Manchester United Banter Archive April 12 2013

 

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12 Apr 2013 19:03:05
Hopefully we can go on and win our remaining games and win the League comfartably with 2-3 games remaining. This would enable us to play our youngsters so that they could gain some invaluable first team experience and see if any players will be ready to be blooded next season or a loan move to enable them to develop even more.

Generally the pre-season has been used to test our youth/reserve players but some much needed EPL action would surely be more beneficial.

Mad Hatter

Believable17 Unbelievable2

Not going to happen. We'll go to stone and scrape a draw at best. West ham too, by that time city will only be 8 points behind us and the nerves will kick in.
All the time fergie, will be playing the usual clueless tactics, and blaming the team for not playing well, when welbeck is playing on the wing, Jones playing out of position, smalling playing out of position at right back, Rooney and rvp playing despite the goal drought while Hernandez sits in the bench twiddling his thumbs!
It is our manager who needs to start performing as since the Madrid game, he's been useless.

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I have no problem with differing opinions, but if you re going to be so 'challenging', at least leave a name so we all know who you are.

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12 Apr 2013 18:53:49
Fully expect given the rumours and, well. it just being us, Begovic will have the game of his season on Sunday. Tough match but i'm looking forward to it.

Believable8 Unbelievable2

12 Apr 2013 17:48:08
12 points clear and having a ball at the minute. BUT I've had a season ticket since 2006 and the last couple seasons the quality of football has started to dissapear. This season has been an improvement on the last 2 seasons but its still not up to the double winning team of 2008.

The only way we are going to get back to those days is with a clearout of the deadwood at the club. I know people will say well we had Ronaldo but we can still get back to quality football without needing him to return. Fergie has always said that when Scholes and Giggs retired he would need to spend £30+million to replace them. Scholes this season and Giggs next year will be the time to replace them.

OUT:-
Nani
Scholes
Anderson
Fletcher
Macheda

IN:-
Zaha
Gotze or Erkisen (Scholes Replacement)
Strootman or Wanyama

RedKnight

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When Scholes retired the first time did we spend £30+million? I hope this time Fergie sticks to his word or our club might start to decline due to the midfield not being able to control a game!

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Scholes retired last season and a replacement wasn't bought

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Fergie reiterated his regret at not buying a Scholes replacement when he brought him back and said he wouldn't make the same mistake again.

RedKnight

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12 Apr 2013 16:55:34
If possible which all are, a cb, a cm, st, and 2 wingers. Cb varane, cm goetze, st falcao, wing, di maria. All possible as for money new deal gives us money plus other sponsership, and people leaving, rooney, welbeck hopfully because he is awful, nani and a few others.

Believable2 Unbelievable12

Oh dear, you want an overhaul of the full squad then? When does that ever work? Welbeck is a good player and is improving all the time.

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I think wellbeck could be a great player!
Chris the REDman

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Welbeck is improving in some respects but he has gone backwards as a goalscorer, and lacks the ability to be a creative force. His movement has vastly improved, his work rate is top class, and he is excellent at pressing the opposition further up the pitch. However, his lack of goals, assists and key passes means that every time he plays we are choosing to play a defensive forward instead of a real attacking force. As it stands he is nothing more than a useful option in tight games rather than a quality attacker.

Danny Pughnited

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12 Apr 2013 17:16:05
Really pleased to see all 4 teams in the semi finals of the Champions League are owned by the suppporters and not greedy money grabbing Americans who don't support the club or care about it but just see it as a money making object they can rinse

Believable11 Unbelievable11

Yawn inducing provincial smugness! Without the Glazer business model we would be in a far worse position. With it we will be the most investment-capable club in the world.

Aesop

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I'm more pleased for the german sides who got where they are by operating within their means, particularly Dortmund who's rebuilding process from near financial ruin has been truely impressive. Something like £30m net spent over 10 years when we've spent more than that in each of the last 2 years. Impressive.

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Fair point but you have mentioned this time and time again. Although Real Madrid have been/or are bankrolled by their local government or something along those lines as well as managing a lot of debt too.



Mad Hatter

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. I AM KLOOT, you can maintain this footballing socialistic stance against the Glazers for as long as you want - and I am sure you will.

However I suspect your position is going to weaken over time as the Americans strengthen the financial position of United year on year. This patter has emerged and shows no sign of changing.

They may have taken the club backwards initially, however I am slowly coming round to their methods and for one see a very shrewd business model that is hopefully going to give United a very firm financial base over the next five years and beyond. And the reality is they don't give a monkey's toss if I come round to them or not - and they feel just the same about you.

I still subscribe to Sky, pass through their turnstiles, buy my son the odd shirt and consume food and drink inside the ground on occasion.

I think there are also (sadly, as a football supporter who regularly watches Championship football too) going to be new broadcast opportunities that will strengthen that position yet further. I fear that this will be at the expense of the lower divisions, however a brave new era with a European League probably awaits. That will help them yet further.

I'm afraid some of the issues you have with United are Premiership wide. It has become a corporate spectator sport that is marginalising the traditional supporter (and his son. ) This was not started by the Glaziers, they have simply seized upon the opportunity and I don't blame them. If I could have done I would have done.

There are many circumstances prior that helped them - some of which were engineered by SAF's own (irrelevant) personal battles on the race track. I don't see you chastising him for his part? Even more so why don't you pick on his seeming U-turn on his own socialistic ideals that were fostered during his childhood? One knighthood and very large bank balance later have helped him do that - and fair play to him. Ironic that he lives "the American dream!"

The fact they are American is wholly irrelevant. They have every right to do what they did - just as you have every right to save up your money and buy an NFL, NBA or MLB Franchise. Why not do this and strike back for Britain or all of the fathers that can no longer afford to take their kids?

I think its time you moved on. Save yourself an ulcer, and acknowledge that we arguably have the best overseas owners going. Forget their leveraged buyout that will possibly be a memory quite soon, we could be suffering ownership styles from Villa, Blackburn or Liverpool. We could be at the mercy of a Russian or middle-eastern play thing who could drop the club in to financial meltdown at the whim of one of their wives!

I'm not a puppet before you suggest, I'm old enough to remember some of the more embarrassing chairman that have controlled United's destiny through the 70's and 80's, and as I see it things could be a mighty lot worse at Old Trafford right now.

I think you may need to be careful what you wish for! It may be that worse owners are on the horizon, I for one would have no issue with the Glaziers being he in 20 years time!

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Yeah, Real Madrid have just got by with the help of their supporters. Dream on KLOOT :)

StevieK

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Cant afford a franchise, glazers charge me to much bloody money!
Chris the REDman

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I forgot were in a great position only £300+million in the red what's to worry about, how can we be in a far better position? for all the extra revenue the beverley hillbillys have brought in 3 times more has gone in the opposite direction in interest payments and costs. get your noses out of there ar sol es they are parasites nothing else they have no connection or interest in Manchester United other than money and greed. we went for moura we went for hazzard we didn't get them, why do you think that was? because we wouldn't go the extra mile but it looked good for the fans who will believe anything if they polish it up the right way.
johndenton

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American owners are greedy. It would be awesome if we could be financed by banks and the Royal family like a certain side based in Madrid are.

Real Madrid supporters only have voting rights to determine who the President is. They don't "own" anything.

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Totally agree about Bayern and Dortmund. German football is the most sensibly run league without a doubt. To have both Barca and Real with them is fantastic for football, but remember Barca and Real are hoovering up the vast majority of TV money in Spain to the detriment of the rest of the league - it is not a level playing field there.
Regarding the Glazers. Yes, they are building a huge franchise, but franchises are bought and sold at the owners whim - what will everyone be saying when the Glazers sell and the new owners again use the clubs income to fund the purchase. A football club should not be a franchise! It should not be the play-thing of businessmen and billionaires. I hate the word franchise - it doesn't even apply to us.

J Bones.

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The eulogy for the Glazers is off target and plainly wrong. How many years will it take us to catch up with other clubs given the money we have spent on interest and debt? I will no doubt see posts on how our owners are commercially astute but without the debt they piled on us for the last few years where might we have been?

Teams that dominate have a period where they need to maximise opportunities and win the big prizes. Just look at the great sides and remember in our period recently we won one EC. How many more might we have won if the Ronaldo money hadn't been needed to stop us making a loss or if our income had gone on players instead of interest?
We will spend the next few years within financial restraints due to the debt, won't be able to compete for certain players. It is not just what we are spending or doing but what we might have done without the debt millstone round our necks.
All this is going to do is give the Glazers a nice big asset they can sell on at some point and we have paid for it. They are astute businessmen no doubt about it but open your eyes to where we are and where we could have been. Ask why we only have 3 EC's whilst we have dominated in England, sure our Managers lack of tactical acumen is part but not being able to use our real financial strength is another. However we are a good cash cow that can carry a debt better than most clubs so hail the Glazers for that

Red Man

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It really is ridiculous to even say that the Glazers financial model is a good one. Our club was run properly with no debts before they came. They have put us in a terrible financial position while lining their pockets.
Without them or with more responsible owners, our club would have been in a much better position.
But equally, they are not totally to blame, our manager has gone out and bought talents such as Anderson, Valencia, nani, young, over tan, tosic! All average players at best ( and if you have noticed, all apart from Anderson are wingers). So don't just blame the Glazers, the manager and his assistants are also to blame.

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14 Apr 2013 00:04:40
So @johndenton, the debt has been more than halved, with the reality being the second half will be cleared even quicker as bigger and more sponsorship agreements are put in place.

So, the Glaziers took money out of the club. Big deal. No amount of money would have won the Champions League this year and we've just about won the Premiership.

Hazzard. CHOSE Chelsea. Why. Money.

Moura. CHOSE PSG. Why. Money.

You really are so naive if you believe every world class player will pick United. Get over it. Has it ever occurred to you that it was SAF that said they - or the agent - were asking for too much? You have no evidence at all that the Glaziers blocked either purchase.

Extra mile. utterly ridiculous. If we have to go the "extra mile" to sign a player he clearly doesn't want to play for United. Did United have to go the extra mile for RVP - I sense not.

We need players that want to play for United, not those that need to be persuaded financially. Personally I'm glad Hazzard is where he is. Didn't do too bad without him did we?

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12 Apr 2013 16:57:45
Not United related I know lads, but the Semi Finals of the Champions League is looking good! I am 100% backing Dortmund for the Real-Dortmund game, if we can nearly defeat the mighty madrid, then imagine the damage Borussia could do when they play some of the best football in the world imo, I really don't want an El Clasico Final, I'd love to see the Germans in it just because I really am not a fan of Spanish teams as of late!

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I will take real in that one. I think it will be a real/bayern final.

shahram

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I believe Bayern will beat Barca and I think quite convincingly.
The Real/Dortmund tie is a tough one I think how Ronaldo plays over the two legs will be pivotal. If Dortmund played with santana and subotic that could be irrelevant I think it needs to be hummels and subotic.
DHK

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This real team is a different team to the one earlier in the group stages. Both in terms of personnel available, form, morale and the dressing room.

Mourinho is a tactical genius and fully expect him to get real to the finals. Still think Bayern will win it all.

Shahram

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I agree with shahram that Bayern will get through and win it. The tie between Madrid and Dortmund is a bit more difficult to call. I think Madrid have got good form coming intoi the semi, so they might edge it over two ties.
I think Bayern deserve to win it as they've shown fantastic skill, spirit and tactics.
And after all that, they'll have pep as their manager next year! We better get our finger out if we want to match them next year.
Nomidfield

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No midfield

I agree with your Bayern sentiment.

Here is something for everyone when they say we do not need a revolution but evolution. This Bayern team has a great chance of winning the treble but come this summer they are going to offload potentially 8 players and build around a core group of existing players and new signings for what they believe is the future.

They are one of the most admired and well run Football organizations around and hats off to them.

Shahram

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12 Apr 2013 16:50:13
Veseli (spelling) looks a real talent, hopefully he and a few others can get a run in the cups next season or if we win the league in the next few games they could play in the last few fixtures.

Believable4 Unbelievable3

Unless he's improved recently I don't rate him saw quite a few u21 games earlier in the season and he didn't stand out
johndenton

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He's another also ran, just like tunnicliffe, petrucci, et al. Not a special talent at all.

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12 Apr 2013 16:29:59
Lingard deserves to be into the first team next season.

Believable7 Unbelievable15

Any justification or explanation behind this or do you have united reserves Tourette's?

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Come on Jono, don't be shy. Sign your posts! :)

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12 Apr 2013 15:54:51
Firstly, I can't believe anyone really thinks that we are not going to win the league. It would be virtually impossible to lose it, and SAF will not allow the team to fold under the pressure.
Secondly I have to applaud him for what he has done this year. To come back from the gut-wrenching loss of the league last year to go on and win it this year is an outstanding achievement. His purchase of RVP was undoubtedly the catalyst for this.
Thirdly, I believe that this summers transfers will be what decide our future, especially in midfield. Yes, Carrick had a great season, but will this continue to the next. I really believe that Giggs has over-achieved and that he will become next year, what Scholes has become this season, a man past the point of retirement. Anderson is a total loss at this stage. I said last summer that he deserves another year to prove himself, and he has failed miserably. Fletcher does not look like ever getting back to his old self. Cleverly has not progressed like we all hoped he would (although with better players around him he would become a much more accomplished player - but great players make a team better, regardless of the talent around them). Young isn't good enough. Valencia deserves another year to try and regain his old form - for people to dismiss him so easily is just wrong. Nani is too inconsistent. Jones is an adapted center-half, who may just turn out to be an outstanding midfielder. Kagawa is being played out of position, and it is also his first season so he is just settling in and may flourish next season, but not as central midfielder or winger. Rooney is not a midfielder - and will never be a midfielder.
So, to surmise, one of the greatest club teams in the world does not have a world-class midfielder - that's shocking. I believe that SAF has to really sort out this problem.
We will never compete in europe unless we strengthen with top, top class midfielders. (and please don't bring up Nani's red card, we probably lost because SAF, instead of immediately re-enforcing midfield and organising the team, went rambling on for 5 minutes about the injustice of it)
We have to become a force in europe and get back to making the semi's and final on a consistent basis. It was to europe that Busby looked for us to become truly great, don't forget that. And to do that SAF has to bring in the best players. Buying a world-class striker last year has proven this (I dread to think of what our season would have been like if RVP had gone to City - just imagine that for a minute).

J Bones.

P. S. I am leaving my old friend Evra for another post - how is he still our #1 left-back? where was he for Aguero's goal? out of bl***y position again.

Believable11 Unbelievable2

Spot on Bones! Where have you been? I always found your posts logical - not following the "sheep. "
Which world class midfielder did you have in mind? I feel Strootman, Lewandowski (sic!) and Falcao would be brill. Get rid of Anderson, Nani, Scholes and yes. Rooney. I can't believe I just said that - but we are talking about underachieving
Steve

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Agree with almost all of this, well said.

It's refreshing to read a post that sees both the positives of what we have achieved this season but also our shortfalls and limitations. A very balanced post.

Agree with it almost word for word, although I'd keep Young as a squad player for 1 more year, just for practical reasons.

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Great post mate and very well said.

Shahram

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Evra's positioning was that of a midfielder he left Jones stranded.
DHK

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Steve, I honestly fear that SAF will not strengthen central midfield. He sees Carrick playing so good this year that he is an automatic pick next season. Zaha has been bought to cover the wing. He will give Kagawa a chance to prove himself, and the way he has spoken of Jones lately I am beginning to believe he sees him as a central midfielder. I think he will start with the Cleverly/Carrick partnership and chop and change from there. There is a lot of talk about Strootman - how true is this gossip? It will certainly be an interesting summer.

J Bones.

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Dear Mr Bones it will indeed be "an interesting summer!"
All this speculation certainly whets the appetite - but who really knows?
Steve

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12 Apr 2013 15:15:29
"The next season starts 18 weeks tommorrow! Come on!"

Is this for real! This was taken from the liverpool bantar page. This has to be someone joking, cause if its not, someones keen aren't they!

So what happens when Liverpool lose the opening game of next season?

"Only 52 weeks till the start of the 2014 - 2015 season!"

aaallj5

Believable7 Unbelievable1

12 Apr 2013 14:58:14
Very disappointed to read that Valencia has admitted that we are scared of throwing away the title again. Really poor attitude, you would never of seen Scholes, Giggs, Ronaldo, Keane, Schmeical etc say anything like that during the run in - even if a part of them believed it.

Believable7 Unbelievable6

100% with that Fresh! Imagine if he had said that with Keane in the team haha!

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Fresh, Valencia is not the most accomplished in terms of speaking english. His words were probably a bit " changed ". For all we know he was saying the team is working hard not to repeat last season's failiures.

You know how the press manipulates everything.

Mick

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12 Apr 2013 13:38:51
something shappy said the other day got me thinking. Talking about welbeck and his way of playing with his head up meaning instead of shooting he's looking to pass. Maybe instead of striker he'd be better as an attacking mid? Maybe one of the three behind a striker? Couldn't hurt to try it.

Believable11 Unbelievable9

12 Apr 2013 15:15:50
I think that would be his best position, probably one of the wider roles in a 4232 would be best for him. He has the work rate, vision and passing. He brings people into the game and creates chances. personally I feel that's where he'll end up playing.

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Or we could play him as lift side striker ;)

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So Shappy we are dropping De Gea to make room for Bambi :)

Attacking midfielder qualities:

1. Good passer Not welbeck
2. Can shoot and hit the target and score from outside the 18 yard NOT Welbeck
3. Great ball control Not welbeck
4. Technically gifted Not welbeck
5. Scores goals and has assists Not Welebeck
6. Composure and intelligent Not Welbeck

I guess he is ideal given how low our standards must be to consider him for that role.

Shahram

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12 Apr 2013 18:32:27
Opps, that was ment to be 4231 obviously. Lol.

Welbeck's pass completion rate is in the high 80's, so I would say he passes very well. Last season he had the second highest pass completion rate of any striker anywhere in europe. So the boy can pass.

He has imagination and vision, some of the flicks, lay offs and through balls he tries are excellent. They may not always come off but the idea is there.

He does appear abit bambi legged at times but that will fade as he becomes more accustomed to his body. He had growing issues when he was younger and as such has taken longer to become physically able to handle the prem, this has put him back abit in his development.

His touch is much better than our other English forward, you know the one we paid 27m for. And for such a tall player his touch is very good.

If you remember his debut he scored a 30 yard screamer so he can finish from outside of the box, and his goal against Sweden shows he can score great goals from inside of the box.

His composure has been an issue but composure is normally something that players aquire later on in their careers. He seems to be lacking confidence atm and isn't taking on the shots when he should. If we can get his confidence up then the composure will probably come along with it.

You and I will never see eye to eye on Welbeck, maybe i'm more patient, maybe I see something that isn't there. Or maybe your wrong. Who knows? Lol.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

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Shappy

So you are saying that Danny has a better touch than Wayne Rooney? Is this considering the current season or overall over their careers? You are having a laugh my friend when you say this. Granted Rooney's touch has been lacking this season, but to say Welbeck has a better first touch is. am sorry u said "much better".

Deeps.

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If he was playing for an other team I don't think there would be that many people shouting to sign him up.
Hope he proves me wrong but I don't think he will be a first choice striker for a team like United

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No Name

There will be not a single person asking to sign him. This local lad sentiment is clouding people's view of him. Having scored one goal from 30 yards does not change the fact that the kid can't score and his passing given his assists total flatters to deceive.

Shappy The stuff about imagination, vision is so off the chart that I am not even sure how to respond. He does even posses a soft touch fro a cross and like valencia can only boot his crosses in. Rooney is not what he ws but they are not even comparable and Welbeck is not fit to lace his boots for him mate.

Macheda, Gibson, Anderson have also also scored incredible goal that won us the games and the league a few years ago but that did not mean much in terms of his overall quality and being good enough for united.

Shahram

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I think it could work, Welbeck, Kagawa and Zaha all interchanging behind RvP/ Lewandowski. With Hernandez on the bench waiting for the defence to tire.

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Shahram

Lol, You are kindaa right! Welbeck ain't even good nuff to lace Wayne's boots. coming from you who is not even Rooney's biggest fan, that is some statement. I am not even advocating selling Welbeck, but to compare him to Rooney to any aspect of the game is sheer sacrilege for me.

Deeps.

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Rooney is on 250k and if he is not playing well it is a big waste of money. welbeck would be here for atleast 2 years.

nikz

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Deeps

I have nothing againts Rooney and after Carrick and RVP is our most relevant player. I advocated selling him as an option if that gives us the funds to buy certain players to change our style of play and build a core that can challenge in europe. I also still believe Rooney is well over 40 million pounds worth. I also agree when he does not play well we struggle. I would not advocate selling Rooney if we could buy certain players and funds were not an issue and who know given all the new sponsorship money maybe the club will surprise us and start buying some graet players again.

This is not a Rooney discussion anyway but to even think welbeck is in his league is ludicrous. IMO welbeck has gone backwards compared to last year and 22 is not that young in footballing terms especially for strikers as they lose a yard or 2 of their pace in their late 20's and with the exception of a few most have a short window of peak performance given the position they play.

Someone said he has vision and intelligence but as recent as the Chelsea game he showed how poor he is in that area when we were on the break with Rooney to his right with no one covering him and he decided to take 3 chelsea defender on instead of passing the ball. He has zero composure around the box and that is something that people have naturally and hard to teach.

Making a pass backwards or sideways when you are 30 yards away from the goal is not that difficult given how we are set up to play.

So in the end I guess time will tell and not advocating selling him but IMO he is nowhere near the quality of a united strikers given our tradition of having world class players in that position.

People get very defensive when it comes to certain squad players but the reality is they are not that good.


Shahram

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12 Apr 2013 12:07:36
As his name is not allowed on the site the Spanish guy who said we have paid an advance for Falcao has added a little more body to his previous statement. He is getting his info from the Marca story and says we would be willing to pay the 60 mil euros that Athletico want but that nothing is cut and dry it could be a ploy to get Chelsea or PSG involved in a bidding war and that nothing is clear yet Manred.

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A Hernandez + £30m deal for Falcao deal could be done surely? I love Little Pea to bits so would hate to see him go but he just doesn't seem destined for an extended run in the first team and his talent deserves that.

As for Falcao he looks white hot and will significantly strengthen ANY team in Europe so of course we should be bidding.

Lets just hope it's not at the expense of the 2 world class midfielders we have been crying out for!

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12 Apr 2013 11:01:06
A few thoughts following the round of european matches, relating them to Uniteds future needs.

Whilst I admit to being very pleasantly surprised as to how close we came to beating Madrid, and revising my opinion upwards of our current side, two things stand out. Other than Bayern, ALL the other sides look beatable in their own ways though ALL of them have that extra class that we still lack. Madrid and Barca are heavily reliant on two players, Dortmund can't defend, Juventus are "quarter finalists" but not winners etc etc though PSG represent a real threat next year. What an incredible shame it is we didn't get Lucas Moura and likewise Raphael Varane, who is an absolute lamborghini of a player.

As so many others have said we desperately need two TOP DRAWER players, which would change us from being contenders into favourites. They are clearly a left sided flexible attacker and a central midfielder, who between them would provide the goals and creativity we lack. Depending on who we could get in one position determines who we should go for in the other.

Clearly if we got Ronaldo back we really wouldn't need anyone else as we would then immediately be in a position to win the League and the European Cup no matter who any one else signed. He should thus be our number one target amen and heaven and earth should be moved to make it happen. (though I guess we would be one injury away from disaster as Madrid and Barca are now). If we can't get Ronaldo we should go for Gareth Bale and if need be sell Ferdinand/Vidic/Rooney to get him. I know Bale has his limitations but with him we would walk the Prem and the many goals he would create as well as score on the breal would make us a formidable force in Europe, especially away from home where away goals are so important.

If we got either of the above we would perhaps need a different kind of midfielder-someone who could pass to Ronaldo or Bale-than if we didnt. Personally I don't think in either scenario i'm going to mention do we need a so called defensive midfielder as between them Jones, Cleverley and in a way Carrick can adequately do this. So with Ronaldo or Bale someone like Schweinsteiger or Vidal or De Rossi would be fantastic. If Ronaldo or Bale were ungettable, the creativity may need to come from a more flexible wide left position. That means in my order of preference Ozul, Isco or I guess a real third choice Gaitan. If we got one of these we would need far more goals from midfield so again this recommendation comes with many limitations but maybe Cabaye as no doubt we could get him.

I have personally never seen Strootman play so maybe he is the answer on one or both counts. The player though that I would see as perhaps being the most realistic to get is Gadogan who looks absolutely excellent every time I see him play for Dortmund and who apparently is going to be available in the summer.

Finally if we are going to sign a full back, once Bayern win the CL, perhaps the best player in the world in this position-Philip Lahm-will fancy a new challenge. And whilst this obviously divides opinion amongst Reds I for one would definitely trade a very good but never going to be great Rooney for the obvious talents of a much younger Levandowski

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12 Apr 2013 12:23:28
I hardly consider 2-3 " much younger "

Mick

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The dream would be Ronaldo 60-65 falcao 45 gotze 32 strootman 15 & hummels 25 with rooney 35-40 young 10 anderson 10 hernandez 20 nani 15 departing macheda 3 & bebe 2 toal spent £182 million with £100 million recouped. Before you muppets start saying another fifa manager, yes I know its never going to happen but that's only £82 million spent & what a squad that would be for years to come

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It would be a pretty good summer haha but we have to inject some realism.

If we got rid of Rooney, Nani, Anderson, Lindegaard, Scholes and perhaps Valencia we COULD at a push have incomings of: Ronaldo, Strootman, Fabio, Zaha & Lewandowski. I include Fabio in that list as I think that he will be like a new signing and will tie down the left back spot as his own.

For me, that would be the perfect summer.

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Would rather spend 25 million on Varrane as he will be than hummels. If we got Ronaldo, we would not need Falcao and would be better off spending that money on a Modric and a Lewandowski who for me would be RVP's successor in a few years.

Shahram

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12 Apr 2013 08:33:09
Antonio Valencia has admitted that Manchester United are "worried" about throwing away their big lead at the top of the Premier League following their defeat by second-placed Manchester City on Monday.
Full story: the Independent
Do u think we should be worried? I don't think so. We just need to go to stoke show courage and play like we can, and we will win.
Nomidfield

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Id say press probably putting words in his much as such. we will be fine IMO big win sunday and put the haters to bed.

ms85

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I don't think we should be worried, but wouldn't be surprised if City finished within 7-8 points of us, which in itself would be quite worrying given we had the chance to go 18 points clear.

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I am a little worried - my heart says we have it but my head is thinking back to last season, we are further clear but I don't think I could take coming down to the last few games.

Stoke and West ham are huge fixtures if we get past these we have won it - if we trip up memories will flood back to last season - we can still beat arsenal and chelsea no doubt but I hope it doesn't come down to this.

The experience and pain of last season should be enough for the players top raise they're game in the last month but unfort we have hit a bit of a rut and haven't been playing well - Stoke is always a hard place to go but with a full team we should have enough for them

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4 points from the next 2 games will do us nicely as we should beat Villa at home and that puts us one win or even a draw from clinching the league.

Stoke is huge and a win is a must. They are the worst team based on results in the league over the last 20 games.

Shahram

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We need 7 points from our next three games. Then one win from our last four games or two draws and two losses would probably do it. City have to go to Swansea and Spurs and we seen last season that even a home tie against a minnow like QPR can still cause them problems. I think City will drop at least two points between now and the end of the season. Even if they don't United will not lose four games out of seven. Just three wins and a draw will win us the league, but three wins will probably end up being enough. I still think if we beat Stoke then we will win all the final games.

Sydney!

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Noname - I think most of us on here, would gladly have settled for 'only' winning the league this season by 7 or 8 points.

Especially as we all thought City would only go on to be stronger after winning last year.

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12 Apr 2013 12:59:19
Great prediction Sydney!

Very similar to your, we will beat Reading, Chelsea and City to win the FA Cup.

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I would be more worried if the players were saying they weren't worried about losing it!
This shows they really care and won't be taking games lightly (we hope!)

ts87

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I have a City/Wigan final and wigan to pull off a major upset.

Shahram

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StevieK, I completely agree at the start of the season, and even now, winning the league by the 7-8 points would/will be a great achievement.

However I'd like to have seen us pull even further away. Like, for example, if we're up 3-0 in a game, I'd like us to go on and bag a few more, not scramble a win 4-3 or something.

I guess I'm just disappointed that since the Madrid defeat we've been toothless.

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12 Apr 2013 00:40:11
Jordy Claise is a player we are being linked to I can't say iv seen him player but from the youtube highlights he looks class he is just getting into the dutch national team and is a tough tackerling kid he looks perfect for us maybe we sign him and Strootman and start controlling the midfield with a bit more steel I was in the thinking that Jones could be the bite in midfield but after the city game he has to play cb for me anyway, do the eds or anyone else know much about this guy he looks the part and we need a player that can tough it up a feisty terrier player although small he is a beast. Katef

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Would love to see this guy at OT, he's young has potential, can hold the ball and isn't afraid to stick a tackle in, personally I would bring in him and strootman and play carrick and strootman with clasie and tuniclife been eased in

19jackc94

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11 Apr 2013 21:10:44
Ed002; quick question, which central midfielders are we showing interest in at the moment besides Strootman? Can you just list them please?

Thanks,

rpc {Ed002's Note - I am pretty sure there is no "list" that I can come up with.}

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From what Ed002 has hinted:

Strootman
Cirigliano
Goetze
Wanyama
Eriksen
Lars Bender

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Would love to hear that we had interest in gundogan

19jackc94

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