff?
NO, a seventeen year old defender from Charlton!
Great he’ll join Possebon, Pique, Rossi, Dong, De Laet, Petrucci, and so many others that were bought “for the future” but never got within a whiff of making it in the team.
This week has been shit.
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:52
hey got some great news guys sol campbell is on a free transfer lets sign him. while we are at it lets get paul gasgoine and robbie fowler they are free transfers.
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:53
@Stephen:
, Stehen ever thought that OWEN is the dippers way of fleecing us of our Ronaldo gotten wealth??? Why the feck should we give any of our funding to a dipper, a washed up one at that??? How have his reps got into OT in the first place, I mean are we the only team in the PL who are becoming fecking stupid? Maybe Grog has something about geriatric-ism having a bearing on some of the decision making at OT these days? I mean our lot probably think it may be another Henrik Laarson stroke of genious, but Henrik was fit as a butchers dog, and everyone was excited to get him on loan. The getting of Owen is going down like a lead balloon amongst UNited fans, who insist that we should never become the ‘putting out to stud’ ground for scouse or any other rejects!
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:53
@steve: Playing for Everton is a different kettle of fish than playing for Liverpool mate.
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:53
Craig, I was trying to find somethng positive if the rumours are true but I agree its a step backwards. What next, Joey effing Barton?
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:56
@Craig Mc: We could pair him with fucking Heskey or try and suduce Robbie Fowler to OT, jeez this is getting surreal mate.
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:56
Is it just me or can anyone else manage to imagine life with out sir alex? I mean have you really thought about it ? It scares me.
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:56
@NicoQB: Listen mate, Delaet and Petrucci are feckin great players, and Delaet tackles ferociously, and nearly always comes out with the ball. So do not knock these lads eh?
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:58
@redrichard: Life with Micael Owen scares me more at the present moment
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:58
Heaven help us: Owen IS signing! Jesus, I have forgotten to react.
July 2nd, 2009 at 22:59
@Stephen:
, SAF is seriously FRIGHTENING ME MATE, I am afraid, very afraid 
.
July 2nd, 2009 at 23:00
Stephen what I am saying is it depends on the quality of the signing not a washed up hasbeen. I would take gerrard in a heartbeat, but our transfers seem to mirror bolton just get cheap as chips hasbeens. we sign and average wide player in valencia whos goalscoring record is 7 goals in 3 years how is that good buisness.
July 2nd, 2009 at 23:00
We have already made the best singing – Rooney – unshackeld from the shadow of Ronaldo we will see the true legend that he will become. Mark my words he will be the best player in the world within the next two years
July 2nd, 2009 at 23:02
@steve: I agree mate I am not convinced on Valencia at all, we also need a centre mid but we seem to be looking everywhere but.
July 2nd, 2009 at 23:03
some times i do wonder about us. SAF makes the right decisions time and time again, wins – time and time again. Make the most of it, i think, we will never see the light again.
July 2nd, 2009 at 23:05
@Craig Mc: @Red Ranter: I am having convulsions on my living room floor, I must be having a nightmare, must stop drinking that South African Pinotage!
July 2nd, 2009 at 23:07
@Red Ranter: This is just about as absurd as it gets. This is the time for rent a mob protests and BOO-ING and letting the CLOWNSHIP of our board know how we feel about the kind of shit that is happening at our beloved club. I couldn’t be MORE depressed Bro than I am right now. Fans of the other top 4 will be laughing their arses off at us, and they are believe me
.
July 2nd, 2009 at 23:07
I can hear the sound of ABU’s squealing with delight.
July 2nd, 2009 at 23:08
Why not get Joey Barton while we’re at it, is this some sick nightmare…Owen is a has-been. The only old geezers you want are ones that are excellent at reading the game and can contribute with their superior vision of team play, like Teddy or Henrik.
Even team England have given Owen the push, and god knows how much they love him.
July 2nd, 2009 at 23:09
@Stephen:
, I just got the Jack Daniels out mate, which I only bring out at times of GREAT STRESS 
.
July 2nd, 2009 at 23:11
@Craig Mc:
Sounds a better idea than mine, Jack is 40% proof numbs the pain better 
July 2nd, 2009 at 23:13
owen’s signing is depressing, its not a joke thinking about it either. and that site didnt help at all!
July 2nd, 2009 at 23:14
@magno: It is SAF’s mission in life it seems to LULL us all into a deep sleep at OT next season. This is about as exciting as a wet lemon with the juice squashed out. Football suicide, and a SAF induced FUNERAL atmospere at OT. I can’t bloody believe it!
July 2nd, 2009 at 23:16
@Stephen: You got that right mate!
July 2nd, 2009 at 23:16
Our fans aren’t happy about this signing which can only be a good thing IMO. People’s expectations are so low that it can’t possibly go wrong.
We’ll get him on a free, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s agreed to a pay-as-you-play contract for last chance at glory with us.
It’s no lose for us, especially with the valuable experience he can pass on to our young hitmen. This could be a very shrewd move.
July 2nd, 2009 at 23:18
@redrichard: If this is an example mate, I can do without seeing the like again, thankyou
.
July 2nd, 2009 at 23:19
@RedAddict: Your joking right?
.
July 2nd, 2009 at 23:28
Stephen also what has really annoyed me is fergie should have brought in the right players between summer 2006 to summer 2008 he has not.
Carrick cost 16 million – despite how well he has done he still when it has really counted he has gone missing good player but not of united standard. But to be fair to the guy he has done well.
anderson cost 18 – 20 million – for some strange reason he has some massive fans following that he is this midfield magic man of keane and scholes when he is neither. anderson is playing out of position he is a second striker used in CM. he can’t even score in open play. His passing at times is left a lot to be desired, and his creative side short passing is good long passing is at times awful and he cannot run a midfield because he is not a central midfielder.
nani cost 16 million – anyone who thought he was the new ronaldo need specs when they are miles apart. He is a lightweight, he can’t take on defenders, his crossing at times and decision making makes me want to pull my hair out. And his attitude at times needs to be looked at; the irony is people moaned at richerdsons attitude what makes nani any different. And the only thing nani and ronaldo have in common is they are both from Portugal both played for Lisbon and they both do not track back.
Hargreaves cost 18 million – he was available on a free transfer, everyone knew he was injury prone yet fergie went ahead to sign him when mascherano, lessana diarra, yaya toure, senna were all far better options. If he was never injury prone he would not be on my list but we all knew he was never reliable, Fletcher was always coming through and his awesome season 06/07 should have made fergie think twice before signing him. anyone who thought hargreaves was never injury prone before he came to united you clearly have not been following his time at bayern.
Tevez cost 10 million – was he a good signing maybe but if he was not going to be here long term why did we bother going ahead signing him. But yet again the service he give crucial goals maybe one of fergies clever signings.
Berbatov cost 32 million – I have always found this was a strange signing. People can go on and on about his assist record but his goal for record is no better than tevez, and unlike tevez berbatov never busts a gut to get into the box. He is slow he expects ball to feet and is never great in the air and he slows our play down. We saw what happened when van nistleroy was a declining force in 2006 we brought in a faster central striker in saha and our pace of our game picked up.
I have always said this if we are going to get the absolute best of Rooney we must have a fast powerful central striker like an Andy cole who is mobile and is a pest for defenders. Both tevez and berbatov are has bad has each other they both play in Rooney’s position.
July 2nd, 2009 at 23:41
The comments here, particularly by Craig, magno, steve and Stephen, are pathetic. Owen is 29, still has a 1 in 2 record, scored more goals than Carlos Tevez last season, and in a team that was awful and is now in the Championship.
He has injury problems, but he played a fair amount of games last season, and as a 3rd choice striker behind Rooney and Berbatov, does not need to have a perfect injury record. Owen will allow for rotation and the freshening up of our players, and will also be a great option off the bench. Furthermore, he gives us something different, a finisher with good movement.
I don’t know whether he will definitely come to Man Utd, but on a free transfer, on incentivised wages and now motivated due to getting another shot at the big time and under Fergie’s strict control, I can see him being re-energised and becoming another shrewd buy for Fergie.
One thing is for sure, our manager is definitely not whining about not bringing in ’star’ names or potential stars with a lot to prove (haven’t we got enough of them?). No, he’s thinking about how he is going to get Man Utd to be the ones who lift the Premier League at the end of the season.
Yes, Owen used to play for Liverpool, but he hasn’t for a long time and is indeed an Everton fan (like Rooney, remember?). Certain posters must be kidding themselves into believing that all of our squad are die-hard United fans since they were kids, and not professionals who take the wage packet at the end of each month, like every other job.
Despite the fact that some idiots are suicidal over the fact they didn’t get their exotic favourite player of Villa, Benzema, Silva, or any of the others, the signing of Owen can only be a good thing. Sheringham, too, was thought to be on his last legs when he signed, but proved to be a wonderful signing. I can’t say for sure if Owen will prove to be as good a buy, but if he comes out in the red shirt at Old Trafford, looking hungry and ready to pound the turf, I’ll give him my full support. As should you all.
In Fergie We Trust.
July 2nd, 2009 at 23:43
Owen reminds me of Sven, you just can’t get rid rid of the fuckers, they have mental disorders where they think that are far superior than they actually are…the weird thing is, they manage to make others believe this too.
I bet Owen believes he should be back in the England team, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he manages to worm himself into more starts for United than we would care to think about.
July 2nd, 2009 at 23:44
what I am saying here is if these players have worked out why is everyone wetting themselves that we are not buying players. it is about time nani anderson hargreaves berbatov along with park and tosic now to step up to the plate. because sopme of these players have high wages and and cost fortunes
July 2nd, 2009 at 23:49
Agreed craig i was impressed with de laet against hull,he was damn quick aswell
July 2nd, 2009 at 23:49
I’ve said many times on this site Owen would be a great acquisition. I see a lot of overreacting and I guess that is predictable.
If he stays healthy, he’ll get the Red Devils 15-20 goals (more than that Tévez fellow and it won’t have cost anything. Only in United land a guy will be deemed a bust before setting foot in Old Trafford.
It will allow Rooney to be the main striker and for the first time in a long time, you won’t get to hear the story of Charles, the third striker who wants to be the first.
If a guy can get 10 goals with crappy newcastle and absolutely no service from the midfield in 31 games (wow, Tévez with his 15 goals in 51 games is truly worth 26 million…)
Plus you get a Liverpool icon working for you. He’ll be motivated like hell to play for Sir Alex Ferguson and regain prestige before the World Cup.
Signing of the summer.
Back to basics.
Of course he is not Aguero, Benzema or Huntelaar but please, if the guy is to be part of the United family, welcome him as one of your own.
July 2nd, 2009 at 23:57
@Zauberlehring: I couldn’t agree with the (welcome him as one of your own) but I will agree with everything else. As football fans we expect so many values from a player toward a club and we’re lucky we have seen so many players play for us for the love of the club. Football has changed now though and maybe as fans we have to go the same route as the players.
If he’s effective and does whats asked of him I couldnt care less who he played for in the past (again he’s a self confessed everton fan), or what his brochure looks like, or the fact he has no personality that I’m aware of, or even that he’ll never be best mates with Gary Neville… He bags us goals then great… till the next man comes along
July 2nd, 2009 at 23:58
@Zauberlehring: NEVER!
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:00
@sig: yOUR SO easily PLEASED
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:00
@Craig Mc: I’m not knocking them, Craig bro.
Its just the club policy of signing young players and knowing that they will very likely not make the grade due to lack of opportunities.
Milan did a great thing with Gourcuff – loaning a plyer to a good team playing the player week in week out at a good level of football.
When our kids are loaned out they play either for shit teams – Royal Antwerp; or the said teams refuse to play them – Campbell not playing for Spurs; Rossi for Newcastle.
This trend of signing young promising players has been going on for maybe 6 or 7 years now, and only Macheda seems to have a chance of making it.
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:03
@Taehr: I wonder whether Delaet wouldn’t be a good bet to play DM, because he is such a fantastic tackler, has great pace, and can get around the field with ease. Very commanding player, and desperate for 1st team action
.
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:05
@NicoQB: Fergie is willing to play nearly the whole reserve team players in the cup and some league games now, so I think they will get the chance!
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:06
@Stephen: He won’t get 100k a week, should be a similar deal to Saha, something close to a pay as play arrangement. I wouldn’t be averse to owen as long as he isnt our only forward signing. He won’t demand to be played every week, and for some reason, i see it working out for the better..
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:07
@steve: Well, Fergie should start playing some of them shouldn’t he. You cant step up to the plate, if SAF is keeping them in the leper compound all the time!
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:07
@Craig Mc: I never said I was content by Owen being an aquasition of ours. We obviousley need something more and I’m still gutted about missing out on Benzema if Im honest… in regards to Owen how could I not be pleased? its a no lose situation for us.
He doesnt perform= we lost some wages instead of losing £12m when we were offered him from Real.
He does perform= he has a lot to prove… to Capello, to people that have lost faith in his ability and to himself aswell as sticking it to Liverpool and Madrid
again… WE CAN’T LOSE
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:08
@Zauberlehring: Many times on this site? No offense but this is the first time I ever see you mate.
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:10
@Craig Mc: I agree, I agree! But Owen signing has made me so pissed off bro! On another day I would have probably been welcoming this kid.
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:15
@Hmm: If I put on my thinking cap I would agree with everything you say mate. Yes, as a matter of fact Owen is exactly what we need. A finisher. A proven old dog who would settle for the bench, not getting flummoxed if a kid like Macheda or Welbeck starts in front of him. All your arguments hold substance.
But this is FREAKING MICHAEL OWEN we ‘re talking about here!!!
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:15
Craig well we are not going to get top quality stars so the likes of nani anderson need to start playing like united players
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:22
NicoQB so if rooney gets injured you could rely on berbatov and owen upfront. what was one of the greatest aces in the pack fergie has had in uniteds 3 championship winning seasons is ronaldos ability to play not only on the wide position but he was great playing upfront. anyone who thinks owen is a good move are clearly mad. amazing we had ronaldo and tevez last year what do we get after their loss valencia and owen which shows the sad current state of events engulfing old trafford.
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:23
@Hmm: You have your opinion, and it certainly doesn’t tie in with mine. Owen’s best days are BEHIND him. He may as you say score 1 in 2, but that is when he is fit enough to get onto the field, when he isn’t NURSING INJURIES. He has a poor injury record, but he always somehow manages to get the BIG BULGING WAGES. I personally think it is poor judgement to sign him, and to me it is a step backward. But we will see who is right.
Fans understand more than your attempted superior attitude seems to think we understand, that we don’t have to go for the big money players all the time. Or that players have an ounce of loyalty – we are not so gullible
. Yet we do expect to get some players in who have more to offer us than an injury ravaged Owen. I haven’t seen you on this site before, so you don’t understand the family banter around here. You sound like you wouldn’t know humour if it bit you on the butt. But hey each to his own. I expect better than Owen, you don’t. I can live with that! I don’t believe this is good judgement by SAF, and he is not always right in his judgements you know, no matter how much you quote (like the scousers do their manager incidentally) in SAF we trust. If you want to come on here, not knowing the membership here, and tell us we’re pathetic for having our own thoughts and opinions, and want to dish it out, then EXPECT to get some back, because you surely will!
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:25
@steve: Clearly mad indeed Steve!
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:25
To NicoQB.
I’d say I’m more of an observer on this forum. I have made few observations (maybe 5 or 6). It is rare event indeed when I take the time to write on forums. I rather listen to the arguments of others, because it gives a wider scope on a general situation. Too many love the sound of their own voice, which incapacitate them to have a wider scope of view on things.
Anyway, I love this board. The comments are generally of quality (nothing like what you hear on Hockey boards!) As for this Owen thing, I compare his numbers with Tévez and god am I happy we didn’t pay that price when a fit Owen could gives you more. I really think it is a transition year and this signing could prove a blessing in disguise for the youngsters. Mayber Sir Alex really wants to give the Walbecks and Macheda a chance to grow by playing them more (something unlikely with a Benzema)in the league.
I would have loved a Huntelaar (and the Owen signing doesn’t negates that possibility.) It all depends on what SAF wants to do with the kids. Add me a Lahm and a real attacking midfielder and I would be a happy camper.
Since english is my second language, don’t judge too harshly the syntaxes mistakes.
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:27
@steve: I agree Steve, but SAF has to put them on the field REGULARLY to do that. Both these players did very well in their 1st season with us, when they actually has regular play!
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:28
@steve: You could do with actually watching United games. Most of the time Ronaldo was NOT great when playing up front as a striker. His best performances was a winger cum forward, but not as the lone striker or even as part of a striking partership.
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:31
@NicoQB: You really think Owen wouldn’t get flummoxed (I presume you mean upset) IF the kids played before him – hmmmm then you don’t know the Owen I know mate!
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:32
You know i really wouldnt be surprised if we signed owen and that was it for the summer. I defo feel we need a world class midfielder, and when i say world class i mean bloody world class. I actually along with a few others on here feel owen wouldnt be a bad signing, hes not the choice for alot of people including me (i would prefer huntelaar) but in many ways i can see why we would be interested in him but you can balance this out with the reasons we wouldnt want him.
Anyway going back to my first point as i said i can see us getting owen and thats it. I say this cos i look out there and i just dont see nay players fergie would go for. Maybe its his age but in recent times fergie has become predictable on the whole. Whilst i could sit here and name you 5 to 10 world class midfielders i could give you a reason for each why fergie wouldnt sign them.
Sneijder a madrid player, we dont buy players from them, moutinho maybe due to the fact they miss a quieroz their latin style players have suffered and i wouldnt see them risking it on him, senna too old, gattuso likewise, flamini ex arse, de rossi wont come.
They are some top quality players but i have given reasons why i feel they wouldnt be signed or even considered by fergie so my question is who the f**k else is out there? I dont see anyone.
In many ways next season is a bigger season than this one. Players like edwin, neville, scholes, giggs not sure, will retire and it could be game over also for berba and hargreaves due to form and injury. That could be 5/6 players out next season, players who in many ways are either first team or atleast involved in the squad.
Now i dont know but maybe fergie feels this year we can have a transitional period, blood the likes of the nanis, tosics, fabios, rafaels, evans, fosters etc and add that to the signings this season of valencia and owen (looking likely) and save the £60 odd million for next season when it may be needed more to replace for sure the old guard and possibly hargreaves and berba.
Dunno, that may sound stupid saying it now thinking we will save with next season in mind but you have to admit we have the cash but the players just dont seem to be out there and the ones who are good enough fergie doesnt even seem to be considering. I of course would love to see a world class midfielder come in, sneijder, moutinho, i would even be prepared to blow the bloody lot on essien. I truly hope owen and valencia aint it for the summer and i see it as unlikely that it will be but the point about next season may be more in fergies mind as you think as that may be his last season in charge.
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:36
Hatem Ben Arfa as a signing for the summmer? He could be the next Ribery (who is turn was supposed to be the next Ronaldo for us) since the real one only wants to go to Real.
I would be happy with these signings for the summer – Ben Arfa (winger/forward), Sergio Aguero (striker) and Douglas Costa (attacking midfielder). I am not against Michael Owen signing for us, but only as a 3rd/4th choice willing to sit on the bench in an ‘Ole’ role.
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:36
@Zauberlehring: “…Too many love the sound of their own voice”
Is that a dig?
“…which incapacitate them to have a wider scope of view on things.”
Well mate, if you do have a wider, balanced view of things as you say, feel free to comment here. the more we are the merrier!
I agree with your point about the cons of Benzema and the pros of OWen with respect to our own kids, but its just that its Michael freakin Owen!!!
Wait a minute… Love Huntelaar? Lahm?
Are you the Grognard?
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:41
@Nino: Not in a million years. Ben Arfa is a bottler. Has talent, but seems to lack taking upon responsibilty or making things happen. He’s another Samir Nasri. Or a Quaresma.
Funny that Ronaldo and Benzema both have Egos, and yet in a way these egos make them want to be the go-to player.
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:41
NicoQB ronaldo was great in a front 2 with rooney upfront. ronaldo upfront is a million times better than owen currently. peter crouch saha for starters I would chose over owen
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:51
No. Wrong identification!
Maybe we look for certain aspects of a player which makes appreciate the same ones but unless I’m wrong, Grognard will probably hate the Owen move.
Then again, let’s wait for:
1) Official confirmation
2) The first time Owen sets foot in Old Trafford before calling him a bust
3) I fully understand why people hate the move but just for the sake of fun. If we hear Owen signed a very low contract and that during a critical match for the league against Liverpool, Owen scores the winning goal in Anfield and kisses the United Badge…well…I’d pay to see THAT. Suspect mass suicide in the Kop.
It’s like getting the first love of your archrival and you know she broke his heart. Then, while walking with her, you see her ex across the stress and she starts kissing you like crazy. What does that tell you? She’s a bitch, sure. But as long as you know it, you can only gain.
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:52
Funny thing is that the dippers are not exactly happy either:
Got this on liverpoolway.co.uk
“…Owen on a free is a fucking steal, and considering we have David fucking Ngog…”
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:53
He got twice as many goals for a team that got relegated than Tevez got for a team that won the league. For free we’d be almost stupid not to!
What it would do is give us a year or two’s grace for Welbeck and Macheda to grow.
Owen is a proven goalscorer. He will score goals, and with the World Cup at the end of the season (and the reports to be believed) hungry to prove himself.
Either way, since we are getting Owen for free and selling Campbell for upwards of £6million, can we just go and buy Costa or Sanchez or Silva or Young please?
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:55
@steve: I may think Owens best days are behind him Steve, but Peter Crouch better than him –
, I think not mate!
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:56
Fucking astonishing!!
On Wednesday we test drive a new BMW, and on Thursday we buy a ‘95 Ford Focus!!
Don’t make any sense to me. Anyone who’s been watching Owen for the last few years, knows he’s washed up, and beyond that, he’s an operation waiting to happen!!
Very, very, BIZARRE.
We now have the Twilight-Zone offense!!
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:57
@Traverse: Good grief Trav, not you as well pushing the Owen!
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:58
@Redrich:
.
July 3rd, 2009 at 0:59
@steve: Ronaldo never played in a front two with Rooney, or if he did rarely so. A front three, perhaps and even then he was left or right winger, but always cutting inside.
We all know how good Ronaldo is, its an evidence.
@Zauberlehring: Uh I don’t know really. I think that a fit Owen is better than Crouch and maybe the equal of Saha. No, actually a fit Saha s mile better than Owen or Crouch but he’s not been truly fit for years now…
But I digress…
Anyway when you want to answer a comment of mine, click on the arrow next to “NicoQB says”
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:04
I am not being funny but can people stop trying to use medephores with peoples wives or cheating on peoples wives to prove a point with players showing no faith it just sounds dumb medephore. crouch I think is exellent from coming off the bench plus he is not injury prone. he was like solkjaer for liverpool he would make a difference. owen ad rooney have never hit it off. and people say oh he can come off the bench I will be shocked if he is going to make the bench let alone play games. we may as well give frasier campbel his go he would be a better choice.
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:04
@NicoQB:
Steve said Crouch was better, not me! You identified the wrong person.
I hate Peter (all I’ve got to offer is height) Crouch.
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:05
@Zauberlehring: Owen would NEVER kiss the United badge in front of the Kop, because he is not a provocateur. He spent 12 years there with all the Kop adulation, so I think he wouldn’t celebrate at all. I still don’t think he is wise move for United though, injuries and best days behind him. But if he does come, and proves me wrong, well I have been proved wrong before.
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:10
Owen signing:
Cons:
1. Its Michael Owen
2. Injury record
3. Are we a Laughing stock, now?
Pros:
1. United fans finally embracing Berbatov! After Tevez’s backstabbing and now Owen joining us, surely he’s the second most loved striker in our squad right?
2. Squad motivation. While at the start of the 08-09 season, some (CR& in particular) were a bit jaded and found it hard to motivate themselves, not having Ronaldo and having replaced players of big reputation with those of seemingly worthy of mid-table football wuill make the whole team aware of watching eyes.
Can they cope without the winker?
Can Owen do it?
Is Valencia any good?
3. More opportunities for the kids.
But when I think about it these are exciting times. If Benzema cam, the weight of expectation could have been crushing. Now if we don”t perform, well people are still gonna diss us anyway.
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:12
Zauberlehring I would take crouch at the moment over owen. its about what they can offer now not what they done in the past which dates back to the time of 2005/6 and like the bruno trailer said that was so 2006.
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:12
@steve: Owen and Rooney have never hit off? Watched any England games mate?
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:13
@Craig Mc:
I jest, of course!
I know he wouldn’t do that but still, the sight of the Kop faces would be a sight I’d pay to see.
And he is not a wise move but a risky move. A risky move that could pay huge dividents or a hospital acrd. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Owen is the Rocky Balboa of the summer. The question is: Which Rocky will it be?
After all is said and done, the guy’s still got a medical to pass.
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:15
Mark my words: Campbell is going to score 15 goals + at Hull, and united fans will be going oh why ddn’t we gave him his chance, its Rossi all over again…
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:18
NicoQB owen and rooney cnt play as a front 2. owen also as lost his pace he has no movement anymore and on the ball and off it he has no talents. he is the berbatov with no teqnical abilitys.
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:33
@NicoQB: You dare question my taste in players????
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:34
@Craig Mc: I hear he’s at Carrington for his post-mortem, sorry medical, in the morning.
Here’s the low down. We are buying a THIRD striker. An option from the bench. We have £63mil of striker in Rooney and Berbatov, and they will be starting. Was Benzema going to sit on our bench? Would Huntelaar or Fabiano in a World Cup year? I fucking doubt it. Do we really need to spend £40mil to sit Aguero on our bench, or worse push Rooney out wide again? I’d rather spend that on Young and a central midfielder.
Owen is FREE, will take a massive wage cut (maybe even a pay-per-play deal to keep him the fuck away from Hull!) can score goals and provides a poachers option we don’t have in the squad. A bit of the Ole type of finisher we need in a tight game.
And it would be so like Fergie to bring in a player nobody would touch with a bargepole on a free getting 3 or 4 quality years out of him. As a back up, we can do much worse, and more expensive. He’s very well known over the world too and would sell a bunch of shirts in Asia, which is important
But obviously all of this is with the caveat of ‘if he can stay fit’
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:38
@BAMF: Mate you have to learn to read between the lines. It’s all a game and whatever a player says must never be taken for gospel. Remember Ronaldo said he was happy here and wanted to stay. What Benzema was doing was working Madrid up to make a move. Trust me, I believe with my entire heart and soul, that he never ever had any intentions of playing for us. What he was doing was playing a bluff to see if Madrid would finally blink. And they did.
The only time I believe a player is when he states to be a fun of a team while that team is not actively pursuing him. Example, Pogrebnyak and Aguero have claimed to be lifetime United supporters and they are not in United’s plans for the near future.
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:40
@Jaap: I’m glad you brought up the van Basten comparison because up to now I was the only one who saw the comparison. Huntelaar is bloody fantastic and Fergie is completely blind to him.
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:43
@Zauberlehring: I have one question for you. If you, personally, was responsible for his hospital bill, would you still think that you would take the risk??
Why the fuck do we need to take a risk anyway, this is the move of a team desperate enough to take a risk, to avoid relegation, to appease fans critical of non-activity in the transfer market. Are you seeing a slight resemblance to another team here, – HIS LAST TEAM!!, perhaps.
OK we got him for free, and so we shouldn’t complain, but only if his job was to shine the boots of Hunter or Eto’, etc.
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:44
@Zauberlehring: If he passes a medical, I would bet my life that the doctors have been well paid off
, Some say he has already signed, subject to a medical. I am not in favour, and I think SAF has lost his marbles, but hey since when did the fans matter 
.
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:48
@Traverse: I’m still not convinced Trav, but you got the post mortem bit right
. You have to be careful about jesting around here these days, because people like Hmmm take it all so bloody serious!
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:53
I will say this time and time again we may as well keep campbell I woyld take a ount on him than owen
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:54
Well guys you are all going to get a nice welcome break from me. I just took on a work proJect WITH A DEADLINE. So I shall only be able to make the odd fleeting visit for a while. So all breathe a nice sigh of relief
.
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:55
@Grognard: Grog, I have a sneaking feeling that a large rumbler is a brewing.
I’ve buckled down all movable objects, taking the pictures off the wall, and I now sit, with my laptop, under the dining room table, awaiting a huge 7< rant.
Make it quick, mate!!
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:57
I cant believe some of you are even considering owen, come on.. i wouldnt take him even if he was paying us to play.
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:58
@Craig Mc: I’m with you mate. I don’t care if Owen was to pay us for the privilege of suiting up for United, I still don’t want him. He’s 30 and he is brittle. He gets a nose bleed just driving by a hospital. Has it really come to this Fergie. Have we begun to dig into the sewers for our supper? What the fuck is going on at Old Trafford? Seriously, what the fuck is going on over there?
We have 80 million to spend and we decide to go on the cheap and pick up a street person because they don’t cost any money for the Glazer’s. What are we planning to do to pay him for wages, have him sing for his supper?
Owen is so yesterday’s news. Going after him is a terrible PR move for us because it makes us look sad and desperate.
Craig you are right. Pogrebnyak is available in November (January for us)
and we are wasting time and sweat on Michael Owen? Actually I have nothing against Owen. In his day he was a fantastic little footballer. But please, he is so injury prone it’s almost comical. He is also 30. Like you said, what has happened to the 26 year old rule that was leaked to the press?
Why the Hell is Fergie dragging his ass when it comes to quality players like Aguero or Huntelaar. Now he is going after another player he knows we won’t get in Pato. What is it with this old man? Is he a glutton for punishment or is he doing this shite to piss blokes like me off? Is he so full of himself that he is incapable of seeing the reality of a situation and so he continues to pursue players who have no interest in the club or no chance of coming to us? Why does he continue to bash his head against a brick wall? I think he has determined that this has nothing to do with the team, but is nothing more than an arrogant little game of who blinks first. He seems obsessed with going after every major player who has no interest in playing for us. This has me asking if dementia has set in and if he needs to be hospitalized? I’m sick to fucking hell with all this BS. Frankly, after 30 years I am wondering if it’s worth all the frustration and pain to be a United fan the way things have gone of late. I believe we the supporters deserve better than what we are being handed.
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:59
@Craig Mc: So long, mate!!
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:02
@steve: I say bring back the King. And while we’re at it lets see if Keano want s a second chance manning the midfield. I also think Schmeichel is still better than the rest. Sign him up Fergie.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:04
Hey guys, im new to this site – so go easy on me pls!
I am a huge Man utd fan like you all and i personally feel shortchanged with the concept of valencia and owen as our only signings. Though i think that it will perhaps be 2 good signings if the cons of these two are less than the pros! but something still makes me hate owen (not because he is an old dipper) but because even when he played for england i wanted to punch him because he just don’t work hard – just like berba now! if he picked up slack and agreed to low wages and didnt bitch about being on the bench then i would say fine!
I really want to see Berba pick up slack, im sorry but we paid 30 od mil for him and kiko or wellbeck had bigger impacts! Which makes me also wish that kiko and wellbeck gets a better chance to make it in first 11 this season, this is why owen is good for now because if the kids cant break it up front theres always january window to improve!
I want to see midfield fixed as we lack there with ronny gone and gigs and scholes semi retired, i want to see a wierd choice of turkish winger arda or tuncay come they will offer pace and shooting ability with tuncay scoring many times for abysmal boro, plus turkish players bring lots of shirt sales as seen by boro wen they signed tuncay. if not them i would be pleased by lennon or young for the same reasons.
A bigger problem than midfield and front (as i want to see more from current players) are our aging keeper, though a legend for us he wants to retire and we need better cover. something about foster is not right and kuszack is a no no we need reliability. maybe frey?? landreau?
If united bought dodo(looks great) a keeper owen and 1 or 2 midfielders of good quality i think we would be set! ronny this ronny that arent we fed up? shouldnt the team play like a team instead of puting our hopes on a few players whom sulk? we are not real and don’t need galacticos to win or be good, just the good old man u spirit and heart!
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:06
@magno: I am looking forward to the two Owen’s sharing bunk beds in hospital.
Come to think of it, is OWEN a foreign word for injury?
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:08
Grognard I got some great news sol campbel is available on a free transfer, l;ets send jonny evans and frazier campbel on loan or sell them and sign sol campbel and micheal owen. hey did u know robbie fowler is available on a free transfer. we should sign up paul gasgoine also. it would be far better to keep frazier campbell I would take a punt on him.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:09
@Craig Mc: I just had a belt of Smirnoff’s vodka mate. But even that won’t numb the pain. I want to hide myself in my closet and never come out due to the shame I will feel. How do I get through the next couple of weeks?
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:11
@steve: Better yet, let Vidic go and sign up Sol to be partnered with Rio. I’m fully expecting Patrick Vieira to be our next signing and would you say no to Stan Collymore?
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:12
@Craig Mc: Christ, a muppet could do a better job of finding and signing talent this off season. Something else is at play here, I just feel it in my bones. I don’t know what but there is something afoot.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:16
@Grognard: I’m pretty sure about Van der Vaart being crap.
Toivonen, I was asking for clarification as its the first time I heard his name.
So. care to give a me the low down?
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:16
@Hmm: Hey Newbie, you come on here and start calling some people idiots like you have all the answers. How about trying to challenge us or debate us with out the name calling and insults? Or are you powerless without your ammunition?
And Michael Owen is a washed up muppet. How’s that? Now you can add me to the list of idiots. 
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:18
I may not make a 26th season if Owen comes. I don’t like this one little bit. Surely my “outlandish” suggestion to sign Kriss Commons has a modicum of sense now…Celtic are after him so I understnad. He’d done more damage to us than Benzema did and scored a better goal to be fair! Why draw the line at Owen, may as well get Smith back and see if we can get Dickov back in the premier league, excuse me whilst I slash my wrists, (length ways so I do a top job)
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:18
@NicoQB: van der Vaart is far from carap mate. He’s a very good player but I think he lacks the grit and the pace to be a player I would pick. I much prefer Sneijder to him. As for Toivonen, he is the partner of Marcu Berg from the Swedish Under 21’s who just lit up the last tournament witha lot of goals. I think he is a very elegant player with a great shot, free kick ability and finesse. Berg is even better but would also cost a lot more too.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:19
Right now i am talking to myself, asking myself OWEN? REALLY? OWEN?!
every fucking second. so OWEN REALLY?!
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:19
@Grognard: Yeah, this doesn’t feel right, does it?
Owen could well be Plan B, or even Plan C. If another signing is imminent, it sure would come out of the blue. Sort of like the Owen one!!
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:21
Grognard ashley young would have ben a great buy for united. pace assists and gets about 12 goals a season and his versitile can play right left and cf. and unless out of position anderson nani hargreaves berbatov step up to the plate we are a rudderless ship.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:28
@RedDave: Dave, signing Drogba would now makes sense!! There’s so little footballing smarts to this move that anything has now become possible.
Oh, and shut up about the wrist slashing, you’re giving MO another idea to get on the trainers bench!
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:28
@NicoQB: This is not as good a judge of the five Under 21 games I saw of him and the few games I saw of him with PSV but trust me, this kid has a lot of talent and class. He speaks fluent English and he actually looks more suited to Arsenal because of his elegant style of play.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmQ0pLIZ4wg
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:31
@Roge9: I say offer Owen room and board. And I still think he will not live up to the investment.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:33
@NicoQB: The timing for this is really bad by Fergie. If he wanted him he should just have made a handshake agreement with him and then announce the signing just before the season starts. Getting him now just makes us look sad and desperate after failing to get Benzema.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:34
hey lets get bobby charlton playing again surly he can do a job lke owen. Grognard I think crouch would be a better option look at his impact off the bench for liverpool plus he is not injury prone. but he is too simuler too berbatov
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:35
@Craig Mc: Things that make you go Hmmm!
(I hope you remember the rap tune that had that title?)
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:37
@Zauberlehring: “I compare his numbers with Tévez and god am I happy we didn’t pay that price when a fit Owen could gives you more.”
A fit Owen? Isn’t that an oxymoron?
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:40
@NicoQB: No he’s not the Grognard because the Grognard loves the sound of his own voice.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:41
Grognard hey I got a great nick name for owen. beckeroo owen that could be on the back of his shirt
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:42
@Grognard: I’m forced to think not even Canada’s winters are as cold as some of your commennts!
But seriously, sometimes youre only as good as the players around you, when you’re a foward. O’ has always had a knack for timing and being the right place. I’m just saying he’s a viable 4th option striker, nothing more. He’s lost the plot in recent years. We can inspire the best of him again…maybe.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:42
@NicoQB: Agree about Ben Arfa. Major league Bottler. He lacks guts and passion. He also has attitude problems. The only good thing I can say about him is that he never got along with Benzema while at Lyon. So he does have some good qualities too.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:42
Im not at all disappointed with the Owen deal. He costs nothing. He is a natural finisher. He managed to score double figures for a team that got relegated (incidentally he outscored both Berbatov AND Tevez while playing fewer games). He will not impede the development of Welbeck and Macheda. He knows Rooney’s game and did ok with him playing for England. And he will bring some valuable experience to the team. When he is fit, he will score-simple as that. The amount of chances we squander it will be nice to have a player who can finish in our squad. He has a lot of motivation to do well because he’s lost his place in the England team and this will be a new challenge for him which will get his mind off the horses and back onto football. He will also happily settle for a berth as third striker which will mean Berbatov will play week in and week out and get a chance to prove his worth. If we had bought Benzema Berbatov would have been benched. We have always had two main strikers. Three big name strikers would be asking for trouble. It would also mean that Welbeck and Macheda would end up asking to leave just like Rossi did.
We have £60-70 million to play with. Obviously we are not gonna spend it all. But Id hope we’d spend at least £40 million either on a marquee signing or two potential stars. The former is not realistic (although id still make a bid for Aguero or Ribery) so the latter seems the best option.
My choice would be Felipe Melo and Alexis Sanchez.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:48
@Zauberlehring: I actually don’t hate the Owen move. I hate the timing of the move (if it indeed happens) and I hate the message it sends about the club at a very critical and desperate time in our history. We have just been decimated with the Champions League loss and losing both the world’s best player as well as the world’s biggest whiner in Tevez. United was obligated with all that money to make a big impact in the transfer market and to make a few major signings to help bolster the club and to appease the uneasy and frankly uneasy supporters. Signing Valencia doesn’t even come close. Signing Owen is a bloody slap in our faces. Sure he poses very little risk because he cost us nothing to get, but still, is this what we are left with and is this what we are going to expect when their is 80 million in our coffers and numerous great players out there ready to be bought? Fergie, you got some splaining to do?
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:52
I also fancy a move for Kacar. We should be in a prime position to cream off some of the U21 talent as Real do not care about youth. Really Fergie should have cut his holiday short and gone to some of the U21 games in the search for another young player to mould into a star. For me Kacar fits the bill
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:52
@NicoQB: Where do you get this. I have always heard that they got on very well and like true scousers. In fact I remember about four years ago when Owen was looking for work, Rooney even went to the media and said that we should sign him. So you have me a little confused by that statement mate.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:54
@Traverse: This is why I think it’s decent move in theory but only if we took the money we have and bought a world class midfielder or two. Otherwise, I still prefer an Aguero or Huntelaar and let Berba rot on the bench.
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:54
just dnt sign anyone use rooney berbatov campbell welbeck macheda thats a better frontline than having owen in there
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:57
@Redrich: Nah, I’m saving the big one for something else. If we had actually paid money for Owen then maybe I would have shaken things up. But hell, he’s free. As a third striker he could help or in a worst case scenario he can get tandem wheelchairs with Hargreaves and they can form a circus act called the “Limping Owen’s”.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:00
@steve: Yes but as he is on an English team he would be well overpriced.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:02
@steve: Crouch? Hell no mate. That player needs an old English team and service from high crosses by players like Beckham. He does not fit the the continental style we play.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:04
@Roge9: It’s not personal mate, it’s only business. I actually kind of like Michael Owen. Even if he is a fucking scouser and former Dipper.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:04
Grognard I think hargreaves as been fergies most costly mistake what is his market value now
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:05
Michael Owen is a smart footballer.. Which Tevez was not..
Bonus – Man, He is FAST!!!
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:07
what a smart move by fergie sign nani and hargreaves for 17 million each even though ribery was available for 17 million very strange
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:14
It is as if this is Fergie’s “cunning plan” for life after #7… Ah well, I’m used to disappointment in the transfer windows. Hopefully there’ll be one more “good” signing before soon to start cleaning my pallet with.
What’s this? Another signing already? Well, God IS quick these days… (although my very ambiguous definition of good has really bitten me where I’d rather not say)
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:14
@Merlinus: Your use the wrong tense, mate. What you meant to say is was, not is!!
When you relate to MO, it always has to be in the past tense!!
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:18
Merlinu tevez was a shrud buy he cost us 10 million and he scored 36 goals and helped us to 2 league titles and a european cup, lets see micheal owen offer that type of contribution then we will say if its a smart move
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:20
@Grognard:
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:21
@Grognard: Rumours are he is on a 1 year deal, £20,000 a week, but with gigantic playing and scoring bonuses. Sound like quite a good idea really. If we are just using him as a stop gap to someone bigger who won’t move this summer then fine. If he gets 15 goals for us then fine. If he does fuck all or gets injured then Welbeck gets more games. Fine.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:21
@Grognard: Was replying to steve who was claiming that they didn’t play well together. Actually I think they do.
Ok, me bed’s calling for me. Dear god what a day/night!
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:23
@Traverse: That sounds fine. In the meantime Welbeck/Macheda can reach another level pr another great player might pierce on the scene.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:23
@Grognard: You could say they’ll be “owen” us a good season next time around.
God, that was awful, wasn’t it??
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:24
na owen cant even function with his own fitness parts let alone play football again he should just retire
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:36
@Traverse: If he got 15 goals, it would be equally feasible that Berbatov will run off with the POTY award.
Just aint gonna happen mate. Te first time someone like JT sticks his leg out, MO will be on the trainers bench for 6 weeks!!
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:51
@magno: yeah dude,absolutely agree with you.
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:20
dam, this blog has come into life in this silly season!
about this Owen business…
Don’t wanna see the guy in a United shirt.
I know there are plenty of benefits for us, and our current situation.
Do hope that we can go back to the days where we are more self sustaining in our player development.
i guess the only thing, that would be sweet to watch, as someone mentioned in a previous post, is if Owen scores a goal against the scousers to knock em out of a cup or shatters their title hopes…
I hope we sign someone worth getting excited about before the season starts…ala Aguero!
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:25
@Grognard:
Agreed, the timing IS bad. After the Benzema debacle (no big loss, a consummated Real Madrid lover), it looks like a desperate move. Nevertheless, the war chest is 20 million pounds lighter from Valencia and Owen.
If (and that’s a big if) the Glazers don’t set us up and actually intend to use a part of this money for an Aguero (playing in the hole, like Messi) or a Huntelaar as a third striker (Owen 4th), the deal doesn’t seems half as bad.
If history tells us anything, Ferguson wants to win it all before his retirement, overpassing Liverpool. I’d be very surprised he stops his buying now. If only he could get in that thick skull of his the fact that we need a creative midfield, we could very well be a more balanced team.
In won,t go into that Fergie we trust crap you find on manutd.com but let’s just say he didn’t make a critical mistake yet. Yet.
Now, gimme a piece of Lahm and I’d be a happy camper. Of course, Bayern Munchen would never sell that one. He’d put Ronaldo in his back pocket (wouldn’t be the first time.)
So, yes, timing is bad but I will wait until the story of the transfer window unfolds to the very end before burning Old Trafford down.
July 3rd, 2009 at 5:05
@NicoQB: How the fuck do you stop famine?
July 3rd, 2009 at 5:24
Fuck Benzema and Ribery. I never rated those ugly gits anyway. We lost a brand, total package on and off the field. Ronlado should have had Beckham status but, its England and he’s a foreigner… Maybe he’s reach those lofty heights then.
Football players can’t say shit about England culture and what not because with the kind of money they get anywhere is beautiful. You don’t like wher you are fly out for the weekend! Although the cold and dreary of the Liverpool-Manchester area can be hard on those used to the sun.
In any case, Fergie isn’t the best when it comes to handling foreign talent. We should be less concerned with gassed prima donna stars, and look for the Vidic’s, Rooney’s and Fletchers who are prepared to be in Manchester. The Dutch always produce quality players and they can handle being in England. Huntelaar should be signed (Aguero is Argentine and after our Heinze and Tevez sagas, both parties should be wary), but If I were Madrid I would cut the fat and keep him to lead the line with Benzema at the expense of Raul and Ruud. But that’s just me.
We should also be willing to give the current squad a chance. Anderson and Nani now have the space to express themselves more fully and not be in the shadow of a prima donna. Ronaldo stepped up when Ruud Left and so did Saha. Players will come into their own when they have space to operate. (Suggestions: Huntelaar and Wesley Snijder, Owen on a 40K a week contract, Gignac, Scandinavians)
July 3rd, 2009 at 5:41
Ok People… It took me a long and a LONG time to comment.. But I’m currently on vacation so I won’t say more.
I just want to remind people that Bayern do not want to sell Ribery to Madrid Rich scum….
But Utd this season are competing in the Audi Cup to be held in Munich!
That gives me ideas….
Remember that Fergie signed a Ronaldo after playing against Sporting…
Surely.. Thats the time when David Gill and Rummineage have a drink!
July 3rd, 2009 at 5:47
@Darth Red Diablo: we are also playing Valencia…so maybe we have more to hope for than we think
July 3rd, 2009 at 5:58
@Natzca: ????
July 3rd, 2009 at 6:03
@Grognard: “limping owen’s”
that’s a great one.but i think hargreaves is a top class player when he is not injured and he had amazing performances for bayern and may be he is our box to box player coz he can defend and attack(we have seen him also as attacking right back) and he also takes free kicks,remember 
July 3rd, 2009 at 6:56
this one is according to the mirror about fabiano but it’s transfer news are not always true
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2009/07/03/manchester-united-are-poised-to-make-a-16million-swoop-for-brazilian-striker-luis-fabiano-115875-21490441/
July 3rd, 2009 at 7:09
@Darth Red Diablo: sorry mate,
to clarify, we are playing against Valencia also, so if we signed Ronaldo after playing Sporting, then perhaps there’s some hope in someone from Valencia coming our way
July 3rd, 2009 at 7:39
….Now what happens is he comes for a goodbye meal with SAF…i am too tired of ronaldo saga….
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2009/07/02/cristiano-ronaldo-flies-in-for-goodbye-meal-with-sir-alex-ferguson-115875-21487596/
July 3rd, 2009 at 7:40
Well heres my 2ps worth-id rather have tevez.
Says it all really
July 3rd, 2009 at 8:06
Micheal fucking Owen??????????? someone wake me up from this nightmare…are we the official old age home in England now??? I mean I can understand getting Gudjohnsen or even Ruud back, but why another midget??????
July 3rd, 2009 at 8:10
@Vivek: wake up. Does that help? No? Thought so.
July 3rd, 2009 at 8:10
Perhaps we could shut up Platini up by offering him a 5 year contract??? Maybe even sign up Pele…imagine what a front two they would make ..
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:23
Michael Owen. Wow. A ready made glass man.
Next time I don’t have a job, I’ll get my representatives to make a 32 page dossier and send it out to all blue chip companies in he world.
Seriously, I don;t mind him even though his injury record is terrible. Plus he’d come in for a free transfer, on a pay as you play deal hat would be rather cheap-ish. So it isn’t as bad as it sounds. But aye, there’s the rub. It sounds horrible.
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:41
What the fuck is going on, has April fools day come early for next year? Michael Owen the guy that in Maradona’s words “can get injured hailing a cab”? I am sick and tired of signing players without a winning mentality. Owen never won anything big with Liverpool or England. Yes they he won a few cups here and there, but that is not good enough at Old Trafford. Can anyone imagine us lifting the European Cup with Owen and Berbatov in our team? Our transfer policy is a total shambles. Not only are Gill and Ferguson slow coaches, they end buying the wrong players. Why is it after every successful period we always have to have a down period? The other big clubs in Europe have managed to win multiple European Cup titles in their periods of dominance. Yet when we win 1 it’s like we’re just satisfied with that. That’s why we are stuck on three. The only thing that is keeping us a float for next season is our rock solid defence. Even then, we have some seen some weaknesses there last season.
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:07
@steve: Hargreaves is not a mistake mate. How can you call it a mistake when a player gets injured. A mistake is buying a player who is shite. Hargreaves is a fantastic footballer. Unfortunate, but hardly a mistake. More bad timing than anything.
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:10
@Redrich: Nothing better than a bad pun.
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:13
looks like Fergie has been reminded of the pending 5+6 rule…. why bother shelling out 18million (ahem, liverpool) on English players when you can get them in for free*
*but 100,000 a week? he never deserves that much.
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:14
@vanderberg: Hargreaves is my favorite United player but lets face he is one of the Limping Owen’s. I hope he makes a fantastic comeback but I seriously have my doubts. If ever I wanted to be proven wrong, that would the time. Come on Hargo, prove me wrong mate.
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:15
This is one craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazy summer!!!
If Owen really is joining us, which I honestly found hard to believe just 24 hours ago, I dunno how to feel…
On one side Im delighted, on antoher I feel this will make us look like desperate and sad. I mean, what the fuck?! Is this shit really happening?! This is fucking weird, typical of this summer… Nothing has made sense, but this is amazing!!!
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:16
BTW I’m very happy that the ’slut’ went to Madrid.
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:16
@Grognard: Maybe all footballplayers named Owen are meant to be injured?
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:17
@vanderberg: Actually I think he showed a lot of class and respect to the old man and for that I tip my hat to him.
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:19
IF Fergie (and god knows theres no-one better at getting the best out of ageing strikers) can’t work the magic with owen, no-one can. he won’t have the pressure of being relied on week in-week out, no-one will expect too much and he doesnt have a giant price-tag to live up to. that and his finishing skills were brilliant… just imagine having him round the youngsters with Ole. Still… it seems strange, maybe a smoke-screen?
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:43
Even whilst we still had Ronaldo and Tevez, I felt that we had to buy in midfield. But to see those two go and end up with the possibility of Owen is more than an insult to the fans and very likely the players. With the money we have in the kitty, we have no need to go for Owen. A good barometric reading on Owen is to take a look at the clubs who want him. Hull City? hmmm riiiiiiiiiight. The old adage of “you can’t polish a turd” doesn’t really apply to Fergie because he could probably bring something out of Owen, but this is United, we don’t really need to bother ourselves with signing a wreck. Newcastle did that already and they went down. only shite can come from shite.
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:47
1047: Sky Sports News’ man in the North West, who can normally be trusted, is telling the world that Michael Owen is having a medical at Manchester United’s training ground at the moment.
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:51
Will he give Owen the 7 shirt?
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:52
I totally understand the reasoning for Owen. It’s a World Cup year, he should be able to stay fitter if he’s just an impact sub, he should be happy to benchwarm and he is a plenty cheap. But I feel like all of these things are true of a certain Ruud fellow, who loves us and is also available. Ruud >>> Owen.
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:54
guys,check out owen’s 32 page brochure which melted fergie’s heart
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1194252/MARTIN-SAMUEL-The-32-pages-detailing-Michael-Owen-spent-force.html
July 3rd, 2009 at 11:00
I very much doubt Fergie cares whether it makes Manchester United look bad or desperate.
He’s a manager who wants trophies, he’s not a PR man. Who cares what rival fans think or the banter that will come our way, as long as our captain is the one lifting the trophy up at the end of the season.
July 3rd, 2009 at 11:00
Owen – #7 Imagine the uproar
July 3rd, 2009 at 11:01
@Rand: If that happens Im gonna kill myself…
July 3rd, 2009 at 11:03
I dont understand Fergie’s reasoning behind Owen. If Rooney is going to be the focal point this year, shouldnt we be looking for a traditional big centerforward? Berbatov will never be that player. Rooney’s best games for England have all come while playing behind Crouch or Heskey – basically lumps of meat that you can chuck long balls into and expect them to win most of them.
Berbatov is a creator, he can never play the back-to-the-defender hold up game. He is at this best when he is behind someone. And then we get Owen who is a poacher, but is a bloody midget. Even at Newcastle, he played behind some big strikers.
So, this is a very weird signing, not to mention sickening….
July 3rd, 2009 at 11:07
@Rand:
The only silver lining I can foresee– imagine the Anfield game. 0-0..91st minute….Rooney breaks free of Skrtel after a flick on from Berba…he lashes out and the shot rebounds off the post and falls directly to……Owen…who pokes it home and then runs to the bench kissing the jersey
Imaging the mass suicides in Pileland the next day…..
July 3rd, 2009 at 11:07
Owen is a third-choice striker, he’s hardly going to play every game. The reasoning is easy to understand; He’s free, and he can score goals, and he can keep our better strikers fresh and fit, allowing Fergie to rotate. Unlike Tevez, he will be content on the bench.
July 3rd, 2009 at 11:21
Buying Owen is the most depressing transfer news ever. Are we becoming the new Newcastle?
July 3rd, 2009 at 11:52
Worth a read I guess…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/philmcnulty/2009/07/owen_man_united.html
July 3rd, 2009 at 12:22
we have former liverpudlian coming strange but i agree with post 310 by strangely named “Hmm”
he’ll be happy on bench and can come and help when need be and best wont be a cry baby unless he gets injured again
and since we talking injuries ..
any news on hargo???
July 3rd, 2009 at 12:46
@Vivek: So, what we are saying since yesterday is coming true. I was raving on this third striker thing for a long now (Comment 33). But, never thought it will Owen. I always thought we should bring back Van the MAN. But alas…
Anyway, We should now go and sign a world class midfielder and like i said in the same comment that my definition if i want to explain then world class DM (ala DE ROSSI) or Box to Box (ala BALLACK).
Any one who fits the bill we should go with all the venom (which i know Fergi doesn’t do a lot).
My picks would be..
DM:
Box to Box: Hernanes
Bonus: If possible please sign Ashley Young.
Can anyone please suggest any DM???
July 3rd, 2009 at 12:50
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2009/07/03/picture-what-would-michael-owen-look-like-in-a-manchester-united-shirt-115875-21491134/
Madness.
July 3rd, 2009 at 12:52
@Onkar: Ashley Young?? Hell no. Strangely though, our biggest need hasn’t been addressed yet, which is the midfield. No rumours about buying a MF either. wierd, very wierd.
July 3rd, 2009 at 12:56
@Vivek: OH that would leave the scouse shit with their blood boiling. Stevie Me might even have a heart attack.
July 3rd, 2009 at 13:02
Everyone’s negative thoughts on Owen arriving is more depressing than the actual news itself
Glory, glory Man United; I will support “anyone” who wears our shirt…sorry.
July 3rd, 2009 at 13:08
It would be hilarious if he scores the goals that lift us above Liverpool in terms of League titles. Also Jimmy Nesbit, famous United fan, told one of the guys on talksport that it is already a signed deal. Done and dusted.
July 3rd, 2009 at 13:09
@RedDevilEddy: There are now even photos of him arriving at Carrington.
July 3rd, 2009 at 13:10
http://www.mediafire.com/file/qmmdyo2l2yx/16641239-Michael-Owen.pdf
the brochure that was supposed to get him to hull or even everton but hell it might have just worked too good
July 3rd, 2009 at 13:10
@Rahul: Absolutely agreed mate on the MF thing. Thats what we are lacking in… But, not even a rumour and ebveryone talking about Hunter and Aguaro of this world. I mean If we get Hunter I will just dance around the streets in MUMBAI but….he is not what we need may be… We need a top class MF who can boss the proceedings from MF and give us that extra edge.
don’t know why you have problem with Young. I mean guy has proved himself… Can play on the both the wings… Clearly has a great eye for assists… Can give may 10 goals a seasons…..
I mean we are trying to replace the goals that RONALDO used to give isn’t…..???
July 3rd, 2009 at 13:18
I really am surprised that #1 United would go for Owen, and #2 that Michael Owen would come to us. However, if the United staff can get this injury issue under control then I find this deal to be a steal. I only say this because obviously Owen is not going to come in with the idea that he is an automatic first choice; in fact he will be a third striker all year unless someone else gets injured, God forbid. But with Owen being injured so much the past four years, it also means he does not have the mileage on his legs as the average 29 year-old and could in fact give us a predator in the box and a push from the bench…
July 3rd, 2009 at 13:19
Put it this way, fair enough owen wasnt our choice but it means we now have bought replacements in the 2 positions we lost players in, the RM obviously for ronaldo and the CF position for tevez. Fair enough the replacements arent up to their standards and no body will not agree with that, but at least it leaves us still with up to £70 million to spend on our weak spot which is the midfield.
That is enough to buy a serious world class player or even 2, whilst nobody will be saying valencia can replace ronaldo it may just be that once we have added to our midfield say a de rossi, or a sneijder or someone else, whilst positions of our team may look weaker the team as a whole will look and play better.
But just looking at what we need in the midfield as i have said for days we really need a goal scoring midfielder. Over the course of a season to be successful your looking at the team scoring up to 100 goals overall. If were talking about the players having a good season i could see rooney getting 25 provided he wasnt injured and played as a SS, berbatov could match the goals he was getting at spurs provided he stayed at top, so your talking 50 between them hopefully. Owen could easily get 10 goals so your talking between 50 and 60 for the front men which is a respectable amount.
I just look at the rest of the team though and struggle to see where we can make up the other 30 odd goals. I have huge faith in nani, i reckon he could get up to 10 goals this season if he was played regularly. Then we have the couple of goals you get from the carricks valencias, maybe giggs and scholes of this world and a few from the substitues like welbeck and macheda, hopefully ando and the defenders.
However even then were still a good 20 goals short of what we would expect and for me this is we need to look at and see a goal scoring midfielder is needed. Im all for a real DM enforcer, i love watching de rossi and essien and would love it if we got them, but they aint gonna get us those goals are they. Defensively i think were sorted, offensively were not so whilst i think a DM is a position we need to strengthen a goal scoring mid for me is more urgent.
So now we have to ask, who is there out there who can get those goals or at least near enough, theres not many. For me sneijder, gourcoff, diego, moutinho all fit the bill cos of their creativity and diego and sneijder definitely for their goal scoring. Its damn annoying diego went to juve so for me sneijder is the man we need. He avergaes about 15 goals a season and his creativity is just amazing. At euro 2008 he was the best player of the tournament for me. Best thing is this guy is available for peanuts and would jump at the chance of joining us. His injury record may be a concern though to balance this.
But no doubt hes good enough and would come at a good price for us which makes a change. Only problem is we dont seem to do business with madrid and for whatever reason i just dont see fergie going for him which is a shame.
July 3rd, 2009 at 13:27
@Onkar: Dance in the Mumbai streets eh?? Make sure it isn’t raining, or you’ll be drowning man!
About Ashley Young, he is not as good as Martin O’Neil would have everyone believe. He is a decent winger but nothing more. We have just bought a decent winger, so don’t need another one. He is fast yes, but rarely have I seem him use his brains in matches, and I do watch quite a bit of Aston villa games. He is much touted for his pace and dribbling, but we have Nani for that already, and Nani is better at both. His first touch is mostly sloppy and he can’t play the fast one-touch-and-go football that Fergie has us playing the last two seasons. Also i suspect he doesnt have good balance, always looking shaky, but that’s probably because he is quite lightweight.
Plus he is shite even in Fifa09. That, in a nutshell, are my feelings about Young.
July 3rd, 2009 at 13:27
a must see gallery………….
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/gallery/2009/jul/01/michael-owen-gallery?picture=349612164
July 3rd, 2009 at 13:32
The only one and real reason, that Michael Owen going to United is a curse of our team. We need Hargreaves a lot, but when we sold Saha this curse went on him. So we need a man, who take this curse off and that is Owen
. Devilish plan!!!!
Im personaly very disapointed with Benzema because there is noone in this world, who has similar qualities. So the next possibility is Welbeck or Macheda and becouse they are too young SAF is buying Owen. We need some CMF, in mode of Moutinho or DM like Raul Garcia.
I think SAF is too experienced to let this problem to eat him, so i wish him good luck.
July 3rd, 2009 at 13:35
Michael Owen
someone hit me hard across the face
July 3rd, 2009 at 13:41
@Rahul: Rahul Bro… You know the rain god is not active now a days.. Not a lot of rain to enjoy… Anyway, that just shows my love for The Hunter as well as my confidence in Fergi…
But, provided that we sign Hunter.. Which is grim possibility…
By the way if you are from on and around MUMBAI then make sure to come to Rain Dance on the streets of MUMBAI… As it may just inspire you to dance as well…
BTW if you are new to this… GROG has said that he will run on the streets of CANADA (can’t remember city) butt naked…
So i am still Sober a bit isn’t it???
July 3rd, 2009 at 13:54
A good move?
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11096_5413425,00.html
A good read on Sky Sports…
July 3rd, 2009 at 13:58
/slaps liam twice
didnt work d id it?!
July 3rd, 2009 at 14:04
NO NO NO NO NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1197195/Taking-Michael-Manchester-United-set-sign-Owen-free-transfer.html
July 3rd, 2009 at 14:11
What is next? Emil Hesky?
July 3rd, 2009 at 14:17
WELL TAKE HIM WTF ARE YOU WAITING FORRRR
http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2009/07/03/liverpool-fc-legend-ian-rush-backs-michael-owen-to-succeed-at-man-utd-100252-24068074/
July 3rd, 2009 at 14:19
A free transfer £20 – 50k a week Ok not ideal but better than Daniel Sturridge, I felt like this to a lesser degree when we signed Sheringham, I was and will never be a fan of his I felt he was a flash cockney twat, but he was in the side to do a job as long as Owen finds the net a few times, we win the odd pot and he gets on a plane to South Africa I suppose it will be a marriage of convenience.
But I can’t say I have to happy about it.
July 3rd, 2009 at 14:25
Ain’t this great? Look who’s talking…
July 3rd, 2009 at 14:27
@vanderberg: Great gallery! Lots of genius that OT is seriously lacking…
July 3rd, 2009 at 14:30
@Matt: what are the odd we would even do that tho?
it seriously doesnt look like what u said, which i totally agree with, would happen…. fergie has really made this year interesting…. such a big gamble
July 3rd, 2009 at 14:34
@Matt: I agree with you but rossi and essien are in no way coming to united even if essien has expressed his united support.gourcuff is a more central player who also goes forward and has wonderful dribbling skills but his back tracking skills are not that good for a midfield player.moutinho is at his best on the wing and not in midfield you can not buy him as we have already bought in a winger valencia.there was a rumour floating earlier in june that sporting lisbon have offered moutinho for nani.I do not know how true is it but if SAF had any interest in moutinho he would have certainly gone for him but he did not & instead stuck with nani who i think should mature a bit more and shoulder resposibility well and also avoid selfish play like ronnie and put more effort on team play.I can not say how many times I have seen nani go for own glory and miss it and even anderson,he is also not lived up to his expectation and he sucked in champions league final.
This comes to conclusion that SAF only goes for players he likes and does not care for public outcry but he as the great ability of getting the best of the player(s) which he as signed but nani and anderson ahve to improve.I would definitely go for sneijder coz he is a good CAM but I do not think SAF will go for him.
July 3rd, 2009 at 14:36
this whole Benzema/Ribery love in makes me sick tbh.
even before Benzema signed for Real he’d been quoted on numerous occasions stating his dream was to play for them, why the hell would any UNITED fan want a player that’s heart would always belong @ another club, & not only this but a club that would have one day came calling. if Real had signed Villa & UNITED Benzema, we’d have had him for 4 years max. the second Villa was no longer flavour of the day in Madrid they’d have took Benzema. the same would happen if UNITED got their hands on Ribery.
unfortunately, to alot of Europe Real Madrid is a meccah; it takes a certain type of player to come to Old Trafford & stay & neither of those players was it.
we all believe sir Alex to be great @ developing players so why hasn’t he gone after the likes of Ashley Young (who i’m personally a big fan of), he’s English & would never stray. i personally think Ribery’s reputation has gotten ahead of him over the past few years, Ashley Young would be just as effective given time & confidence. Ribery would cost £50+m & would yet again be a 4 year mox. player; Ashley Young would come with the British player premium UNITED always have to pay but would cost less & give just as much.
it’s past time for UNITED to buy British & nurture that talent.
& another thing, Owen may not be the Owen of old but for £ree he can help nurture the Welbeck’s of this world whilst coming off the bench when we need a goal. Owen’s problem hasn’t been scoring chances, Newcastle simply didn’t create many for him; he won’t score them all but he will score chances our other forwards (Tevez & Ronaldo) didn’t/won’t.
p.s. on a totally separate note, am i the only person that sees the glaring truth that the only person fit for the No.7 @ Old Trafford wears the No.10?!
July 3rd, 2009 at 14:43
@TurkishRED: yeah sick of ronaldo talk even his flick of a finger would get in the press.I think ronaldo might be damned going to RM as press are going to kill him day and night and also he would not be in a protective cover like when he was in MU. IF real madrid this season do not even make champions league semifinal all the pound 209 million
they have spent will be gone in flames.
July 3rd, 2009 at 15:02
@flu3: I’ve been thinking this lately. Rooney is going to be our new 7. Owen will take 10. God knows what Valencia will have.
July 3rd, 2009 at 15:12
@Traverse: I’d rather keep the no.7 vacant for a while. Give it to Lajic when he comes.. But for heavens sake let them not give it to Owen or Valencia or whoever they buy (unless we get David Villa, which imo is not happening)
July 3rd, 2009 at 15:29
Rooney finally has the spotlight he needs, so let him keep his shirt. He now has everything to come on his own and show what he can do as the ‘de facto’ star of the show.
July 3rd, 2009 at 15:32
agreed Rahul, i was simply pointing out the fact that it should be a long-long-long time before the No. 7 shirt has a new owner. the No. 10 also has its own history we should be proud of, less-we-forget.
July 3rd, 2009 at 15:41
If they give no. 7 shirt to owen or valencia it will be the biggest disrespect to that shirt! if we signed a flamboyant player then it would be good!
hey has anyone else heard there may be a possibility of ruud returning as fergie called him and told him he can still hack it at united????
July 3rd, 2009 at 15:53
@Cypriotenglish: I heard there was a sighting of him at Carrington yesterday. I’d rather it didn’t happen, and I don’t think it will.
July 3rd, 2009 at 15:56
there is a silver lining to all this owen business though, the scousers have their knickers in a twist
July 3rd, 2009 at 16:02
Also, if we are going to be honest, he is a goal scoring machine, despite his injury problems, he still comes back with a decent return(well better then tevez anyway)
Im starting come around tbh, i think ill welcome him with open arms and laugh at the scouse.
July 3rd, 2009 at 16:07
@Dan: I’ve had a poke about the scouse forums, and they really are loosing the plot over it!
July 3rd, 2009 at 16:19
Traverse some of us are like that losing the plot I am. I am so pissed off we are oing to sign micheal owen adrian durham is spot on fergie is losing the plot. I have always backed fergie but he is making a total joke out of our club. he is signing players that he can control which are averagge mediocre rubbish
July 3rd, 2009 at 16:34
@steve: Adrian Durham is SO ANTI UNITED in his comments all the time, that I wouldn’t LISTEN to a feckin word he says, whether we want Owen or not. United fans are divided on the issue, but anything Adrian Durham says is poison when it comes to United.
July 3rd, 2009 at 16:37
@steve: Adrian Durham is a numpty of the highest order. I’m with Darren Gough on this one. More goals than Tevez last season when everyone said he was rubbish and he costs NOUT. He is a proven goalscorer, a poacher, something we don’t have in our squad, and provides a different option from the bench, and will be bloody grateful for the opportunity.
I’d know out of Tevez and Owen we I’d rather be one on on with the goal keeper in the last seconds of a match, and he ain’t called Charles…
Look, I’d much rather us make a marquee signing to replace Ronaldo, but that’s going to be a winger, not a 3rd choice striker. Anyone writing Fergie off for picking up a 3rd striker on a free has a severe case of Hansenitis.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/mikenorrish/100000187/manchester-uniteds-transfer-woes-raise-risk-of-hansen-itis/
July 3rd, 2009 at 16:50
Craig adrian durham as made some idiotic points but he actually tipped man utd in the 06/07 season to win the league so give the guy some credit. and u 2 do not compare micheal past it owen with tevez. tevez scored more goals than berbatov last season and tevez got more goals in his first season than berbatov did, back to owen. dont try and defend this signing fergie is losing it, he wastes money on hargreaves anderson nani for starters then berbatov hey while he is at it pissing more united fans off by signing an everage wigan winger and a past it striker.
July 3rd, 2009 at 16:51
@Beachryan: Ruud may love United but he and Ferguson aren’t currently in love. In fact they are pretty bitter with each other. Chances of him coming to United? Zero in ten.
July 3rd, 2009 at 16:56
@steve: Only if you count the Carling Cup, which nobody does. Berbatov didn’t play 1 game in it, and Tevez scored 6 goals. He scored more in the Carling Cup than the Premier League!
July 3rd, 2009 at 16:57
@Craig Mc: Spot on I have just been out with a cloent listening to that twat, he is such an ABU it is comedy.
July 3rd, 2009 at 16:59
Traverse there is a 3 goal difference. tevez as done far more and scored more important goals than berbatov. people can say tevez is not worth 30 million well no is berbatosh
July 3rd, 2009 at 17:00
I agree with durham on micheal owen it is an aweful signing. the reality is does anyone want to play for united or ferguson except for the mediocre rubbish that want to come in and pick up their last pay check.
July 3rd, 2009 at 17:02
@steve: At least berbatov wants to play for us mate and not Citeh, he wouldn’t even speak to them unlike Tevez, and he would have cost nearly £35m.
July 3rd, 2009 at 17:08
@steve: If he scores between 15 and 20 goals next season and we obviously will get him for free then he is a bargain, he is certainly not what I would want in an ideal world but saying he will be awful is a little stupid as he has cost nothing and his wages will be fine and will not be on a long contract, Owen would get paid more elsewhere probably.
July 3rd, 2009 at 17:08
Also, rumours are hotting up in Spain that we have bid £40mil for Aguero. Athletico are after Daniel Güiza, but they have no money, and AS radio are saying Athletico have had a bid but not saying who from. I’m probably straw clutching but I hope to god it’s us.
July 3rd, 2009 at 17:18
Stephen micheal owen will be lucky if he is fit enough for the bench. us united fans want answers how we lose our best player and not willing to pay a premium for the best players to get to replace ronaldo, and instead get a washed up has been who is using united to get in the england side. they try to get players for lower prices instead of just getting them quickly, the united board fcked up with ronaldinho transfer and the only reason we got ronaldo was because no one snapped him up earlier. and it took fergie to sign him in august a week after the comunity shield when we played sporting in a friendly. he was not going to sign rooney in 2004 because he felt he could get him on a free transfer in 2005, fergie could have got carrick for 3 million in 2004 could have got hargreaves on a free in 2005. the reality is uniteds negotians on how they get players is a total joke and not smart enough to get them cheaper. they seal beckham for 25 million instead of getting atleast 45 million for him, let van nistlerooy go on a cheap. and the only good transfer they have done in terms of cash recieved was ronaldo.
July 3rd, 2009 at 17:20
any radio station that call’s up Tommy Docherty for a (so-called) un-biased view on sir alex & Manchester United doesn’t get my time, the Southern Biases on that station are ridiculous although Liverpool are very well represented also.
watch Wimbledon people! “come on Tim. . . er. . . i mean Andy!”
& steve if only every player could be as Mediocre as Rooney, or perhaps as mediocre as Carrick (3 titles, 1 European Cup – in 3 years), what have Ribery &/or Benzema done in the past 3 years (in perspective), infact what have Real Madrid done? it appears that mediocre players win trophies where as ‘great players’ only earn huge wages & play in sunny Madrid. get a clue.
if sir Alex is to blame for anything, it’s his judge of character in regards to certain prospects. any player that has the luck to wear a UNITED shirt will be supported by me but Ribery & Benzema have FIFA repuations & want to jump on the Ronaldo train. although Owen is perhaps past his best it does feel good to see someone english walk through our doors, now it’s time for Ashley Young & i’m happy.
July 3rd, 2009 at 17:24
p.s. i’d love for us to go out & sign a marquee replacement but there is not one player that can replace Ronaldo. calls for a marquee player sound shallow, we couldn’t replace Ronaldo by spending £50+m on Ribery (who’d leave for Real Madrid soon enough anyway) or Benzema for £30+m (who’d do the same), Aguero?! how the foook does he suit our style of play?!
we don’t need ready-made FIFA *stars*, we need to built a team that will facilitate for the likes of rooney.
July 3rd, 2009 at 17:24
It is a gamble worth taking. He is a proven goalscorer at every level of the game. The amount of chances we create as a team and squander, it will be refreshing to have someone like Owen who is a fantastic finisher. He can also come off the bench and turn a game.
Our attack is fine now. Rooney, Berbatov, Owen, Welbeck and Macheda. Maybe in an ideal world we would have got someone like Benzema, Aguero or Villa…..but at least Welbeck and Macheda will have a chance over the next couple of years to make the grade.
Our defence is in good shape. I fully expect Brown to take back the right back spot, Evra hopefully will remember how to play football, O’Shea will deputise admirably and in Rio, Vidic and Evans we have a rock solid central defence. Ideally we would buy a goalkeeper because I think Foster is too injury prone to be relied on as a number 1. But we are doing ok.
So that means we have a ton of money to sort out our midfield. In the 90s we had a midfield of Giggs, Scholes, Keane and Beckham. FOUR world class players who would walk into any side. Now our first choice midfield would be Nani, Carrick, Fletcher, Valencia. That really does not inspire me with confidence.
We have the money to sort out this problem. OK it is difficult getting the right players. But surely it cannot be difficult for our scouts to identify players who are an improvement on those four I mentioned!
July 3rd, 2009 at 17:25
@steve:
explain these 3 things please:
*How the hell where we going to get carrick, at the time spurs best player, for free?
*how where we going to sign hargreaves, one of bayerns key players for free?
*how in the hell where we going to sell DAVID BECKHAM for £45MILLION pounds!
If i was a mean inconsiderate person, i would say everything in that post screams “numptey,” but im not, so i wont.
July 3rd, 2009 at 17:28
Well it’s been 24 hours since the news first hit us about Michael Owen and so now I can sit back and offer a little perspective on the whole thing.
Michael Owen is not a bad move from the club. How could it be a bad move when he literally cost us nothing to get him and he is being offered half of his regular Newcastle wages. In truth, I have always been a bit of an Owen fan, when he played for England. I thought he was dynamic and quite unique. Yes it’s too bad he was a scouser playing for the Dippers but fortunately he didn’t do too much damage to United’s aspirations over those years.
Now he comes to United at a point in his career where his best is clearly past him and where there are questions about his health and his diminishing ability and desire. Well here’s the thing. Lets not judge him on what he did or didn’t do for Newcastle. That was a truly negative and rubbish filled environment for anybody to excel in. The fact he lasted that long playing for a Mike Ashley run team is amazing really.
The reality is that Michael Owen on his day was a very lethal striker despite his size. Can he be as lethal as he once was? No, not even close, but he can be a difference maker and his contributions can be very positive as a spot starter and bench player. He can offer us goals coming off the bench in a more prolific manner than what Carlos Tevez ever did, but with less energy and a lot less bitterness and selfishness.
Bottom line is, Owen can become a super sub for us because he still has the talent. No he hasn’t got the legs or the ability toi stay healthy long enough as a starter but as a properly used sub, he could be a dynamic player that pots us a dozen very useful goals over a long campaign.
Now the down side. The major problem I have with this acquisition is the terrible timing. Sure Owen’s history of injuries is a major problem too but the timing of him coming to play for us now is just terrible. A few days after we were humiliated and humbled again by a high profile player snubbing us for the Evil Muppet Factory got us all down and depressed. We have all this money and Fergie can’t seem to give it away. We have become an American game show and we cannot find any willing contestants. Benzema snubs us and the answer to his snub, the next move United makes is not contacting Huntelaar or Aguero, Villa. No instead Ferguson shows the entire nation of Mancunia what we are all about this season. Cheap, hopeless and pathetic with the frugal acquisition of one Michael Owen.
Forgive me if I don’t think Fergie’s timing just sucks. Fine, get Owen, sign him up but have a handshake agreement to do so before the season starts. Tell him that you will let the world know he is coming to play for us after you have made a bigger and more impressive splash in the transfer market. United fans have been anxiously and impatiently waiting for United to make that one big splash, one big purchase that will help us forget Ronaldo. Valencia doesn’t create even a ripple in the water and Owen is just an insult despite the fact he cost us little and the fact that he is in hindsight a very smart and shrewd purchase.
I cannot, no I will not believe that Fergie is stopping here. He has insulted many of us with this purchase but it only has to be an insult if that is all he is going to do. We have well over a month before the season begins. Fergie has still got two or even three moves left in him I believe and one big one has to follow. It has too. Will he go after Aguero? I seriously doubt it. Will he go after Villa? Yes he would love to, but I’m afraid Villa does not want to come to us. So what is he left with? Fabiano, Huntelaar and a full array of possibilities. Go after the goalkeeper Fergie. Go after that midfielder. Hernanes, Sneijder, Toure, Melo, Moutinho, just get one of them for crying out loud. Now Liverpool is trying to go after Alex Sanchez. We cannot and should not let the Fat Waiter get him.
It’s time for Fergie to step up and out of the shadows and once again show his quality. Enough vacationing and taking time off to watch everyone buy players while we sit back with a fortune and do sweet fuck all. It’s time to get aggressive and it’s time to appease the United faithful who have a right to be pissed off and to question Fergie every move…..or lack of.
Fergie, stop being a spendthrift and show some courage. Buy a player that we can all agree will bring United that WOW factor again and reestablish pride and confidence. I for one am fed up having to take it up the ass this entire off season. Has Madrid not hurt us enough? How can you allow them to get away with all this and yet not try to pry one or two of their unwanted superstars from them for a song and a dance? Please please please Fergie, do right by us all and buy a player we can all agree on that will make a major impact. It’s up to you.
July 3rd, 2009 at 17:28
@steve: To agree with Durham is to agree with the devil, and not the United Red devil either
.
July 3rd, 2009 at 17:28
flu3 rooney was a one off we all know rooney is class. dnt use rooney in this debate, fergie as a lot to answer for that he is willing to bring in the dross he as brought to the club. he as signed 2 players who have been fighting a relegation battle while teams like real madrid hae set down a marker forget mediocre we want nothing but the best. it is a proven fact that united are nowhere near the biggest ronaldo benzama kaka ribery think that a cold reality but the truth
July 3rd, 2009 at 17:32
@steve: I do agree pal our transfer dealing in the past have ludacrous, and I am not an Owen fan but saying he won’t be fit to make the bench is stupid mate.
He has been over the past 24 hours in a series of medicals, so if he gets through he will be fit enough, I am not an Owen fan but for free he is worth a punt and with his wages bonus triggered we might have got ourselves a bargin, but only time will tell.
July 3rd, 2009 at 17:33
@steve: You forget all the assists that Berbatov offers and the fact that his possession and first touch makes those around him better as well as frees them up. Tevez not only can’t score as many goals, his first touch and his play making abilities were pathetic to be sure. All he ever offered to the club was an energy and work ethic that many might admire but that doesn’t do a thing for me. Great athletes look lazy because everything comes easy to them. Tevez couldn’t look or act lazy because nothing ever came easy to him. He had to work extra hard to hide the fact he was only international class in caliber. You can continue to sell us on his virtues but the reality is he was a very limited player who never offered us the thing we need most from a forward, goals. Berbatov didn’t exactly light it up himself but he has a track record that says perhaps we haven’t seen his best YET.
July 3rd, 2009 at 17:34
Dan these are the explanations.
carrick was at west ham he would have cost 3 milion back then, if fergie had a backbone back then he would have flogged keane in 2003.
hargreaves his contract was up in 2005 he was available to talk to any club he wanted back then.
beckham with the amount of shirts and merchendise he could sell united should have blead real madrid dry not agree to let him go not only for a cheap price but in installments.
July 3rd, 2009 at 17:38
@steve:
, thats all i have to say about that.
-so he wasnt free, he cost £3mil
-I didnt know you werent allowed to sign new contracts in germany
-
July 3rd, 2009 at 17:39
@Traverse: I read that Guiza was unhappy in Tirkey and that he wanted a move back to Spain and preferably Atletico. That immediately made me think th