Jan 29
Would You Be Happy With Tevez’s Five?
We had seen Tevez say this earlier. He holds his home club, Boca Juniors, extremely close to his heart. So much that he would love to come back and play there at an age where he’s still young enough, unlike his other compatriots for whom a return would be more like a retirement home.
His feelings for his roots are laudable, make no mistake. But does it make financial sense for United? I had mentioned this earlier in a previous post but I will say this once more, since it has come up again.
Tevez is now 23. In 5 years’ time he will be 28 and typically strikers are at their peak at that age. His loan period ends in two years time (from 2006) which means he will be 25 years of age when we would shell our reported 25 million pounds for his signature. We will have him only for three more years after that, and surely Boca Juniors won’t be able to pay enough for us to profit from his sale. Which doesn’t really make financial sense.
Another issue is about Tevez putting a time frame on staying at a club. One normally tends to say that he would like to stay in this club for a long time, unless, of course, said player is Chimbonda. So is it right of him to be saying that he would be here for just 5 years? I am not really sure what to make of it, because if Tevez says it, it doesn’t sound too malicious — he gives a lot to us on the pitch. I, for one, wouldn’t want him to leave. He has already scored lots of goals for us, and many of them have been important ones.
* * *
The Big News, of course, is our FA Cup draw with a familiar foe. Both Arsenal and United fans won’t be too impressed facing each other so early in the competition. It is a shame really. But having said that, with ‘Pool and Chelsea also in the fray, we were bound to be facing each other earlier than the final. It is bad enough seeing the wee opposition that Chelsea and Liverpool get — not to mention the heavy weather Liverpool seem to be making over beating the pub team last week.
* * *
Baffling would be an understatement, but the Mirror seems to think that Patrice Evra is on a “collision course” with the club over demands of an enormous wage rise: 120,000 pounds a week is the reported figure. I just find that ridiculous, although the only reason I am mentioning this report is because of the surprisingly long time it is taking Evra to sign that new deal.
* * *
Arsene Wenger thinks that the Saudi Arabian trip was unnecessary. A lot of us thought that too. But our worn-out team still beat a Tottenham side that just destroyed the “custodians of beautiful football” a few days before.
And Vidic seems unlikely to make it to the Pompey game as the virus still has the better of him. So much for being an iron man; he’s got a soft centre after all.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Rooney’s Desire For England | Tevez’s Desire for Boca
- Ronaldo: I like to know what’s happening at Old Trafford
- What Tevez’s Signing Means For Man Utd
- Sunday Roundup: Brazilian Starlet, Tevez’s Word, Owen, Rossi
- High Court Comes to Tevez’s Rescue
Tags: Daily Roundup · Discussions
January 29th, 2008 at 10:50
I don’t see why Evra shouldn’t be paid 120 000 pounds a week, but he needs to be realistic and at least ask for 90 000/100 000 pounds per week. He has almost been playing all our games as the only recognize left with great determination, ever since
Heinze started whining…And if a player like Rio,Rooney,Terry,Lampard,Gerrard,Ballack,Sheva,etc are paid that much, Why not pay him that much..!
January 29th, 2008 at 10:58
I would be gutted if he left. I think so far he has been as good as rooney even though everyone was saying before he came he would be his under study! Awesome player! Gives 110%. Cant ask for anymore!!
January 29th, 2008 at 11:12
Are you sure 25 million pounds is the correct figure. I remember reading on a sky website some time ago that a fee had already been agreed to purchase Tevez and SAF saying that it was cheap.
January 29th, 2008 at 13:01
It will be more than five. I imagine he is thinking of returning to Boca around the age of 30, which is hardly retirement age. In this day and age, without major injuries and clean living, there is no reason why footballers cannot continue to play at a high level until well into their 30s. At 30 or 31 his value will drop anyway, like Van Nistrelooy and Boca may well be able to afford 10-15 million and get a good four years out of him.
January 29th, 2008 at 13:05
Well, I don’t think we should make to much of what Tevez said. Of course he has Boca in his heart and he would be lying had he said anything different. He comes from a country where football fans are just (if not even more) devoted to their club as in England.
If we do buy him after the loan spell runs out I don’t believe he would be leaving soon. He is just saying what the ideal situation for him would look like, but he has a little daughter and he has said before that the education she can get in England would be much better for her. Doesn’t matter how much he loves Boca her daughter will come first.
Now… it’s good to hear one of our players say what he really feels and not what everybody wants to hear. That shows you that Tevez is exactly the opposite to the other argentinean we had who left to Madrid. It’s his first season with us and he is already learning to love the club… you could see that from his goal celebration against Tottenham the other day. He wants to finish his European career with us? I say we should take that and see what happens in 5 years when we get there.
January 29th, 2008 at 13:13
my goodness, wats going on with some people. Mr Wenger has a whole volcanoe of problems to be peeping around wats happening within OT.
If he’s gotten himself scared about the FA 5th round, let him go to hell. He should remember that SAF is the king of mind games and the emperor of War Of Words.
For all those who’ve gotten a problem with the Dubai trip, you should know that its good for the future of the club. Like Wenger said, its got a short term effect which we’ve already overcame against Spurs. But not going increases the probability of going the Leeds way. Guys we need to make money to pay off that loan, so if a chance comes why squander it.
Further still the players needed some sunshine. From my few Biology lessons i had in school, the body needs Vitamin C from the sun, which players rarely get at this time of the year in England. Recall that for the same reasons Rolando Bianch had to leave Man City.
Viva United and may we take Pompy for a week.
January 29th, 2008 at 13:17
What’s with the Ann Coulter ad?! I think that’s a valid point. A lot can change in 5 years…
Fergie seems to thinking Manucho won’t play the rest of the season esp if he progresses to the Final Stages of the Tourney. I kinda miss Rossi as well. He’s scored 9 in La Liga. I also wished we had Winging Full back a la Evra for the right and left side. BTW did Chelsea get Vida’s teammate?
January 29th, 2008 at 13:34
Jay Jay: Trip to Saudi.. Not Dubai…
Sun gives Vitamin D not C…
I love it when Wenger and other managers say such things.. Just shows United is playing on their minds…
January 29th, 2008 at 13:39
Had a massive response typed out, but it disappeared. Will try again
January 29th, 2008 at 13:49
I think it will be more than 5 years for Tevez, but even if not, I will be happy.
As Ian said, I am glad Tevez said what he felt (unlike the other Argie whose name I will never ever mention again). The way he performs on the pitch for us, I will forgive him almost anything.
This bring me to another point. Hypocrisy perhaps?
Take Carrick for example. He plays his heart out every game for us. Yet, people (ok not everybody) want him kicked out of the club. Someone that gives his best and is not really a bad player we want out. Where’s the loyalty in that? Yet, when it comes to the players, we expect them to have unconditional loyalty towards the club.
I can understand the psychology of both player and fan, but we need to remember that this is the players’ carreer. He need to make the most of his career and make the most financial gain from it as well (ala Brown/Evra). At the end of the day, it’s a short career and when its over, its over. Take Cantona for example. Almost all of us loves him to bits. But, how many of us have ever contributed a penny towards his daily income since he retired from football?
regarding Wenger:
I think the papers are trying to make a story where there is no story.
All Wenger said was that he has never done it, but he understand why SAF did it. Also its not as easy as just doing it because it can have consequences. He said nothing more, nothing less.
January 29th, 2008 at 13:51
If Evra really asked for top wages, he must actually be slightly nuts. Oh wait, having read various interviews with him, he does sound a bit crazy.
But he’s nuts in that great, love United play hard way. Legend.
January 29th, 2008 at 15:19
“It’ll be too late, really, by the time we get him back and get a permit,†he said. “We’ll probably farm him out somewhere else for the remainder of the season.â€-fergie on man utd.com
:(:(:( DAMMIT! i thought we would actually see him playing for us and helping us out during the latter stages of the season
January 29th, 2008 at 16:28
cant blame him really, it’s like scholes and oldham, it wont hapen.
January 29th, 2008 at 17:29
NICE stmnt RedRanter- “But our worn-out team still beat a Tottenham side that just destroyed the “custodians of beautiful football†a few days before”. The fucking Arsen Wanker is just feeling the pressure.
Where the fuck is grognard; apart from me work, i have not really posted on this site because of the lad’s abscence. Really loved the battles we fucking had at times. GROGNARD- U FUCKING PUSSY come out of your Shell or is mama caging ur canadian ass.
January 29th, 2008 at 17:46
I wouldn’t say carrick gives his all like tevez does. The players who really put their hearts into it are rooney, tevez, park, vidic and hargreaves.
January 29th, 2008 at 18:31
i believe evra is working very hard as well. i like his attitude to the game. rooney, tevez, park, vidic, hargreaves — no doubt at all. they are the new generation. anderson seems to be quite hardworking as well.
we need more of such dedicated people
January 29th, 2008 at 19:04
Tevez: There is more than one way of putting your heart into something, and that is not necessarily through work rate. Other players may look more languid/lazy/relaxed but they are still putting their all into the game. Careful selection of your movement and positioning is normally more effective than running around like a headless chicken.
January 29th, 2008 at 19:47
Wayne Rooney has scored 10 goals this season for United in every competition. 4 of them were scored at Old Trafford. He hasnt scored at Old Trafford since 7th December 2007. That is a long time! Hope he scores tomorrow against Pompey.
January 29th, 2008 at 21:28
I can’t say I fault Tevez. The guy is loyal to his boyhood club, and I respect that. It’s a shame he wants to leave at 28, but he is paying United respect by giving us ample time to prepare for it. When his loan runs out in 2 years, the best we can do is sign him to a 3 year contract because he wouldn’t take any more. The problem is that we won’t be getting any money for him, despite the fact that he could very well be the best striker in the world in 5 years. Hopefully by then Welbeck will be at the point that he and Rooney are now. I also would not be surprised if his departure is hastened by SAF’s retirement, should that occur in maybe 4 years.
Also, I completely agree with karl. Carrick is a fantastic player, as I have said for a while. I am a bit disappointed he and Hargreaves haven’t had the opportunity to play together more often, as I was very much looking forward to that before the campaign began. If he does have any fault, I would say it’s his consistency. However, I don’t think you can entirely blame that on him due to the depth we have at CM. We have 4 quality players at that position and I can understand SAF having trouble getting them all in. But when Carrick is on his game, I have never seen United play better as a team.
January 29th, 2008 at 22:12
but bcsteve, when scholes is at his best are team plays great, when andy is at his best(which is most if not all the time) we play at are best, when hargo plays at his best(which is most of the time) are defence and midfield is at its best, i think andy is everything carrick is not, andy is consistent, carrick is not, andy is creative, carrick most of the time isnt, andy can run pass defenders, carrick can not and theres a few other things andy can do and carrick.
January 29th, 2008 at 22:33
Im with dan,carrick may have this “passing range” but this season it hasnt been there frankly.Anderson came on in the 80 min on sunday and gave rooney a wonderfully chipped pass.anderson has much more pace and this brings a great amount of speed to our game on counters.Carrick may be good but andy is better and will be world class if he isnt already.Regarding tevez,4 or 5 years is a hell of a long time.Alot can happen.
January 29th, 2008 at 22:56
I also agree with Dan. Anderson can do much more than Carrick, and he does it much better. He can tackle, pass and run past defenders. No other midfielder in our squad can do all that. Being great defensive and offensive I mean!
BTW…I just wonder, can Evra play tomorrow? According to my stats,he has now got 5 yellow cards in England this season. 4 in Premiership and 1 in FA cup against Spurs. Does that mean that he can play or not? And I think Rooney also has 4 yellow cards this season.He better watch it with Spurs, City and Arsenal just around the corner.
January 30th, 2008 at 0:40
We might just extend(if possible) the loan from west ham another 2-3 years
if we can.
Regarding the evra deal, i doubt we’re going to shell out 120k a week for him
while he’s a quality attacking defender, he’s not irreplacable
He should settle for the 60k he deserves
Also, for arsenal, this game will just keep us on our tows and will should if aresene wenger is right about the saudi arabia trip being a bad idea
January 30th, 2008 at 4:35
Hargreaves is mostly a destructive option, vital for the European games if we want to play a three man central midfield and mark dangerous creative midfielders out of the game. But in most of our Premier League matches he does not contribute that much to our attacking play. At least with Carrick (when he is on form) you get defensive qualities alongside some playmaking. Anderson has it all, he just needs more experience and perhaps better positioning, decision making. But I think he can become the most complete central midfielder we have had. Scholes is the most intelligent and experienced midfielder and still the player who can change a game with a moment of brilliance as well as just keep our midfield ticking.
Really it amazes me how far we’ve come from the days when we had to play Giggs and O’Shea in the centre and Fletcher played regularly!
Our team is really so complete! While we could still maybe do with an extra defender, a replacement for Neville, and maybe an extra striker, I truly believe this squad is the strongest in the world.
January 30th, 2008 at 4:41
The commentator said in the last game that Evra will miss the next game.So that means O’Shea plays at left back. Anyway it’s high time Pique got a chance. He’ll probably partner Rio and Brown plays at right back.
Hargreaves doesn’t have to play every game, esp against opposition that struggle to score goals. We can play any two of Carrick/Scholes/Anderson in midfield. And Fletcher? Well…
January 30th, 2008 at 6:22
any tips for the team today…?
January 30th, 2008 at 8:18
Pique is injured so I think Simmo is more likely to replace Evra.
January 30th, 2008 at 9:19
it sgoing to be
vds
simmo
rio
borwn
oshea
ronny
hargo
andy
giggs
rooney
tevez?
reports say tevez is feeling strain from no break.
January 30th, 2008 at 11:21
Wow, I just love how much stick some people give Carrick on here. Anderson is a great talent, don’t get me wrong, but he definitely isn’t all Carrick is and more. He doesn’t have the decision making, nor passing range, nor ability to play balls into space. He’s very good, and all of those things will come in time, but as of right now I’d rather have a confident Carrick controlling the tempo of the game alongside Anderson/Hargreaves than those two together. Neither of them know when to put their foot on the ball and slow it down/speed it up.
Of course if Scholes is back it renders the point moot – because he really is all Carrick is plus more
January 30th, 2008 at 13:10
c’mon Beachryan…
who tells you andy has no “passing range”! go watch the highlights of these games and you’ll agree that the boy is got that; Utd vs Bolton, Utd vs arsenal, utd vs Wigan, utd vs Villa and Utd vs Lisbon.
talk about confidence! a man who doesnt care marking Fabregas out of the game and later on Gerrard’ how dare you doubt his confidence. it looks like carrick even fears loosing possession of the ball, which is part of the game coz you never see a team with 100% ball possession. i recall against Spurs recently the guy was playing as a number 8 and Ronaldo dashes inside with the ball, instead of Carrick spacing his fuckin’ self to receive the ball and shoot, he’s stood flat footed pointing to the wings for Ronaldo to pass there, you then wonder wat a hell had brought him at the edge of the 18 yard box.
Is that what you call good decision making? Ok how many times has he been in scoring positions when we eagerly need a goal and he opts for a pass to someone off the scoring angle? Is that the right decission making. And how many times has escorted the opponent from our midfield and he remembers to make a tackle when approaching our penalty box causing serious free kicks in dangerous positions? Is that the right decisio making? how many times has he been put under pressure by the opposition and instead of doing the easiest thing possible, he opts for the hardest and something beyond his capabilities? Is that the right decision making?
However that doesnt mean am faulting him to be a bad player and someone who makes United perform badly. No and with a big NO! he’s good and adds something to the team but all we should agree with is that he’s a good player but Anderson is a better player compared to him.
Viva United!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 30th, 2008 at 15:34
I did not mean to start another Carrick debate. I were trying to make a point (in hindsight, perhaps citing Park/Fletcher as examples would have been a simpler option).
I agree with Beachryan. I am a great Anderson fan. I know he WILL become the next superstar. Reality is, he’s not there yet. He’s still a bit reckless with his passing at times. He also seem afraid to get into goal-scoring positions (even during Sunday’s cameo I were dissapointed at his ‘unwillingness’ to run into space towards goal when without the ball). No doubt he is more skillful than Carrick, but his inexperience against Carrick shows.
I still prefer a Carrick/Anderson pairing. This have nothing to do with who is better, Hargo, Scholes or Carrick. It just kinda gives our team a special dimension, because opposition do not know where the next defense-splitting pass is going to come from. I find that when the 2 of them play together, the responsibility are shared, as apposed to when Carrick/Scholes played last season – Scholes was given the responsibility of splitting defenses up. Perhaps SAF will consider Anderson/Carrick for certain games and Scholes/Hargo for others?
January 30th, 2008 at 15:36
I said this before…we all veiw Anderson like he can do no wrong. If he gives the ball away let’s say 5 times in a match you say that it’s because he is young and he will learn in time. If Carrick gives it away 2 or 3 times in a match everyone jumps on his back and call him inconsistant. Frankly, I would rather have Carrick on instead of Hargreaves because so far Hargo hasn’t proved himself that he is worth the price tag and IMO Carrick has.
It’s really a toss up between our 4 CMs as far as selection goes. Scholes is a legend and is great for long range shots which is something we have been lacking recently but right now he is rusty and even before his injury he was playing too negatively. Anderson brings great energy and urgency to the team and can produce a killer pass on occasion. However he is naive and hasn’t produced even a half-decent effort on goal.
January 30th, 2008 at 16:05
ya right liam as if carrick has tons of goals under his belt .Now Fergie should really give andy
some lessons in scorin a goal or two then u guys might have a different opinion.
January 31st, 2008 at 0:31
First of all I would just like to say some things about the comments regarding how much the players give on the pitch. Yes…Hargreaves, Tevez, Park and Rooney run like crazy and Vidic goes into each tackle with a 110% Does this mean that they give more than the other players…no! This is there way of playing but consider if a player like Ronaldo would to the same thing. He would be too tired to do what he is best at….taking on players, scoring and setting up goals. Also, what a player does during the games is just a part of his performances. Yes you might argue that it is the games that matter, but – once again using Ronaldo as an example – he is supposed to spend hours of extra training just to improve his game…is that not giving everything?
Also for this CM discussion. I would not like to say who is right or wrong regarding which of the players that are better than the others…to me they are all very good and in different ways. Carrick has been very good since he came and wihtout question was a crucial part of last seasons PL successful campaign. He’s very calm and his eye for the game is amazing and so is his passing. Anderson is a great talent and has been very good this far. He’s a bit more explosive than Carrick but his passing is not yet as good as Carrick’s. Hargreaves is without question the best defensive midfielder. He’s a great tackler, is good at set pieces and is – on the contrary to earlier comments – fast and quickly gets the attack going. Scholes is a mix of a great passer and has arguably the best eye for the game and finds empty spaces no one else is thinking about. However he is not as good as any of the other three when it comes to the defensive role. So, they are all great players with different skills, it’s just finding the right mix for the right game…
February 1st, 2008 at 9:42
hartmannvison is spot on