Manchester United Banter Archive September 18 2013

18 Sep 2013 23:30:09
No question that Giggs goal against Arsenal was brilliant, but the cheekiest goal has to be that scored by George Best in an FA Cup match against Northampton. The goalie was bouncing the ball as they had to do in those days when George nipped in, nicked the ball around the goalie and scored
Red Setter

That goal by Best didn't stand I think as an official goal even though I think it should have, but I think from memory wether it was Banks or Jennings that they had both hands on the ball.

Supasub, I think the one that didn't stand, was in a Home International against England, with Banks in goal.

18 Sep 2013 22:33:41
hi.new member/poster here.anyone think andreas pereira of the un18s will get the same chance with the first team as januzaj probably next season or the season there after? do rate him very highly. {Ed007's Note - Welcome to the site mate.}

Augsty
Andrea is a very talented boy and is still only seventeen
he has the talent and ability but lacks
stamina and physique which will come as he develops
ARB

I watch almost ever u21 and u18 games. The boy definitely has immense potential and like the above poster says he does seems to lack the stamina and physique if he wants to step up. Having said that now there is u19 champions league which will develop and give him and other youngsters a platform. I particular like the fact that he can play in midfield. That position when Carrick retires, if he develop enough can fill in. But I don't see him being talked about and given chance in premier league like Adnan next year. There is still room for him to grow and I very much look forward to it.

18 Sep 2013 19:20:03
Lots of great games tonight. Had to pick which one to watch and leaning towards Dortmund vs Napoli. {Ed007's Note - Get the Milan v Celtic game on ffs!!}

18 Sep 2013 18:43:38
Can anyone identify the reasons behind Evra's decline in his defensive part of the game. He is still as good as ever going forward. We struggled on the left last night, with Kags getting bullied at times. I don't think we can play him on the left as a conventional winger let alone an inverted one in big games when Evra is still such a liability(Might as well have a vacancy sign up). If we can get a top class Lb, I think that will see Kags come into his own in that role.

Also, great to see Chris Smalling back, I thought he had a more than a solid game. With Fellaini now offering the muscle in midfield, Hopefully we can find an out and out Rb to support Rafael. Then we can stop monkeying about Jones and Smalling and allow them to mature in their natural positions

One word. Complacency.
He still has the fitness, the pace and the desire. He also seems to have a certain starting place when fit. He seems to la k concentration and gets ddawn towards the ball

A combination of loss of pace and loss of fitness. He never was a great defender but his pace allowed him to get out of tricky situations and catch up. Now he no longuer has the pace to catch up with a winger nor the stamina to get back at full speed after his forrays forward.

He is guetting older and declining, time to replace him imo

It's just down to pace, and general age. Full backs like Evra often stop bombing forward so much as they get older (he doesn't) as they struggle to get back, and when they do get back they take longer to recover, hence slight lapses in concentration.

The pace of the game is such that even a tiny drop in concentration is exploited. Just the same as why an older striker doesn't chase down defenders so much and relies on timing, but if they do they can sometimes nick the ball (Rooney style).

Sorry my last post was incomplete. I use a Windows8 phone and I seem to lose more posts than get sent!
I was trying to say that I believe he does still have pace and fitness, but lacks concentration. He gets sucked in to the ball too often and is therefore out of position. He also doesn't get back into position quickly enough. Competition for places is always a good motivator, and Moyes' public courting of Baines this summer seems to have had a positive effect on Evra. He has been by no means perfect, but has looked much more reliable than last season.
Having said all of that, it would appear that he has been encouraged to get forwards more under SAF, vertainly in the last couple of seasons. And to be fair to Evra, he has posed more of a threat going forwards than any of our left sided midfield players. But he is 32 now, and I am sure the club will continue their search for a new left back. Baines would appear to be out of the picture now, so Luke Shaw would be my choice.

Its not pace he has plenty of that going forward he just doesn't track back quick enough when he's charged up the pitch

When you are attacking you are in control. Defending you are dependent on what the attacker does, he just doesn't have the concentration/acceleration to adapt to that anymore. Speed of mind is affected by stamina and age.

I feel as though he's being used more as wing back than a full back, in that he's been encouraged to get forward more, and as I said in another post the other day, it's not fair to expect a player of his age to bust a gut trying to get back when we've got capable cover from the midfield (The other night it was Fellaini covering)
I do agree his concentration has dropped and his defending is what it was, but I think moyes has identified that problem, and that's why we're seeing him getting forward very often now and Fellaini who's only just come into the team covering for him.

18 Sep 2013 17:53:17
Who else thinks Matic from Benfica would suit our style of play perfectly? From the amount of Portuguese football I have seen he has been very impressive!

18 Sep 2013 15:11:49
Read a bit further down the page that Sydney! said Rooney can't get back to his previous world class form ( 2009-2010 ). I would like to take the poster's opinions on this.

In 2010 Rooney was one of the deadliest players in the game. Fast, direct, strong, good in the air and had one hell of a shot on him.

What changed since then?

First with the negatives. Rooney gained weight, lost a yard of pace and some work rate, his first touch seemed to be off.

Well all that could be in direct corrolation with the weight gaining issue, which causes drop in fitness levels, so the player is more tired during a game therefore more likely to make mistakes and lose concentration and obviously loss of pace.

Secondly let's look at the positives. Rooney dropped back, therefore had to work on his delivery and passing, which has come leaps and bounds since then. He has more vision now and also seems to have improved his proverbial footballing brain.

Now with Rooney guetting fitter, he not only seems to be significantly faster ( he was able to get the better of the high flying Son ) but he did seem less tired and more concentrated than usual, resulting in a better touch and a remarkable passing accuracy of 97 %. If he keeps that level of commitement and slowly but surely regains his fitness, he will not only find the form of the 2009-2010 season, but he will also have a bigger arsenal of abilities in his locker with his significantly improves passing range and creativity.

It's an interesting discussion and one that's hard to call. From Rooney's earlier days I'd say his close control and technique still do not look as sharp in 2013, however, he seems to be a better predatory striker i.e. more competent finisher. He also has greater experience on his side obviously.

I can't imagine him quite returning to the levels of explosiveness and immense technique he once had but he's showing signs of at least improving these areas - if he keeps doing so and his finishing stays as good he can become a good as he used to be, even if in a slightly different way.

I do think because of Rooney's weight issues and natural body shape that he will drop off sooner than other professionals. But there's no reason why he can't stay at the top for another couple of years yet. For that to happen he will have to remain focussed, hungry and in good shape - which have been his issues at times.

IMO we have seen the best of Rooney. That isn't me saying he isn't any good or he is sh1t. I am saying I do not think he will top 2009/10. I think he can regain the touch and nothing has changed when he has the ball at his feet, I just do not see him getting that explosive pace back, no matter how fit he gets. Physically he has declined, but like I have said a fit Rooney is still a top player. He will always get us goals. To be fair I had my doubts that he will ever get back to this good, but I do not see him cheating science and getting back to 2009/10. He was unplayable then.

If he carries on playing like that I'll be very happy. The problem will be when he picks up a knock that stops him from training, (the head has meant he can work on fitness for weeks). He will take longer and longer to get sharp again, plus he will demand to be started so we have to suffer for the several weeks it takes for him to get back to this type of form.

Hope he stays injury free though so we can enjoy more of the same from him.

I've never been a huge fan but I thought he looked excellent last night, hungry, full of running and dare I say, pacy

Rooney is starting to play the way we have always wanted him to, he looks like a player that is hitting his mental peak, he may not be as quick but he is stronger than ever physically, and he looks like he can go on and play with intelligence and maturity brings with age if he can keep going this way he will only get better I have said this before the Irish Pavee blood that runs through his viens makes him like granit and he looks focused like never before I think we could see a very special period in his career with us

18 Sep 2013 14:46:12
What's everyone's opinion on Nani on the right and Valencia on the Left cutting in-field like young tends to do.(For the City Game)

Leaves Nani on his preferred wing and I think a better delivery of ball into the box from the left as Valencia has more space to cut in.

Opinions welcome!

In order for a winger to be able to play in an inverted role, he has to be able to trick the full back, making him wonder whether he will cut in and shoot or drive to the byline and cross, therefore making it harder for a fullback to guess what the winger is going to do and not commit too early. He also has to use his weak foot to protect the ball and shift it away thus winning a free kick when said fullback commits.

Young can cross with his left foot ( even if his crossing is mediocre ) while Nani is 2 footed. Valencia can do neither so playing him on the left wing is one of the most riddiculous things Moyes can do, including starting Giggs ( which is saying something )

Valencia has never played there, we can only assume they have tried it in training, but he cannot do it. He is very reliant on one foot.

To cut in he would need to be a good dribbler with very quick feet like Robben or Ronaldo. I don't think he has that ability.

Valencia is good at beating defenders with this pace and strength and then cross the ball in. Let him continue doing that and get back to the form he showed few seasons ago.

Just think how good he could be if he was two footed.

by the way, can anyone think of any other top players who've been so one footed?

Liam Brady all left foot and was brilliant. Apart from when he made a goal with his right against us in the 79 cup final.

18 Sep 2013 14:20:11
On a non Manchester United note did anyone see ronaldos 3rd goal last night? One of the best goals I've ever seen. He had everything to do when received the ball but makes it looks so easy. The close control to take it around two men in a space of of about 5-10 yards, then the shot was fantastic.
I don't want to hit a raw nerve with anyone as he has just signed a new deal at real, and it appears he won't be coming to OT, but as football fans, you need to see that goal. Eat your heart out Gareth Bale!

"one of the best goals I've ever seen"

Are you for real? good goal alright but the very fact Real scored 6 away from home shows you just how poor at defending Galatasary are so beating 2 of their defenders inside the box is not anything amazing!

Maybe I went a bit over the top, but none the less that was a quality goal scored by a quality player and, by far the individual skill to create that goal was up there with best.

18 Sep 2013 11:08:52
Sorry for the cut and paste, but DM clarifies the Januzaj CL omission. Apologise if this is has already been mentioned, and another apology for the cut and paste!

"Moyes said that though the Belgian midfielder will also miss the trip to Shakhtar Donetsk, he will become available for United's final four Champions League group games, because of Uefa's registration system.

He said: "By October 7, Adnan will have been at the club for the length of time that will allow him to go onto the 'B' list. It means he will become a youth player [for the Champions League].

"If we had put him onto the 'A' list now, then we would never have been able to class him as a youth-team player. So we needed to wait for two games to do that."

Had Januzaj been on the A list, the United manager would have had to omit a senior player from his squad."

This was posted before but it is encouraging as it sounds like he is going to be involved.

18 Sep 2013 08:52:23
Some Truths to consider after yesterdays display.

1) As I have said all summer openly without fear of anger of SOME!, Rooney is a top dog at united.
i and am sure all can remember, the criticism he was getting after last season when he has played out of position mostly.

Sydney, its time and take your words back about him. not only u there were a lot.

2) fellaini is a perfect partner for carrik. has vision to pick direct pass and create chances.

3) kagawa needs to be used properly. genius pass makers which opens defences.

4) in lack of transfer activity, we are stuck with CLEVERLY, whom we have seen is last minutes playing his old side passing- non physical game which creates nothing except giving rest to carrik and now fellaini in some games when a win is guaranteed. ( Sydney can say it was closing time, but never mind we have seen him doing same even if he has started a match so this argument doesn't stand)

5) now this is most important.

the amount of goals we are conceding since pre-season tour. specially from set pieces. and it has nothing to do with DDG. I have seen us conceding important goals even when Van der Sar was in between the goals.

if in the January window( I know we don't usually buy at that time) we sort out this problem there is all the chance we can go very far in champions league.
a quick and imposing, experienced center back to replace rio and another mid fielder to give genuine and same impact as fellaini and carrik will help us a lot.

let me say again, trust rooney, he has carried united for so many years. he is still a top top player at united.

it was our lack of midfield and form of wingers pushed Rooney everywhere to cover and so some compared it to his lack of goals and form. u don't expect rio or vidic to score 15+ goals and assists a season, do yoou? that happened to him last season.
In rooney, I trust.

So Rooney didn't play poorly last season and I imagined it all? Pointless post.

I agree with you about Rooney to some extent, but his ability is not really in question. It is more to do, in my opinion, as to whether or not he is commited to the club. He still refuses to say whether or not he is happy at United, and that is why some people think he should go. However, he has for the first time in 2 or 3 years come back from pre season in good shape looking leaner and fitter than he has for a long time. He has shown more commitment and desire in the last month than the whole of last season, so hopefully he will continue the way he has started. A fit Rooney is still a top player. I just wish he would come out and say he loves the club and is happy here. We all have our opinions, but none of us really know what goes on behind the scenes, but I suspect, like many, that Rooneys problem lies with SAF and not the club.Time will tell.

"it was our lack of midfield and form of wingers pushed Rooney everywhere to cover and so some compared it to his lack of goals and form"

No rodio, Rooney's lack of form and goals was down to him being overweight and disinterested. You still have to wonder why the sudden motivation to get into shape? Was it for a new contract or to get a move away from the club? The problem still isn't solved. Rooney is either again trying to get an improved MU deal which will not sit well with many MU fans or he is going to leave the club and join a rival with MU delaying the inevitable.

The situation is still unresolved, but as long as he is a MU player, we need him to be playing like his is now.

Betty, very good post.

Feeling argumentative.
So u would happily give rooney a bigger contract if he continued the form of last season?
The fact that many based there judgement on a whole season and u are basing it on 3-4 games is a little quick to start giving humble pie around wouldn't u say?
He was amazing last night and every1 syd and KLOOT included want to see that level if commitment consistenty and over a whole season not just when he feels like it

I think Rooney is all ready making some on this site look a bit daft, I have made my views well know and I full expect him to have a very good season.
And by the way I'm basing that on the last 10 year not the last 3-4 games.
Moyes has played Rooney as a striker and surprise surprise he has played well.
He played as a striker for England last year and played well.
He was poor for United for various reasons last season but I'm glad many on here never got the wish and sold him.

Interesting to see the statement from United today, United had two priorities this summer one to keep Rooney two to sign a cm .
I guess sometimes when the club says he's not for sale they mean it

Rooney has started the season well and the last nights performance was top class. But the Rooney issue is not resolved. I think he is much more focused than last season, but I also think that this new determination to play at his best may be toward a transfer away from the club.

Rooney is happy to be playing in his favoured role again and I think he genuinely appreciates the support of the fans, but he appears cold toward the club. I'm more than happy to have an inform Rooney in the team but I am far from convinced that Rooney wants to stay, and the club will still have a fight on their hands to keep him at the club.

Jred, that's the same letter in which the club argued that they have invested more than usual in transfers this summer, and talked as if Nani's new contract and Janazaj being promoted to the first team were like new signings. I don't believe the "two priorities" nonsense for one second. The club were embarrassed by their summer activity and they are clinging to anything to try and paint failure as success.

Ive allways said it. Rooney is world class and what has really annoyed me is that some people on this site naming no names Sydney said that he's past his best.
Rooney is still the main man at Man United and without him the team would be very average.
For me keeping Rooney was the signing of ther summer.

We will never see the Rooney of 2009/10 again, but we are seeing signs of the Rooney of 2011/12 and I would happily reward that Rooney with a new contract. A fit Rooney is a top player, there's no question about that, but for me there are some serious questions that need answering and I am not sure we will get them answered.

Why did Rooney get fighting fit this summer and turn up last summer overweight? Is it because he wanted an improved contract like many of us believed or did he want to join Chelsea? Either way it was wrong for him to do so. Desailly believes Rooney used Chelsea to get a bigger MU deal. I think Jose may now be thinking the same thing. I also tend to agree and think it's 2010 all over again.

So is it right that Rooney can turn up to training overweight one summer, have a poor season by not keeping fit. But as soon as it's time for contract talks, he works hard all preseason, he gets fit and then inevitably starts playing well? If some people cannot see an issue with this then fair enough. It's up to them if they want to turn a blind eye, but others like me think we deserve better than that and whilst he is a MU player he should be staying fit and acting professional all of the time. Not when it's time for a bigger contract.

Like I said as long as he is a MU player I will support him and I want to see him playing this well all season, that's important if we are to retain the title, but there are some serious questions to be asked and things are still unresolved. People are acting like he is here until he retires, well he hasn't signed a contract yet so wake up. He will only sign a contract when MU give into his demands.

The question is, will they give into his demands? They haven't yet.

No one can question Rooneys skill or ability, what they can question and rightly so is his comittment. IMO his problem is that his mind is being controlled by Stretford with the latter trying to get that big mega deal as it would probably be the last big one of his career(5 or 6 yrs).This would mean a giant pay day for them both.
Rooney played last night like a man with a point to prove which he did brilliantly. There was no petulance no look of disinterest no bad touches and great turn of speed.It was great to see him put that effort in as when he does that he is definetely world class.
However he should take a good look around him and take in what he has got at OT. He is idolised by millions worldwide and the chance to go down in the annals of OT history for years to come. He would be mentioned in the same group of legends as Best, Charlton, Law, Cantona, Keane etc.He has the chance and the ability to break all goal scoring records if he gets down to doing what he does best.
I for one wanted to see the back of him because of his latest spat with SAF and the fact that his form had dropped so badly over the past couple of seasons. However now as we are only just into the new season and I see that he has his mojo back I'm willing to forgive but not quite yet forget as I feel he has a long way to go before he gains the trust of most supporters.

Simmo, nonsense. I said I believe we have seen the best of Rooney.

I still believe we have seen the best of Rooney. 2009/10 he was unplayable.

Nonsense. we shall see Sydney.
As long as Rooney stays fit he will prove you and every other doubter wrong that he still has what it takes and he is still as good as he was 2-3 years ago.
27 years old is the peak for a striker.
As long as Wayne Rooney stays fit and is played in his correct position something that Fergie didn't want to do for some unknown reason he will have another brilliant season for us.
Some people on here are going to be eating there words with there Rooney out posts, it was pathetic.
The kid is quality, he had one dodgy season due to being played out of position and injury and still finished up as the second highest scorer and more assists than any other player at the club.
Bay far the best player at the club, and that includes RVP.

Sydney how is Simmo talking nonsense? I too think that he is world class, yes he may have had that one fantastic season but for you to say that he cannot recreate that form is the bigger pile of nonsense, after all he is still the same player. How can you see into the future? Last night showed him gaining his confidence back, and he was again willing to take on his man, and it appears he found his yard of pace again. Football aside he's had it rough through his years at Manchester United, whether its the shrek jibes from his OWN fans, or the media constantly delving into his personal life, and the obvious rift between himself an SAF that developed sometime between that 09/10 season, when he was at his peak, and last season when SAF retired. So if he's not happy thenof course he's not going to play as good as we all know he can.
Who are you to say that moyes cannot get the best out of Wayne Rooney again, after all he was the man who helped him develop into that 16 year old wonderkid that we paid £25m for.
At the end of the day simmo was just giving his opinion and who are you to shoot him down anyway?

Simmo, that is your opinion. I do not see him ever getting back to the player he was in 2009/10. I would love to be wrong though.

You need to read the posts, no one is doubting a fit Rooney is still a top player. People was doubting his commitment and I still do.

Why hasn't he signed a new deal Simmo?

Jase, I meant Simmo's wording of what I said. "past his best". Simmo is entitled to his opinion and if he thinks Rooney is better than RvP, then that's his opinion. I disagree, but I wouldn't say it's nonsense. I think the Rooney of 2009/10 pisses all over RvP. I think RvP is the better player now though. Both top players though.

Syd
Has he been offered a new deal

I could be wrong, but didn't preliminary talks start in April?

I don't think so did Woodward not say there was no immediate plans

Syd

Im not ineterested in the issue of him signing a new deal.
My post is about certain people on here including you saying he was past his best and we will never see the Rooney of 2 years ago which I don't agree with.
My argument is that he is still world class and needs to be played in the correct position and in my opinion can still be as good as he was two years ago.
27 is still a young age and like I said is the peak of a footballers career.

Sorry Sydney just re-read the whole post, I do understand what you were saying now. I obviously misinterpreted your nonsense comment. How ever I sill disagree that we've seen the best of him. He coming into his prime as a striker and think his whole game has become more well rounded.

Simmo, Jase, he still has much to offer. More so than I thought a month or two ago. I just don't think he will get anywhere near 2009/10. That is my opinion and I respect yours. Footballers peak at different ages. Everyone's body is different. Rooney peaked early and he was at his best 3-4 years ago. A fit Rooney is still a top player, but for me we have seen the best of him.

You all have it wrong. He's crap and should have been sold

World class? Your all seriously deluded if you think it. He never was or ever will be world class. Average at best

Simmo

I also said that we have seen the best of him and will reserve judgement and gladly admit I was wrong but only after about 30 games and not 4.

I think the clubs statement on its summer objectives in the transfer market is clearly a admission that Rooney wanted/wants to go.

I am not sure what to make of Rooney who is much fitter and clearly playing much better than the last 24 months but may not happy playing for us or being at the club.

Is this sustainable or just a purple patch because at the end of the day you can't force the guy to stay if he does not want to be here and eventually it will show up in his performance on the pitch.

18 Sep 2013 03:46:17
yesterday for RVP's goal, it was a long time since I saw Valencia loft the ball for a cross, he's been just drilling them low for the past couple of seasons which hasn't been great, he was excellent when he was putting in the lofted crosses for rooney a couple of seasons ago.

Valencia looked full of confidence and wound back the clock 18 months, but he was playing against the biggest donkey to grace Old Trafford, I couldn't believe that Boenisch is playing for a Champions League team after watching him for Poland last Summer.

Rooney was quality as well. I have been one of his biggest critics, but if he keeps performing like that I will be happy to change my opinion of him.

Unfortunately - Rio looked very indecisive. Kagawa looked feeble, a lot of peoples concern with Kagawa is his strength for the Premier League, but this was against German opposition and he reminded me of Park how he kept falling over and being generally ineffective, aside from a couple of neat passes and runs. Obviously hasn't played much for us, so too soon to judge, however his performance was very "passenger like" and it was only because Fellaini and Carrick looked quality and broke up Leverkusen's possession that the constant mistakes of Kagawa weren't punished.

Hopefully he will play against Liverpool and get some minutes under his belt.

Overall much better and only hope it's a sign of things to come, rather than an unexpected comfortable game under the floodlights.

Also the goals - first one shouldn't have counted, 2nd to were major mistakes by goalkeeper and Centre Halves and the fourth one was a counter attack goal of quality but only because they were pushing on. I'm concerned about how many chances we created still, most were given to us.

Mr Sween,

Off the top of my head I can remember Rooney and RvP missing open goals, RvP being put through on goal but getting tackled, Kagawa having a volley blocked. I think we created plenty last night, the problem was we should have been out of sight by converting those chances IMO.

HB

Yeah maybe I was a bit harsh. But it didn't feel like we tested their keeper really, when we did it went in! It's an improvement on what I have seen of us for ages so I hope it continues.

18 Sep 2013 01:33:08
ed, do you think rooney will sign an extension contract? also, I would also like to ask, his contract expires next year right? I kinda forgot what year he signed till last time.
thanks in advance! {Ed007's Note - His contract expires summer 2015. I fully expect Rooney to sign a new contract.}

Ed007

Is that some inside information or just a personal opinion? {Ed007's Note - That's just my opinion GCU.}

18 Sep 2013 00:37:11
Going to admit guys, I called for him out this summer, but I think you can actually see what playing for the fans means to him, tonight he showed emotion when he celebrated and I don't think I've actually seen him celebrate a goal that much since his penalty against rangers after he signed a new contract! On to his performance he was outstanding it was like Rooney from the 2010 season taking his man on, finding the space and he took both his goals brilliantly, yes he made a mess of the open goal, but we've all done that in our time! Wayne is showing signs of returning to his best form again, and was it just me but he seems to have that yard of pace back, not from when he was a youngster but back to the 2010 season, he outpaced son who is no slouch and he had to foul him to stay up with him.
Would also like to point out that we have our beast Antonio Valencia back, he showed his pace again, took his man on at every opportunity and got the ball into his box, on his day one of the best wingers in world football no doubt about that, and my word he hit the ball some smack for his ball! Great performance attacking wise other notable mentions Carrick excellent as ever, fellaini a much better player with the ball than I thought good performance and smalling won ever header and did well!

I agree with almost all of that caolan. Especially Rooney finding that yard of pace again. It's was great to see him bursting through midfield, he was a real driving force for us last night. I've always thought that he can be the difference between us being a good team and a great team. For all RVP's great qualities which there are many, he's not particularly effective in the build up, and without Rooney in the team I think he's little bit ineffective, as he doesn't get the service he needs. Also Rooneys presence on the field seems to lift the whole team, and drives them all to work that little bit harder. I've always been a huge Rooney fan, even despite his "mediocre" last season, and was probably more pleased about him staying than I would have been if we were to have gotten rid and him and replaced him with a Fabregas type of player. I don't think there are many players in the world who are half the player of Wayne Rooney when he's I his day. The main shock for me in the transfer window was that more teams weren't interested in him.