Manchester United Banter Archive June 17 2012

17 Jun 2012 23:03:37
Well it Sir Alex talked about signing 2 or 3 players over the summer. I believe only one has been signed as i feel Powell was only brought in to stop someone else snapping him up. So that means we'll be seeing possibly 2 more first team players with maybe another youngster or two. I think it's fairly obvious which positions were looking at and who seems to be the presses favourites to sign for those positions. But i thought i'd give you my personal favorites for these positions and why.

First off is the LB spot, with Fabio going out on loan and Fryers looking like leaving we find ourselves short of cover. The media thinks it's Leighton Baines were after and although i wouldn't be gutted if he joined i would be dissapointed as i feel there are better options like:

David Alaba; a cracking prospect who is already preforming at a very high level. He is also versitile being able to play in midfield or on the wings.

Marcel Schmelzer; one of my favourite players in the Dortmund team and very underated. Is fantastic at defending while also being able to whip in a great cross, his passing and link up play is very good too.

Emilio Izaguirre; a great player who is already settled to playing in a physical league. Offers great ability on the overlap.

Or maybe an outside bet like Bryan Oviedo, who looks talented in the limited games i've seen him in.

I'd prefer any of these over Baines and all likely to be cheaper(although Alaba might be abit pricey).

Moving onto our midfield. The press is hung up on Modric. I would be happy to see him sign but feel we need someone who has similar qualities but maybe abit more steel.

My first choice is Yohan Cabaye; a workaholic in the middle who loves to tackle and get stuck in but a player with guile to go with the grit. His passing is sublime, and his vision is exceptional. He can create and destroy and is proven in the prem.

Joao Moutinho; a little dynamo of a player, similar to Cabaye in a lot of ways but maybe not quite as gritty. What works agains him is he isn't proven in the Prem.

Nuri Sahin; i'm basing this more on the player i remember from Dortmund who was about the best player in Germany in his last season there.

My outside bet here would be Oscar De Marcos who has looked a real top player in the handful of games i've seen him in and is a player i'll be watching closely over the next season.

Like i said i would be happy with Modric but would prefer one of these guys if i'm honest.

Shappy

I would love to see either Cabaye or Moutinho here. Modric is likely however. Moutinho has been very impressive I feel, and to be honest I thought we would of signed him while Ronaldo was still here. What I like most about the Portugese is that most of the team is technically gifted. Moutinho would fit in like a glove, as would Veloso.

RedDevil19

Porto would want £30mil for moutinho so overated there a much bettr mf out there and cheeper

17 Jun 2012 21:50:25
Think we are in need of a new full back and after watching that game. I like the look of Joao Perreira. Looked solid defensively against one of the best wide men in the world on his day (Robben) and also was a threat going forward. Loved the little sly pass for Ronaldo's first goal... Surely wouldn't cost a bomb aswell

fearny

Agreed a deal to sign for Valencia I think?
SqueakyBum

I am gutted to inform you that he has aa deal with Valencia. Such a shame has he is brilliant.

RedDevil19

MOTD fever? lol. joking aside he is a decent right back but we don't really need a right back. I thought Coantrao looked great in that game but having watched him for madrid i know he's actually quite poor. So i think it just goes to show why you can't trust the performances of players at the euro's. Otherwise we could be preparing bids for Arshavin and Bendtner. lol.

Shappy

Well hes 28 and just joined valencia like a week ago

17 Jun 2012 21:01:11
I am Kloot - Okay To Mail
Did i get it?;)

U.T.I.D {Ed002's Note - Not even close man.}

Ahh gutted :(

U.T.I.D

Can you just tell us Ed002, because these posts are getting repetitive.

G.A.G.U.S {Ed002's Note - OK, we can move on from it now. WE can come back to it in a few months when you next raise it.}

17 Jun 2012 20:45:08
Anyone seen this guy called Ronaldo playing for Portugal tonight.....might make a good signing to go with all the top players in the world all the bloggers want us to sign this summer!!

Why copy KLOOT's post from a few days ago?

G.A.G.U.S

17 Jun 2012 20:42:41
just a quick question as im new to the forum, but why are the people we ask questions too called eds?:')

Thanks

They edit the pages and a number seem to have connections (They are the font of all knowledge)

Oh and welcome to the forum

Pardoe

Editors...

T0MB0Z

The Eds all to a fantastic job on here, by far the best forum I have found.Informative and some great banter even from the editors.

{Ed007's Note - Thanks mammy.}

17 Jun 2012 20:37:08
I think we should sign Portugal's number 17 :)

Cban

He is already our player.. Nani has been with us for 5 years haha

Macca!

I think that was the joke macca!

GDS

17 Jun 2012 19:44:32
What is the situation whit pogba. Is he going to Juve or what? Do any of the eds know anything

17 Jun 2012 20:56:06
My next signing if I was SAF would have to be Clyne, brilliant young RB, available for about 6-10 Million, not gonna take a chunk out of the wage barrell, Ed's, any info on the youngster? Also Modric & Bale keep popping up again, if we cant get them for a combined £70 million, i think we should end the interest, and aim for younger, cheaper options, any ideas eds?

U.T.I.D

Clyne will cost 1-3 million.

Sydney!

Clyne is out of contract this summer mate so he wouldnt cost anything

Really, is that it, why have we not signed him then?!:O

U.T.I.D

17 Jun 2012 20:50:31
Would like to hear your opinions people,I think utd would be making a big mistake letting nani go,ok he can be a bit frustrating at times but he's got bags of skill and in his day a march winner,in my opinion he's gotta stay.
Ant D,Rhondda

I think it would probably be a mistake. There aren't many out there you could guarantee would be better in our team. Nani has had a comendable Euro's so far and perhaps is now benefitting from a continuous run of games after his injuries this season

Gav

Letting Nani go without a suitable replacement would be crazy. And not many fall into that catagory, for me only two players do James Rodriguez and Iker Muinian, if one of these lads were coming in to replace him then i'd be okay with it. But i'd be gutted to lose Nani and get Bale in his place.

Shappy

17 Jun 2012 21:30:38
Portugal v Holland: Nani inconsistent, Huntelaar average, Sneijder couldn't impose himself, Willems looked reasonable, Van Persie- was he playing? Liked the look of the Portugese number 7 though!

I thought Nani played well TBH! Some great crosses and runs and 1 assist. He should have scored granted, but looked dangerous throughout

I thought Holland as a team were shocking after they scored, so it's hard to pickout individuals

Gav

17 Jun 2012 21:15:22
Nani can not cross.........

oh wait Yes he can....

great goal...

oxred

17 Jun 2012 19:47:37
Just a quick note to all my fellow informed, esteemed, nay true followers of football from the educated half of Manchester, a little someting to make you feel better about the end of the season.......

.....have a look at the Man Citeh rumours page...... it will bring you a smile...... no amount of petro dollars can replace our history, status and global following....!

Have a good laugh.

17 Jun 2012 18:17:53
Am a Liverpool fan but instead of listening to people with Liverpool biasy involved (I know this isn't exactly going to be non bias replys) , I want to know what your guys opinions of rodgers going to Liverpool is.

You guys will clearly remain a force for the forseeable future but I think you may enter a stage of real despair if you don't get Fergies successor right.

Now if your just going to give an input which is just completely irrelevant like "Liverpool scam you'll probally be facing relegation" - then don't bother replying to this post.

Tom.

I think he has good ideas and is a bright, up and coming manager. My two concerns would be if I were you would be - 1) if he fails to win over the fans. Everyone saw how Hodgeson was forced out even though Kenny did a worse job. And 2) if the players are technically good enough to play the football he aspires for. Can you see Andy Carroll and Charlie Adam playing slick, free-flowing football? I think he needs to be given a chance and time to make his mark.

Fred

To be honest Tom, Rodgers was one of my picks as a possible replacement for SAF as i think his sides have played excellent, free flowing football which i admire. If he can get that going at Liverpool, then you should do well. My only criticism could be his choice of transfer targets and if they are big enough for a club of your size...for example you were rumoured to be in for Joe Allen who, whilst being good, wouldn't be effective enough for a team of our stature and probably not good enough for your Liverpool side at the moment.

RedDevil19

He's a good manager, and I think you will do better than your last stinker of a season. However I don't think he's a world class manager and I still think you will finish outside the top 4. And to be honest, players of Sigurdsson and Diames quality are not going to get you back up there.
SqueakyBum

Good appointment Tom but there could be a massive problem for you in that he has said he wants to continue the same way of playing like he did at Swansea but the playing staff at yours at the minute would fail in trying to replicate that. I don't see enough good ball players or workers across the forward line to make it work.

Could struggle to get going and he never had a plan b at Swansea so could be an issue.

Jono

I personally rate BR highly as a manager. he gets into it in training and is more of a coach than anything. he is very hands on with his players.

he was the best option out there for you, and i hope he is given more than one season as it will take time for liverpool to play his way.

Foozeball

I think If he can bring the Swansea style of play with him with some of the players you have then Im sure he will do ok. Some Players like Downing though are very poor and overrated. Also Bellamy should more game time imo. I think 3 solid signings are needed for you though before getting yourselves back on track.

I actually miss us 2 going head to head for the Title.....literally would rather Liverpool win the EPL now than City because of how they have been.

lewis.no.9

I think if the club and fans are patient with him, he'll turn out to be a very good manager. I think because his style of football is so different to that of previous managers I wreckon it will take two or three years to be challenging for the premier league again. But i'm a big fan of Rodgers and I would like to think he could get you back into the champions league this season coming or the next.

Kai

It depends on what the fans want. Rodgers is a good manager but not an instant fix, it is going to take 2 seasons minimum for the team to fully get used to his style of play. So if you want to be patient and have another few seasons around mid-table then that will be fine but I can see you getting on his back just like Hodgson as he wasn't a big name and he won't last long enough to intergrate his style of play.

fearny

Decent manager, but may struggle to attract the top players. Liverpool's squad needs some major surgery and it's going to be a huge project which will take a lot of time and money. One worry a Liverpool fan must have is if KD couldn't get this current bunch playing well, then how could BR motivate these players?

Sydney!

I agree with Jono - my one reservation would be trying to play the 'Rodgers' way with the players currently at L'pool. Trying that with Downing, Henderson & Carroll all together could backfire IMO. However, if he brings in Gylfi, and perhaps a winger and striker to fit that style then he may have overcome the problem and be able to take the club forward. I do rate BR as a young manager and I certainly respect his attitude and the way he clearly thinks a lot about how the game should be played

Gav

Kai, don't mean to put a dampener on things, but do you seriously see Liverpool anywhere near the top four next season? City, United, Chelsea & Arsenal will make up the top four for the foreseeable future and then you have Spurs and Newcastle. I cannot see Liverpool finishing higher than 6th next season, if they lose Suarez then I think they could finish 8th/9th again. I think you are being a little optimistic and doubt even Tom believes a top four finish is possible. Saying they could challenge for the title in 2-3 year's time is comical. They would need a couple hundred million to spend and they would need players to not be fussed about playing in the UCL. With your PSG, Anzhi's, Malaga's around it's going to be very hard for Liverpool to get the players they want/need.

Sydney!

I like Rodgers I'll be interested to see how much of the Swansea style of play was his or if lots of it was Martinez's

I personally think older players at your club have too much say on what happens i.e. getting Hodgson booted they just plainly didn't want to play for him.

I think he can do a good job there

Pardoe

Sydney. I agree with you to a point and would have probably argued with myself if I read what I wrote. I don't see them challenging for the title within the next few years but I could definately see them challenging and getting champions league football. If Rodgers can do what he did at Swansea with no money, I'm thinking, with proper financial backing, patience and support from the Liverpool board he can make them into regular top four finishers again. Not saying they don't need an awful lot of work cos they do but i rate Rodgers so highly i think if anyone can do it he can.

Kai

Has had a mixed managerial record although did very well for Swansea. Will be interesting to see if he can make the step up from a team aiming to survive and a team aiming to succeed. Personally, I do not think he will be able to (at least not in the time Liverpool will give him).

T0MB0Z

17 Jun 2012 17:21:29
Hope we sign modric and bale. GGMU

I would be more then happy for this to happen but would Levy allow his best two players to leave? If he did it would cost 60-80m. I'm not sure we have that money even if we sold Nani. But again would be so happy if this did go through.

Kai

17 Jun 2012 17:00:04
Calcio News 24, citing a Speciale Calciomercato programme on Sky Sport Italia, report that Reserves skipper Davide Petrucci is snubbing interest from Inter Milan, Roma and Genoa to sign a new three-year contract at Old Trafford.

Does anyone know if this is true, if he has signed yet and why only 3 years....

oxred

I think he has two years left, so he will have signed a three year extension, there by meaning that he has a 5 year contract.

RedDevil19

Petrucci is a far better player than Pogba and has had to overcome two serious injuries at United and i now fullfilling his potential just needs to beef up slightly and i see him in the squad 2013/14 after a years loan deal
ARB

I thought that he was another whos contract was up this summer.

can any of the eds confirm

oxred

I disagree, Pogba is the best youth player we have helped produce since the class of 92. Pogba is a better player than Petrucci, whatever Petrucci can do Pogba can do it better. I will be sad to see him leave.

Sydney!

17 Jun 2012 16:30:21
Ed any news that maybe UTD may take advantage of Redknapp going and going for Bale. {Ed002's Note - I am not sure why you associate the change of manager with the departure of players.}

So ed... when a manager leaves then all players contracts do not have a clause to say they to can go for peanuts....

DAMN......

what next

oxred

@Ed002 I think there's an obvious link between a manager leaving and players following suit. If the reason why you signed for a team is no longer there why not move? Appreciate 'the manager' is only one reason why a player would pick a team to play for however I do regard it as being an important consideration.

Halesini {Ed002's Note - So when SAF retires are you expecting every single Manchester United player to leave? No staff left at the club at all.}

When a new manager comes in they're likely going to want to build their own team. To do that you need money. At some clubs that means selling players.

From the other side of things players may not like the way the previous manager was treated, might not like the new manager or might not be able to get the right re-assurances from the new manager.

In this case all of the above may be true with Bale looking at the departure of Modric and wondering how the team will progress having sold one of its best players. He wants champions league football and if Modric were to leave I think their chances of qualifying for the ECL seem slim (especially with Chelsea strengthening).

T0MB0Z

17 Jun 2012 15:31:45
Why isthe majority of people on here not wanting to sign modric, lets be honest he cant be any worse than scholes , cleverly or anderson , i personally think that he would fit rite in and would score and create more goals then any of our other centre midfield options , 30 million for a proven 26 year old is not that bad considering chelsea have spent more on hazard who was the best player in france but so was gervinho at one stage and we all now how he has been playing for arsenal , i am currently in london and after an extended talk with a spurs fan who says all the talk around london is that modric will be a united player , he also mentioned that 75% of all spurs fans wanted harry out before christmas and that rvp will leave arsenal after the euros for a new challenge in italy

Ozwald II

K i agree that we should sign Modric but saying can't be any worse then Scholes is a little desrespectful to the best central midfielder Man Utd has ever seen. He had a really solid year last year and if you look at his stats he was every bit as good as Modric even at the age of 37. Call yourself a fan.

Red Joe

Totally agree scholes is a master. Modric would improve immensely in my opinion learning off scholes for a year.
Djay

17 Jun 2012 15:02:54
have been reading the posts and can only see one outcome to all the speculation.

m'vila to Arsenal
bale to Man S****Y (MONEY)
Modric to Chelsea Or Man S****Y (MONEY)
Lewendowski to stay at Dortmund
Henriques to stay at current club (Still Learning)
Baines to stay at everton

so far we have made to great signings in Kagawa & Powell, i can see 2-3 more signings and believe these might come from

Thiago Alcantara
Strootman
Gaitan
Dafour
Cabaye
Huntelaar ?
Hummels
Ba

some may seem a bit far fetched but i think these are very good targets and would not cost a great deal to bring to the club,
i also believe we will promote a few from the reserves that have shown great promise

Petrucci
Vermijl
Fryers
Lingard

really believe these are great players that deserve a chance


UNITEDFORLIFE75

To be honest, i can't see any of Ba, Hummels, Huntelaar, Gaitan or Thiago come in. Defour only recently joined Porto so is unlikely to leave, Strootman hasn't been sufficiently tested yet i don't think to warrant a move. Cabaye is the one out of that list that I would be happily with.

We need immediate midfield quality, so Modric or Cabaye are the two that spring to mind who would be accessible and would make a big difference. I am also surprised to see you not have a left back on that list, we have to have a back up option with Fabio going out on loan, Fryers leaving for Spurs and Blackett not being quite ready. It won't be an expensive signing like Alba or Baines (both of which are out of reach), its mostl ikely going to be Izaguirre or Oveido based on rumours.

There is also some potential for a young center back to come in, we have been looking at a young center back for the last couple of windows (i.e. Varane). So don't be surprised to see a young center back come in, Papadopolous must head the list after his Euro performances and also his willingness to come, another option is Jires Okore from Nordsjaeland in Denmark.

RedDevil19

17 Jun 2012 14:07:06
If you turn the letter K 90 degrees to the right it makes the symbol for pi? 3.12? Lol I have no idea.
SqueakyBum

17 Jun 2012 14:07:03
Just a thought or two on who will get more starts next year. Welbeck and Kagawa will be an interesting battle in terms of who gets more starts. I see that each will get around 20 - 25 starts each this next year with both getting sufficient chances. But i think that we will be surprised with the amount of times that they line up together in the same starting 11. We saw countless times that Welbeck started left, Hernandez up top with Rooney behind him and either Nani or Valencia on the left. I expect this will be a similar thing to what we do next season, however Hernandez will be the one that is dropped to the bench.

The front 4, if we don't have any more additions, will be generally comprised of a combination of these players in the League: Hernandez, Rooney, Welbeck, Young, Valencia, Kagawa and Nani. I don't see Macheda getting close to the EPL squad and Park will play more in Cup games, probably starting on the left of a midfield three.

As for defence, Ferdinand and Evans will start of the campaign i imagine providing Evans fitness is ok. But as Vidic comes back he will replace Evans, and then probably Smalling will come in for Ferdinand in a lot of games. Evra will be the main left back, a new left back will play second fiddle to him, but perhaps Evans will play in the left back spot occasionally. As for the right back spot, Rafael and Jones will alternate, i certainly think against the likes of Bale and good wingers Rafael is superior, he generally does well. Where as Jones is better in some more physical games.

On the balance of things, in the early part of the season, assuming that we don't sign anyone else, we will line up a lot like this:

___________DDG
Rafa__Evans___Ferdinand__Evra
______Carrick__Scholes
Valencia___Kagawa___Welbeck
__________Rooney

Team selection will also be based on fitness, the players on international duty alot over summer are likely to be a bit more jaided, so thats perhaps why I see us using Nani, Young and a few others a bit more sparringly to start with. But as we get into our stride, our strongest line up will change, as Cleverly gets match fit he will be starting more over Scholes. Nani and Young will alternate if not hold down spots more so than Valencia and Welbeck, Hernandez will also get more games, hopefully he should of had a very good rest.

Overall, even with the two additions that we have made, the squad already looks better, and its going to be streamlined even more with more departures and the odd addition. There could be up to 4 or 5 more departures with maybe 2 more first team additions. We have Kagawa for the first team, a central midfielder and a left back for the first team squad are crucial. Powell will be for the future, as will Henriquez and the other odd youngster.

RedDevil19

What would be the point in having such a technically gifted line up only to have Valencia on the right? I think you are a long, long way off with this one. I think Nani and Young will be the wingers, but I hope Nani and Welbeck are the wingers.

Percy

Percy

Your personal preference may mean RedDevil19 is a long, long way off but I think you need to come to terms with the fact that Nani is not going to be a regular in our starting line up!

Valencia was by far our most consistent and effective winger last season and if you disagree with that I would suggest you watch the end of season presentation where he cleaned up on the awards.

He may not be as pleasing on the eye as Nani but we know what we'll get from him, direct, hard work, great team ethic and a better end product more often then Nani!

You may not realise as well, he plays CM for Ecuador now and again so he is more then competent on the ball!

I must say I'm surprised that all the teams that people have suggested on here, Valencia has been left out more often then not!

With Kagawa's through balls sliding in behind the LB for Valencia we can turn defensives so often next season and with Valencia on the right not having to worry about him cutting back and doing a trick or feint allowing the rest of the defence to recover!

Don't get me wrong, I like Nani but he is frustrating, on his day, he is one of the best, but those days come few and far unfortunately!

Ports

Valencia offers us a different option, he will give us great width when we need. And i also think that Young and Nani will be the main wingers, but Valencia will have had more of a rest over summer and will be more fresh initially. Nani and Young will be eased into the squad more. I am sure that this will become the main starting 11 after a few weeks when everyone has been eased in:

____________DDG
Rafael___Smalling___Vidic___Evra
________Carrick__Cleverly
Nani________Kagawa_______Young
___________Rooney

The main changes i can see to that line up is if Modric comes in he will partner Carrick, and Jones will get a fair few games at right back.

RedDevil19

I think you're right RedDevil19, now, but I would imagine that AF will put some faith into Evans.

Percy

"perhaps Evans will play in the left back spot occasionally"

Just to back that comment up for some who maybe haven't seen Johnny play at LB - he played there against Spain when we (NI) beat them 3-2 at Windsor a few years back. He was obviously just a kid then, but he had Fernando Torres (in his good old days) in his pocket the whole game - never got a sniff. Probably his best game in a green jersey, so he can play there - obviously a better centre half tho.


StevieK

17 Jun 2012 13:57:43
looks like there's a good chance nani will be sold, which im dissapointed with. If he were to be sold i think we should go for a double swoop for bale and modric. i believe nani is better than bale, but id replace nani with someone who is experienced in the premier league than spend 20 odd mil on ppl such as gaitan.

I'd pay max 60mil for modric and bale but i think spurs would want closer to 75

just imagine this team

_______De Gea______
rafael___vidic___smalling___evra( i know :/)
carrick modric
valencia kagawa bale
Rooney

TRUMORS

I'd prefer not to imagine that team, so old fashioned, a pair of good full backs and our wingers are out of the game.

Percy

Amazing team IMO, can you imagine how good the crosses coming into the box would be! And with the inteligant short passing and through balls of Kagawa, Rooney would be in heaven! 30-40 goals from Wazza next season with this support.

Kai

If we got both id prefer to see this

De gea
Jones---Vidic----Smalling
Valencia-Modric-carrick-Bale
Kagawa-Rooney
Welbeck

17 Jun 2012 13:07:38
Look at Im !
Tool akim
Took mail
Took mali
Took Lima
Look a MIT
Moo a kilt
All as bad as the originating name !SANDY !

Who cares really? The site is about united rumours not what our names mean. It would take a long time to work out what GDS means but I am not really bothered or interested in people guessing!

GDS {Ed002's Note - I'll give them a clue, the "S" is Sheep.}

Ginormous Drooping Schlong! Am I close?

TK-Red {Ed007's Note - Gay Denim Shorts.....}

I already figured GDS out before haha ;-)

Jono

More like " O Im a Klot lol

Pardoe

Is I AM KLOOT, something to do with united winning titles? {Ed002's Note - Interesting, but no.}

Just checked out wot numbers the letter come to on a phone key pad

As I have said before GDS stands for Glazers Du*k Sheep. I AM KLOOT

I have no idea what GDS means, I just made up 3 letters when I first started posting and stuck with it, so there you go.

Just like I am kloot picked it as its the name of a band and has everyone talking about him!

GDS

Gordon does sheep.who cares you clown.
mick the red fireman

Why you calling me a clown? I was stating that I don't care and said that in my first post if you can read.

GDS

17 Jun 2012 10:55:56
Walcott... 1 year left on his contract and still only 23 and can only get better. His pace for Utd could be lethal

fearny

But valencia has enough pace and is better

I think he is a truly awful football player, if he didn't have pace he wouldn't be a professional footballer. Arsenal are looking for offers according to a few reports and I am not surprised in the slightest. Arguably AW's biggest disappointment IMO. Wouldn't touch him with a bargepole.

Sydney!

They are offered him a new contract and he is holding out to see what RVP does... With 1 year left we could get him cheap and fergie could turn him into a world class player like he has done with Valencia

fearny

Wow from the comfort of your lonely sofa ? How can you slate a professional footballer with such condemnation ? Please advise me when you played and who for that made u an expert . Incidentally in periods he has ripped apart barca for 20 minutes , terrorised evra virtually every time he's played him. He's roasted Ashley cole for periods of games . And he has no ability . Glad your nothing to do with the club cause we nurture talent with the best them .DISNEY !

Obertan > Walcott.

I think there is still some potential in Walcott. Problem is that if he doesnt start being used in the right way soon then that potential will fade and he will hit his peak as an average player. I wouldnt be overly disappointed if he came to us. As I have said before, play him centrally and he will terrorize most CB pairings.

TK-Red

Not being bitter towards Arsenal players as I rate AOC and Wilshere highly. I just do not see anything in Walcott to warrant the reputation he got. He is nothing more than a very very poor version of Nani IMO and fifty times more frustrating.

Sydney!

17 Jun 2012 10:02:50
One player who I have really been impressed with but no seems to mention on his Claudio Marchisio for Italy. Looks a really good box-to-box player. Has got quick feet and an eye for a pass, not to mention he has one hell of a shot on him.

In all honesty my first choice would be Yohan Cabaye as he reminds me of Paul Scholes (Obviously not as good as one of the greatest players to ever player the game of football) but his shooting and passing and his tenacity off the ball has really impressed me for Newcastle and he ran both of the games at Euro 2012 for France.

fearny

@fearny
He indeed is a great box to box CM. But i dont think he will ever move away from Juve. If he does ever its gonna be to Spain..

Shaun

@fearny

Good shout mate. Personally I think we are targeting the wrong player in Modric as I see Cabaye as a better cheaper option. Great player who would get better playing for us too. Should be our No.1 target.

Halesini

Cabaye or Modric would do for me, Cabaye has imperssed me more than Modric over the season. And i don't think he will be a one season wonder, although just in case his form his temporary, I wouldn't entertain the idea of going over £20 million. Modric I would be inclined to pay a little more for purely because his quality has proved for the last 4 or 5 seasons.

RedDevil19

17 Jun 2012 09:50:43
I wouldn't expect more than 1 or 2 more signings. SAF said 2 or 3 signings and to the best of my memory, he is usually true to such statements.

We have Kagawa and Powell. The latter may not have been in his initial plans.

Another midfielder I would think and possibly a striker depending on what happens with Macheda. Alternatively the much talked about LB position.

Pip

17 Jun 2012 08:10:00
Just read an article about pogba that he wanted to go juve for first team football but with the news that they have bought asamoah and Isla Aswel as a youngster anyone else think that he could change his mind I can see him making an impact on the first team this year at united.

The fact that juve already have Vidal and marchisio I can't see pogba getting a game.

I want him to stay so maybe I'm being a bit naive about him staying but think its possible tbh


Dwright

In all fairness to Pogba he's not been given first team opportunities at United. If you were a 19yo chomping at the bit to get first team football, with an agent trying to extract some cash behind the scenes whispering in your ear, then a massive club like Juve came in for year of course you would be interested.

We 'lost' Pogba by not blooding him enough last season. The Scholes return, as much as it was needed for the team as a whole, was clearly a signal to Pogba that he wasn't wanted or wasnt quite ready.

Personally I don't think you can blame the lad for looking to go elsewhere. Nor to be blunt can you blame him for changing his mind if he now looks unlikely to get first team games elsewhere, i.e. the very reason why he was going.

We need to stengthen midfield. If Pogba is good enough we should give him chance to prove him and offer him a contract accordingly.


Halesini

@Halesini

Im sorry but Fergie knows best and knows when a player is ready. He knows what the player needs and exactly when the right time to play him. And look at Cleverley and Welbeck they were patient and waited and did what fergie asked and look at them now. Cleverley would have been excellent last season and Welbeck is leading the line for England in a major championship. If he listened to fergie and got sent out on loan for a season, he would come back a better player and be ready for UTD.

fearny

17 Jun 2012 03:21:15
"At the end of the day with a little 'spin' you can make things look totally different....

scenario 1) we only finished 2nd on goal difference to a club who have spent £500m+ on assembling a team and we finished well ahead of the other big money spenders Chelsea, it was one of our best points totals EVER, we had by far the worst injury record in the league and the worst one we have ever encountered, our squad is in transition and many of our players are still very young and playing their first season or two at this level, our away record in the PL was brilliant much better than last year when we won....so we can't have been that bad can we?

scenario 2) we finished the season with NO trophies, we got knocked out of the CL in the group stage in the easiest group we have ever been in, we failed to dominate many 'lesser teams', we didn't play much attractive fotball and our defensive record was poor....so it was a terrible season surely?

The doom mongers will always state scenario 2 to be the case whilst the 'red-tinted brigade' will site scenario 1 as being the truth

IMO the truth lies somewhere in the middle. It was an unsuccessful season which we need to improve upon, however, we are already on the way there with all the youngsters who are gathering experience week by week. We already have Kagawa and Powell in the fold. If we can add a good CM, a good LB and one or two more youngsters I think we'll be sorted

Gav"

___________________________________

Way to state the obvious Gav...

Nah I'm just kidding - really like this post! It is somewhere in-between the two. I don't think we can sit back and relax because we lost on goal difference - but you are also right in suggesting that the gloom and doomer's make the situation out to be a lot worse than it is.

Sensible post.

I like it.

Joe

Gav - For me the season was both exciting and disappointing with an inevitable outcome. The European and CC debacles were not only disappointing but at times embarrassing and highlighted what many supporters knew deep down, if a team was prepared to have a go at us then we were vunerable. The likes of Blackburn, Wigan and Everton proved it later in the season.
The loss of Vidic was massive but don't forget when VDS set his record for not conceding that both Rio and Vidic missed games in that run through injury, I think I am right in saying that Evans was an ever present in that run. Our biggest problem was the loss of midfield players and we ended up relying on the old guard who sadly couldn't quite see us over the line.
There were dubious team selections and tactics that cost us dear, a midfield of Raphael and Park against Blackburn whilst Pogba sat on the bench. The ommission of Scholes at Wigan who were a team in form, the midfield selection for the City away game, Scholes, Giggs and Park with Cleverley not even on the bench. For me the biggest mistake of the season was the tactics late on against Everton, having let them back in at 3-2 we score a 4th and with 6 or 7 minutes to go we have Evra missing an open goal, Everton break and score. We then concede a 4th and in all that time we had Jones warming up, why didn't we shut up shop at 4-2, instead we continued to attack and how costly that proved as Fellani ran us ragged.
I couldn't understand the Berba situation, things seemed to be okay between him and SAF in that there was a mutual agreement that Berba's style didn't suit the way SAF wanted us to play. What followed seemed to be that Berba was frozen out, yet at times we juggled between Welbeck and Chico as both struggled for form and we couldn't hold the ball up, a situation ready made for Berba.
I mentioned the inevitable, well that was that horrible gut feeling that stayed with me that we would blow it. This was highlighted by a conversation I had with a guy at Wigan as we watched Utd arrive minus Scholes and he commented that Scholsey could enjoy an evening at home with his feet up watching us beat Wigan, well that was the polite version. We all know what happened and then the feeling after that game that the title decider for us was Everton at home and so it proved.
Having followed United for over 40 years I have learned that when it seems things can't go wrong they do, losing to Leeds in the FA Cup semi final 2nd replay in 70, the tears of relegation, the tears of losing to Norwich in the Lge Cup SF in 75, we only needed to win at home in the 2nd leg, the forgone conclusion that we would win the 76 cup final against 2nd Div Southampton, which brought about yet another bout of tears. The following season as underdogs we stopped Liverpool winning the treble by beating them at Wembley.
You see, all those years ago I learnt to expect the unexpected with United and the last gasp wins against Sheff Weds and then in 99 against Liverpool in the FA Cup and Bayern highlighted this perfectly. The disbelief on the last day of the season that we just might win it, surely City couldn't blow it against 10 man QPR. Just as it seemed we would win it, so it was snatched away and that last day of the season summed up why I have followed United for over 40 years. You see they have and I am sure they will continue to take me to the highest highs as well as the lowest lows. Having endured the tough times in the 70s and the mediocrity in the 80s, the Fergie era is a privilege, but the memories of the 70s are never far away so I don't get too carried away with it all. Yes at times I feel angry, frustrated, but deep down win lose or draw you just can't beat that feeling of following United.
Apologies for rambling on but it is early on a Sunday and needed to pass the time.

Keanooh

Yes Joe I just think it's easy to get carried away as fans but it's important to step back sometimes and really assess how we're doing, answer: not great but not dreadful either!

Good analysis of last season Keanooh! Unfortunately I agree some of our team selections were bizzare, especially Scholes at Wigan, Valencia at City and THAT midfield against Blackburn, oh dear. I don't think Fergie is losing it just that he has got away with bizarre selections and over-rotation in the past whereas this year we didn't get away with it. Hopefully that's one lesson learnt for the 'business end' of next season

Gav

17 Jun 2012 00:43:03
Is Markel Susaeta any good?

Just checked his stats, 13 goals & 15 assists & available for around 6 mil because he's coming to the end of his contract. worth a punt at that price!

Red Spark

17 Jun 2012 00:19:37
IMO these rumours of Bale and Modric if true would be sensational signings...

______________DDG___________
Rafael___VIdic______Small__Izza
_______Carrick_____Modric_____
Nani_________Kagawa______Bale
_____________Rooney_______

With Hernandez,Welbeck,Cleverley,Scholes,Giggs,Fletcher,Jones,Ferdy,Evans,Young,Valencia etc rotating and covering

I have a feeling we are forcing nani slowly out the club... we are refusing to offer him the contract he wants and we have reportedly sounded out potential buyers. IF bale came... nani would be going through the out door

fearny