18 Jul 2011 23:27:41
Here's my views on tonight's Dispatches program, in full (long post, sorry Ed, but there are some people on here who seem to have difficulty understanding what they were being shown).
First, Dispatches, like Panorama, is not the bastion of quality reporting it once was. Both programs have dipped further and further into the gutter and the quality of their journalism is often pretty low now - and both have fallen foul of the PPC for inaccurate reporting on several occasions in the last 2 - 3 years. So the first thing to realise is that Dispatches is a TV show made by people whose primary aim is to generate ratings - which they achieve by sensationalising things they've seen and through careful editing to show only the case they want to show. It's also the reason they picked United and not Northampton Town - who'd want to watch if it was Northampton shown everywhere (although, of course, a lot of it was cobblers).
It was pretty obvious what Joe Sim's relationship with United and SAF was. He's a SE Asia entrepeneur whose business enterprises include a series of United franchised bars and restaurants. Unsurprisingly, when the opening of one of these coincided with a United tour - SAF and Gill visited. He will, of course, be paying United a hefty sum for the franchise rights and therefore deserves some presence from the club's stars when they are in town. His franchise terms probably include VIP treatment at Old Trafford a couple of times a season, including going out to dinner with SAF (no doubt with other owners of businesses linked to United). No doubt all of them get to sit next to SAF and have their photo taken at some point in the evening as a memento. SAF, being a cordial sort of fellow (contrary to popular opinion), took the call from Joe's friend in the restaurant to be friendly, more than anything else. Note - this smoking gun piece of evidence was reconstructed by the Dispatches team rather than the actual recording being presented - no doubt to hide long pauses / SAF saying "who?" etc.
Mr Sim then overplays his relationship with SAF in his business dealings (naturally - he's trying to impress potential investors). Note, as well, that level of influence / respect is more important in business ventures throughout eastern Asia than it is in the UK, hence the importance he attaches to it. He tells the investors he can get loan players from United because of his and Robson's relationship with SAF. Probably true - SAF has a habit of sending loanees to people he knows / trusts - and what's wrong with that? As for the multiple texts on his phone purporting to be from SAF - it seems highly unlikely that, even if he was as close to SAF as he claimed, Sim would receive vast amounts of communication from him whilst the finale to the season was in progress.
No hint of impropriety on SAF's part, no suggestion money changed hands. But, of course, 30 minutes of the program where they keep mentioning SAF to make it sound like he's involved.
So on to Robbo. First, I have to say there is something deeply unsettling about them having taken the decision to broadcast while Robbo is battling cancer. Stress and pressure can have serious consequences to people fighting the disease.
The meetings involving Robbo were clearly heavily edited and resequenced with the sound over-dubbed with commentary at certain key points. The first thing to remember about Robbo, and any other ex-player caught up in this sort of expose, is that they aren't business people and as a result aren't guarded enough in what they say in such situations. This means they will always look worse than anybody else. The other thing to point out is he only said one thing that could be said to be controversial.
First - football is a business, not a sport - well, that's patently obvious to anyone.
Second - he can't take on a job that endangers his role as a United goodwill ambassador - and everyone's problem with that is what?
Third - it makes good business sense to buy for £3million and sell for £150million - well, duh
Fourth - yes, you can own 2 clubs.
OK, that's the problem one. But we still don't know the full context of what was discussed in the program. From discussions in the final third, it would appear what was being discussed was a percentage investment in the purchase of clubs, rather than outright purchase. So this is a serious accusation but one that needs the full facts presenting before any of us can make judgment on it.
Who does everyone think asked to meet at the Manchester United bar in Bangkok in the first place? Joe Sim? Or the program makers so they could get a juicy picture of United's logo all over the program for the first ten minutes?
We saw the program makers try to tie recent Asian acquisitions of English teams to the Portsmouth meltdown, despite the fact that Gaydamek was a Russian born French businessman.
Worst of all, they used the quote about getting £5million in Sim's account and then he'd talk to SAF out of context on several occasions. On the one occasion they showed it in context, it was clear that the two actions were not directly linked - in other words, once I have the money you're giving me to buy the club, then we can start to talk about players for the club.
It was lazy, slipshod journalism. As I've said in another post, it was vaguely xenophobic. Why pick on Asian ownership of EPL teams? What about Gaydamek? Gillett and Hicks? The Glazers? Ridsdale? The Swiss owners of Southampton? Or any of the other impenetrable buyouts that have taken place by Western businessmen?
It didn't paint Robbo in the best of lights, unfortunately, but I think it's more naivety on his part than anything else. It didn't have any evidence whatsoever to implicate SAF or United. Yet SAF's name and United's logo must have come up 100 times during the hour. And, what's worse, so many people on here have fallen for it.
DarkLard08
Manchester United Banter Archive July 18 2011
Use our rumours form to send us manchester united transfer rumours.
18 Jul 2011 23:25:44
Unfortunately, Rainfish is on this occassion right. Robbo was a pathetic stooge, and Fergie doesn't appear to be bothered what type of people he associates with. It is indeed sad to see.
-----------------------------------------
"Unfortunately, Rainfish is on this occasion right" Are you serious mate? Me and RFT are not the best of buddy's, but he's been saying about Fergie, since i can remember. Now the ones who criticised him about his opinions (the truth) should apologise, he did warn you as did i.
Blair Mayne YNWA
Ps. I havn't even watched Dispatches yet. But i promise you i will be back, once i've watched it. {Ed007's Note - Evening Blair, ya plank ;-)
18 Jul 2011 23:12:57
The media are vermin. What went on isnt right only because they can't own 2 clubs at once. Everything after that is just hearsay. If you think managers don't do favours for other managers with loan signings and saying that club would suit a certain player your an idiot. Robbo didn't do himself any favours. All it was was a few people doing an awful lot of name dropping. I was expecting a lot worse to be honest
Mumbles
18 Jul 2011 23:06:02
dear mr rainfishtrombone
one small observation from ngiak
for a person who is trying to dedicate his 'life' in trying to make sure our beloved club is not 'dragged in the mud'
you seem to be slinging a lot of 'mud' yourself at it the last few years
many baseless and senseless observations and conspiracy theories
ngiak wonders what is your end point?
ngiak has his own conspiracy theories
wanna hear them?
more sales of green and gold scarves to fill your coffers?
or you have a new business plan?
guess it would be better to line your pockets than our actual owners, right?
btw where are we on the Forbes list?
also how much more revenue have we generated the last 5 years? and...
how much more in the near future?
oh by the way
before the glazers, how much nett did the shareholders of man united earn?
you aware of any of these answers
or you deem them unimportant
as usual?
gan
gan
18 Jul 2011 23:01:58
Regarding the possibility of signing Sneijder. Be honest and ask yourself three questions.
1 With the money he would cost in transfer fees and wages, what's in it for the Glazers?
2 Do the owners need him for United to stay in the lucrative top 4 PL positions?
3 In wages and player depreciation year on year, how much would he have cost United in 3 years time?
The only way United will sign him is if it suits Nike and they make it worth it for all parties.
When thinking about your answers, remember the Glazers are not supporters. They own United purely for financial gain. Their business will not benefit from additional shirt sales, and at 27 the player's value will only depreciate.
They are not stupid, and Berbatov was a financial mistake that will not be repeated.
18 Jul 2011 22:39:07
18 Jul 2011 22:21:51
Fergie don't want to buy someone who isn't good enough
Whose he kidding?
Is he saying there is noone better in midfield than fletcher carrick Gibson Anderson ? In attack than diouf berbatov welbeck Owen and macheda?
Come on fergie that's nuts"""
dear sir
that certainly was nuts ngiak has to agree
and these players were the core of last season
wait...
ngiak just realized something
we did fairly well with this TEAM right?
oh, youth and glory hunting blinds the individual from the concept of a group of guys playing together for the club, the fans, the manager and for each other in a sport called soccer
hmmm ngiak is very bemused
do you really support Manchester united?
gan
18 Jul 2011 22:34:06
fergies own words.. what did i tell you? dont expect anyone else this is the latest way of saying no value in the market."""
dear mr son o salford
ngiak again is not sure of the point of your post
your signoff is a mockery of your post, you do realize that, sir?
clearly having no faith in your players that gave you so much 'fair weather' joy last season
no faith in the youth that have been so brilliant last season
no faith in the manager who in all likelihood made you support this great institution in the first place
well if big name mercenaries are who you want
look out your other window and get a blue jersey
a good solution, no?
ngiak always serves to please, dear mr "son" of Salford
gan
18 Jul 2011 22:27:23
just watched dispatches LMAO just the dirty seedy club we all know you are.dispite what baldy bob thinks maybe a rename is on the cards.MANCHESTER UTD, GAMBLING DEN, MATCH FIXING, AND FOOTBALL CLUB would be more apt.respected club PIFF(.please print this ed after all it is the banter page)LMAO
blue moon {Ed007's Note - That would never fit on trophies though, the amount of times Utd have won the EPL it would just have Utds name all over, oh wait it nearly does anyway, sorry}
18 Jul 2011 22:21:51
Fergie don't want to buy someone who isn't good enough
Whose he kidding?
Is he saying there is noone better in midfield than fletcher carrick Gibson Anderson ? In attack than diouf berbatov welbeck Owen and macheda?
Come on fergie that's nuts
18 Jul 2011 22:20:05
i still think nasri is the man fergie is after, hopefully city do go for ws and that will leave nasri for us, i read a number of times nasri wanted united move, if united were to contact him and his reps and put a deal to him i still think he would pick us over city. neil ashton reported united contacted arsenal and they asked for time, i know city have turned his head with cash, but a trip around old trafford with saf telling and showing him the history of our great club and what he WILL achieve at united surely could sway him back to his original thinking. I know people will say it's only a matter of time untill he's a city player but nothing is certain untill he sign's. Did we not get roy keane and berba the same way. tom17
18 Jul 2011 22:14:56
Nobody can justify what has been shown tonight. At best it is very naive at worst it is criminal. Of course Fergie will bluff it out but in your hearts you know he is guilty there have been too many other occasions. I think it made me sadder to see our great leader Robbo just acting like some pathetic puppet for some Asian puppet master throwing him scraps and trading off his greatness. I don't want to hear the rubbish that all clubs are up to it. We are Manchester United and should not be involved in such nonsence. A sad sad day. RAINFISHTROMBONE
18 Jul 2011 22:04:25
We go 4 nasri city go 4 nasri We go 4 sanchez city go 4 sanchez We go 4 aguero city go 4 aguero Fergie also says our midfeild is not top heavy on quality. So he no's we need 1 more player coz ando will have his best season nxt n fletch will b bak I'm not caricks biggest fan but when he's on form he's gud + cleverly n young n giggs n park can play in there. Add wes n we complete Or whoever fergie picks coz he is the best at this? United99
18 Jul 2011 22:02:45
We go 4 nasri city go 4 nasri We go 4 sanchez city go 4 sanchez We go 4 aguero city go 4 aguero Fergie also says our midfeild is not top heavy on quality. So he no's we need 1 more player coz ando will have his best season nxt n fletch will b bak I'm not caricks biggest fan but when he's on form he's gud + cleverly n young n giggs n park can play in there. Add wes n we complete Or whoever fergie picks coz he is the best at this? United99
18 Jul 2011 22:00:52
IMO we will sign Sneijder. But I believe it will be late. Maybe even deadline day? We all just need to be patient and trust SAF. Look at everything he has won so far
MUFC 19
18 Jul 2011 21:59:48
Alright guys just back from a rather crazy and expensive long weekend in Blackpool with my footy team (didn't see Diouf anywhere altho my eyes were aiming in another direction). So apart from Fergie's Sneijder comment, Diouf and Dispatches what else has been discussed? I haven't missed the start of the prediction games or anything?
Jono
18 Jul 2011 21:41:17
channel 4?? are u s watching?fergie is a disgrace to football shame on him..JG..
18 Jul 2011 21:33:46
FORGET IT Means We've said "That's the offer we will go to for Sneijder" & either Inter or Sneijder said "NO".
Stankovic is adamant he's staying & I always look at what team mates say to tell the real story. I think the deal is dead. We move on & tbh do we really need to persuade players? Top Draw or not. Surely we want players that want to come to us.
It's looking like.....
Nasri to Sh***y
Aguerro to Sh***y
Sanchez to Barca
Sneijder Stays at Inter
Modric to Chelski.
De Rossi, Montelivo, Diarra, Not Good Enough.
Kaka too old. Pato flatters to deceive.
FORGET THEM & LET'S MOVE ON
So the possibilities are:-
Ganso
Pastore
Douglas Costa
Schweinsteigger
Martinez
Can't see anyone else good enough.
MAD DOG.
18 Jul 2011 21:33:01
Now we've always under Sir Alex made sure we have three types of players in the squad for each area, the experianced player, the mid career player and the youngster and as the experianced player moves on the mid career players move up becoming the experianced players the youngsters step up to the mid career players and we bring in or through more youngsters thus always giving young players a chance and having good competition for places without having too many experianced players fighting over a couple of first team places disrupting the balance and harmony of the dressing room.
The point i'm getting to with this is will it be a disaster if we don't sign another midfielder? I don't think it will aslong as we get a few of the mid career players step up.
If you look at the midfield there is generally three types of midfielder we use, an attacking midfielder to play between the midfield and the forward line, a deep lying/ defensive midfielder and a box to box type player to fill the gaps in when exposed or help out going forward.
Now if you look at our midfield we have Carrick(Deep lying Mid) Fletcher(Box to Box Mid) and Giggs(Attacking Mid) as our experianced players and Pogba(DLM) Tunnicliffe(BtB) and Morrison(AM) as our youngsters. Where we may need a new signing is in a mid career player as we have Anderson(AM) then Cleverley who could be a BtB or DLM depending on how you want to use him but i feel he's more a BtB midfielder, which leaves us shy either a BtB or DLM depending on where you play Cleverley but you could play Jones as a DLM then you wouldn't need to sign anyone. Plus Park and Young can play more centrally as BtB or AM if needed, so if we don't sign anyone it won't be a disaster aslong as we get Cleverley and Anderson step up and become the players we know they can be.
If we were to sign a new midfielder i would expect either a DLM or a BtB between the ages of 22-25. The three i would have on the list are Atruro Vidal as first choice then i would have had Axel Witsel as second choice but he won't be coming now as he's moved to Benifica and Moussa Sissoko as third choice.
But i feel that even if we don't sign someone then we'll be good enough. People need to realise the only team that proberley has the beating of us is Barcalona and there isn't a player in the world we could sign that will change that, lets be real they well beat us when we had Tevez and Ronaldo and we won't sign many better players then those two, i believe the key to beating Barca is to play them over two legs as when it's a final then they will nearly always out perform you on the day. Inter beat them over two legs and Arsenal almost did it and i feel confident that if we were to play them over two legs then we would beat them with the players that we currently have. People need to realise you can't sign players to be able to beat just one team if we get hung up on beating Barca then we'll proberley get knocked out by someone else before we meet them. Barca's strength comes from having a happy settled squad who are happy to play their part for the success of the team, i don't think signing a big time charlie is the key to beating them, it'll just affect the harmony and balance of our squad making us a more beatable team.
Sorry about the essay, just trying to be the voice of reason.
Shappy
18 Jul 2011 21:18:46
IMO Fergie will go for someone unheard of or relatively unknown.
I think he's put off with Snjeider price and his wages.(maybe he considers it too much of a gamble/will he perform in EPL). Nasri is looking increasingly unlikely as Arsenal are playing hardball and City can offer bigger wages.
Anderson needs to perform like he did in his first season as he he has failed to decieve. Albeit a few good games. He has been injured and miss pre-seasons but i think with a decent run in the team and he will deliver he as bags of energy. Although he needs to work extra on his fitness as after 80 mins he dies down.
18 Jul 2011 21:17:51
Fergie's full quote:
"We are looking at some things but I am not so sure Sneijder will be easy to get."
Not "We definitely won't get Sneijder or anybody else." More like "We are working on a few players, Sneijder is one of them but it's unlikely we'll get him."
If Fergie says "I desperately need midfielders" we have to pay 5-10m more for them.
DarkLard08
18 Jul 2011 21:07:42
I think fergy has just summed up what a lot of people have been saying , the squad on a is ok but we could do with improving the midfield.
It also suggest that we have at least tried for sneijder.
so it shows that we are at least trying to sign a top class player and there is still time in the transfer market.
jred
18 Jul 2011 20:57:51
As I said, load of unsubstantiated old rubbish. RAINFISH - what did you think of Dispatches?
DarkLard08
18 Jul 2011 20:54:42
How long before we hear the good old "no value in the market" comment? I give it a week Community Shield should be fun watching Nasri, Aguerro, Silva, Toure etc.... rip Carrick, Anderson & Cleverley to bits
No Nasri, No Sneijder, No Modric, No Ganso......
18 Jul 2011 20:48:43
can any 1 explain what this program on channel 4 about is the club involved n dogie dealing young n dumb sorry lol
18 Jul 2011 20:41:31
does anybody think united should have pushed harder for aaron ramsey when we had the chance to get him. all this talk of 30million plus midfielders i think ramsey could have been the ready made scholes replacement. just think united didnt try as hard we could have, the boy is a united fan, but chose arsenal instead.
just want peoples thoughts
vinny
18 Jul 2011 20:34:12
Anybody else watching Despatches on Channel 4 on how to buy a football club? Interesting, if controversial, stuff. It's not painting our club in a pretty light, I can tell you. We're not the only ones though. I think it just brings out the kind of thing we know has been going on for years to some extent, mind you.
Jerv
18 Jul 2011 20:30:23
Hi Ed, Do you agree that all Manchester United fans are Glory Hunters? {Ed007's Note - No, I think it is a myth that Manchester City fans made up to cover their own clubs continual failure for years}
18 Jul 2011 20:23:53
Well looks like it's all over fergie says forget it hopefully people will stop talking about it now... Does anybody really think fergie won't buy of course he will it was the central midfield that let us down twice against Barcelona I don't think there are players good enough to come in and beat Barcelona if we face them but we must improve to beat Barcelona that's the only team we cruised through Europe and won the league by 9 points
18 Jul 2011 20:17:10
this no value quote a lot people keep saying is rubbish, we are defo gonna sign sneijder. so just be patient.
18 Jul 2011 19:55:08
Transfer window dont shut yet til sept 1st. Think were all getting a little too anxious about who were going to sign. Plenty of time yet , there will be additions IMO there has bin alot of departures this summer and they will be replaced. We have signed 3 very good players thats more than any of our rivals have done so lets not panic coz after all its them that has to improve and catch us Lets just be patient and bide our time this is the calm before the storm may see others leave i.e berbie and one or two additions . . . . and they may just be suprised additions. IMO WS will be a man utd player. It aint as easy as just signing on the dotted line these days. TORQS
18 Jul 2011 19:30:23
Doesn't Ashley Young plays the same position as Sneijder? Behind the Striker?
Just a thought.
18 Jul 2011 19:14:54
I will repeat a post I made a few days ago. Future headlines. "City hijack United's Sneijder bid". Mark my words
18 Jul 2011 19:09:56
Its on website saf quoted as saying "forget sneijder he will be too hard to get" but if thats correct who wont be too hard to get?
Red4life
18 Jul 2011 18:57:51
Oh dear. Quotes from SAF today saying "we won't buy for the sake of it" and "I could pick 3 or 4 players to come in but they wouldn't be good enough" yada yada yada. Another version of "no value in the market". Looks like no top quality replacements for Scholes and Giggs then. So there you have it. De Gea, who will not be as good as VDS, Jones, an excellent prospect, but one for the future, and a squad player in Young, who isn't an improvement on Nani, Valencia or Park.
18 Jul 2011 18:47:42
When asked about the possobility of signing Sneijder, SAF replied "Forget it. We are looking at some things but I am not so sure Sneijder will be easy to get. I could pick three or four players to come in but they wouldn't be good enough for us, so there is no point."
Who do you guys think he's looking at?
A.S.H.W.I
18 Jul 2011 18:37:56
Now SAF rules out signing Sneijder once more what is going on
18 Jul 2011 17:33:12
Is WILL KEANE a light weight striker in the mould of Raul or Inzaghi etc
MUMBAI_BOY
18 Jul 2011 17:31:32
All the speculation surrounding players is more than likely a smoke screen for what is really going on, right? I believe the player(s) we will sign are involved in the copa america, I dont know who they are but I think it makes sense, we normally have our business concluded at this stage, we have either have a pre contract in place or are waiting for comp to end before announcing the signing. Who these players are?? who knows...
18 Jul 2011 17:28:41
It would be funny if someone put up a big ''WELCOME TO MANCHESTER AIRPORT'' for Tevez when he leaves City
A.S.H.W.I
18 Jul 2011 16:38:50
Wow Dj, u fail to mention the time Arsenal beat you with ramsey, wilshere and song..and when you needed the ref to beat not to lose against spurs with palacios, modric and van der vaart. Or the time you were humbled by gerrard, lucas and spearing...remember those games?
Lwi
18 Jul 2011 16:22:57
Ed, 002, 007 - Do you think DeGea arrival at united can help them get Augero if United go for him..
They played together at Atletico Madrid, they know each other very well, if SAF get him it will be easy for both of them to settle at Manchester.
MD_11 {Ed007's Note - If Utd were to try to sign him obviously De Gea would try to encourage him I would imagine, but it wouldn't be a major factor or sway him more than money would.}
18 Jul 2011 16:19:25
could the delay on the Sneijder deal be that Inter have asked about Nani being part of the deal
18 Jul 2011 16:10:48
For those who are interested, the super soarway Sun is carrying more detail on the Dispatches program tonight on it's pages.
From their description, it seems that Bryan Robson is implicated rather than SAF. Equally, from their description, I think we'll see another piece of television full of biased editing that makes something relatively innocent appear the exact opposite.
After all, telling someone it's good business to buy a company, build up it's value and sell it on at a profit is hardly poor advice, is it?
DarkLard08
18 Jul 2011 16:00:45
Was just watching a re-run of the West Ham game last season at Upton Park on MUTV and Berbatov was fantatsic. I have said all along I will be gutted if we sell him and this just enthasised it. The people who criticise use the example that all his goals came in a few games and mostly against weaker sides, but this is a game where he didn't even score and his contribution as a substitute was top notch. Rooney may have scored the Hat-trick and Chicarito may have got the other in that momentous 4-2 comeback, but if it were not for Dimitar Berbatov, we would not have won that game. The guy is absolute class.
APC
18 Jul 2011 15:37:47
well a team that can beat barca cant be that bad
"trev the gooner"
after that game at the emirates..my respect for arsenal was multiplied by 100 times...
my brother(real) being a big gunners fan i have been watching them since i was 4/5 years old ...play very good fball only if they were a lil(a lot to be frank) more consistent
DJ
18 Jul 2011 15:14:06
I'd be happy for our last signing to be one of:
Sneijder/Modric/Ganso/Neymar/Pastore/Cavani/Nasri/Aguero/Hamsik
18 Jul 2011 15:09:36
Ed002 - Whats happening with Eden Hazard? You seemed pretty sure he was on his way to Manchester United a couple of weeks back. {Ed002's Note - I never said taht. What I said was that I was sure that Alexis Sanchez would not be moving to Old Trafford and suspected that a bid may be made for Eden Hazard.}
18 Jul 2011 15:06:37
I wonder what happened to the Jack Rodwell connection. It hasn't been mentioned all summer. Seems to me that he hasn't really pushed on from the promise he showed the season before last. Maybe Fergie sees Pogba and Morrison as better options. Wheres the Marquee signing thats what I want to know? But then when I think about it who is there to sign? Fabregas won't come to United. Nasri looks Etihad bound. Modric, Chelski bound. If Sneijder wanted to come to United he would be here now. Who's this Yolanthe person, Fergie won't entertain another Posh Spice, surely. We won't get Xavi, Iniesta etc, so lets be realistic.
My betting is that the summer transfer activity is well and truly over for us. You can't blame Fergie or the Glazers if players just don't want to play for us, thats just football. We tried according to Fergie to get Villa last year and he wouldn't leave Spain. There is this constant talk of filling the voids left by players leaving. Well okay you can say Hargreaves and Neville haven't even played much over the last 2 years. We have bought VDS replacement and with all due respect to Scholesy he hasn't featured as much as usual over the last 2 years. Maybe Fergie has a new system up his sleeve involving Ashley Young.
This is the time now for others to step up to the plate. Anderson, no more excuses, this season or your gone. I get a little bit sick of all this about our midfield being the weak link. Well it won the premiership this year and should have the year before. Barcelona ripped us apart, who haven't they ripped apart over the last 3 years. Before you mention Inter Milan in 2010, didnt they have to travel by bus to Milan because of the Ash Cloud and as I remember Inter where holding on for dear life in the second leg.
No lads and lasses transfer business done for me, just hope everybody gets a good pre season and we get off to a flyer
Mike the Moston Red
18 Jul 2011 15:20:47
i for one would love to see sneijder at united but even if we dont sign anyone else, i wont be loosing any sleep over it...and for people who think our centre midfield is not good enough...
well this one's for you
i'm sure all of you love essien, lampard, mikel?
guess what...we beat them 4/5 times this season
dont you guys love yaya toure? that leg breaker de jong? or gareth barry
guess what...
they were forced to play for a draw at eastlands..and we beat them at ot..
ofcourse wilshere , cesc fabregas, nasri, song are good..(2/4 being world class)
guess what
an out of form man united beat them at old trafford
so all the *best* mid fielders in the country were 2nd best to us..and still we are weak?...we even won against the team of charlie adam the magnificent
we do need a creative mid, but that will be just to *strengthen* our ranks ...imo the midfield is very good when everyone is fit..
Ando, fletch, carrick, jones, giggs, pogba, gibson dont seem bad options to pick from imo..
DJ
18 Jul 2011 14:55:41
ok all you lot who did Sir Alex beat to get Bebe or was it for the reasons I have said in the past. I am sorry but we are Manchester United and that is not acceptable we should be the example not scraping about in the gutter. How much money does he need.It will all come out one day and be a massive stain on his career ......RAINFISHTROMBONE {Ed036's Note - In proportion to SAF's achievements, I personally very much doubt that. And Bebe's showed some decent skills already for Besiktas, so there may still be some remnants of hope for a Fletcher-esque transformation yet...}
18 Jul 2011 14:48:23
Evening folks.
I know everone is excited about the kids in the youth team but they are 2 or 3 years away at least from being ready for top flight Premier League football. A few loan moves to the lower divisions for them to see life outside a top club, toughen them up and then maybe a move to a Prem team. It worked wonders for Cleverly.
The hard work for them starts now and you can see a lot of them will be willing to put the hard graft in but sadly I can't see Morrison's attitude changing but i hope I'm wrong.
Mumbles
18 Jul 2011 13:56:18
Every1 is talking about Sneijder but after watching Paulo Henrique Ganso I think we MUST sign him. Spurs also interested but United need to have an agreement before things get messy.
18 Jul 2011 13:34:54
Hi not really a rumour but was just playing FIFA 11 ULTIMATE TEAM was flicking through united players to buy and came across 1 sneijder, dont know wether its a glitch or what , but seems a bit funny there was only one. also if you look in the chelsea players to be sold KAKA is there
18 Jul 2011 13:18:48
PREMERSHIP TOP 4 FINISH WILL BE-1.livrpool.2 arsenal. 3 manchester utd. 4 chelsea. .........lfc
18 Jul 2011 13:00:56
In the midst of all this will he, wont he, staying at Inter, going to City, saga with sneijder obviously not relevant now but in the 1960s United bid 70 thousand pounds for welsh centre half Mike England from Blackburn, Spurs offered 80 thousand and Busby was quoted as saying he would not enter into an auction for any footballer, England signed for Spurs later that week but Sir Matt insisted then as he did on many occasions that he was only interested in signing players who wanted to play for Manchester United I believe that in the main Sir Alex agrees with that principle.
18 Jul 2011 12:41:31
have to say i think trev the gooner makes a good point.we all conplain about fifa etc and its easy to put this down as oh its just the way the game works.but all clubs my own included should run their club with intellect and moral standing.if any erroneous wrong doing is or has gone on then it should be put right for the good of everyone ........lfc.
18 Jul 2011 12:39:59
In reply to DarkLard08, interesting observations, will more attention be focussed on the dealings of football clubs regarding transfers and sponsor money, are they next for the microscope, politicians, press, police, all currently under intense scrutiny incidentally Maradonna was reported to have advised his son in law, City target Aguerro not to go and play in Italy.
18 Jul 2011 12:26:22
De Gea, Cleverley, Welbeck, Jones & Smalling have all arrived in Seattle, most arrived on Friday. Look forward to seeing them in action. Diouf has flown back to England to talk to Blackpool, Gibson has stayed with the reserves. So it looks like Diouf, Kuszczak & Gibson are on their way out. Morrison was not involved in the Shrewsbury friendly for the reserves. Not even on the bench, is he injured? Could he be ready to fly out to the USA? Am I clutching at straws?
Probably.
Sydney ;)
18 Jul 2011 11:45:52
I hate to say it, but I feel are buying is over for this year. Its worrying me that we have no one world class in the middle and we have let a lot of squad players like Oshea, Gibson & Brown go.
Does any1 feel the same
18 Jul 2011 09:28:15
Surprise surprise Dispatches are doing a programme about dodgy dealings with football clubs in which a far eastern Business man phones up his manager friend who can help him with players. Who is that Manager? Sir Alex. Who else is involved Harry, Sam Allerdice and King Kenny. Some people never learn.
And you wonder why he never comes out and says anything about the Glazers. 75 questions and the Rock of Gibraltar might have something to do with it. It is also the reason he will never retire. Journalists hovering with lots of stories. I know I will get lots of stick because of all he has won, but that does not mean we should be blind. He is representing Mancheser United football club and so should act in such a way. Would Sir Matt have behaved like this I don't think so..........RAINFISHTROMBONE
18 Jul 2011 09:27:03
The way things are looking at the moment who ever does come to fill that hole left by scholes is going to be a complete fail.
The reason I say this is because we all keep saying we need a new scholes and their isnt one, or the ones that can do the job have the pressure of becoming a player we all adored.
This happend to berbs, he was the next cantona, too much pressure of that name and most fans began to hate him as he didnt deliver to cantonas very high standards.
Nearly all keepers we have had, too much pressure of being the new schmeicel.
nani, being named the new ronaldo, despite being in the same team as him and being only a couple of years younger.
carrick, being given keanes number lead to fans expecting the new keane out of him, he wasn't but that doesnt mean he is a bad player.
Can we not just sign sneijder or nasri or someone and have them as 'the sneijder or the nasri' instead of the new scholes?
1redarmy
18 Jul 2011 06:03:43
i personally feel united should buy montolivo... He wants to leave fiorentina and he fits in the scholes roles well... Ed please tell me why fergie is not interested in him? {Ed007's Note - I have no idea, sorry}"""
dear sir
you know why
its because he is thinking that..
"who is this guy"?
"never heard of him.."
and he thinks of asking others and looking at youtube
then he thinks..
"boy he is really crap.. i would never want him anywhere near my team"
after that, after many other things going through his mind
that ngiak cannot mention
he has TOTALY forgotten he even had the thoughts written above
hope ngiak cleared everything for you
always at your service
gan
ps... ngiak's own opinion is that parker, henderson and adam are TONS better than these softies
18 Jul 2011 05:57:02
{Ed007's Note - Women? Football? Now that is just wrong Who was doing the ironing when they were doing this? Sorry Jenny :-)"""
dear mr james bond
a typical james bond statement, huh?
the US played better but japan deserved it as they fought and ran their hearts out
every minute of the game and never never once gave up
fantastic
by the way
both teams would have whipped the pants of half the teams in the EPL
both in terms of playing the beautiful game
and ironing
gan
17 Jul 2011 23:59:43
hi everyone just posting my views on the transfer front i honestly believe sneijder or nasri would be great additions but why did we buy young if nani and valencia are good enough imo it is because he will play one of the three down the middle and swap it around and will not buy a attacking midfielder as all 3 can play along there imo we need a defensive midfielder that can pass a ball like schweinsteiger or modric then we need a defensive mid who can tackle if fletch dont get back to strength maybe m'villa or sissoko or tiote. this is just my opinion and wouldnt blow a budget as we have cash plus i believe berbatov maybe sold for around 14mil and maybe gibson diouf kuszcak will be tottaling another 10mil.
g.devil