Manchester United Banter Archive June 18 2012

18 Jun 2012 23:16:33
Not sure if anyones mentioned this but if modric were to go to Madrid that leaves an awful lot of midfielders. A lot of them will become unhappy with due to the inguarantee of a first team place. My question is realistically who would you lot like us too buy from Madrid if modric does go.
Sparky

They might let Khedira or Sahin leave. Not sure I'd take either (although Sahin would be my proffered choice. We should be looking at M'Vila regardless of whether we get Modric or not - but if he goes to Spain we should step up our efforts.

T0MB0Z

Sahin.

M.D.

Sahin in a heartbeat!

Dev

In that scenario then it would be oezil

Red Man

Ozil is immense! But he plays in Kagawa's position.

M.D.

18 Jun 2012 22:45:36
SO many people are saying that united are going to buy another striker. Not going to happen.

I know Fergie likes to have 4 strikers but Kagawa can play CF anf the n0. 9 position and i imagine he will play off Rooney this season i our 1st team. No big name 4th striker. sorry

I would almost bet my house on Kagawa NOT playing as our number 9 at ANY point next season...

T0MB0Z

Rooney is more of a number 9 than kagawa, kagawa is an out and out number 10, nothing else, isn't a target man in any sense what so ever, a new number 9 will be signed this window, trust me I've even been told the short list, and it is short, only 3 players are on it

OTSPY {Ed007's Note - I don't think Nani is an out and out number 17 and thinking back I am not sure about Keane being a number 16, surely he was more suited to the number 26 role? So out of 10 what do you think about giving Kagawa the No.7 shirt but play him just in front of the No.22 between the No.9 but drifting out to cover the No.18 when he comes inside to the No.10 position. Do you think that could work or would it depend on who was covering the No.3 position when he was attacking in the No.11 role?}

Teeheehee@Ed007

Who's on the shortlist: Modric, Giovinco, Lennon? Now that is a short list.

M.D.

It all depends if a number 3 is starting or on subs bench with the number 18, 19 & 24, ideally he could do with partnering the number 6 in the central positions but doesn't really want to be going out too wide too often incase the number 14 gets jealous. All in all, I'd say it was 7.75/10 edd

OTSPY

18 Jun 2012 22:12:47
I'd be happy with this team next season:

GK De Gea [Hopefully he improves on his terrible season last year]

RB Jones [Played very well at the start then looked very average as the season dragged on]

CB Ferdinand [Although he is slow and looking out of his depth I believe he still has a lot to offer us]

CB Evans [I believe with his amazing performances last season he should replace Vidic which means we can get 25 million for Vidic to improve our poor midfield]

LB Evra [Even though he was a problem last year he is a club legend and regular captain, plus we can keep him in to keep players like John Terry and Suarez on their toes]

RM Valencia [very fast and good delivery and he is known to be a good right back too. I believe that is a good thing because it can coincide well with SAF's defensive tactics against better opposition

CM Powell [Even though he is only young he can definitely improve our ageing midfield Scholes and Giggs who are very average nowadays]

CM Kagawa [I think it will be good for our sales to put an Asian player playing week in week out regardless of performances]

LM Young [He has been very good last year and won us a lot of penalties. I believe if we are to challenge the top 4 we must play him every game so Rooney can bang in them penalties

SS Rooney [I think he can play behind the striker better than as it because he is not exactly known for his speed because of his weight problems. I think he is very good at linking up with our new midfield though, I guess]

CF Welbeck [Even though he misses a lot of chances he can still score 10 goals a season which is good for someone of his age]

I think we should also buy some players who will improve our squad. Shamefully, who I wanted first has decided to join Liverpoo [Sigurdsson] so we will have to go for the next best who is available on the cheap Keith Andrews. I think he is very good at free kicks and has had an unlucky Euro's but definitely shows potential. Another player we should buy is Nikolas Bendtner who scored 2 amazing goals against Portugal in the Euro's and he shows a lot of promise and plays better than Welbeck in my opinion.

True-Red-4-Lyf {Ed004's Note - Tbh I can't be bothered to argue with most of these points.. Though I did laugh when you mentioned Bendthner}

Maybe I was watching a different team but de tea terrible? Ok he took a while to settle, but he very nearly won goalkeeper of the year and pulled out some fantastic saves winning us important points. Terrible waaaayyyyy to harsh!

Red Bear

Sorry relied only one line in. Sell Vedic are you mental. Lost interest after that and the de gea comment. Clearly a wind up.

Red Bear

I laughed at the part where he said we should sell IMO the best defender in the premier league and replace him with Evans. Ha ha

NIK Legend SA

On De Gea: A few early howlers does not a terrible season make.

APC

Powell and kagawa centre mids lol

OTSPY

Lads, go easy, it's obvious whoever wrote this is about 12.

G.A.G.U.S {Ed007's Note - It was an idiot LFC fan GAGUS, he is taking a short sabbatical from the sites. I can't be ar$ed dealing with pathetic wee kn*bs that don't even know what team they support.}

This has to be a joke surely

Ruudinthemood

Can`t believe it took the ed to point out to you lot that this is a wind up, obviously a l/pool fan who can`t find anything constructive to say about l/pool becoming Swansea reserves

You can smell a rat-eater a mile off lol


Halesini

18 Jun 2012 21:54:02
Balzaretti looked quite good, Italy left-back?

18 Jun 2012 21:31:52
i would be happy to see these players at man utd.

shinji kagawa (signed)
jetro willems (not yet)
nick powell (signed)
Thiago Alcantara (not yet)

No DM ?

With the attacking football we will potentially be playing next season, we will need a top DM box to box midfielder

Mad Hatter

Fergie doesn't like DM's. Jeeeeeez, he's not going to say he thinks DM's are out dated then buy one is he!

Red Joe

I agree with you mad hatter we need a box to box player but I don't think one will be signed. Hope I'm wrong and we put in a bid for M'Vila before he ends up at Arsenal. I think Fergie has too much faith in Carricks ability to break up play. I rate Carrick but he is not a defensive midfielder who is willing to put in a strong challenge (a player we have missed since Hargreaves was fit) hopefully something materialises in the next 10 days by the time I'm home from Magaluf lol.

Rjmanutd

Willems does not look good enough to step into the first team yet and doesn't really look any better than our current youth players (although he does have a little more experience).

I'd like to sign Thiago were it not for the fact that in three years time when he starts to realise his full potential he'll want to go back to Barcelona.

T0MB0Z

Secondly this obsession with Alcantara has to stop, the reports seem really flimsey, can't see it happening at all. Plus I just get the feeling most people who want him are youtubers jumping on a band wagon.

Red Joe

I also put box to box midfielder. They usually are defensively minded with the ability to drive forward and pass, kick start attack.

Mad Hatter

18 Jun 2012 19:45:27
Do any of the ed's have information on what is turning out to potentially be the Modric saga, it looks as though we will possibly be set to miss out on yet another target of ours. If we do miss out on Modric I am fairly confident that we will explore other options with two or three main options:

Yohan Cabaye: Cabaye is a very good option and for me he is the best alternative to Modric. He has performed very well in the midfield for France and was one of the best players in the EPL this past season. He has a lot of bite to his game as well as excellent passing flair. He has excellent passing stats, breaks up the play well and clearly has a good eye for goal. Cabaye would be around £20 million.

Joao Moutinho: He is the next option I believe, he has also impressed at the Euro's like Cabaye. I am surprised not to have seen him at the club already when he and Veloso were linked heavily with us. Like Cabaye he has a very good passing range and holds the ball well, however he does not quite have the same amount of bite. He'd be around £15-20 million.

Thiago Alcantara: Thiago would be a good signing, but he is by far the most light weight of the three. I'm not sure physically he and Carrick would be sufficient in the center of midfield. Moutinho and Cabaye would be a better fit with Carrick as they recognise their defensive duties unlike Thiago. Thiago would be good if we had Martinez or M'Vila in the centre of the midfield. He'd be around £20 million I expect.

All in all I would say that both Moutinho and Cabaye are better value than Modric, they would be cheaper. Either would do me as both are similar players who are also of an excellent standard. Adding one of those two and then a cheap backup left back who has potential liek Bryan Oveido and we would have managed to buy quality players in Moutinho/Cabaye, Oveido, Powell, Kagawa and Henriquez for probably just shy of £50 million. I still think that on top of those we may go for a young centre back as well like Papodopolous or Okore...it certainly seems as though we are in the market for a young centre back as we went for Varane amongst others.

RedDevil19

If he's fit and available I'd take Nuri Sahin over those 3. Unfortunately I think he's stated he wants to stay and fight for his place at R.Madrid.
If they take Modric then perhaps that means they're willing to let Sahin go? In my dreams, perhaps.

M.D.

Hopefully now that Croatia are out of the euro's there might be some movement on the Modric front. Lets hope that what ever happens the saga doesn't go on too long so that we can line up someone else. I would hate to see us relying too heavily on Carrick and Scholes. For me Cabaye would be the best signing after Modric and may not be impossible but would still cost 25m to prise away from Newcastle i think. Seen a lot of Moutinho over the last few years and haven't ever been overly impressed with him, had good potential when he was 22-23 but i think he's spend to long in a poor league. IMO the only two CM, that have all the attributes we need for success next season are Modric or Cabaye. If we go for someone else I hope they proove me wrong.

Kai

18 Jun 2012 20:28:06
Luka Modric 2012 read Wesley Sneijder 2021.

The David Gill rumour club. Be interesting to know what the season ticket renewal update is ? {Ed007's Note - I think Sneijder might be a bit old in 2021,}

Ooops , 2011 or 2021, still overpriced and not for us

I reckon the 2022-23 season could be his year...

DodgyBanter

Won't 2022-23 be typically Liverpools year? ;)

Rjmanutd

Might be the year Liverpool get relegated. {Ed004's Note - Or promoted...}

Rjmanutd, I wee'd a little, but in all honesty, they willbe dominating games next season with the flair of their over riding midfieldf global stars *cough* hender son and spearing I fear next year is their year, (trying to keep a. Straight face;))

Macca!

18 Jun 2012 19:21:23
And so the fixture list gets released and far to many people with too much time on their hands due to the lack of premier league football start to over analise it. We will play all the other 19 teams twice between august and june the same as everyone else. Many things will have an effect on the outcome of next years title but as to when you play teams? This will have little effect. Injuries, form and luck will all play a bigger part. Yes we play away 5 times out of 6 after european games but only once of those 5 do we have to travel south to london, also can you see City or Chelsea being happy about playing us just after a european game? At home or not. Also we don't know whether these european games are away or at home yet. Imagin if we play in a european game at OT then away to City in the next game after City have had to travel to say Russia for their european game. Who would be happier then? What if while playing in Russia City pick up a couple of injuries to key players?

What i'm trying to get at is next season will be a long hard season but thats no different than any other year. We will be tested and we'll have ups and downs but at then end of it all I hope we come out on top, if not then i'll enjoy following the best team all the way.

Shappy

18 Jun 2012 12:17:14
Not a rumour but thought I'd share.....

My other half gave birth to my beautiful twin girls Annabelle Rose and Sophia Elizabeth.

They were born @ 2010 & 2021 Uk time respectively on June 16th 2012

All are just perfect.

I'd like to thank every one who wished us luck.

Monk (one very proud dad) {Ed007's Note - Congratulations Monk mate. Send your wife all of us Eds best wishes mate. Ed013's (Leeds Ed) wife had a wee boy on Saturday as well.}

Congrats!!

M.D.

Congratulations to you and your family!

Cban

Congratulations mate - expect to see photos of them in United babygrows before the end of the day :)

StevieK

Congrats, Sophia is a great name, my daughters name also.

Supasub

Congrats lad! Sleepless night await :)

G.A.G.U.S

Many congratulations Monk!

Gav

Congratulations monk mate, glad it all went well. I wish you and your family good health and happiness. And the same to ed013 and his new family.

Shappy {Ed007's Note - I'll pass it on Shappy mate.}

Two more additions to the united family.............congratulations mate

Congratulations, 2 more little Man Utd supporters in the world : )

Ports

Congratulations Monk to you and yours

Same to Ed 013 leeds supporter or not hrhrhr

Pardoe {Ed007's Note - It gets even stranger Pardoe, he actually has a great sense of humour as well!! I was shocked when I first spoke to him.}

Congrats mate all the best. Glad to hear it all went well.

Jono

Congratulations monk... you will have your hands full and many a late,late night....

all the best for now and the future to you and your whole family..

& to ED too......

Oxred

Well done Monk lad, you do know you will not be sleeping for a year or so don't you? Congrats mate.

Sydney!

Congrats Monk! Glad to hear all went well, best of luck to the future!

Likewise to 013!

MPez

Congratulations mate - will raise a glass to you and your families happiness

Mike

Congrats to you all Monk, and Ed 13!

DodgyBanter

Congratulations!

T0MB0Z

So much more important than football. I AM KLOOT

Congrats mate enjoy the lack of sleep! Same to ed13

Rjmanutd

18 Jun 2012 16:53:29
"we cannot compete price wise"

"this is from someone very close to the player"

Obviously the person "close to the player" heard it from the player? Like I said how would Modric know that we cannot compete price-wise? I just thought it was a bit strange that's all mate.

Sydney!

Syd, " we cannot compete price wise"
Is my opinion as to why we haven't bought already and probably won't.
I post on my phone most of the time so sorry if I don't quite use the way of putting sentences together and fully explained for everyone, I don't have the time. PSG is currently his most likely destination, that is from ONE of his agents.

Supasub

Supasub

We probably can't/wouldn't want to compete if it comes down to a bidding war/wage war. But I doubt Modric would move to PSG if he has options in better leagues. Obviously money is an issue but with rumours of R.Madrid and United interest, surely he wouldn't consider moving to France at this stage of his career, unless those other options have been ruled out first?
Supasub's opinions are inane as we won't buy anyone until after the Euros.

M.D.

If only it were as simple as a player going where he wants to go.

Supasub

Supasub

I do believe you are getting info. on Modric and I also understand your reasoning for thinking he will end up at PSG (money). However, I do not agree with this. The player has a lot of power these days and if Modric doesn't want to go to a French League that is far lower in quality than the PL, he cannot be forced to go there. I know he's not one to throw his weight around but surely Levy would have to understand if he said (thru' his agent) 'I really want to leave to enhance my career and to win major trophies so I really don't want to go to a team in a lesser league like PSG or Anzhi for that matter'. I cannot see how Levy can have a major problem with that or force him to go there. If Real had have offered Arsenal £50m for Fabregas last year would he have gone there? No, because he wouldn't have wanted to and the board will have known that. If Modric was to say I only want to go to Real or United (from the offers on the table) - Levy would have 2 options...either sell him to either for a fair price or keep hold of an unhappy player

Gav

Who's saying he won't play in the French league though?
There is alot of presumption. He has preferences like everyone else. Was tottenham his preferred choice at the time?

Supasub

Gav, I'm just the messenger. I've kept replying to backup what I've posted today of what I was told this morning. When I know more I will post it, I will get shot down & I will try and reply to back-up what I know to be true from people who do it as a livelihood.

Supasub

Supasub - Fair play mate, like I said I do believe you are getting snippets as I remember your posts about Modric over the months. I believe that perhaps his agent will be up for the move to PSG (money) but cannot see Modric fancying that challenge that's all. We shall see...

Gav

18 Jun 2012 16:07:29
Just a wee comment on the Bale situation:

Red Bear,

I think he went to Spurs, because at that age he probably thought he would get more playing time at Spurs - don't think it was a snub or anything like that.

I'd always have loved him to come here, but the more I think about it, I can't see where he would fit in.

Assuming we play with the one up top, and three fluid, rotating attackers in behind, he'll not be able to play left wing as he's much like Toni in style.

So he'll only play when we go 442 on a few occasions, and i can't see him being happy with that.

Another option is playing him at left back, but I don't see SAF getting rid of Evra, nor do I think Bale wants to go back to that position, after a season or two in the limelight as an attacker. Plus, no matter how much I would love to have him, you can't justify spending the money quoted for him, on a full back.

I've seen a few people suggesting playing with Toni and Bale as wing backs, and much as the thought excites me, its far too revolutionary for the management.

I am now resigned to the fact that he'll never be a United player, after years of believing fate would see him as Gigg's natural heir.

An earlier poster claimed there's always room for class players at United, but while I admire the sentiment, I feel that this is one instance that proves that unfortunately, that is not always the case.

And to all those he feel he wouldn't be a worthy United player, remember watching the games in the last two seasons where he was flying at seasoned defenders full pelt (granted, not every game), and tell me you honestly didn't inch forward a little further on your sofa....

Just thoughts and opinions guys, no facts, so don't be getting all pedantic on me ;)


StevieK

He'd certainly be an expensive back up if he were signed with a view to him only playing when we play in a 4-4-2 formation (assuming, that is, that that's not our preferred formation come the start of next season).

I think him and Tony could play on the wings together - but prefer a more versatile and fluid attacking line which neither player really lends themselves to. As for them playing as wing-backs - I agree entirely with what you're saying.

T0MB0Z

Good post, agree with pretty much everything you said. But I just feel he would be a gr8 addition. Anyone saying overrated hasn't seen enough. IMO he could also adapt to other positions. He's quick, strong, goes past people and gr8 engine. Not many of those around. Boyley.

If Bale does arrive I would see us sticking to a 4411 formation with Kagawa behind Rooney, Bale and Valencia out wide and Carrick with either Scholes or Cleverly (or Modric) in CM

This is the main reason I don't want Bale - as I would rather see us move to a more fluid 4231 kind of formation

But then we all know how much Fergie likes wingers for natural width! Hope he's willing to move away from that this next season

Gav

I have no problem with playing that system Gav, but to be fair, and I don't want to sound like an aul fart harking back to the good old days, we didn't do too badly when Kanchelskis and a young Giggs were flying down their respective wings - not much position-changing with those two, and it's nearly doing back that long, since I last saw United consistently thrill and excite me!

But, I liked what I saw at the start of last season, so I'm open to seeing 4231 used successfully this season.

If we bought Messi or Ronny I'd happily change a whole system for them, but much as I love Bale, he's not THAT good....unfortunately.

StevieK

Mmmm Kanchelskis & Giggs now that was tasty!

Gav

18 Jun 2012 15:03:53
I for one am delighted with our first opponents of the new season as its payback time for costing us those valuable points, I hope we slaughter them!

Flimbo

Can see us getting a good start to the season looking at the first 6 games can't see us dropping any points

UNITEDFORLIFE75

Very droll

Puzzled

Everton generally have terrible starts to their season too!

Gar

It boring on the Liverpool site Puzzled?

Surely there are some massive midtable matches for you to look forward to later in the season?

GDS

Bit rich i think syaing they cost us the leaguen it was us who threw it away, if you haven`t noticed the name of the game is to score goals njot roll over and just let us win, as much as i love united i`m big enough to admit it our fault when it goed wrong sometimes

Everton may not be the same team if moyes leaves for spurs.

TRUMORS

18 Jun 2012 14:43:48
Davide Petrucci is close to penning a new deal with Manchester United.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson rates the young Italian midfielder very highly.

Calcio News 24 says Petrucci is snubbing interest from Inter Milan, Roma and Genoa to sign a new three-year contract at Old Trafford.

18 Jun 2012 13:14:59
ed004, do you think a midfield of Cabaye, M'Villa and Kagawa would be strong enough to challenge for europe?

it's highly unlikely IMO that we will sign one of Cabaye or M'Villa let alone both but IF we were i think we would go for a midfield of:

_____M'Villa_Cabaye____
valencia_kagawa_LuisNani
________rooney________

and have rooney as the lone striker.

what you think ed, you think thats good enough? and what sort of money do you think we would have to pay to land those two, also would we have enough for a leftback, which IMO is a main priority..

JK92 (banter please) {Ed004's Note - I say 40 million would get the pair. Selling Anderson could bring it down to nearer to 30 million so in total the midfield along with Kagawa would cost around net spend 45 million. I think it would be capable in Europe. Our attack is extremely good and our defence is one of the best, if not the best, defence in the world. All we have been lacking through the years is a strong midfield.}

What about the leftback though ed, do you think we'd have enough for a new one or do you think evra is capable for 1 more season?

JK92 {Ed004's Note - No I feel a left back would be needed but if you sell Evra the fee you would get from him but would use that money to sign Izaguirre or Willems}

Hi ed004, who do you think united will get to strengthen the midfield, im starting to think it might be the case of saf sticking with what he has again. tom17 {Ed004's Note - I think we will sign one more person and I feel that would be Modric}

Bringing in both would be a great move, and potentially signing them together and mentioning this during talks may help them decide to come.

I still think Modric is fergies first choice and he and M'Vila would also be great...

lets wait and see.....

oxred

I would prefer Modric to Cabaye but if getting Cabaye meant we could get M'vila too I could deal with that :)

I am just struggling to believe anything regarding United at the moment though. Only Fergie, Gill and the Glaziers know and the rest is guess work. Yet it is so so addictive!

1redarmy

1redarmy "I would prefer Modric to Cabaye but if getting Cabaye meant we could get M'vila too I could deal with that"

I fully agree with that sentiment!

Gav

18 Jun 2012 12:45:29
Christian Fuchs was being touted as Evra's replacement last transfer window. Is this no longer a possibility?

Red Spark

18 Jun 2012 12:33:12
If Modric signs for Madrid surely that makes at least one of their CMs available. Sahin or Khedira for example?
SqueakyBum

18 Jun 2012 12:00:21
On Nani.

I think the reason he seems a fair bit more effective for Portugal is that he knows Ronnie is the guy that does the tricks and flicks and is the main man. Maybe with us he is thinking he is the one who has to do the skill moves and the likes as nobody else has that in them?

He seems to be able to make the correct decision much more often in Portugal games than ours by being able to concentrate on aiming for the corner of the field and look for the cross yet when he comes back into our Red shirt its the same old Nani we get back.

I genuinely want him to succeed with us but he as well as Ando have had enough time to make their futures secure with us but both seem to have failed for different reasons and I hope we can recoup the cash outlay and invest in Rodriguez and Cabaye or the likes.

Jono

I'd give Nani another year personally. Perhaps his form in the Euro's is partially a result of starting consistently for the 1st time since his last injury? I may be wrong but I think if Nani stays fit all next season he will have a stormer and will be far more consistant than last season, more like the season before that when he played a big part in us winning the PL

Gav

18 Jun 2012 11:07:46
what do people think about stevan jovetic ?
sparky

Good player, looks a little sluggish since his big injury, not sure if he has improved as I haven't seen him recently. I think United would struggle to agree any deal with Fiorentina as their president hates our club. I am not sure about his 25m euro price-tag either.

Sydney!

City nearly bought Jovetic in the final week of last Year's window taking a late sudden interest, I reckon they would be interested again if he were available.

Supasub

18 Jun 2012 10:29:14
United play five away games out of six straight after UCL games. City, Newcastle, Liverpool, Villa & Chelsea. Seems very very unlucky to me.

Sydney!

Tough run in too.

G.A.G.U.S

City had 6 out of 6 last year Syd, just the way it goes. It didn't seem to affect them too much!

Only issue we have is that we do not want to underestimate our CL group again as that cost us last season.

It would appear we are going to need a big squad this season.

GDS

Didn't affect them? Are you being serious??

It's always the same. Every year we get a bad draw of fixtures. This season City play only one of the top six (arsenal at home) in the first 3 months of the season!

Yes, very serious, they won the league didn't they?

3 wins, including a 6-1 win against United and a 4-0 win at Blackburn.

2 draws, against Liverpool and Fulham, two tough away games at the best of times.

1 defeat, 2-1 to Chelsea, and they were unlucky in that game to not get anything.

I'd take 11 from 18 from them 6 away games!

GDS

No name,

So that means in the rest of the season they have to play the top teams close together. Everybody plays 38 games, last season we had a decent set of fixtures, again it has happened where we should win most games over Christmas when we usually excel so we should be fine.

I think it is natural to look at Southampton as an easy game, but if United had got them we would be saying 'O God, we always get the new team who wants to prove something'

GDS

Champions league?

So you are suggesting they got knocked out of the Champions League because of games they had to play in 4 days time?

I presume that is what you are saying as 'Champions League'? isn't really a sentence!

GDS

I'm quite sure Syd was talking about the difficulty of putting in a serious challenge for the champions league when faced with a difficult domestic schedule. I don't recall City managing that last season.

Red Spark

I read it that he was saying we will struggle in them league games due to them being after champions league games.

City did not get knocked out of the Champions league last season because of a tough schedule, they got knocked out because of a lack of experience, a very tough group and being a bit wet behind the ears.

I would expect all 4 English clubs to get through the group stage this season, last season was a major blip and despite the suggestion throughout the year that English football was on the way down an English team (the 5th best) went and won it!

Chelsea showed that experience is massive in Europe. United young players will learn from last year and I expect us to get to the quarter finals at least.

GDS

18 Jun 2012 08:49:18
Just been told that Modric is either going to Madrid or PSG, we cannot compete price wise. Up until a couple of weeks ago we had a very good chance of getting him, but now he is virtually 100% not coming.

Supasub

Been told? Or read it in the credible papers this morning? Or been told by somebody who read it in the credible papers this morning?

He is not virtually 100% not coming, how can it even be quantified into a percentage?

GDS

By the way, I haven't got this from the press, this is from someone very close to the player.

Supasub

And thus, it continues.
Hazard - failed.
Modric - close to failing.

Which 'big money' midfielder is next for us to be 'linked to'? Before we inevitably fail and get force-fed the 'no value in the market' or 'we've got a strong enough squad' bullcrap.

The spin continues.

RED_SKY

How would the player know that United are not able to compete price-wise? Since when did Modric have inside knowledge of United's finances?

Sydney!

Sorry GDS I'll make it 99% just for you, if that helps?
Again not from the press as suggested for what it's worth, I posted that PSG where interested (if you use the search function) probably at least a month or two before PSG was mentioned in the press ( I even posted on here when one of his agent's and someone else where at a PSG game, invited by PSG a while ago). They are there as they can outbid Madrid. I also mentioned Redknapp's position was in jeopardy a day or two after Chelsea won CL, and I put on here Jelavic was going to Everton before the January transfer window started yet it went through on the final day. I don't make too many prediction's, If I've heard something from what I know is a very reliable source I will share it, I've also posted stuff on here about Kovacic which I know to be true, If you prefer I'll stay off the page completely & leave it for people who just want to see fantasy football stuff.

Supasub

Supasub, you clearly have a Croatian link and I think you do get bits of info sent your way from time to time, but how would someone close to Modric know that United cannot compete price-wise? That is nothing but his opinion as he couldn't possibly know the ins and outs of our finances.

Sydney!

Syd, Modric won't be completely deciding where he goes will he?
United have a budget, I don't know what it is but it's less due to lack of CL money and so on.
In January and until PSG got involved we were probably the front runners, there has been alot of meeting's between united and Modric rep's in the past at least 5/6 meeting's over the last 18 month's to 2 year's.
I personally think that he will go to PSG (based on price, regardless of where Modric want's to go)as I think they can outbid Madrid (and us) and Tottenham can still accept/refuse bid's from whom they like.

Supasub

Syd, you honestly think we can outbid PSG for a player and alternatively be more an attractive club currently,than say Real Madrid? I'm not being negative just realistic. I think the only way Modric can now arrive at our club is if Modric creates a stink and declares us his dream club...etc, and he's not really that type from what I've been told.
I don't have any Croatian link's, only one or two people I've known for a long time who are in the business that I bump into now and again, the fact that three players I've mentioned are croation is just a bit coincidental, saying that one of them was at Croatia's first two group games so probably be posting about another croatian player or two soon.

supasub

Supasub,

Sorry mate am I not allowed to question anything you say, have to accept it as gospel, despite what you are saying is exactly what is in the Daily Fail this morning?

I am confused that a player would leave the EPL to play for PSG in a poor French league. We have seen them linked to so many players and they all fall through as it is not the challenge a player wants at 26 years old.

I am guessing if we do not get him then all the people who have been saying he is not good enough will suddenly start moaning we never get the players we are linked with, just so they have something to moan about!

Not saying you are lying at all, I am sure you have a source and I know you don't post silly things like some on here. I just really want us to sign him so would be gutted if he went somewhere for money!

GDS

It seems that the new policy is to be interested in a player until only one other club shows an interest - then, we're resigned to backing out of a potential deal.

Are we that financially impotent in the transfer market these days?

RED_SKY

Of course people can question what anyone post's, the same reason that I'm also allowed to reply to someone being sceptical about a post, the realism is that we are now probably in a second tier of spenders below City, PSG, Madrid, Barca, Chelsea & maybe Malaga & Bayern to name a few. I've wanted us to sign modric for the last couple I years but unless something dramatically changes, I can't see it happening now.

Supasub

Modric can rule out PSG and RM if he wanted too. But like you said he isn't one to rock the boat. We will have a rough budget I am sure, but last season's UCL early exit will not effect things much. We lost £15m or so compared to the season before, but we cannot get to the final every season so the club would have expected not to get as much this time round. Other sponsorships and EPL TV increases would have cancelled out that £15m. EPL money will be adding a further £15m-£20m as of next season too on top of the extra £5m from this season. We will have a rough budget and we would not want to get involved in a bidding war with a sugar daddy, but that doesn't mean Modric would know anything about our finances mate, that's all I was saying.

Sydney!

I haven't stated that Modric knows anything about our finances, don't know where that is from.

Supasub

If there is a transfer policy put in place by a clubs/company's owners, it doesn't matter what the finances are like.
Companies can get their figures to say all sorts of things especially for a banks interest.

Supasub

"we cannot compete price wise"

"this is from someone very close to the player"

Obviously the person "close to the player" heard it from the player? Like I said how would Modric know that we cannot compete price-wise? I just thought it was a bit strange that's all mate.

Sydney!

18 Jun 2012 08:24:59
with all the rumours over the weekend regarding Modric and Barca/Real does anyone know if the situation in regards to him signing for us is the same?

reports from a couple of people on here last week indicated that he had agreed personal terms and all that was left was to agree a price with levy.

oxred

18 Jun 2012 02:42:14
Kagawa looks like a great signing, I'm pretty sure the Glazers funded the transfer for footballing reasons & not just the Asian KIT MOOLA.

Have you just gave away the riddle?

cban

Shh! Don't tell Rainfish lol ;)

Red Spark