29 May 2018 09:41:29
Wonder what you folks think about the Bale situation.
I baulk at the astronomical amount required for the transfer. Much as I think Bale would add great strength to our team obviously, I just feel the amount could be spent more wisely buying 2-5 more players.
Imagine if he joins us and plays 20 games and got injured and spends 2/ 3 of the season recuperating, what would be said if Jose's purchase? I sincerely would love him to join us and lead the attack and tear the competition but a cautious and logical part of me is saying "hold your horses".
Views please Eds and fellow posters?

1.) 29 May 2018
29 May 2018 09:56:04
If he plays 20 games. He will probably help us win 15 of those.

2.) 29 May 2018
29 May 2018 10:36:37
The figures in the press are just numbers plucked from the air. No one is going to pay a 200m transfer fee for a players who has been injured and not first choice for his team.

However, his wages aren't likely to drop, so the 135m over 5 years is probably relatively accurate. It means blowing our wages structure for someone who is as likely to be injured as hi is fit.

I think Bale when fit and on form is a top top player. I just don't think he is likely to be fit often enough to justify the cost.

3.) 29 May 2018
29 May 2018 11:45:33
Our wage structure? Please explain? United do not have a wage structure. Wouldn’t be a Surprise if Alexis was on more $$$ that GB.

4.) 29 May 2018
29 May 2018 12:24:30
If Bales reported wages are accurate and the same for Sanchez then Bale will be on around 25% more than our highest earner. You can't increase the wage of your highest earner by that much an not expect others to demand more money as well. Pogba, Lukaku, DDG. Then suddenly your out goings in terms of wages have spiralled out of control.

Some will say it already has, and it's hard to argue with that. But digging the hole deeper has never been a great strategy to get out of the hole.

5.) 29 May 2018
29 May 2018 12:46:00
So what are the reported wages of each player? Wages at the club are already out of control.

6.) 29 May 2018
29 May 2018 13:15:25
The money to get Bale would be crazy. I can’t help but feel we are falling into the same trap as city did when they first got their money. Remember when they offered crazy money for Kaka.

The irony is city and Liverpool are now making purchases based on a game plan and appear to be buying well. If rumours are to be believed Liverpool are close to getting Fekir. I must say a midfield oh Keita, Fabinho and Fekir looks good on paper. All they need is a keeper and a CB and they will have significantly improved their squad.

I personally believe in terms of balance their squad is better than ours and here is food for thought, put Degea in their goal and they would have gone close to winning the league and would have won the champions league. Put Karius and Mignolet in our goal and we would not have finished in the top half. I know it’s not that simple, but anybody that says Liverpool and spurs will not be a threat next season are dillusional.

If we put alll our eggs in one basket (bale) and ignore the fact that we need a Fred, a Savic and a better DM, a RB, a LB, a CB
, a RW and a back up striker we will struggle to finish in the top 4 next season.
The likes of Jones, Smalling, Darmian, Blind, Fellaini, Herrera and dare I say it Mata need to be moved on. I know I will get accused of wanting new toys, but that is not it. Jones and Smalling have had more than enough chances to shine and have not. Darmian is not suited to the prem, blind has been tidy, but is too slow. Herrera is a player I really like, but without a proper RW to scare the other team and attract player there by creating space for Herrera to exploit he is being wasted as a man marker. Fellaini has had his moment, has scored goals, but is not creative enough or quick enough over the ground. Mata is great as a human being and as a creator. He needs to be played as a 10, but is being wasted as RW. He is to slow, too weak and never a RW. He is everything you would want in a player, talented, intelligent, works hard, never complains, but he is being criminally wasted on the RW.

Ed Woodward, I know big names keep united in the headlines which helps secure tractor deals, but come on winning things would also keep us in the headlines.

{Ed004's Note - Tbf if we signed Bale and Fred I think it would be pretty clear what our first choice front 6 would be. It seems that Jose has started to play 433 a lot more near the end of the season. I think he realises that'll be the best way to get the best out of Pogba and Sanchez. I'm still doubting whether I want us to sign Bale but whatever happens we need to sort out that right hand side of the pitch. One point I'd like to make is I don't think we need to upgrade our DM. Well certainly not for the upcoming season. Matic was possibly our player of the season last year. I think if you surround him in a midfield with mobile players (Fred, Herrera, Pogba, McTominay etc) it gives him the platform to excel. I love Mata but wouldn't be devastated to see him leave. We have come across slow and ponderous at times this season so I'm all for signing quick and mobile players to improve upon this}

7.) 29 May 2018
29 May 2018 13:23:05
500k for Sanchez, 650k for Bale. There are rumours that Sanchez's wages have raised a few eyebrows amoungst the players and unsettled some. Fellaini was asking for 175k supposedly to stay. Which compared to how Sanchez has performed since he signed makes Fellaini's wage demands a bit of a bargain to be honest.

But that is the problem. Woodward seems happy to chuck wages at certain players if it means the club have signed someone he can use to bring in another sponsorship deal.

I don't think this will end well.

8.) 29 May 2018
29 May 2018 13:31:08
Dont get into fanances. Just taste the mango don't worry about what tree its been picked from.

9.) 29 May 2018
29 May 2018 13:44:53
Shappy it seems reports that are circulating online have Sanchez’s wage at 505k and Bales at 350k. Taking into account Sanchez signed without a huge fee attached and that this deal was peak player transfer inflation in a winter window combined with the fact the there were others in for his services such as City, it says to Maze he is likely on a higher wage.

Of course we will never know for sure. The wage structure at United is already flawed as has been alluded to above due to the size and scope of pay levels.

{Ed004's Note - I thought that Sanchez on 500k a week contract was a myth and hugely exaggerated. He's the only player I've seen sign on fee, potential bonuses and other clauses all added up together to get a weekly figure at. Not surprised they are doing it. Sure even today the mirror has Bale costing us over 300 million as their front page cover with Fabinho signing in small at the top only consisting of his transfer fee. Its almost as if he's playing for free}

10.) 29 May 2018
29 May 2018 13:48:55
Singh trust me when I tell you there are many types of mangoes with different prices and sweetness. It doesn’t mean that the sweetest and best are the most expensive. Alfonso mangoes are not the most expensive managers in India but definitely good and sweet 😉🤣.

11.) 29 May 2018
29 May 2018 14:41:05
Lolllll 666. I love alfonsoes they definitely are one of the best.

12.) 29 May 2018
29 May 2018 14:50:34
Singh, finances shouldn't be an issue to fans, but to say they don't effect the club would be wrong.

I want what is best for our club, and that often means finding the right balance between investment and sensibility. Signing players have direct effects on our current players, and our future ability to sign players.

The "it's not my money" mentality is very shortsighted and wrong.

All the money the club receives in some way comes from the fans.

Whether that is directly in the form of paying to watch the team or buy merchandise. Or indirectly by maintaining a large fan base which the club exploits to bring in sponsorship deals. Without the fans investing their time and money into the club it would cease to exist.

A wise investment in terms of players is one who will have the biggest impact on the pitch. They improve results, they improve style and they make fans want to watch and want to buy the merchandise.

Big name signings only work if they perform on the pitch. If not then they are an expensive waste of money.

Since Sir Alex retired how many of our big name signings have honestly worked out?

Mata club record signing.
Schweinsteiger.
Di Maria.
Falcao.
Zlatan.
Pogba.
Lukaku.
Sanchez.

That's 8 players in 5 years, only four are still at the club. Mata is a squad player, there are question marks over Pogba, many questioned Lukaku until the final third of the season, and the best we can say about Sanchez is he should kick on next season. Although there are no guarantees.

So it's fair to say we haven't had much success, most of these signings were made as statements rather that what the team really needed.

Is Bale what we really need? Another statement signing who'll likely never live up to his billing. A player who heavily relies on pace, who has struggled with injuries in a far less intense league, signed on high wages and is unlikely to stay fit for much more than half a season at best.

Magic was our best signing last season, and Bailly the year before. Not fancy names, but good players with the attributes the team needs.

13.) 29 May 2018
29 May 2018 16:00:04
I get what you mean Shappy. I would rather keep Martial and get the guys firing but hey we haven't got control over these things so if Mourinho thinks he can make use of Bale for half a season then so be it.

I doubt it we will go for him to be fair as we have other issues to deal with first.

14.) 29 May 2018
29 May 2018 20:36:25
Shappy, I don't think any of those are comparable to Bale, all for different reasons, including not wanting to be here, LVG's 'style' of play, end of careers, attitude, no premiership experience etc.