Manchester United Banter Archive August 08 2014

08 Aug 2014 22:56:52
It seems the majority of fans want hummels, vidal and cuadrado. Would be three great deals but I find it hard to see us paying around Say another 120 million on top of 60 we have spent already. Vermaelen is heading to Barca and maybe it will be for the better. His injury record has been poor if late and he would of only been of use if at his best. A swap for smalling would not in my opinion of made sense. I do not See hummels coming and I doubt benatia either. a lot of talk is for a left footed centre half which brings me to the highly rated inigo martinez of sociedad who fits the bill and and may just be the answer. There are other options also and I really could See vlaar ending up at old trafford. I like cuadrado he quick and looks perfect for the wingback role but I do think the price is very high and he is 26 not 22. For 25 maybe would represent a good deal. Next to Vidal who I think is excellent and about as good in his position in europe. Yes 45 odd Million is a lot for a 27 year old but he is world class and these players are worth it for what they bring. Vidal scores and sets up goals he has energy and strength will make tackles whilst can organise the midfield and link defence and attack. For me he has to be the big signing we make this summer. Daley blind would be a great addition and give great options as he can play wingback centre back and centre midfield all well too. Lvg trusts him and he knows how lvg works and his philosophy so all fits well. He was impressive in brazil and was dutch player of season last year. At 24 would be a good deal and would only get better at utd. Di maria I think is a fantastic player who is not given the credit he deserves. He is a great dribbler he has pace and skill and sets up many chances whilst scoring his fair share. He can also operate in central midfield as he showed in the world cup very effectively. Would we have room in our squad? Probably not with this system. I think the fee is excessive also and if he were available for say 25 then would be worth looking at. I think we need three players and I hope we bring at least three in but the season starts next week so its hard to know what will happen and when. I will be at the game next week and was hoping our Business would be done by saturdays game but that's very unlikely. Last year I was really worried for us under moyes but I really Do trust lvg and I think myself and other fans will Not be dissapointed in the end. It may take time and even till the last day if window but I am confident lvg will bring in the right players. My hope is vidal, Blind and a top centre back.

08 Aug 2014 20:32:19
Numerous media outlets reporting that we're close to signing Daley Blind, who is currently training by himself:

LVG loves him because of versatility (LB, CB, defensive MF)

Used to LVG's systems when played for Holland

Left footed (Hummel's right footed)

LVG close to his father

Current Dutch player of the year for Ajax

Not tall (5.11) but quick

Maybe he will be the compromise signing to tide us over to get a top four then build from there?

Not the dominant leader we need at the back but maybe we'll get that with Vidal/De Jong?

If LVG really wanted Blind we'd have signed him weeks ago. No competition, fairly low fee. He's clearly a third choice behind Hummels and Vermaelen.

He'd do a decent job but I can see him being our only new signing before Sept 1st if he comes in as he can cover CDM as well as CB and LB.

Wallace

Blind is not quick

RS, it depends if MU have had bigger fish to fry so they took priority.

Good list, but he is not quick. Seems to be a very smart and steady player, though.

Oops, he's not quick - but good brain (why LVG likes him) and can adapt to range of different positions quickly if LVG needs to alter tactics during a match.

Would be very pleased if he comes to OT and, if Vidal passes the detailed medicals needed for knee and concerns about previous knocks, would really set us up as title challengers this year.

Can't wait for the season to start!

08 Aug 2014 20:02:46
Lets put Vidal to 1 side. If we assume 532 (or352) with 2 wing backs, we need 3 in midfield. If we assume Herrera and Mata start that leaves 1 space, and everyone wants Vidal. Here's 1 from left field - Will Hughes. Yes I know he I'd only 19 and yes he has only played in the Championship but I think the kid is going to be a star. I don't think we have shown any interest but I think he would be great for us. As for a back 3, play Fletcher or Carrick as the 3rd.

Forgot to add. Vidal, or De Jong and Will Hughes. 2nd option for me and some change I would think

AJH, apparently the kid from MK Dons is better than Hughes and we have an interest in him. Also if we are going to give youth a chance then look no further than Ben Pearson.

If we go for a cheaper option I think it will be Daley Blind. His coach as mentioned that he's training aone, that usually indicates a move is imminent. I think there's a chance we will sign him before the window closes. I think we will do some business in the next week or so, but I'm hoping for some good business.

Sidders, the Championship is a tough league and Hughes has excelled, he reminds me of Lampard and I really think he will go on and be a huge star. Not convinced about Blind, not sure what he will add

I live in Derby and a lot of the Derby fans think he is hugely overrated, many were annoyed that the club didn't sell him when he was younger and prices around 12 million were being touted. He was put out of the Derby team by George Thorne during Derby's good run last season so I wouldn't say he'd be up to the task. Would be a good one for the future but we're not in the position for that.

Sydney

I watched Ben Pearson last season and his tenacity impressed me but it is a big leap in one go, only the best can do that at the top teams. I watched Wilson and think he may be able to do that. Now I watched a goal from Wilson and it reminded me of the Brazilian Ronaldo, high praise but he just might have something

Red Man, Pearson will work with Joyce in the U21's this season, but I think he and Wilson will go on the pre-season tour next summer and will get games in the first team next season. Pearson ran rings around Bentaleb and Dembele in the U21's. He's strong, gets stuck in, but most of all he's great in tight spots and has a great passing range. Reminds me of a young Scholes, just a better tackler. It's him who threads the balls through to Wilson. Considering he was a striker, he is also good in front of goal. I see little point in signing Hughes when we have Pearson.

Ajh
You put lampard and big star.in the same sentence. Then the rest meant nothing ;)

09 Aug 2014 01:25:34
Lampard has been the second best English player in the league of the last decade behind the ginger prince.

Mr E, I didn't even know Harry played football. Thought he was more of a Rugby man :)

08 Aug 2014 18:14:54
Sydney, if Cuadrado comes in why would
Rafael or Zaha be sold? Nani and Valencia would be more likely. If Rafael went we would have no recognised natural right back. And Zaha is playing up front.

Zaha will be loaned out or sold. Valencia has just signed a new deal. I would expect Zaha, Rafael/Valencia & Nani to be sold if Cuadrado is signed.

Zaha Cleverly Nani and possibly even Valencia are on borrowed time mate probably gone if a buyer can be found

I don't know how accurate this is, but I've just read that Barca have NOT backed out of the race and Cuadrado only has eyes for them.

I feel a right mug, as just 2hours ago I was telling my Villa & Liverpool supporting mates we'd be siging him very soon to which they mockingly taunted, “No way, a big gun will come in and he'll bomb you out!”

I may need to stop discussing transfers with my mates, I keep being made to look an person.

Rafael won't be going anywhere. We wouldn't sell our only right back.

08 Aug 2014 19:47:47
Sorry Matas Beard, Zaha is on borrowed time? One year at the club under a manager who had no idea what he was doing? Hardly fair mate.

Fresh, we don't play with fullbacks anymore. We play with wingbacks. I think Rafael will end up staying too, but Valencia has just signed a new deal and we cannot keep everyone. Nani will go if a buyer can be found. Zaha will probably go out on loan, perhaps as a striker. Young will back-up Shaw, but it would seem pointless keeping Valencia & Rafael if we sign Cuadrado. Two for each position really is enough. Especially without UCL football.

Your right to a degree Ozwald he has had much of a chance but when he has got a chance he hasn't shown much

LVG has said he would happily play 4-3-3 too. He isn't going to get rid of players that could play in other systems.

Fresh, LvG has confirmed he will be playing a 343 (3412) next season. He may change to a 433 during a game, but to do that he will not bother bringing on Rafael. It would be a wasted substitution. He would simply replace a CB with an attacking player and this would happen if we need a goal. It wouldn't make sense to waste a sub bringing on Rafael and he has confirmed we will play a 343. The players are currently learning how to play that way and with there not being a great amount of time to get them playing this way, it's highly unlikely he would start doing it another way now. I think we will probably end up keeping both Valencia and Rafael in all probability, but it makes no sense to do so. Two for each position is plenty IMO.

I think the current system is to get the best out of our current squad but I think we will move to 4-3-3.
Zaha could work as a striker imo if chica goes I think zaha could be our 4th striker

Zaha could certainly be our 4th striker if Hernandez is sold, unlikely, but possible. I would like to see Zaha given a chance.

Move to a 433 when? How do we fit Mata, RvP & Rooney into the attack? LvG has confirmed twice that we will play a 343 next season.

LvG could change his mind, but it doesn't look like he is preparing to play a 433 by buying Cuadrado. He can of course play as a winger, but he's a RWB.

If LvG wants to go to a 433 despite him saying otherwise, his actions are also not suggesting he will go to a 433. But anything is possible, he's not afraid to change things.

Don't get me wrong I like Zaha and think he could do a job as a 4th striker. The only thing is he will need to train hard to do it, to learn his new role and unless he's playing regular games it will be hard for him to do that. I wouldn't be surprised to see him loaned out as a striker, unless LvG sees some real progress in training.

Syd
I think zaha could do really well as a striker I think its a good shout by lvg.
if chica goes I think he has a chance, you don't but let's see .

I think we will move to a 4-3-3 not in 9 or 10 days time but in the future .
I think it is lvg system and a system he will move towards . Cuadrado is a winger who could play wingback, not the other way about . ( how much have u seen him play )

Lvg has said he will look at 4 3 3.

I didn't say there wasn't a chance. Perhaps you should read what I said again.

I think zaha could do really well as a striker I think its a good shout by lvg. 
if chica goes I think he has a chance, you think its unlikely let's wait and see

That's better :)

It would be nice to see something like this workout. Zaha has the talent, but tries to do too much on the wings, as a striker he will need to keep it simple. He will also need to work on his finishing and I am not sure he will get the opportunities to do so in the first team. Will he play in the U21's? Probably not without sulking. So a loan may be the way to go. I think Wilson should be our 4th striker, that of course doesn't mean he will be though.

My god you just gave an opinion with out trying to pretend its an actual fact .
Im very impressed ;)

I'm not sure if zaha will be sold as I think lvg will appreciate his qualities and versatility on the pitch.Ultimately a lot depends on how zaha applies himself. Its my opinion that lvg might choose Wilson for the 4th striker slot as he looks ready.

08 Aug 2014 17:17:32
If Cuadrado's agent is also Hazards agent then who's to say that the same thing that happened with Hazard won't happen again?

as far as i'm aware we refused to pay the agent fee for Hazard -who at the time was a young kid riding on the back of a couple of good seasons will Lille.

This time round we've got to pay for a player just off the back of a successful WC.

maybe we'll pay it now, but perhaps not.

A successful WC? He was always missing the target if you ask me ;)

Well Andy! what do you consider a good world cup

08 Aug 2014 16:51:05
Seems like we have been linked to everyone in the last couple of weeks but the main 3 have been Cuadrado, Vidal and Hummels. Now I know we are looking to offload some players and it's more than likely that Nani, Anderson, Hernandez etc will be leaving, however, even with sales does anyone expect these 3 all to come in? That's £100m worth of players and having already spent around £60m on Shaw and Herrera it seems incredibly unrealistic.

I honestly feel that only one of these will be signed and a much cheaper option will be bought in the other areas. Vidal for me should still be number 1 priority followed by Hummels then Cuadrado.

I really do not want us to end up spending £30-35m on Cuadrado and end up with cheaper options in CM and CB as we will be able to cope fine with Valencia and Rafel at RWB but won't be anywhere near as good without Vidal or Hummels.

I agree Rj.


Valencia/Rafael/Young would be able to cover RB for us but we absolutely need a CB and a CM.

I don't think we will get Hummels but I am optimistic on Vidal.

No doubt MU are looking to spend that much over three windows, but if the players are available now, then why not sort it now? There is a lot of players that could be sold this summer and follow Bebe, Evra & Buettner out the door. Nani, Zaha, Rafael, Amos, Hernandez, Anderson, Kagawa, Fellaini, Vermijl, W.Keane, Petrucci. If we sold these guys and bought Cuadrado, Hummels & Vidal we would actually post a profit in net player sales. But I doubt we will get those players and doubt we will find buyers for all of these players.

RJ, it may be that our priorities and player availabilities do not always match up. Wingback may be our third priority, but if a guy like Cuadrado is available, then it is good to go for it.

That's a massive change to the squad though Syd. We've already had Vidc, Rio, Evra and Buttner leave the 1st team squad from the past couple of seasons. Nani, Hernandez, Anderson, Amos and Vermijl I'd be fine with them leaving. Zaha and W Keane I'd loan then I'd hope Kagawa would stay but for the sake of a very good players career I hope he leaves.

Over 3 windows it seems an amount that could be spent but just this summer I find it very unlikely even with a lot of sales. Ideally though we buy Cuadrado, Vidal and Hummels and promote youngsters while getting rid of the fringe players who are not in LVG's plans.

RJ, how many of the above players played a major part in last season? So would any of them really be missed? Wilson will replace Hernandez. Mata has replaced Kagawa and we have Adnan. Herrera and hopefully Vidal would replace Fellaini. If we did sign the three mentioned. We would have Cuadrado, Hummels, Vidal, Wilson, Herrera & Shaw.

It's all ifs and buts mate, but in theory it could work fine.

We were promised a summer with no budget by Woodward and he's said we could break the transfer record on 1 player so why not use that money on 3? Plus with sales and the billion sponsors we seem to have amassed over the past 18 months that 160m should be more like 60 million or even less

I know many of them didn't have a big role to play but I've barely known any top side to clear out 10-12 players who are in the 1st team squad in 1 window. That would be Evra, Rio, Vidic, Nani, Kagawa, Hernandez, Buttner, Anderson, Fellaini, Rafael and Giggs from the 25 man squad of last season gone. I understand none of the ones that are still at the club listed above had a big part last season but that is a massive turnover in both experience on the pitch and the club itself.

Rafael won't be sold in my opinion and I think Kagawa will be held onto despite it being clear there are players ahead of him. We will struggle to find a buyer for Anderson as well.

Regardless of whether there is a clear out or not though I think we have to buy 3 top players. 1 CM, 1/2 CB and a winger/wing back. If we do this we will be in a great position to challenge for the league.

Hard to disagree with any of that mate.

08 Aug 2014 15:12:53
Della Valle (Fiorentina president): "The fans know it, if we get a super offer for Cuadrado we will sell."

Over to you Ed Woodward.

Sydney

I think Quadrado will depend on what they are asking for and if excessive I would expect us to put in an offer for Depay who is still young and not as good yet but quite a talent.

If that happens I would assume 2 wingers might be on their way out. remember.

Can a right wingback (Cuadrado) be compared to a left winger (Depay)? I think if this happens, Rafael, Zaha and Nani are out the door.

I don't think we need a 30 million pound 26 year old wing back.

Defensively he is no better than Valencia and Rafael. Yes in attack and in crossing he is better but should we pay 30 million pounds just for that?

Of course we should MB. Of course we are not paying for his defensive qualities, we are paying for his high energy, the fact he gets up and down the pitch, his knowing how to beat a man and his attacking abilities. We need speed added to our attack. This is it.

08 Aug 2014 14:48:08
what left footed centre could be buy, now that TV is going to barca, has to be left footed for the balance to be right, any ideas? just interested to see what names can come up :)

08 Aug 2014 16:03:38
Inigo Martinez or Jan Vertonghen would be my picks.

There is a right footed CB called Mats Hummels that plays on the left. A player that MU actually have a strong interest in and are trying to sign. Will he do :)

Ideally it would be a left footed CB but in no way is it paramount that we can only sign someone who is left footed.
Any PL player should be able to make simple passes and clearances with their non-kicking foot. If they can't and I know that in some cases that is true then why the hell are they being paid more money in a week than a lot of normal people earn in a year.
My playing days were as a CB and I could always make a 10-15 yard pass or a clearance with my left foot. It wasn't pretty but it was good enough.
For me I would go all out for Hummels as he is 25 and his physical presence (6' 4") is such that he is well suited to the PL and he would command the central position of a back 3.

Shappy

Both your picks would be major improvement, Laporte is also very talented but not sure if he is left footed.

08 Aug 2014 14:37:27
Well, Vermaelen seems to be heading to Barcelona. Not really disappointed or overjoyed to be honest. I think he would have been a decent signing if fit, but the kind of money being asked for would have made the deal pricey. We NEED a center back this summer, ideally two.

I would love it if we bite the bullet now and pay up for Benatia or Hummels, maybe we just have to do that now. But looking at our previous history, it might be Daley Blind that we might be getting.

Also, there are reports in Turin, that Juventus have given Vidal until 15th August to make his intentions public and either confirm he is staying or conclude a deal elsewhere.

Strong rumors of interest and a possible deal for Cuadrado. I think we can safely say our main formation for next year will be 3-4-3 if we sign Cuadrado. Add a quality center back and a midfielder and we look a top side.

Reports of interest in Di Maria too, but we know he is demanding outrageous wages and if he is too expensive for PSG, I doubt we will make a move.

Fingers crossed we make 2-3 good signings, and by the looks of things, we will need to pay a bit over the odds to make any deals happen right now.

I am also interested in the possible sales. There has been little movement there with Fellaini, Hernandez and perhaps Kagawa and Nani near certain to leave if the right buyers can be found.

We all remember how it gave the squad a lift when we signed Van Persie, and a couple of top signings will have the same effect I think.

08 Aug 2014 14:21:58
I'm outraged. We have lost a 29 year old injury prone CB who couldn't get into the Arsenal team to Barca. What are we playing at? It's disgraceful, we shod have offered £20M.

Come on people, 2 good signings, but the most important signing has been the Manager. We've won all our pre season games against decent opposition, and we have some cracking youngsters to add in to the mix. Not saying we don't have gaps but we are in a much stronger position than last year.

And I don't believe we have finished yet.

AJH - If we fail to make any other signings missing out on TV could prove the difference between us finishing fourth and fifth. I'm hoping however that it will force us into upping our valuation of Hummels.

While I agree we are in a stronger position with a better manager on board and 2 new good additions we will still struggle to make top 4 with this squad

08 Aug 2014 15:23:30
But Woody promised that we weren't going to lose out on the best players to Spain :( He lied!

08 Aug 2014 15:28:13
I do, I cannot see anyone come in. Don't start me on Vidal. we are very light at the back and we are doing nothing

08 Aug 2014 15:44:02
I totally agreed AJH. I am happy we didn't sign TV. Hopefully we will AV by next week. Blind and Roma is also on radar. In fact bid is imminent for Blind. Still 3 weeks before window will close so enough time to complete deals.

I think smalling and Jones will do what vermaelen wouldve done for us they are all as injury prone then the other.

Me too :). Funny what a difference a year makes, some of us got blasted a year ago for saying we need six or seven new players and the squad was not as good as people thought. Now people want us to buy a whole new team in one window.

I believe we will splash some cash in the next 2 weeks but not what some expected and no point in paying through the nose for any player slightly better than what we currently have or hyped up players who really are not worth it.

Next week will be an interesting week:)

Gcu
very good point, remember this is a title winning squad ;)

08 Aug 2014 13:27:42
1) Vermaelen deal to Utd is off as he's going to Barca.

2) Cuadrado fancies Barca more than Utd.

3) Vidal's knee is a BIG concern to Van Gaal and is stopping him form buying the player.

Can't see us signing anyone else. The season starts in 8 days and Van Gaal has said he wants his team in place by then. Think we have to be happy with Shaw and Herrera this window and hope Van Gaal can guide us to 4th so we can entice players next summer with the lure of Champions League football.

Exactly what I wrote a few days ago chap, once again dragging our heals and woodward giving it the big'n with we got loadsa money & utd are still a huge draw for players! Its all rubbish.
Im glad we've signed shaw n herrera but that's hasn't really improved anythin on last years very weak team. i'm praying things change but can't quite see it. :(

King Eric

This is what I'm afraid of, too.

08 Aug 2014 14:08:40
Al,

Shaw and Herrera haven't improved anything? Is that a wind up?

I may be being optimistic, but I would expect at least one deal to be completed this week. We are still in with a good shout of getting Blind, De Jong, Cuadrado and Vidal - although not so sure of the centre back.

Shaw and Herrera haven't improved us from last year? i'm speechless sometimes I really am

08 Aug 2014 14:35:36
United AL,

Vermaelen moving to Barca because Wenger is reluctant to sell to United after the RVP outcome - United dragging heals and Woodwards fault?
Cuadrado PREFERS Barca to United - United dragging heals and Woodwards fault?
LVG has concerns over a genuine knee injury for Vidal - United dragging heals and Woodwards fault?

Brilliant.

GDS2

What Al is saying is that compared to Chelsea, City we are miles behind.
We need investment, Vidal and Hummels and Cuarado if possible would put us right back in the mix.
I would put money on us winning the title if LVG brings in the three mentioned.
I don't get it, if we want the player put the bloody bid in and get the negotiations under way.
It drives me insane the way we f*rt about when other clubs just get there business done, it really is ridiculous.
Every transfer target is just drawn out to the fullest and it's getting boring now.

That is a joke Herrera and shaw has improved us loads in the area we most needed it, now we got to hope the new manager and new style of play can get us into 4th with this team which I reckon he can and Liverpool back down to 7th, thou centre back is very worrying

08 Aug 2014 14:59:46
I wonder if van Gaal will have the same concerns about Strootman's injury.

GDS you have no chance mate some people on here refuse to see what's in front of em! The improvement on last year is astonishing and seems to be getting exponentially better.

Herrera & shaw filled our most needed areas? Haha that's a good 1. We lost vidic, & ferdinand, no1 to replace them yet?important I thought but anyway we've still got from last season young, fellaini, anderson (regardless to his loan) tom cleverly & nani. players that so clearly stood out as our best?! sorry reddevil you shot me down I stand corrected. joker ha!

08 Aug 2014 12:11:45
Vermaelen to barca for 15m by the looks of it.

Eds is there any official interest in Mehdi Benatia from MU?

and have we bid for Blind?

Thanks

{Ed002's Note - Why not read the posts. Try and avoid making up terms like "official interest". Use the search engine.}

I heard there might be some unofficial interest - but officially there's no word as to whether there's anything official just yet. Maybe try Twitter?

08 Aug 2014 12:12:06
Why do we always drag our transfers out over weeks and months. I know they are not that easy, but look at Real Madrid. They wanted James Rodriguez and Boom few days later its done. Liverpool have got 7 players through the door, all of which average I will admit but still done, so they are settled in and ready for new season. Chelsea, Costa, Cesc, Filipe, all identified and secured well before the season starts.
What do we do differently? I know Herrera and Shaw were done, although I think they might have been agreed months ago.

08 Aug 2014 12:51:52
Yeh I no wot u mean mate, clubs should just roll over and give us there best players!

Come on mate if u are going for players that the selling club want to keep it takes time,

Because our owners would rather spend as little as possible on the club and refuse to pay what's needed to bring in top talent.

08 Aug 2014 12:59:05
I think its the papers that make the buzz too much these days, as what's happening in the board room, no one knows about that. 100 different sources,100 different rumours.

Costa was Atl Madrids best player. James Rodriguez was Monaco's star player. Sanchez was one of Barcas staring line up as was Cesc. It just seems we seem to be trying to save on the money and it might well backfire. This happened last season with a whole host of players. Yes it was down to inexperience of EW and Moyes. Should be different this season but it seems to have a similar pattern emerging.

These last 2 summer windows have seen 2 different managers. Both needing time to assess the squad and make decisions. It's frustrating but understandable. I don't think the media help things especially when there's not a lot coming out of the club

1. real madrid are european champions with a bottoless pit of money due to the spanish tv deal and also the backing of the banks who deem that they are too important to fail.
2. have liverpool signed anyone that we would actually want?
3. Chelsea are also in the CL and due to the owner's wealth are able to buy players for cash up front rather than try and put a strructured deal in place ie a bit now a bit later etc

Champions League, or rather the lack of has really hampered our business this summer

RedDub - Liverpool can offer Champions League football and yet they've been unable to bring in any top players. One season does not change 20 years of success (or failure, in their case).

08 Aug 2014 11:32:47
Sky sports are reporting we have ended our interest in vermalean, not sure if that's good or bad but we really need centre backs

08 Aug 2014 11:27:43
United pull out of vermaelen race as wenger wants chris smalling as part of the deal (wenger wanted smalling before he signed for us if you remember). arsenal have accepted barcelonas offer for vermaelen.

08 Aug 2014 11:21:40
I'm forever reading about the possibility of these swap deals or player plus cash deals. Just curious, how many of these kinda deals go on between top teams as I can't recall any

08 Aug 2014 12:32:37
Last well known one I can remember was Samuel Eto'o plus about £30million for Zlatan.

It's a lot more common in Italy than anywhere else. In the past twenty years Inter have swapped Cannavaro for Fabian Carini, Pirlo for Andres Guglielminpietro and cash, Francesco Coco for Seedorf and Ivan Zamorano and cash for Roberto Carlos.

They aren't too clever when it comes to swapping their players!

Probably why serie a is in the gutter

TQ, Is that you Jase? Still rapping?

TQred; The demise of Serie A is down to the rise of other leagues as much as anything. As the Premier League and La Liga become more desirable it becomes difficult for Italian clubs to attract and hold onto top players. This decreases the amount broadcasters are willing to pay for television rights and in turn the amount the clubs receive. Having less money makes it even harder to compete with clubs from other leagues when it comes to wages and transfer fees. Then there's also the whole match fixing scandal which hit the integrity of the league pretty hard as well.

It's a shame really considering how good the Milan team of the 90's was.

No, not jase syd

I've met a lad based in Torquay, he was initially from Manchester.

08 Aug 2014 11:16:22
Apparently Arsenal wanted Smalling in return for Vermaelen

08 Aug 2014 11:13:11
BBC are reporting that Vermaelen has all but signed for Barca and that we refused due to them wanting player as part of the deal, wonder who they wanted.

08 Aug 2014 04:29:46
Anyone thinks Barca is sort of pulling out of the Thomas Vermaelen deal so that we can get him in an effort to sign Hummels? Not sure if this makes any sense. Tbh though I'd like to sign both of em if it ever possible.

I don't think barca have pulled out of this deal. they want him and I think they will get him. Reports in spain saying that a deal maybe done early next week. I don't think utd will buy him not unless he's under 10 million or they can get a swap deal done for him. I still think hummels is the player want and are working hard on it

Barcelona haven't pulled out but apparently we might have. The player wants a move to Manchester United but according to Sly Sports Arsenal will only deal with us if we offer a player in exchange (believed to be Smalling). LVG has flat out refused this, and rightly so. IMO, a very clever way for Arsenal to avoid selling to a rival club.

R7, why is it clever? MU would have had to pay more than Barcelona, just like we had to pay more than Juve would have had to if they got Van Persie. If Arsenal got £15m from Barcelona, then he would have costed us £20m. He isn't worth that.

R7, I think there may be a reason why we have given up so easily and it not just being about the money. I think the club may have weighed up whether Vermaelen was worth £15m-£20m when for an extra £15m or so we could get Hummels.

Sydney - Arsenal have gotten a lot of flack in recent times for allowing players to move to their rivals. If I were them I would have liked to avoid selling TV to us at all costs. Even if that weren't the case I very much doubt that we would have offered much more than £15m for TV. If the player was holding out for a move to United - what better way to get him to move to Barcelona than have us pull out of the race by offering ridiculous terms? At most they'll have lost a million or two and have avoided criticism from fans and pundits as well as strengthening a rival.

R7, I think despite what we are reading/hearing, I think MU are being very clever this summer. Barcelona have now signed Vermaelen and Mathieu. There's no longer room for Hummels and they will no longer hold an interest in Hummels. Which leaves him all for us. If we can agree a deal for him we are pretty much unchallenged for his signature.

Syd - It works both ways. Dortmund will now know that we have one less option for CB. They have us over a barrel when it comes to price as we now can't fall back on TV if they won't budge on their valuation.

Sydney we won't sign hummels I know you really really want us to, but he will cost to much, he is not that keen on joining us and Dortmund don't want to sell, to many factors for why it won't happened, I think its time for you to move on, the first step for recovery is admitting it :)

R7, I suspect MU know what they have to pay in order to sign Hummels. TV going to Barcelona will not change that.

RD0690, MU are trying to conclude a deal for Hummels. Price being the ONLY barrier. Until Hummels says he's staying, I will keep hoping a deal can be reached between the two clubs. If Hummels wasn't keen on joining, we wouldn't be trying to sign him. The first thing MU would have done is spoke to his reps and got the green light first.