Manchester United Banter Archive June 07 2013

07 Jun 2013 21:35:17
I was thinking about Rio's testimonal and it got me thinking many fans would not class him as a club legend. I think he deserves to be classed as one of our most legendary defenders ever. Always gives everything for the team and truly plays for the badge!

Totally agree mate, rio is a fantastic player and gives everything for the club! He wears his heart in his sleeve

Just seeing his reaction to a goal when he's on the bench or on the pitch shows howmuch passion he has.

Shot Stopper

Hear, hear.
Unbelievable player, many years of service and a great character to have around for the young ones and the new arivals.

I have posted this before but Rio bought 4 season tickets near me and gives them to deserving people for each game. Class.

He has fully embraced the club in his many years with us as well as being a great defender and deserves to be regarded as a legend for me.

The England manager messed up with his handling of Rio but that has been our gain.

Rio legend

Red Man

Agree mate. Rio has been perfect for us and loves the club (Rooney needs to takes a look at him)

Well said, he's always given his all and is always well amongst the celebrations. Thanks for everything so far, Rio.

07 Jun 2013 20:33:02
Wasn't Gyliano Van Velzen one of the "ones for the future"? Is that me mixing him up with someone else

1993

He had fantastic potential when we brought him over, and I suppose he still does, but he just never quite adapted. He struggled to find a regular position and, for whatever reason, didn't quite progress and was overtaken by some of the younger lads.

TK-Red

07 Jun 2013 19:10:36
I'm with GDS. Generally, the more ridiculous the post, the less likely the poster will leave a a name. There's been a few lately.

Non of the posts or posters are ridiculous, its just people's opinions. So no one is right or wrong. Just because you don't agree with it, it doesn't mean it is ridiculous.
I think we should respect everyone's opinion as opinions are what make this site.
Nomidfield

Haha AJH, don't tell everyone our secret, I thought we agreed to keep it between ourselves ;)

07 Jun 2013 16:15:08
Okay guys, off topic for this post, but without being biased, or favouriting a certain player who do you think is genuinely better, Ronaldo or Messi?
Tommy!

Ronaldo. He is proven in different teams and Leagues and is a complete player with his aerial ability. Messi is obviously fantastic but I would like to see how he performs in a different league, with a different team without Iniesta and Xavi.

Messi IMO even though Ronaldo is the more rounded player. There's not much in it though.

Ronaldo for similar reasons to Fresh, just a more complete and more proven player.

Silly question to ask on this website.
Everyone is going to say Ronaldo because of his Man United links.
I would have Messi over Ronaldo but Ronaldo isn't to far behind.

Simmo

Messi and IMO by a long way.

Deeps.

Only question for me-who is better messi or maradona. two of the best players ever. ronaldo is world class but never a patch on those two.

B O H

Watch the world cup :P

Thomas.

I think Messi's performance is going to start deteriorating fairly rapidly soon. He's had a lot of protection and top players playing for him. He possibly has too many "ahem" things in his system which is going to have a negative effect.

Supasub

There is nothing Messi can do which Ronaldo cannot. But there is things Messi lacks which Ronaldo has. I will say Messi is more of a team player.

Sydney!

B O H

Thanks for summing it up exactly the way I would have wanted to.

Deeps.

I think Sydney sums this up perfectly, Ronaldo is a far more complete player and as a side note Ronaldo also gets my Dad's vote who is a Spurs fan.

Messi is very one footed, absolutely brilliant with that but can be a little predictable. He has a brilliant balance and the electric pace when needed. Messi seems to excel when on the right and coming inside but that can also be a flaw because it is telegraphed and some can prepare for it.

Ronaldo is the complete footballer, both feet, aerial ability, pace, skill but his failing is that he believes he is infallible. SAF knew how to keep his feet on the floor and in the four years away at the circus he may have believed the hype pumped into him by the circus owners. If he had been here under SAF I believe he would have been the undisputed world No1. It is probably what frustrates him because with all his attributes Ronaldo should be No1 but isn't, because for all his ultimate brilliance he isn't seen as the team player that Messi is yet when he was at United he was.

The message should be clear to Ronaldo if he can get past Perez's overtures that to be great to be seen as the worlds best he needs to be away from the circus to show it.

Going back to school days when you had first pick I would still choose Ronaldo every time

Red Man

Messi is probably better at what he does but Ronaldo can do much, much more.

TK-Red

Messi I would have to say even though it pains me. Both brilliant but messi is something special and he is not one footed boys and just as clinical with his right foot. Watch his goal highlights from this year.

Shahram

07 Jun 2013 22:10:43
Messi is the best there has ever been at what he does, but Ronaldo is the much more rounded player. I would say that Ronaldo would be just a amazing in any top team, he would be just as good at United, Bayern, AC Milan, Juve, Barca, Chelsea even PSG. I don't think Messi could play as well as Ronaldo could for these teams with the exception of Barca. He is playing in a set up totally built for him. Ronaldo being more rounded can adapt to anyones set up and be amazing in it.

So based on that I would have to go with Ronaldo.

Messi can really change games. Just shades it for me.
Nomidfield

Messi
Jred

I get that Ronaldo is the most rounded player but in my book that doesn't make him the best. The best way to judge it I would have thought is, on any given day which one would you be most worried about facing? Messi may be more one dimensional but I'd always be (ever so) slightly more worried and I'd almost expect him to score the winner. That's why I think he is the best. All subjective though obviously.

I'm a toon fan and the one I'd rather have on my team (impossible I know) would be Ronaldo. Once he bulked up he just became unstoppable, everything about his game is exciting, Messi is immense but Ronaldo I think would be the 'safer' option of guaranteed success

07 Jun 2013 16:09:46
Would you mind signing Cabaye if he is less than 10mil?

I would take him for under 18 and prefer him to some of our current targets.

Shahram

Anything around £7m, cabaye, strootman and thaigo would be a massive improvement

He's not as good as people make out but for under £10m he'd be a good squad player.

Brendan81

I'd be happy with Cabaye for anything around £12mill as there is no argument that he would improve our midfield.

Gar

I would be really dissapointed if we signed him. This isn't the calibre of player we should be looking at. for god sake this is Manchester United.
Do you think Chelsea, City, Madrid, Barca, Munich would look at him? Not a chance. we should be aiming for much better players than Cabaye. I really liked the look at Thiago the other day, he looks really classy on the ball. I would be delighted with Thiago and Strootman and maybe a winger if Nani goes. I also hope we keep Rooney and he comes back fully fit next year and plays up front and let's judge him then. In my eyes Rooney is still our best player with RVP and will easily score 20-25 goals a season if played in the correct position.

Simmo

07 Jun 2013 17:26:09
Can't say i'm a fan what does he actually do. Much prefer strootman. And thiago.

Cabaye in with anderson going the other way could be a possibility (or at least in place of anderson)
more likely he will get till at least xmas, although if strootman is carricks eventual successor, thiago being scholes' then cabaye could be fletcher's?
can't see 3 midfielders in though (even if needed) but would mean kagawa moved further forward in the hole or on the left only

He would be a very good replacement. Personally I wouldn't be so dissappointed if we signed him along with Strootman for the cm positions this summer. I would rather we got Thiago though.

Nicolas_United

Have we released Cleverley?
England international along withnJack Wilshire a top class duo in midfield with Carrick that's more like it.
Now that would be a fantastic option with Kagawa Powell Anderson Fletcher Giggs (Alcantara in place of Wishire) now that's more like it.
Dylan

Very disappointed if we sign him. not united quality in my opinion.
Nomidfield

07 Jun 2013 15:46:27
With the signing Guillermo Varela all but done surely that has to be a kick in the face to Marnick Vermijl who had a great season for the Reserves and came second to Adnan Januzaj for the Player Of The Year award and would be looking to make the step up to the first team as backup to Rafael.

Also with the signing of Guillermo Varela, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling probably won't be needed as cover for Rb anymore letting them concentrate on there proper positions Cb

Then I saw that Manchester United are very strongly linked with Ezequiel Garay which got me thinking with Vidic, Ferdinand, Jones, Evans and Smalling all in that position do we need him unless Manchester United are going to convert Phil Jones into a Cm (which I hope not) as this would be another patch job.

Like what Manchester United did with Anderson who was an Attacking Mid and with Rooney a Striker trying to turn them into Cm's instead of fixing the problem and buying a Natural Cm

I expect Jones & Fletcher will be classed as 'new signings' for the midfield. However we will bring in Strootman. So options of Carrick, Strootman, Cleverly, Jones, Anderson, Fletcher, Powell & Giggs are not bad. Powell may be loaned out though along with Tunnicliffe and Petrucci I suspect.

Vermijl may well be sold given Varela's arrival, either that or they will both fight it out in the reserves. I think it will signal the end of Fabio though.

I think Anderson will be sold and Powell to be loaned out. Which leaves Carrick Strootman (Not Confirmed Yet) Cleverly Jones. Giggs isn't getting any younger and Fletcher is just coming back from a long illness. We definitely need another CM and Thiago has to be the main target.

Carrick Strootman Thiago as the 3 in the middle would be class

I thought I was logged in when I posted this earlier.

I really hope Manchester United don't convert Jones into a Cm cause it will end in disaster and ruin his career.

Like it did with anderson he had all the potential in the world and with Rooney now he is unhappy

07 Jun 2013 14:08:24
People need to calm down about who city are signing,
theyv spent £20m+ on an almost 28yr old nervous wreck who probably gets homesick going to the shop and another £30m+ on a 28yr old brazilian whos spent 8 yrs in the ukraine without barely being noticed except a few decent ucl games. SO WHAT.
they are good players but certainly not great players.
Theyv spent £50m+ but in reality theyv probably paid £20m over the odds IMO and as navas is an out and out winger I would imagine one of nasri, silva or tevez to lose his place to accomodate him so that would arguably weaken their team.
Remember 12 months ago when they signed javi garcia? £18m beast who was going to dominate other teams? Exactly!
Lets worry about ourselves not the blueseats


BABY FACED ASSASIN

I don't think anyone is overly worried.

Fresh

Dont think most of us are but there was a post earlier that shappy commented on and iv read one or two others who seem to think paying silly amounts means theyr signing amazing players.
fernandinho and navas are good. that's it. some people seem more concerned what's happening elsewhere


BABY FACED ASSASIN

Should be more worried about Chelsea!

Its not like they have bought good players like veron or jordi cruyff.

Baby

Navas is a full pledged spanish international and he can wreck havoc down the wings and will improve them.

I am worried about us and what we are doing about improving the first 11.

Shahram

07 Jun 2013 13:53:24
UPDATE on Transfers Activity.

Strootman price is agreed with PSV. Personal terms are to be agreed if a medical is passed.

Registered enquiry for Baines should EFC decided to sell.

Garay is an interest and likely subject to Vidic leaving.

Ronaldo wants the move back to OT. Finance is the issue.

Rooney is not leaving and did not hand in a transfer request. He stressed his frustration at playing ALM and deeper central role.

Nani is available for 15m+

Bale will not be sold to another Prem side.

Take it or leave it, but is acurate as of 4 June.

The Redest Devil.

07 Jun 2013 14:53:17
Hey redest, your aware of the onset of time aren't you?
Time is fluid, accurate as of the 4th, is almost meaningless!
Its the 7th my dear chap
karlmarx

Don't know your source, but they are my exact thoughts. I expect us to get Strootman, Garay and Baines. If we can get Ronaldo we will but if not we will perhaps leave it for another year.

07 Jun 2013 13:20:46
Some people do make me laugh on here, now I can understand if u haven't watched a player so no little about him, but some in here are obsessed with money.
A transfer fee does NOT dictate how good a player will be, especially if that player is relatively unknown in the prem or Europe.
Now if city and chelsea had spent out millions on Falcao, messi and Ronaldo we would know what they are getting in terms of ability in the prem, but just because they have signed fernandinho and navas for a combined 40+ million does NOT make them 'amazing' players and just because we look to be signing Strootman for 12-17 million does not make him a bad signing.
Some of our best players have been cheap acquisitions in comparisons to other teams signings and some of our big money signings have not worked out so well i. e berbatov, veron, Nani.
Just let's stop all this rating players by money spent, after all Rafael cost us 500k and now looks one of the best up and coming right backs in europe!

Rafael cost £2.6m, but good post.

Sydney!

Chris

And how old was rafael he when we bought him and did the team need an immediate requirement for him to start.

I don't have an issue paying 2 mill for the Uruguayan kid as he is I guess what you call work in progress.

I think we need a proper Marquee midfielder besides strootman to fix our issues and people making him out to be the solution might be eating humble pie in a few months or I might be eating Humble pie :)

Shahram

07 Jun 2013 18:26:08
@Shahram

Have you actually been reading what most of those who want to sign Strootman have said?

I don't think anyone has claimed him to be a saviour of our midfield and I believe Thiago will be bought as well.

REDFAITH

RED

I have read everything people have said and leave thiago out of this as it is a long way out and assuming anything about him coming our way is quite hopeful at this point.

The discussion is about Strootman and he is not world class or top class and a very workman like player with a decent engine. Very fletcher like if you ask me so if you think that is what we need then fair enough.


Shahram

We definitely need a fletcher type player, we have missed that energy in the midfield no doubt imo. Remember how Fletcher enabled us to dominate midfield against an Arsenal side consisting of Fabregas, Nasri and co.?Strootman is much better technically than Fletcher though.

As for Thiago, yes it is a long way out but i'm pretty confident that if he wants to move for more gametime United will be his first option any day of the week.

REDFAITH

07 Jun 2013 12:47:58
Just a thought of mine
I think we should be looking into Ne�lton of Santos. The lad's only 19 and probably as good as Neymar was when he was 19, such a good player for his age and I'm hearing he has a �5m buyout clause now that is daylight robbery if you ask me because this time in a summer or two all the big boys will come calling and I think he could be a much cheaper alternative to say somebody like Ronaldo
Just a thought of mine call me stupid if you want but it's my opinion {Ed002's Note - Chelsea approached Santos about Neilton before Christmas and there is interest from Porto, Braga and no doubt others.}

I mentoned the exact same a few months ago and still agree, I would love if we managed to snap him up

19JackC94

07 Jun 2013 12:35:01
If ED002 is around, please help me understand how Guillermo Varela will be granted a work permit seeing as he's not from the EU? Will he get the permit via the "Special Talent" route or he has ancestory connections in Europe?

Thanks.

James. {Ed002's Note - They will need to go down the exemption route or loan him out.}

A lot of south american countries were populated with europeans a lot still historically hold dual passports/nationalities I think.
johndenton

07 Jun 2013 12:03:51
City sign Navas and Fernadinho and are in talks with Cavani, Chelsea are very close to signing Schurlle and are in advanced to with Hulk and Cavani. We sign a no body RB for 1m who won't even get in the team for 2 years and there has been no confirmation that we are in talks with Strootman just paper talk along with the others.

07 Jun 2013 12:51:47
Grow up mate, just because we don't do our talks with players via the the press it doesn't mean we aren't in talks with players. I'd rather the talks were kept quiet. If they are made public and then the player doesn't sign we would only be left dissapointed. Better to have no hope than false hope.

Besides we won the league so City and Chelsea need to catch up to us. Plus Chelsea haven't signed anyone yet, and City will have several key departures.

Lets leave the b***hing until when the window closes rather than moan about who the press are linking who to.

Yes because navas who gets homesick on away matches is sensational, fernandinho 5 brazil caps. City have been ripped off and tbh I don't see much of an attraction in hulk seen better players. Strootman will do a fine job for us and I see a major signing too.

If you feel that bad about it then there is plenty of empty seats at the Etihad you could fill? Get a grip, man. The transfer window isn't even open yet and the fact we only have "paper talk" is because, on the whole, we like to get our business done discreetly.

TK-Red

No name has the patience of a saint. Saint Inpatient. However I wouldn't expect half the names being mentioned to be signed no name
Invisible STuey

Jeez posts like this bring me down, relegation fodder for us next season I think!

Funny you left no name to this embarrassing post.

HB

I like how Cavani seems to be signing for both Chelsea and City.

07 Jun 2013 09:51:30
Happy Friday people :)

Edds. Do you have any info on who we have relesed from U18 U21? Thanks {Ed004's Note - None}

Sydney

Are you implying that he is not a top player and the Ex Barcelona set up now at City are just schmucks.

Did you ever watch any of the champions league games with this guy?

Shahram

The barcelona setup was established long before txiki and sorriano is more of a businessman. what were you saying?

nikz

Shahram

Are you implying Strootman is not a top player and the MU and Holland set up are just schmucks?

Sydney!

Sydney

Strootman is a decent player but the question was for you who is implying Sorriano and his people are dums. its for paying x amount for Fernandinho.

For once just give an answer, who is the better player. If Strootman happens we all get to see in a few months who made the better buy.

Shahram

Sorry forgot to write yes definitely not a top player and will not be a first 11 for the top teams including Dortmund, Bayern, Chelsea, Rm, Barca, PSG, City, Juve, Porto.

He might be a decent signing against 75% of PL teams but not the solution against the top tier and game changer for United.

Shahram

How do you know he won't be a "game changer"? What does that term even mean? The guy has the potential to come in and allow the flair players to play their own game. If that in turn wins us football matches then he will, Infact, be a game changer. Some are impact players, some are the foundations of their team. Strootman is always going to be the latter, which is what most United fans have been crying out for since Hargreaves knees melted like cheap ice cream left in the sun.

TK-Red

Think if Fernandinho hadn't played in the champions league and sold for about 15 million everone would be saying we should have bougth him but becausde city bougth him for 30+ everone thinks he's a waste of space to much money though

I think Strootman for United will be as good, if not better than Fernandinho for City. Given he is five years younger and can get into his national side I would say Strootman would be the better buy regardless of cost. In regards to who's getting the better deal, it's United by a long-shot. Strootman is on the verge of becoming a top player. I cannot remember when Fernandinho became a top player.

Oh yes I do, it was last week when tv reported City will spend £34m on him. That is when he became a top player to most on this page.

Sydney!

07 Jun 2013 10:08:47
I am finding these Strootman pace comments a little odd. There are very few players in his position that have pace. I think everyone just seems to want a Yaya Toure but I challenge anyone to name me a deep lying midfielder who is faster than a forward.

Carrick has no pace, best player last year behind RVP. Garcia, Barry and De jong had no pace. Roy Keane wasn't Bolt. Busquets is slow. Schweinsteiger has no pace. Van Bommel, Pirlo, Alonso, and xavi are not quick. need I go on.

From what I have seen of Strootman it is his power that takes him past people and his ability to run on and off the ball into space. He is Scott Parkerish but better.

1redarmy

What makes me laugh is one or two moaning about the Carrick/Strootman combination not working as it will be too slow, yet they would want Fellaini next to Carrick who is the slowest of the lot.

Sydney!

I know Syd! I think some are at a point where they are not sure what they want. I wouldn't mind having those two sat behind some creative players. One will tackle you and if you get past him the other will intercept you're pass haha.

I do agree we could do with a touch more pace but that is why I want Di Maria.

1redarmy

Sydney

No one is asking for Fellaini but on the same token you talk this guy up as if we are buying Beckenbauer and have this incredible bias and can't seem to get past the fact that a lot of our signings are not world beaters.

You also seem to think every other team buys silly i. e Navas and Fernandinho, which is complete nonsense.

I would take Navas and Fernandinho over Zaha and Strootmnan and we are a few months away from seeing them 2 in action against these two and see who has bought the better players.

Shahram

Strootman is really not that slow at all and has quite good acceleration. he's also a good dribbler and I've seen him beat men both with skill and pace. People need to realise that pace is not essential for cm as positioning and stamina more than make up for it

Syd
I take it that was at me, fellaini would give us something Carrick or strootman wouldn't which I think is important.
Fellaini like strootman wouldn't be my first choice either.
I would like a busy cm next to Carrick a better version of cleverly someone who can break up play and break forward and link up in the last third a bit like holtby did last night.
Someone in the class of fabergas modric gundogan or hamsik.
We have been crying out for a top quality cm for a few years and I don't think strootman is the answer.
I don't think he is the man to bridge the gap between ours and Munich cm for example.
But he has been linked to United so no doubt he will be bigged up to be the next big thing.
Jred

Shahram, what are you talking about? You cannot just make things up.

I never said Fernandinho and Navas were bad signings, I said they were not worth the fees paid for them. And they are not. The difference between Zaha/Strootman and Navas/Fernandinho is around £40m in transfer fees, signing on fees & agent fees, 12 years in age and a fortune is salaries.

Sydney!

Jred, you are going with the assumption that we will play just two in midfield. Even if they are the two in midfield they can both intercept passes, breakdown attack and they both can pass the ball.

Strootman is probably one of the most busiest midfielders in Europe, that is what he is renowned for. He is a hard working box2box midfielder.

So some of us only rate Strootman because he is linked to us? Didn't you say the same about Lewandowski? Or did we rate him because he is a very good player?

Lastly, can you name these extra things Fellaini would offer which Carrick and Strootman couldn't? This should be fun.

Sydney!

Sydney

First off all the financial that get reported are all paper stuff and neither you or I know the exact numbers.

I don't conform to your view that spending 15 million rather than 25 is better business because you seem to miss the point that the difference in quality most times makes the higher investment a better decision. I subscribe to the view that it is better to spend 30 on one key player than spend 10 on 3 average players.

Now some papers saying Navas went for 15 and some papers say Zaha went for 10-15. I will take Navas all day and don't even think there is a remote comparison and even prefer him to Di Maria but never thought he would leave spain and surprised how city have pulled it off.

You seem to mention numbers, which is all here say as we have no idea what Strootman will go for or even if we are in for him.

Fernandinho and what he went for is all conjecture but one thing that is a sure thing is he is a much better player than Strootman.

So I guess the difference here is I would rather spend 60 million on two great signings than go Carrefour shopping for players.

Shahram

07 Jun 2013 13:25:45
Strootman over Fellaini any day!

@Shahram

Nobody has talked him up to be the saviour of our midfield or a Beckenbauer. He is not. We need two midfielders to do that. Its just that he has been discussed so much and his abilities and weaknesses highlighted that you seem to think everyone is building him up.

People compare to Gundogan when they should be comparing to Bender.

REDFAITH

A player is only worth what a club wants to pay for him. Fernandiho is a super player, and he was a player we should have looked at.
If you think he's overpriced then that's fine, but all these players are overpriced. At the end of the day, if you need this top quality, then I'm afraid we have to pay for it.
NoMidfield

So now Fernandinho & Navas are great signings. LOL.

You are a flapper Shahram and you always will be.

You are always too concerned about what City are doing.

Still think City will win the league this season? Or did we win it by 11 points?

Sydney!

Sharham,

You always seem to be worried about the flashy teams like City, Chelsea, PSG etc. You seem to put United down and talk these flashier teams up. You did it a lot before the Real game and throughout the season. Money and flashiness is not a full proof way to success though, Real have shown that over the years.

I agree that nobody knows the true figures but the thing is we are running on a self sufficient basis whilst the others are not. So you say you'd rather us spend £60m on those 2 players but then where would we be? With no money left to spend on the other areas of the team, that's where.

Strootman & Thiago would be 2 good signings, a good mix of attributes and good ages. Neither too flahy or too expensive but would improve our squad from day one, would get better with age and would leave us enough money to spend on other areas.

HB

NoMidfield, if Fernandinho is so super and so great then why haven't you mentioned him before now?

Sydney!

Sydney

LOL You are the single biggest flapper on this site. Give me a single view that you will stand by. At least some of us will keep with the same view and not in a popularity contest. I get enough love elsewhere :)

If you really don't believe Navas and Fernandinho are very good players then you are more a keypad warrior and I doubt you watch much football.

City had a crazy manager and pelligrini is huge improvement. On current signings yes they will win the league and if they add Isco and Cavani then I think they will beat the sh. t out of us.

BTW you still insisting on Lewandowski going for 15 million, you never took the wager my boy I will give you rope up to 20 million pounds take it LOL.

BTW Chelsea tried to get Fernandinho last year but the deal feel through. I am assuming you can bless us with all the details of that deal too.


Shahram

Sydney

BTW How are you views on hazard now. If I remember correctly that was also a stupid price for the player, how much do you think he would go for now. Get the flipper out mate time to flip flop :)

You remind me of guys who said apple was overpriced at 300 lol

Shahram

Keypad warrior? Flapper? Give me one example of this. You do half to some guff Shahram. You are negative and you worry far too much about what City are doing.

I have no doubt in my mind that Lewandowski would cost us less than £20m. Like I said and not the £22m-£25m like you said. He will of course cost BM more due to their rivalry. Which I also said.

Sydney!

Flapper, I do not believe Chelsea have ever had a bid turned down for Fernandinho. I think you probably made it up.

Hazard is a good player, but still isn't worth the £40m plus package that Chelsea paid for him. That is my opinion.

Sydney! {Ed002's Note - Confused with Fernando perhaps?}

HB

The fact is they pay more and buy better players. We now a days buy at the middle of the market and are very workmanlike.

I am not putting united down but what is happened to the days where we genuinely had at least 3 or 4 players who were considered in the top two globally in the positions they played.

What is annoying is people talking up average players we are looking at and putting down rival teams purchases and just being dismissive.

I never brought Thiago into this as he is a genuinely super player and the kind that we need.

Anyway we will see how he goes and hope he is what you guys see and I am wrong.


Sydney

Never made the Chelsea thing up and spurs and chelsea last year were looking at him and Villain I believe. You are so wrong on hazard it is not worth the argument.


Shahram

So Strootman is average and Fernandinho is great. I would give anything to go back a month and ask you what your opinion is on Fernandinho and how much you reckon he is worth.

I would say you put United players/targets down and talk up other club's signings.

I must have missed the Shahram's wish-lists containing Fernandinho in them. Obviously with him being so great you must have mentioned him loads on here in the past, right?

Sydney!

Sharham,

Did City buy better players than us last summer? They will always outspend us on a cumulative basis because of their external funding, nothing we can do about that. In fact, I think it means we HAVE TO 'box clever' where we can by investing in youth players and staying away from some of the flashier signings (which tend to involve greedy agents like Hazard/Moura). There are still decent deals to be done, I think RvP to United and Goetze to Bayern were top signings which showed reasonable value (gutted we couldn't land Goetze!).

I do fully agree with you we should have a bit more quality in our starting 11 so hopefully we will sort that this summer. But then if Rooney, Nani & Valencia were all on the top form that we know they are capable of - add to RvP, Vidic, Rafael & DDG - I think the poor form of those players has cost us this season in terms of real quality.

On Hazard - I think he's a top player that would improve our team no end. He has the dribbling ability with a quality end product that we have lacked at times. You might argue that he is 'worth' what we think Chelsea paid now but how well he's done can't be taken into account in his valuation last year because it wasn't known at the time. There's a term for that in valuation (retrospective?). Anyway it did seem like his agent was looking for a big fee on top of a big transfer fee so for a self sufficient club with a budget perhaps it was just too much? We don't know the exact figures obviously but we had other areas of the team to spend on.

Sydney

Stop putting words in my mouth, when did I say he is a great player but I will stand by it he is a better player than Strootman and one of us is going to look like a monkey's a. s if strootman end up with us and we all get to see both next season and then can judge each player and I don't want to hear any waffling or flip flopping from you.

BTW Ferandinho was not on my wish list as I have made it abundantly clear who I think we should be buying. I have never flip flopped on Strootman and have had the same view for quite some time.

Shahram

HD

City bought poorly last year because they never moved for players until late in the window and went for option 3's or 4's, which even their manager admitted.

The agent thing and and what people call greed is part of the business mate and here to stay and we can't continuously use that as reason for not wanting to pay for top players.

I guess it is just how each person looks at things. I prefer buying 2 great players than 4 or 5 decent squad players. We have a decent squad as it is but not a great first 11 and some of these guys are more squad buys than great first 11 buys.

Your comments on Goetze is interesting as I would have spend the whole lot of transfer kitty on Goetze and Vidal and been done with the summer.


Shahram

HB

I posted a reply but it did not get posted not sure why. Obviously they have bought better players than us to come from no where and win 3 trophies.

Last summer they diid nothing till late in the summer and bought poorly and their manager never hid the fact that he did not get the support of the club to buy who he wanted.

The agents are part of the business and to use that as an excuse to miss or pass on top players is not a reasonable excuse. I can understand it if we were perfect but then when you look at the money wasted on the likes of bebe, young, anderson, buttner, it makes the whole argument lacking any balance.

I agree on Goetze and would have preferred to have pushed the boat out as the manager says would prefer to spent our entire transfer kitty on him and Vidal and been done with the summer business. We already have a big squad and buying more squad players does not make sense at this point in time.

My point to all of this is what if Strootman comes and no other midfielder and is that going to make a significant difference to our performance. I personally don't believe so and it is early in the window and we shall see how the summer pans out.

Shahram

06 Jun 2013 18:57:31
002, do you believe Isco will be moving to one of Real Madrid or following Pellegrini to City?

Quality player, and you can see his impact in this competition similar to what Mata had two years ago. Would be a shame to see such a talent go to waste.

Thanks in advance. {Ed002's Note - Try the Real Madrid or MCFC page. It is nothing to do with MUFC.}

Mpez you can't say that he would go to waste at either club. Just because he doesn't come here doesn't mean that he will be wasted elsewhere.

07 Jun 2013 07:36:31
Ed, there is lots of rumours flying around but who do you think will sign? Thanks in advance {Ed004's Note - Strootman, Garay, Alcantarta, Di Maria and possibly Baines}

07 Jun 2013 06:49:11
Eds, can you shed any light on the mentality behind the Varela deal. It just seems a strange one to me, have RM began to show interest in R the Silva? With Smalling and Jones's versatility I'm not sure we need a RB. I personally am not convinced we really need a LB.
Paul {Ed004's Note - Im not sure i think it is just cover in case Rafael gets a long term injury}

I was thinking the same too. And we don't only have Smalling and Jones as cover, Valencia can also play there. We already have 4 options!

Nicolas_United

Why does it seem strange? we have cover for mostly every other position besides right back - Smalling, Jones and Valencia have all covered that position and have donw decent enough be they are no right backs- will will give us another option of rafael gets crocked, also get rafael a butt up the backside of he gets complacent