Dec 18
Transfer Talk: Lahm and Benzema | Evra’s Contract
So the festive season is well and truly on. The Anfield win just makes things feel a lot more special. However, the busy period has just begun and we will be stupid if we thought the title has been all but wrapped up. We have another Scouse team to deal with — in the form of Everton — and they have proven this season that they are no mugs. More on them when we get closer to the date of the clash.
Meanwhile, Cristiano must be feeling a wee bit sick in the stomach. After being kept quiet for much of the Liverpool game, he would have been shocked to see himself finish third — behind Lionel Messi — in the FIFA World Player of the Year Award. It’s one thing finishing second best on two previous awards. But finishing behind a player who, despite his obvious talents, has not really won anything of note and yet is in the fray, would be rather gutting for an ambitious lad like Ronaldo.
Oh well, the FIFA Awards are a sham; sour grapes, and all that.
Moving on to some useful discussion, the papers are talking up Philip Lahm and Karim Benzema as possible transfer targets. Now I see this kind of talk posted day in and day out, but I thought this to be worth discussing for specific reasons.
Regarding Lahm, I am sure there are quite a few enthusiastic readers on here who are well acquainted with this German full back. Brown’s dodgy displays, at times, and his contract wrangle would force us to move for a right back as Neville’s career will draw to a close sooner than later. Lahm is about the right age, has good pace moving forward, and can play on either flank. Versatility has been something Fergie seems to prefer in his defence and he fits the bill. Willy Sagnol is the other Bayern defender linked with us, but age might work against him.
About Karim Benzema, he’s a 19 year old French striker who starts for Lyon. He’s is already setting the pace as far as goal scoring is concerned in the French Lique 1 and he just pissed all over Rangers the other day in the Champions’ League. He’s also scored goals for the French National team. He looks a strong lad and seems to be good with his finishing, apart from having good aerial ability. More importantly, he’s got age in his favour. He can be given time to work his way into the team, coming off the bench initially.
Will they come in January? I doubt that. Replacing Brown with Lahm in January wouldn’t be a good idea because Lahm would be cup tied in the Champions’ League. (Bayern are in the UEFA Cup, which would rule the German out of any European competition.) Plus, he would need to settle down in the club. Again, that is something we can’t afford to allow when the title race hots up.
The same with Benzema. He is cup tied and we can’t afford to lose Saha (as that is what the deal involving Benzema is about in the papers) for him, however injury prone Saha is.
The two look good prospects, no doubt. So do we need to move for them right now?
Meanwhile, Evra has yet to open contract negotiations. After the Anfield display I don’t have too many doubts regarding him being offered an extension. And he only endears himself to the United faithful by saying things like “I have a growing love for this club.” and “I feel Mancunian deep down”
Someone, please offer him a new deal. Please!
And finally, as expected, Anderson scooped up the Man of the Match Award in Manutd.com’s polls.
Back to the topic, of course, let us know what you think of our transfer targets.
Related items from Red Rants:- Teams Start Talking Big As Champions’ League Clash Looms
- The January Transfer Window - Possible Targets
- Brown, Lahm - United’s Right Back Situation | And Some Thoughts on Nani
- Random Transfer News Items of the Day
- Manchester United confirm new contracts for Brown, Ferdinand and Carrick
Tags: Daily Roundup
December 18th, 2007 at 11:35
From Bayern’s point of view, how do you spin the sale of one of your better players to Man Utd again to the disgruntled fans ? One way, would be to “hold onto” an even better player. So expect Bayern to resist a “big offer” for Lahm but let Sagnol go.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:38
Correction to your report: Any club in European competition can register up to 3 additional players in the January window, including 1 player that have participated in a UEFA club competition in the same season provided it’s not the same UEFA club competition that the buying club is participating in.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:38
Lahm would not be cup tied in Europe. the rules state you may register 1 player who has already played in europe, but not in the competition you are playing in. So, United would be able to sign and register any player who has played in the Uefa Cup this season, but can only do this for ONE player.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:39
Personally I think Man Utd need a professional full back (in case of injury to Evra or Brown, with the amount of matches being played its more and more likely)
Yes Simpson is a great prospect, but come on getting to the meaty end of the season where its all or nothing do you realy want a player in a crucial position thats only played a handful of games for you?
Yes we have players who can cover these positions, but again I really believe we need a “natural” full back.
We do need a striker, but this will wait until the summer (even though I dont think we should)
I am concerned that in general we are scoring less from other areas of the pitch than it seemed last season- everything is from Rooney, Ronaldo or Tevez - with only a handful coming from other areas
December 18th, 2007 at 12:15
Wenger has followed his guy and Ben Arfa for three years and he is ready for them now. Carlos Vela is also ready to join the first team. Thot u guys should know and stop dreaming
December 18th, 2007 at 12:27
[Olumide]
Thanks for letting us know. Although it would not be remiss of me to let you know that you are dreaming about signing Benzema as well. This is going purely by the way Wenger spends money in the market. You wouldn’t expect him to spend 15 million on a 19 year old, would you?
And what are you on about Carlos Vela? Yes, he’s ready to join the first team, which is why he is in Osasuna, no? So what?
And you reckon Wenger is going to sign Ben Arfa and Benzema? Not if he continues his policy of stumping up 10 pennies for a player.
I will leave you to ponder over who the actual dreamer is over here.
December 18th, 2007 at 13:03
feeling very sad right now.how the fuck messi won 2nd place?this must be a big joke,big fucking joke.what did messi do last season?he didn’t even played that many games.is it world player of the year or most talented player of the world award?
December 18th, 2007 at 13:09
Messi HAS won more than Ronaldo:
Messi:
2 x Spanish leagues titles
1 x UEFA Champions League
1 x FIFA U-20 World Cup
Ronaldo:
1 x Premier League
1 x FA Cup
1 x League Cup
December 18th, 2007 at 13:11
benjema is fast and very good dribbler.he can play on the left wing too.he is a much better carbon copy of ryan babel.i think it will be an ideal signing for us.lahm is the best wing back in the world.it wont be cheap getting him.if we want to rule the world once again,we need to have world class players in every position.
December 18th, 2007 at 13:17
uncle roy!
did messy won 2 spanish primera leauga title last year? did he even scored that much goal like ronaldo did last year? you are a joker,a clown.its world player of the year,mr jerk.not lifetime achievement award
December 18th, 2007 at 14:14
totally agreed,
the fifa awards are a sham and our player got jipped.
i think they just can’t bear giving it to a player plying his trade in England.
December 18th, 2007 at 14:55
[Uncle Roy]
FIFA Awards are given to players based on their achievements in that particular calendar year/season. So Messi hasn’t won anything this year.
December 18th, 2007 at 14:55
2 reasons why Ronaldo hasn’t scooped up all awards this year:
1. He’s only 22 and thereby a little too young to a lot of peoples’ liking to be crowned best player of the year. A lot of people voting like their choice to be a little bit more experienced, so that he hasn’t only been world class for one season.
2. He’s in way too many gossip stories. Even though most of them probably are a bunch of bs, his reputation as a bit of a party animal and rebel is ahead of him. The different football associations are filled with conservative old men, who don’t like the idea of a player with Ronaldo’s image being the best in the world, even though his stats from this year are way way way better than both Kaka’s and Messi’s. Kaka is in every way the safe choice, even though his team was crap in the league last season and is crap this season as well. He did win the CL, and he was probably the best player in that competition, but to me, it should be the best player in all competitions (including the national team), and no one even comes close to Ronaldo in that perspective. But Kaka is a boring, religious guy that has never had sex, so he’s a pure and safe choice (and of course a very good footballer).
These votes are political to the end, and that will never change
December 18th, 2007 at 15:04
[Tomas]
Otherwise, I don’t grudge the fact that he didn’t deserve the award. Kaka is a top player and I don’t think him to be a bad choice for the award. It’s just Messi finishing above Ronaldo that disappoints me. Honestly, Messi is a superior player to Ronaldo… has better close control and gives the ball away less often. And, will be the better player in the long run. I just feel that this was Ronaldo’s year and if he didn’t win these awards (which are tough to win anyway) it would have been a little harsh on the lad.
erm, Kaka is married. So I would assume he’s had sex.
December 18th, 2007 at 15:13
Benzema is pretty good.better than rooney?i think so.
December 18th, 2007 at 15:14
tomas,
i completely agree. these awards are political through and through. just like oscars, golden globes, etc., you name it. imagine giving an award to a player that doesn’t wear a shirt that says “i belong to jesus” every game. kaka is a perfect poster boy for a just, unbiased, and completely uncorrupted body that is fifa. in fifa we trust.
December 18th, 2007 at 15:18
Well stated Tomas. Fully agreee with you.
December 18th, 2007 at 15:20
Thomas,kaka is expecting a child!
December 18th, 2007 at 15:22
Yeah Primachenko, this is the same ‘just’ body whose president voted against his country’s wish for Germany2006, just so that he could get the FIFA presidency. (And no-one did nothing about it)
December 18th, 2007 at 15:24
Why are you guys on Tomas’ case? He was being sarcastic…duh
December 18th, 2007 at 15:43
karl,
i was being really sarcastic. too bad one can’t effectively show it in writing ;).
December 18th, 2007 at 16:27
Was he…he is a strong christian and if he werent married it probably would be true. still kaka deserves the award,what makes me upset is messi finishing second.
December 18th, 2007 at 16:34
The discussion on who is better Ronaldo or Messi is so overhyped. But RR, saying that Messi is a superior player to Ronaldo is just nonsense. It’s impossible to pick the better player of the two on their best day, but I assure you that they both have matches, in which they hardly contribute with anything. I’ve watched all of Man Utd.’s games so far this season, and at least 7 of Barca’s. In at least 2 of the Barca games, Messi was virtually invisible, and Ronaldo has had a few blunders as well. But they’re still very young both of them, so that will happen on occasion. It’s just that some people can’t see past the fact that they are different players and seem to believe that Messi is a better player, simply because he loses possession less often. There could be another explanation for that: That there’s simply more space in the spanish La Liga for players with their qualities.
The only real way to measure players against each other in terms of importance and contribution is on their stats, and last season Ronaldo’s were unbelievable: 55 games, 24 goals and 20 assists (some of which happened in 2006 of course). This season he’s played 18 games so far, scored 14 goals and had 2 assists.
Messi played only 30 games last season (due to injury), scored 18 goals and had 3 assists. So far this season he’s played 19 games, scored 12 goals and had 6 assists.
Kaka played 51 matches last season, scored 19 goals and had 10 assists. So far this season he’s played 17 games, scored 9 and assisted 4 goals. Kaka seems to carry the entire AC Milan team on his shoulders, but it’s not Ronaldo’s fault that he has quality players all around him. To me, that speaks volumes of Ronaldo’s season that he can be that important in a team with so many attacking options, where Kaka HAS to be important, since he’s the only one with any sort of drive in AC Milan.
Another interesting statistic is Kaka’s league efforts of last season, where he played matches, scored only 8 goals and had 6 assist. To me, this is a clear sign that anyone judging him does so with basis only in the CL, where he was fantastic… to me it’s just too shallow a basis to place a vote on. To be honest, how many of you guys have ever watched Kaka in any sort of competition other than the CL?
You tell me whose stats are the better of the 3? I think I know my answer.
December 18th, 2007 at 16:49
Kaka played 30 league matches last season - sorry
December 18th, 2007 at 17:02
Ronaldo is the best player in the world. Top scorer or joint top scorer in all compettions he is involved in. How is kaka better? Better yet who is Messi. Messi for me is not even better than Rooney. Ronaldo is sooooo good that you dont even appreciate the others. Rooney if he goes to any other team, i mean any other team, will be the best player. Rooney and Ronaldo scored the same amount of goals last season. Everyone believes that the English league is weak but that shows how dumb football analysts are nowadays. Look at Shevwacko. He came from italy and he is still struggling. Look at Ruud boy. He went to spain and he is a god. Rossi is there in villareal and he is like a god to. Its ok what Fifa did but ask legends of the game and they will let you know. As much as Maradona loves his country, he believes Rooney is way better than Messi and Kaka. Imagine what he thinks of Ronaldo. Figo said it recently, who is better than Ronaldo. Speed, great aerial threat, set piece specialist, lovely dribbler, out of this world ball control tooooooo many things. Lets wait till Manutd Vs Barcelona and Manutd vs Ac Milan. Watch Rooney and Ronaldo fuck them up. I havent even spoken about Anderson who is going to be a world geat and Nani who is up there. Man utd is the best attacking team in europe check any stat you wanna check. I said it.
December 18th, 2007 at 17:21
That Man Utd need a top right back and a top striker is without a doubt. Lahm is of course a good player but it’s his strength ( or apparent lack of it ) is in question. Still, he will be better than Brown. Gary’s time is almost up unfortunately. And Benzema is a terrific talent in the making but I suspect he’s Madrid bound even though Wenger supposedly dreams of him. In any case, hope SAF does make a move. By the way, thru’ the same loophole in UEFA’s Jan transfer rule, Berbatov will be eligible for UCL too and I am sure SAF and Co are aware of that.
December 18th, 2007 at 19:04
Agree with all of you. The FIFA awards are voted in by all the associate members. That means the votes go to coach, captain, president etc. of the 200 FIFA affiliate countries. You can imagine than in that almost 100-120 have idiot coaches and captains who wouldn’t even be watching half the matches involving the nominees. Oh no. But they will be watching the gossip and E tonight sorta stuff. So, I guess they would be affronted to vote for a player like Ronaldo due to his off the field antics. No doubt Messi got more votes.
Ronaldo was according to everyone the best young player at the FIFA 2006 world cup, played extremely well for Portugal in their Euro qualifiers, and now has the captain’s armband. He played extremely well for United last season and 23 goals for a midfielder was also a very good haul.
In contrast what did Messi do? He had an almost invisible world cup due to his recovery from the metatarsal injury. Didn’t play any significant role in Barca’s La Liga challenge till the end of the season. Barca were anyway knocked out of UCL in the early stages itself. The main highlights of 2006-07 season for Messi were the Maradona like goal where he skipped past 6-7 defenders, and a good showing in the Copa America, where again Argentina were outplayed in the final by Brazil.
As I said, as long as these ignorant twits keep voting for such awards, Rooney may never get the award
December 18th, 2007 at 19:11
Drogba finished 4th and and the messiah
Ronaldinho finished 5th!!!! Anyone surprised? He was poor for Brazil at the world cup, played as good any other average forward in any other top team in europe and he finishes 5th!!!! Whatever happened to Scholes, Giggs, Rooney, etc…. I think even Berbatov had a better season than Ronaldinho.
Is it only me who feels that somehow premier league players are always biased against in these awards.
December 18th, 2007 at 20:26
sex and babys in a footy site, what more can you ask for!!!
December 18th, 2007 at 21:00
evra is one of the best left Backs in the world and ranter I’m not being biased but are you are onpills ronaldo is far superior than messi I watch Spanish football alot and I can sat that messi has good control and good finishing he does lose the ball is very weak in the air therefore he is not more talented than ronaldo he is weaker and smaller
December 18th, 2007 at 21:09
taehr you’re judging on his performances in the few champions league games he played in this season, the very few games he played for France and the matches he played in the french league, but that’s just not enough. He’s always been known to be a talent, and this season he’s played well, but comparing teams in the French League and the Premier League is difficult to do, as the gap in quality between Lyon and the rest of the teams is enourmous, whereas the opposition quality over here is much better. He may be good now, but at the moment there’s no doubting Rooney is alot better. People get too caught up i the hype of transfer speculation, and once they hear about a player they like they don’t always think straight. It would be great to get him and since he’s still relatively young we may convince him to play on the bench for us for a while until he proves himself, so we may indeed buy him(although I doubt it). And I would love to get Lahm as he is quality so lets wait and see, but he is an important player for Bayern so it’s going to be hard to get him, as it was to get Hargreaves.
December 18th, 2007 at 21:12
Shera, Ronaldo is better than Messi physically, no doubt, but Messi is better than him techincally. I agree tomas, although they play in relatively similar positions, they are two very different players. I prefer Messi though
But I’m not a big fan of using stats to talk about the better player, as overall contribution to the team can’t be put into statistical form.
December 18th, 2007 at 21:30
i think, if we want/need a striker, we should buy Bojan Krkić from barca, he would get lots of games so would develop fast, he has a deadly finish, and at 17 a real gem, the only problem is that he’s not english!, As a MOF, walcott is the only english gem i know!!
December 18th, 2007 at 21:46
Yea conor I am guilty of that although i do think he his a better striker than rooney.with the chances rooney gets and squaders,i feel(because of what ive seen of benzema) he would score more goals.rooney is better at other things though.rooney as an 18 year old is better than the rooney we have now.he was much more clinical then.
December 18th, 2007 at 21:53
Anyone heard about the rape allegations?happened after the huge christmas party.hope to God its bullshit and not any player of ours.
December 18th, 2007 at 22:05
Dan a MOF? What’s that? And I very much doubt the fact that bojan will come to us as he is getting playing time over there, plus I’m sure he see’s that as Messi got his chance to shine when he was young so shall he.
We are all guilty of it taehr. But you are very very wrong when saying that Rooney was a better player when he was younger. He still missed many chances, most of his goals were screamers, but the reason he seemed to score so much was because in comparison to the other strikers they had at the club, he was clinical. But most of his goals were screamers, as they are now, but he was much more irresponsible back then, and not as good a player. the fact that he misses chances doesn’t look like it’s ever going to change, and although that’s a big weakness for a striker, he does everything else(except for heading) really well, pace, power, shooting ability, dribbling ability, vision. the fact that we need to debate about the quality of one of our best players is very surprising,but sure there’s not much else to talk about since we’re not in the Carling cup. It seems like Eduardo is doing what Saha did two years ago, built up some confidence in the league cup, and maybe this will kickstart his Arsenal career. But yes back to the main point Benzema probably is a better finisher than Rooney, but that doesn’t bother me one bit.
December 18th, 2007 at 22:06
I agree Taehr, if it was one of our boys it would be an outrage!
December 18th, 2007 at 22:14
okay messi did well for argentina in the copa america reaching the final and losing to bresil. i admit he did good there. thats perhaps the only ‘advantage’ messi has over ronny. i don’t even think he was the player of the year in la liga, was he? barca didn’t even win the league.
Other then the copa america, does anyone else thinks that maybe ronaldo lost out to Messi because of ‘disciplinary’ issues? Like maybe ronaldo had perhaps more red cards and percieved ‘diving problems’? messi’s great but im not sure if he dives. the impression he gives me is he doesn’t.
of course, im with the rest of you here, based on performance, achievements and perhaps influence (for both club and country), ronny should only be second to Kaka. Considering kaka did well in CL and won the Fifa world club cup. oh and the european supercup i think, milan winning sevilla. correct me if im wrong.
on ronny getting the wrong trophy in the cock up, i felt he should not have been so ’serious’. but i can understand he must be pissed. missing out on first place. i think he hates kaka. haha.
wahaha spurs leading citeh 1-0. Xfingers-crossedX
December 18th, 2007 at 22:32
MOF-Matter Of Fact, santa cruze is on a goal spree dont cha know, so far 5 goals in 2 matches! and can go up to 6 at any time.
December 18th, 2007 at 22:33
Portugal’s feisty tactician Luiz Felipe Scolari took a swing at the order of the prizes handed out by FIFA, defending the theory that Manchester United and Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo is by far and away the best player in today’s football world…
zoom - galleria “There is no doubt whatsoever that Cristiano Ronaldo is the best player in the world right now, and, if I could have, I would have voted for him in first place, but, unfortunately, my position as Portugal Coach doesn’t allow meâ€, explained the Coach.
“Nevertheless, despite the third place he should take heart and remember that in next year’s edition he’s bound to top the top spot and the prize that goes with it”, added Big Phil as he ended with the focus shifting from the individual to the collective.
“The Euro 2008 Finals will be a great place for Ronaldo to really show that he’s reached the point where he’s not a promise but a world beater and he’s got a lot to offer to the Selecção - and that includes winning trophies.”
Scolari knows that the winger was the key man in ensuring that Portugal get a chance to ‘avenge’ the defeat in the Euro 2004 Final in Lisbon against Greece, his goals and assists making the difference to a side that still lacks a convincing centre-forward. Now is anyone talking?
December 18th, 2007 at 22:50
I hardly think any off the field indiscretions had much impact on Ronaldos chances to win WPOTY. Fat Ron and the buck toothed one were hardly as clean as a whistle after all.
December 18th, 2007 at 23:46
I think a left winger is badly needed as Giggs is coming to an end and Nani just isn’t good enough. Nasri can play on the left and would certainly add creativity. With Marseille in a dire state he would move.
I heard that IvanovÃc is coming and he can play anywhere across the back 4. He’s a hard tackler which we haven’t had any since Heinze left. Rafinha for Schalke is a good right back and could possibly be signed. They would be good replacements for Neville and Brown and not too expensive.
December 19th, 2007 at 6:17
paddy,this isn’t fifa08 or football manager.we just bought nani.and you are saying he isn’t good enough.so replace him with nasri?
rooney is far better than messi.its seems that national team coaches don’t watch league football.i think Xavi was better than messi and ronaldinho.
December 19th, 2007 at 8:54
any new news over the rape, apart from an un-named 19-year old man, the only 19 year old i know is andy
December 19th, 2007 at 9:34
Looks like it Jonny Evans. Reports are suggesting he is being quizzed by police.
December 19th, 2007 at 9:35
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22948552-5001023,00.html
December 19th, 2007 at 9:38
ronaldo is the best in he world.messi also chokes in big matches.did u guys wach him against liverpool/brazil/chelsea.rangers
December 19th, 2007 at 9:51
Heard nothing about the Rape hopefully it blows over; remember what happened to Rio…that killed our season. I think we can look forward to next year regarding individual awards because CR is in pole position right now. He’s doing excellent in the CL and EPL; will be in Euro 2008 after a great qualifying campaign, all he needs now is a few trophies. We can win the EPL and CL but we need reinforcements. If we get Lahm we should be superb. Despite his antics losing Heinze never sit well with me but Brown and Pique are sufficient cover in the middle of defence; thus all we need is fullback support and an extra attacking option.
I feel Fergie is willing to gamble on attack though. If he does I’ll support him anyway. Never again will I question the Master. When Chelsea came and he was buying low (Park and Carrick) over the summers and sold Ruud with no replacement, I thought he was past it. I mean I was still hung over from the Beckham/Ronaldinho fiasco(CR wasn’t a world beater yet and….I thought Rooney was overrated…I at that shoe with ketchup and hot sauce) so it seemed we were on the Liverpool slope. He proved me wrong. I bet it was those Tampa fucks (although extremely shrewd on the acquisition of Man U, why don’t they float it back on the market already WE WANT MORE MONEY!!).
LAHM is on my Christmas top wish list. We get him we have a superb squad (short one striker to be of 1999 quality) AND stop mentioning Willy Sagnol that’s disrespectful to both Gary and Wes. He’s not a viable option for us. Not that he’s not talented but Gary is already here why go buy another one?
December 19th, 2007 at 11:05
please don’t use man u,its man utd.
what rape?
December 19th, 2007 at 12:15
Woooow…sir alex must be fuming.the details of this…quotes from rooney,simpson in a fight,evans…,rooney and ferdinand go to a lap dance club.sir alex must be fuming.
December 19th, 2007 at 12:30
I think Benzema is a great prospect and United should go after him in summer.
December 19th, 2007 at 12:44
Man U is too close to Man Ure eh? That pisses you off when rival fans use it? I’ll try to use Man Utd more often although I am extremely accustomed to the former.
December 19th, 2007 at 14:20
If things continue the way it does now, then there’s no way Ronaldo cannot get next year’s award. If he doesn’t, it will send out a message loud and clear the the English PL is not recognised by FIFA and that in order to win you must play in the Spanish or Italian leagues.
The reporst state that Johny Evans is being questioned. Does anyone know the latest updates?
@Primachenko [#21]: I know you were being sarcastic, that’s why I tried to add to FIFA’s hypocrisy, but I guess that also did not come off too well.
December 19th, 2007 at 17:35
hes been bailed until febuary 23rd, i have to say, united career is over
December 19th, 2007 at 17:51
woo hoo, my bro and mum is out shopping so i took the time to go snooping for presents and found them, their all wrapped up, but its something really heavey, i think she got my bro an xbox 360, but i really dont know what she got me, any ideas, its quite a big box but not that big and REALLY heavey.
December 19th, 2007 at 17:56
Haven’t a clue Dan! Sorry mate. Here did Ronaldo not get arrested for rape before? Evans’ career might not be over just yet, lets wait and see.
December 19th, 2007 at 20:44
A Playstation 3?
December 19th, 2007 at 21:40
Dan: It may be a concrete block
December 19th, 2007 at 21:56
damn English girls just cant keep their mouths shut.
same with the girls ronny, andy and nani had earlier this year talking to the tabloids. isint that why you pay so your name isnt in the paper the next day.
December 19th, 2007 at 22:03
Dani Alves would be a great buy instead of Lahm. He can play on both sides and can play a reserve winger(dont need it, but offensive.) He already wants to leave Sevilla!
December 19th, 2007 at 22:11
Gator: While my first impression of this is a typical kiss and tell in the tabloids, the girl in question deserves a bit more respect and consideration. The old saying innocent until proven guilty not only applies to Evans but to her as well. We should let the legal system do its work before we rush to pass judgement and label here a publicity seeker or a gold digger.
December 19th, 2007 at 22:55
2 bad are legal system is flawed.
December 19th, 2007 at 23:12
RedDevil Alves has only ever played on the left hand side a very small amount of times and actually refused to play there at the start of the season after Antonio Puerta’s death, plus he has very poor discipline, in the sense of defending and keeping a cool head, and he would be much more expensive.
December 19th, 2007 at 23:19
Soeaking of Lahm, I see he scored for Bayern today, so if he came to us we could be sure he’d get more goals than Gary ‘I score once every 10 years’ Neville! And I also noticed Luca Toni scored 4, that man is a goal scoring machine! I was surprised he went to Bayern when he could have gone to so many other teams.
December 19th, 2007 at 23:23
Alves is an excellent attacking full back, but chucking £20m at a right back doesn’t sit right with me. The only current right back I would even consider spending that amount of money on is Sergio Ramos.
Dan: If anything the legal system in the UK is flawed in failing to get sufficient rape convictions.
December 20th, 2007 at 0:59
Conor,
Often scoring goals becomes a by product of the effort that goes into creating them. United used to have a somebody by the name of RVN, who did score goals, but only the ones that others created. Methinks you really don’t want that alone when you say Gary ‘I score once every 10 years’ Neville do you? Theres more to Neville than just goalmaking or (not) goalscoring. You know that…
December 20th, 2007 at 2:12
Oh yes I know, I was just making a joke out of the fact that Gary never scores
I love eerything about Gary Neville, passion, ability and determination, a great player he used to be, and still probably is, but it looks like his careers coming to an end. If it was possible I would just choose Gary Neville at the age of 24/25 to be our tight back for now and the future, over Alves or Lahm any day. A brilliant player and a deserved United legend 
December 20th, 2007 at 8:39
lol jb, concrete block, yea thats my point they send innocent men to jail.
December 20th, 2007 at 9:49
I forgot all about Dani Alves but Sevilla might want an arm and a leg. Seems whenever we are involved its British Transfer record time.
There’s some rags going on about Berbatov a swap with Mr Glass and Contract Rebel Wes AND 6 Million, now that’s some bullshit. I’d take a deal involving one of them but 2 is pushing it. What do y’all think?
I hope we spend some money this January. Fergie wants some fullbacks I think, he’s even said it to the press, so he’s thinking about it. Let’s hope he’s got some good lads scouted. That Serbian at Lokomotiv If he can do the job, I’m all for it.
December 20th, 2007 at 11:01
Yeah Abu, I read that on Tribal football (whilst busy playing OFM).
I think its bullshit. It will definitely be a stupid deat (Saha+Brown+6m –>Berbs)
Pay all that money for a striker to let him sit on the bench?
It also stated that Spurs are holding out because they want Nani included in the deal. Now that’s stupid. If SAF does go for any of those deals, then he’s stupid!
December 20th, 2007 at 12:31
Karl and Abu, really? Although I love both Saha and Wes, that seems like a good deal to me, we would be losing a player that we all constantly complain about, and we’d be losig Wes which might be happening at the end of the year. I think it’s just made up rumours though.
December 20th, 2007 at 14:06
Yes, man.u really needs to strengthen the defence and must have two more strickers at any cost who are finishers.SAF should go for Two left backs and two right backs as Silvestre, Nevele are out with long term carrier thretening injuries and brown will be going out in Jan Window. SAF has to go for the replacements in jan window itself other wise it will effect Man.Utds treple ambition very much with out any doubt.SAF has to get Dani Alves, Ivanovic and Lahm or Hutton immediately. Evra in the left and Alves in the right will fit well for the Manu. style of play. Karim Benzema should be added to the squad imediately which will take care of this season and Klas Hauntler or Berbatov if he is willing can be added in the summer according to the market rates at that time.
December 20th, 2007 at 15:52
Yes prakash and that will add up to… 19 zillion pounds!I’m sorry but we’ll proabbly buy only 1 player, 2 at most.
December 20th, 2007 at 16:07
Yeah Conor, it might sound like a good deal, but then we’re still a striker short. Back to square one. We will end up in no better position than we are right now because Saha is a good striker.
The latest rumour is that the deal collapsed. They say SAF is going for Larson again.
December 20th, 2007 at 17:02
Oh I know that, but although its risky, if we end up with only 3 strikers for the rest of the season, I’d still be conident of winning the double. Wouldn’t mind Larsson, if he’s still able to play then why not.
December 21st, 2007 at 12:02
Conor, it will cost little bit if want class, as ALVES and LAHM Will be available for 15 to 17 million each, IVANOVIC for 10 million and KARIM BENZEMA for around 12 to 15 million. Regarding Klas and Berb it can be deceided in the summer. Above four are minimum replacements to be made imediately.Presently there is no bench strength for SAV as far as defence is concerned as replacement even if any of the present four is sidelined because of any small nigiling injuries. adding to the existing worries it is not sure what is going to happen to Evans.
February 23rd, 2008 at 7:21
Lahm and Benzema would complete us. Signing them is the hard part