Manchester United Banter Archive July 12 2013

12 Jul 2013 22:08:45
Wonder why people are freaking out about who we buy, those rumours we read all day are false, only moyes and people at the board know our true targets. Sites just cook up rumours to keep us reading and selling their sites.

You are right mogul, and our real targets are all world class, Fellaini, cabaye, baines, garay! Have you heard barca real or bayern or city and Chelsea chasing any of them lot up? No!
But that's who we will end up with. Crap players who will cost well over the odds.

Jeez noname, I hope you made it through the night.

Noname, I believe Chelsea were interested in Fellaini and Garay.

Barcelona also had interest in Garay.

PSG showing interest in Cabaye.

Baines is the best left back in the premier league and is also the most consistent.

These would be decent signings for us. But we do need a world class player to be able to compete in Europe again.

Weggy

12 Jul 2013 21:14:24
For all those who are complaining about world class midfielder's
'' we are manchester united we don't buy stars, we make stars ''.

Tell us all then which classy midfielders we have developed in the last 10 years then
johndenton

Gibson .

Shams, if you could Russell up a couple of world class midfield 'stars', that would be just peachy

Cristiano Ronaldo. Bookedredmole

In the whole of the premier league Utd have pushed Keane onto another level and made Scholes a world class player possibly a note on Ince in here aswell. any other CMer we have produced has done his part eg Butt, Gibbo, Fletch etc but no way have we produced the same level of player in CM as we have in turning forwards and defenders into world beaters.

Even GK we have only had varied experience keepers who have been hit and miss with Big Pete (already had his style) and VDS (already world class) the top players during that time. DDG is a work in progress and despite my inital reservations there is a big growth in my eyes we are moving him on from potential to realising that potential. Will be interesting how he reacts to the new staff as he is still learning and won't have the blanket of Steele's and SAF knowledge to count on but we have never made a keeper into a star yet DDG is the only example of that so far.

So make stars? yes in certain positions but we have always had to buy in CM, always! and have NEEDED to for 3 years and if we go a fourth without 2 CMers then there is no hope anyone at Utd sees what we can all see!

And don't give me we get out bid or whatever!

Did bayern get put off by the fact Goetze clause was 38m or that Martinez was 40m? and they already had Schweinny and Gustavo plus a few others who would start for us!

We have more than enough money so there quite simply is ZERO excuse! Identify a player and get him, pay whatever it takes as its funny how Rooney gets whatever he wants to be persuaded to stay yet we can't stump up what's needed to persuade a signing to choose us over other options!

Johndenton

Well said mate. It's such a kopout of a response, we haven't made any stars for a while now.

RED_SKY

Kopout? I've been going for 42 years so I've seen plenty of grown talent but since the class of 92 what stars have we produced? gibson, bebe, luke chadwick, dong, manuchio, obertan the list is endless maybe we need to buy some of them back, oh and don't forget we won the league last year so we don't really need to buy anyone
johndenton

12 Jul 2013 20:24:56
I hope people now realise what the Ed's bring to this site, and how we are gravely missing their input, especially Ed002 (no offence meant to the other ed's).

Looking at the Barcelona site, I've notably found that 002 said over a week ago that Bayern were making their move. We would have known about this a week ago. if only it weren't for the abusive persons.

Great stuff.

And what could we have done with the knowledge BM were about to move?. stop them?

Fred the red

I just hope they all come back soon, this site hasn't been as enjoyable since the strike.

Weggy

12 Jul 2013 20:15:56
My considered opinion on the position regarding Thiago is that both BM and us will have triggered the buy out clause.

The choice of destination is now in the players hands ( and his Father).

He knows Pep from his Barce days but Don't forget Pep did not play him then and I know he was a bit younger but Barce bought Fabregas in the same position did he not.

So I think it is 50/50 and he will make a choice pretty soon. He is almost guaranteed playing time with us and will be the nucleus of a team. But BM are European champions and his former manager is there.

So I still think it can go either way. Pep has only said he wants him. Big deal. Will he be " guaranteed "? As other posters have said they do have an amazing midfield already that won the CL.

I then thought is there anything we as fans can do to help? Maybe not but certainly do not go on any websites/twitter/facebok and abuse him and if anything do the opposite and mobilise and the younger fans go on twitter/ and tell him we are the club that NEED him.

Don't get me wrong if we don't get him then so be it and we move on and look elsewhere but we need a created and an enforcer in midfield. That is obvious.

So you younger fans get tweeting etc and if it isn't to be then we move on

I am mentioning this as I have looked at several sites and already there are abusive messages towards him for not coming. If he is deliberating and receiving abusive messages then that could swing it.

Don't panic and don't grovel but let him know we want/need him. If he does choose BM then so be it and we can then no him if he appears at OT.

I stil think it is 50/50 and this is squeaky bum time to borrow a phrase!

Colin (my first match at OT was Lou Macari's debut in the Stretford end in 1972 and have seen some bad times. It could be worse too as look at Arsenal - at least we are champions looking for additional personnel!)

Top post

singh

12 Jul 2013 19:23:57
With Thiago looking like heading to Bayern, Strootman appearing close to a Roma deal will little else meeting the current requirements of young players at the right value I really see Moyes struggling to bring anyone who could drive the team forwards.

I just worry that Moyes although well respected in the Premier League doesn't carry the name or the history of success to bring in a star player from overseas. In a World Cup year and even though we're a massive club I see us as being a risk. Happy to be proved wrong - thoughts?

There is so much rubbish spoken. Please tell me what world class super stars SAF signed from abroad? We have never signed established superstars. We have always gone for potential!

Chappers1981
Dortmund have very quietly built a team right under the noses of everybody in Europe, they've shown what can be done with good scouting and team spirit.
I'm never despondent if we miss a target because I know what happens in that stadium and when our backs are against a wall how we react.
Just watch the young lad Janujaz a future star in the making that's what United is about the rest will take care of its self.
Dylan

One hundred percent true Dylan top teams are built not bought.

12 Jul 2013 19:15:37
Hi lads,

could somebody please tell me the dates of the games in united's pre season tour and who the games are against. Do you know if any of the games are on tv but not exclusively on MUTV ( I don't have it)

cheers

JohnTheRedMaroon97

The official united website lists all this information

12 Jul 2013 18:32:12
What is the problem with thiago deal, is it a case that we didn't want to pay vat on buyout clause? Real just payed the vat on illaramendi buy out clause because they wanted him.
Is it case of missing Gills influence in dealings, Moyes says that I never said he was a target, but clearly he has been for two years, we asked hunter to put us in contact, if you want a player do what you need to do.
I am sick of every season getting my hopes up for the next star and being let down, if you have to pay top dollar pay it!
Our midfield needs sorting not with mediocre premiership talent but top European stars, it seems we cannot compete, if Madrid, bayern or barca want someone they win, simple, but sad.
Someone said the other day, why don't we use beck ham as our Sudanese and pay like Madrid, like him or not he has the draw as would giggs have respect, let's wake up.

12 Jul 2013 17:38:44
Just seen a news report that states vermijl has signed a new 3 year contract. Good news keeping one of the promising youngsters on board.

12 Jul 2013 17:31:09
Just to add a spin on things just by what DM has just recently said about transfers.

he says he's happy with the way things are progressing with transfers.

now, I think Thiago was a SAF target and not a DM target, hence why we haven't gone overboard to get him. understandably he's an amazing player, but through DM talking it appears as if Thiago was never someone he was desperate for.

Doesn't change the fact we may have missed out on a top young player though!

12 Jul 2013 19:32:23
Pretty sure we did try hard for Thiago but he chose Bayern because a. his mentor is there and b. let's face it anyone that can honestly take their United hat off and put themselves in Thiago's position would also choose Bayern over United!

If thiago wasnt a david moyes target then that is more worrying than the fact we have lost a great great player to a club woth a far far superior team, you couldn't get a more ideal solution to our midfield problem than thiago, if moyes didn't see that like you are suggesting then god help us.

Not at all, no-name. He wants game time and is more likely to get it with us than at BM. As far as I can tell we're by far the best option for him in terms of his future development and getting into Spain's squad for next year's World Cup.

redseven

12 Jul 2013 15:45:01
Hey all,

Pretty devastated that Pep had to run his mouth and sweet talk Thiago all the way down the autobahn to Munich. I still think that we may see him at OT next year, but most likely he will be playing for Bayern. So in my eyes many of the midfielders on the move this summer that would have improved our midfield have either signed or looking to sign for other clubs. Thiago (Bayern), Strootman (Roma maybe), Paulinho (Spurs), and Wanyama (Southampton). This left me thinking who are the next best options? I would welcome the likes of Di Rossi or Modric and come October I would eventually warm up to Felliani, But besides those three who would improve the middle of the park? Do Kroos or Gustavo become available should Thiago move to Bayern? But do we really want their scraps?

Although I am a little distraught, I still have faith in Moyes and Manchester United Football Club, who are the number one supported club in the world and have made enormous commercial deals in the months and weeks leading up to the appointment of our new manager and his staff, to surprise us with two or three signings that will help us retain the titles and fight Bayern and Real for Europe. Do you think the people working behind the scenes are dumb? They, just as all United fans, are left in an unfamiliar state of uncertainty and I am sure that Sir Alex and the rest of the Big Wigs are making sure all the success of the last 26 year regime does not crumble overnight.

The fact of the matter is that despite what everyone is saying, there are probably 15 or 20 people tops who truly know who the MUFC transfer targets are. For all we know Moyes could announce that Ronaldo has come back home, or that we signed Bale. Both of these players would immediately bring the "fear factor" back to the days when we conquered Europe. Also as Woodward said, we do not need a complete squad overhaul. All we need is one or two starters with an additional squad player.

As I see it United won the league last year with a number of players out of form or injured for long periods of time. Rooney, Nani, Young, Valencia, Clevs, Welbeck, Kagawa, Ando, Evra, and Smalling did not even play to half of their potentials. Should Rooney get over his "hammy injury" and comeback all cylinders firing, Valencia, Nani, and Young remember how to play football, and Welbeck learn to score we should be in great shape. Kagawa, Smalling, Jones, Zaha, Welbeck, Rafa, De Gea, Evans are all young enough footballers with a lot of potential. Coupled with the experience of Giggs, Carrick, Ferdy, Vida, and Phil Neville and a new signing or two we should be in pretty good shape.

Cheers,
Sparty On

Their scraps would instantly make us better but other than that good post!
Tommy!

I hate when people say they don't want rejects from Barcelona, Real or Bayern, because Sanchez may leave Barcelona, Di Maria, Modric or Ozil may leave Madrid, Gustavo or Kroos may leave Bayern and all of those players would improve the team massively.

12 Jul 2013 19:42:23
Phil Neville is on the coaching staff - he will not play. However, given how our team strengthening is going, we may need him to!

GLC

12 Jul 2013 15:23:00
I've never read so much doom and gloom. I love Manchester United. but everyone of you should hang your heads in shame. Manchester United are the clear Champions of England. yet the fans on this site are so lower league. just because we haven't announced who we want to sign and haven't signed all the tabloid gossip. Moyes and everyone behind the club are losers.
Everyone has wish lists. but none of you could run a football club of the stature of Manchester United. whereabouts Moyes, and all the employees at the club can.
Get off yourselves or support another team. its as simple as that.
Highlandpedro

Stop playing the 'we won the championship by miles' card, yes we did, it was a very weak league last year, and if city and Chelsea's teams were gelled more, then we would of finished 3rd with our midfield, we couldn't run the club? Well at least we all know where the weakness in the team is, no one in the hierarchy at OT or moyes know this problem, moyes has now come out and said thiago isn't a target, he was perfect, and for £15m we are so reluctant in the transfer market is stupidness, it's my love of Manchester United that drives me to be this frustrated, because I want the best for our club and the glazers and moyes etc just cannot see our midfield is a ******* shambles, it needs sorting, at current I wools prefer any other team inside the top 8's midfield to ours. We aren't being doom and gloom we are being realistic and we are worrying.

Strong words, but I agree!

As a supporter/fan I expect Moyes and the team to take this on the chin (if Thiago goes to BM) and move on efficiently to the next target/challenge. And not to mope around!

Personally, as a supporter/fan I feel a duty to do the same - get behind the team, get on with it and not mope around moaning about how bad it is to be a United fan.

I'm proud to be United and always will be.

You telling us to get over ourselves or support another club, you think I'll listen to u? Chew my root pal. Say what you like; we don't attract the worlds best players any more, we aren't good enough to win the CL; and we probabily won't win the leave if we don't sign a world class midfielder, with chelsea and city improving they're squads. So were just as ebtitled to our opinion as you are, so wind your neck!

Alex Fergusons Condom

Blimey at least wait until the window closes and see who Moyes signs before slating him not seeing our midfield Hex. If he doesn't sign or poorly signs feel free. And condom, bar Veron we have NEVER attracted the worlds best players in terms of ready made stars, get a grip
Invisible Stuey

Well said SAFs contraception. Totally agree. Our midfield is piss poor. Can't blame or judge Moyes until we see what he does. I'd like to think he knows where we need strengthening. Personally I'd like to have seen Wanyama come in for 10mill, then go for a Thiago, Modric type player.

Boyley

Hex, Moyes never said Thiago was not a target, he merely never said he was a target, and even if Thiago is not a target, he is not the only decent centre mid we can buy. The fact that we are linked to so many centre mids suggests we will sign at least one. Also Thiago would cost about £20m-£25m not £15m.

A. F. C if you don't like how the club is run or does its business then why support United? all the sports shops sell Chelsea and City shirts, buy one and support a team that you think attracts world class players.

As a supporter of a club, you do just that, you support the club. If your club then wins some trophies then that is a bonus and you celebrate the fact but its no clubs god given right to do so. Winning things and getting the 'worlds best players' are huge bonuses in the sporting world and if they come then fantastic, but if not, then does that mean you support them any less or go on sites slating them and spitting the dummy? No. So its you that needs to be winding your neck in.

Our time at the top will come to an end at some point, and when it does I will expect to see supposed supporters like you sitting in the Etihad or Stamford Bridge or whoever has been paying way over the odds for players and winning a couple of things. This club is steeped in history, more so than any other, glory won't last forever but history this great club will and I will continue to celebrate that until the day I die.

Brendan81

AFC the name you have chosen for yourself says a lot about you. Your opinion is noted and at the same time a complete waste of time. We don't have a god given right to have the best players signing on the dotted line for what ever we feel like offering! We are a football team, a brand, a business with a very strict transfer policy and strategic business plan to keep us moving in the right direction. People are right when they say if you don't like it go elsewhere cause it won't change cause some muppet says we're getting it all wrong!
SHANDY

Gilly, thiagos buyout is €18m about (£15m), if we meet that barcelona cannot do anything, they cannot haggle a price, it's set at that, given the tax is a little high there I expect it to be at least £18m (€21m), he won't cost £25+, I love Gundogan also.

12 Jul 2013 15:09:05
Well if thiago doesn't come I won't be surprised Iv stopped getting my hopes up back when we missed out on ozil but I think we should go for him since Madrid have signed two great Spanish players maybe ozil will be pushed out!


Cork city red!

12 Jul 2013 14:56:08
Moyes' words will no doubt be twisted and turned. He was directly asked whether Thiago was a target "still" and since he does not talk about players contracted to other clubs he replied with "I never said he was". Him replying either with a yes or no would have made meant him talking about Thiago being a target. It was a cleverly asked question.

There is nothing more to it, but the moaners certainly got something more to whinge and cry about.

We should be getting our targets signed in any case. We have lost out on enough of them in the past.

REDFAITH

12 Jul 2013 14:34:25
After thinking about it, i'm sat here wondering how Pep can guarantee Thiago the games we all know he is asking for.

We know Pep loves to play with Wingers, as do Bayern in general

Ribery/Robben/Shaqiri. plus a striker is 3 players. That leaves 7 outfielders.

4 defenders leaves 3.

Gotze/Schwein/Kroos/Gustavo/Martinez

Add Thiago in there, tell me how in hell can he be given a starting guarantee?

He can well rotate them. It's show how ambitious they are. All of these players would walk on our Midfield with no problem AT ALL. They'll have a hell of a team.

Nick, in the Bundesliga, there are only 18 teams, so each team only plays 34 matches. Obviously each team can make 3 subs per game, which means each team can make 102 subs per season. Therefore, since Bayern play 3 in centre mid, if they use all subs on centre mids, they can share at most 204 league appearances between their centre mids. With their current centre mids being; Schweinsteiger, Martinez, Gustavo, Gotze, Kroos, and occasionally Muller, and potentially Thiago, that means that Bayern have 7 players who would want to start for just 3 positions. That equates to about 29 games per season each, and about half of them would be from the bench. Plus this estimate is based on Bayern using all 3 subs for rotating centre mids, which is almost impossible due to injuries and rotating positions. Each team are more likely to use 1 sub for centre mids, meaning each centre mid would get about 20 games each on average. Personally I cannot imagine Thiago would be happy, and nor would Gotze. Compare that to United, who have Cleverley, Carrick and Kagawa who would play in a triangle shaped midfield 3. Thiago would get at least 30 starts in the league.

12 Jul 2013 14:29:59
well can't say i'm surprised one bit, graham hunter says its because we stalled on contract, well moyes says he's happy and we have things in the pipeline, well its going to have to be some rabbit out of the bag now to compete inthe champ league with the players being signed by real bayern the chavs, have to wait and see but imagine rooney going to chelsea now and no world class replacement.

12 Jul 2013 14:10:40
It is getting silly now in football. Transfer fees are sky rocketing and value for money is rare. Cavani £54 million, Fernandinho £30 million, Asier illarramendi £34 million, Rodriguez £40 million, Hulk £52 million. It is becoming a joke and then people complain we haven't signed anyone well can you blame the club. All of them players have been sold for £15+ million more than they're worth.

Even £55+ for Falcao, £30m for Moutinho, and £40m for Gotze and £40 for Martinez is also a lot.

George Manunited makes more profit than any of the clubs mentioned so why shouldn't we compete?
Prices have always been inflating as the value of money goes down.

The fact of the matter is we couldn't buy a player with a 15mil clause! our transfer activity in the last 5 years has been a joke, people say we bought rvp, kagawa they were all in there last year of contract!

George, that's just how it is. if you want the best players at your club these are the prices you have to pay unless you get lucky with a release clause or a player in last year of contract.

I think most fans are unhappy because utd don't seem to want to accept this reality

anyway, its not your money so why so you care?

12 Jul 2013 13:54:46
Maybe this is all a blessing in disguise. The appointment of a manager who has won nothing at Everton but happens to succeed in that his team performs on a very tight budget. Maybe DM's appointment is just that, the glazers wanted a manager who they can work with on a tight budget.

I'm am sorry guys but as much as I would like DM to succeed at United I would want him to fail. Fail because maybe then the owners would understand that money needs to be spent and if a transfer needs a couple million quid to seal the deal then do it. I rate DM and I would love for him to succeed here but unless something drastic happens I fair we won't find out the truth of how things are run at united.

Out with the Glazers.

diego

Pure speculation and on top of that you want us to fail! Great. Let's just say I DISAGREE.

HB

So you don't want to succeed without spending, but you want to succeed with spending?

!

What's wrong with succeeding without spending diego?

A very happy Chelsea fan!

Wot would u know about success without spending chavski?
CTR

12 Jul 2013 19:26:51
No need to get on at the Chelsea fan re spending. There were plenty of them pre RA and they'll be plenty of them after RA so wouldn't they enjoy his genouristity. It gets my goat when people use stupid nicknames like Chavski without realising it says more about them than it does about the club they're digging at.

And as for the OP. Deary me. I'm not a big fan of the way our owners have gone about their business and that is putting it lightly, but when a game kicks off all bets are off and it's all about the 11 on the field representing our great club.

12 Jul 2013 19:29:19
Posted to disagree with the OP and the stupid nicknames for rival clubs but forgot name. Ben.

12 Jul 2013 13:42:09
When asked if Thiago was still a target, Moyes replied: 'I never said he was. '

He also reinstilled that Rooney is not for sale: 'Unless I was speaking double Dutch, I've said that Wayne Rooney is not for sale. '

talkSH1T also reporting that the £15m deal has been agreed with Thiago and Bayern.

12 Jul 2013 13:27:24
so people keep banging on about the window has only been open for 12 days.

OK. so yes the official window to register players with the FA has only been open for 12 days but they could have signed players long ago.

whilst we try to force every penny out of a deal. madrid go and buy 2 of the stars of spains u21 team.

the amount paid for Illarramendi is stupid, but sometimes when someone is that special that is what is needed.

why can we not do this?

Have a look at how much money Real have spent in the last 10/15 years and how much success they've had from that outlay.

You really want us to be like Real?

We build a team, not buy galactico's.

HB

HB, real have had a lot of success, but they also came against the best team ever seen in barca.
So shall we not spend anything then and carry on as we are?
Since when have United's sites been lowered so much? Guys, we are man united, we have broken the British transfer records on many occasions, and we have had loads of success because we were always active in the transfer window, but we can't carry on allowing our targets to be snapped up by other clubs and all we say, they were not a target!
If Moyes is saying that thiago was not a target at £15m then, WHY NOT?
NOMIDFIELD

NM

"So shall we not spend anything then and carry on as we are? "

No, when did I say that? I said I don't want to be like Real who spend ludicrous amounts of money for much less return, proportionally. How many ECL's did they win after buying all those world class star's?

I want United to continue being United. Last summer I was happy with the Kagawa and RvP signings and I think they were the difference in us winning the league back from City. I hope we make more quality signings like that this summer, particularly in CM.

Moyes never said thiago wasn't a target. All he said was that he never said he was a target. The question was is thiago still a target? He's not going to say yes or no is he. Fergie would of answered the question exactly the same.

12 Jul 2013 13:18:55
Irramendi signs for madrid.
Now this is there forth signing so far. And all the signings are all quality and all involved good money. They have improved squad in great manner.
Now if they. juventus. chelsea. city. all can conclude deals so easily with huge money, why can't united do it? Are we a big club only in our eyes only?
Or we are being too rigid and old fashioned qhen it comes to transfers?
Self realisation is very important at this stage now. that to vey quickly.

Rodio17

They bought Figo, Zidane, Beckham etc. etc. back in the day and still struggled to win trophies.

HB

Hb.
Point is conduct of transfer negotiation

Rodio17

Fair point Rodio,

I think what it boils down to is we have a relatively strict code of not paying much more than what we value a player at. Whereas the money teams are willing to do whatever it takes to get a player ahead of a rival. Whether that's right or wrong of us I think is a tricky debate. Sometimes we need to splash that little bit extra for a special player in a position we're lacking e. g. CM this summer. But it's a dangerous game to just be willing to overpay regularly IMO, we are self sufficient whereas many of the other teams you mentioned are not.

12 Jul 2013 13:13:36
If we don't get Thiago there is an upside. Nick Powell. Has everyone forgotten about him, he is going to be one of the best players in the EPL and is one of the reasons why we shouldn't be worried.

Not getting Thiago although disappointing could be a blessing in disguise as this lad will be given more opportunities in the next few years.

But saying that we do need a strong presence in the midfield, for me the perfect fit would be Luis Gustavo. He is a BEAST he's 26, may not be needed at Bayern as they have so much quality in midfield, great tackler, good passer a wicked strike and would give Carrick Licence to concentrate on doing what he's best at. And as he plays very differently to Powell wouldn't nececarilly get blocked.

J J

Comparing Powell with Thiago is like comparing Toyota with Ferrari.

12 Jul 2013 18:19:21
Thats abit unfair, Thiago is far better than a Toyota.

12 Jul 2013 12:56:52
Rumours are that Manchester utd are struggling to attract the big names due to the fact David Moyes has replaced Fergie. Missing out on Strootman and Thiago already and no sign of any big names being positively linked. Baines and Fellaini may arrive but will come at a hefty price with other possible destinations for the later. May be a long pre season for the United fans.

Well your name is 'in the know' so u must be right!
Utter tosh!
CTR

12 Jul 2013 12:41:24
Its all gone quiet on the Fabregas front
if we lose out with the thiago deal then
Cesc would be the ideal choice. He has
the same problems thiago has at Barca
and I would hope RVP would and could
make a deal happen if any questions
needed answering. I don't think Arsenal
would pay what he is on now but I am
pretty sure Utd would.

Didn't fabregas take a small pay cut to join barca?

12 Jul 2013 12:03:49
quick question. has anyone linked to the club actually mentioned the name thiago alcantara or is it all just rubbish made up by journos and forums

SAF and DM have both been after him
for 2 yrs. So when he said he wanted
to play more games or leave everyman
and his dog presumed he is coming to
Utd. Given a choice I would take fabregas

12 Jul 2013 10:53:52
Interesting to see some subtle differences already in management style and maybe club atmosphere between SAF and DM.

DM has already appeared on Talk Sport, which is something that I could never imagine SAF doing even at an early stage. I listened to the interview live with Alan Brazil and I thought DM was absolutely top-notch.

I also sense a slightly different atmosphere within the camp based on footage and images. I can't articulate it, but I sense that DM has been very well accepted by the players - and I'm not sure the "chosen one" would have been accepted quite so willingly. I also believe we have a more dynamic back-room team now, with attention being paid to the longer term succession planning with Giggs, Scholes and Neville involved.

There also appears to be more recognition from DM and those close to him that midfield is an issue - to my knowledge this was never acknowledged by SAF. I do also feel that we will see some rejuvenated bench-warmers. I'm excited to see how Nani, Anderson and even Rooney (because he's going nowhere in my opinion) will perform given the fresh start this gives them.

Of biggest concern is that I don't see DM being given more than two years despite the "we need stability" line. DM is taking over a completely different animal to the one SAF joined. Expectations in the corporate market are in a different universe, and these can only be maintained on the pitch. There's no hiding place, no excuse and no patient owners in place in my mind - they've never been truly tested in that sense since they purchased.

I think DM could turn out to be a major success at United. I had reservations, however everybody deserves an opportunity to show they can operate at a higher level, and I have 100% faith in DM. I like his style, his communication and what he's building. It may be that United have to be successful again on the pitch before the transfers that we want come.

That's just football for you. However, I think we have a gem of a manager and we should show patience, and enjoy a new, challenging and exciting period in the story of Man Utd.

Good post timbo! let's hope that we don't have to wait two years though!

12 Jul 2013 10:29:21
Oh we'll looks like Jose has started the mind games over Rooney, would anyone be happy with a Torres mata swap with some cash going the other way. andog

Yeah right, because Chelsea would sell Mata?

Would take Mata no problem :)

Unless Rooney really was training well ^^

12 Jul 2013 11:01:10
In his prime, Rooney has never had a hand in 56 goals! Now we know who'se better. Rooney + £20m and we'll start discussing the Mata. Even Lukaku was better than Rooney last season. We don't Rooney. U can keep your unhappy, unfit mercenery, we can't pay such ludicruos wages.

Only asking because we all thought Leeds would sell cantona didn't we. Andog

Really a Chelsea fan talking about mercenaries lol u got to laugh.
CTR

12 Jul 2013 09:57:14
Come on guys why the depression? We have missed out on Strootman in seemingly our eyes and not the clubs. He said no big team has come in for him and maybe there is a reason for that, maybe they just don't see him as being the player they need.

Thiago has that lure of Pep wanting him but for some reason I just can't see him going to Bayern, not if he is self respecting and wants game time. Bastien and Martinez are cemented to midfield there now and Goetze, Kroos and others will need game time. The most game time would of course be us so he needs to use his head. I still think he will come.

Garay has something holding his move up but this one will happen, too far into the move now.

Talk of Baines and Felliani coming in from Everton but I don't think they would sell both to one club, I want Baines at the right price and I think we will get him towards the end of the window but I don't want Fellaini. His image is wrong for a club of our stature, sure he will bring some steel but as a person I don't want him.

There are probably 3 players for every position at least that we want, the background team will be in contact with each player/ club but it is never that easy. I don't want us to throw £20m at Baines just so we have him, that is not our way and it is the part of clubs like City and Chelsea I don't like.

1redarmy

I would love banies thiago and falleni we need that steel like roy Keane and thiago like Scholesy

12 Jul 2013 09:49:53
According to catalan radio RAC1 bayern are close 2 finalising the deal for thiago

Sid

12 Jul 2013 08:16:19
Cant wait for the transfer to close. a lot of glory hunters moaning all the way to my keyboard
if you have a problem with Manchester United go support city or Chelsea. we may be slightly lacking in some departments but doesn't mean the world has come to an end.
By the way can't wait to see if Fabio has progressed well when he was on loan
all the way from Botswana (Slyfox)

12 Jul 2013 06:11:59
Please Ed/Eds can you give us an update on the Thiago saga? This page has become pointless.

Dan

12 Jul 2013 05:52:15
Rooney will be leaving United, the signs are there. Glum look on his face from those pictures on tour.
He has no injury, he just does not want to be there.

2 days before and Moyes is saying Rooney is in the best shape he has been in for some time and the next minute (just hours after arriving in Bangkok) he sustains an injury serious enough to send him home.

Moyes will have us believe next that elephants can fly.

United should just take the money and move on

12 Jul 2013 04:11:21
IF and that's a big if we don't get Thiago who would everyone like United to target and try and buy.
Personally I would like to see Marchisio and Vidal though I would doubt we could get them. Maybe Marchisio. Another player would be Matic who plays for benfica.

Special K

12 Jul 2013 03:27:37
Fair play to all. This has been an unusually perplexing period for the club and one cannot minimize the immediate, and hopefully temporary, effect of SAF's departure. You simply cannot. Easy as that.

That being said - for better or worse - under his former guidance United have become one of the most preeminent forces in all of global branding and it is nothing short of astounding that they seem to exercise this unbelievable degree of ignorant frugality and gamesmanship when they could simply do what it takes, cost be damned, to achieve the stated goals of winning trophies and thereby ensuring further spoils to continue to improve their squad along the lines of Bayern, Real, etc. These are the real-deal hegemons of global sport and, despite the wholesale rape of the club by the Glazers, we remain amongst this rare cabal. The fact persists that any good businessman spends money to make money. Sadly for the rest of us, global football audiences will be fickle and the well will run dry amidst the onslaught of the PSGs, Monacos, and Citys of the new football and before you know it we might just be Liverpool, proud but down. I am not suggesting some abandonment of principle in the face of a game that has been sold to the jackals of global capitalism, but rather an acknowledgement that, in some ways, this club has always punched above its weight through fortitude, integrity, and exceptional luck in managerial selection. An extraordinary period of winning coincided with a flurry of capitalist consolidation. Now more than ever is the moment to maximize this windfall that has befallen the club over the past few decades. Got to pull that trigger, son.

Windy City Red

11 Jul 2013 23:45:52
I know the summer isn't over yet, but it already appears to be an abysmal failure for the club. We have so much depth that all we needed to do was add two more starting quality players to the side. But we can't even do that. We've always struggled in transfer battles, and one worry I had with the DM appointment was that Manchester isn't attractive and SAF was the reason why top players would consider us, to work with the best manager. You think any foreign players give a sh|t about playing for David moyes? Another summer where I have trouble believing the claim that utd are the biggest club in the world, despite how many times those at the club say it. City, Chelsea, barca, Madrid and bayern have all improved. We haven't. And if you're not getting better you are getting worse. Or I'm just venting. -KG

Summer not over yet? You are right there it's July 12th, 12 days into the transfer window, maybe wait until end of August before you complain?

This site has been full of new posters for the last 24 hours, all of them moaning and groaning, thiago hasn't even signed for Bayern, if he had it would have been announced.

Also, if he doesn't sign then it's hardly the end of the world, people on this site have been coming up with alternative players for months and we did just win the league with the dreadful squad without thiago in it.

We need to improve to compete in the CL, and hold off improving City and Chelsea sides. I'm also not a new poster by a longshot. And a transfer window is useful in its entirety when you need depth, but if United want to sign the two guaranteed starting XI quality players that we need, they are limited and many of those that might fit the bill have already signed elsewhere or refused to move. And I stand by my concern about Moyes. I believe that there have been signings that have moved to OT that might not have if SAF wasn't there. Moyes doesn't attract players the same way a big European name like Mourinho, Guardiola, etc. If this was a summer where we we're on the same level of quality as the top team in Europe (we aren't) and buying young players with potential i'd be ok with patience, but with only a dozen or so players on the planet capable of improving our squad at CM and LW, it's a limited target list even before the top clubs start scooping up players, which almost all of our CL and PL rivals have done, often with world-class talent (Goetze, Neymar, Isco, etc).

Why is it that anytime a poster comes on here with less than 100% faith in the squad, they get shot to pieces by some. Critisizm is part of the improvement and development process.
Players Anderson nani cleverly and young are never going to be great, no matter how much you support the club or how much spin you want to put on it.
Is it a disaster that we don't get thiago, well, the answer is yes. He is one of the top three youngsters in his position in the world and united desperately need midfielders.
The sad thing is our goalkeeper, defence and central attack, is one of the best, if not the best in Europe. But we need two world class midfielders and a world class winger. And that will solve the problem. So let's hope we get thiago as a starter. And please stop crtisizing posters just because they dare question the club or its owners or its manager, last time I checked, they were all human and they all make mistakes, so the posters have a right to critisize if they don't think the club is going in the right direction.
Nomidfield

I'm with u KG. If any united fan was delighted and jumping for joy when Moyes was appointed, then I'll be surprised.
Since the appointment, he has done nothing to make me change my mind. And I agree, the top players want to play for top managers, you hear them say it all the time.
So, we can sit here all day long arguing about it, but the truth is that Moyes will never have the charisma or the pull that top managers have. As someone posted, he just looks like he's happy to be there. We need a manager to manage Manchester United, not some manager who has achieved nothing in 11 years.
We keep being told its only July, by the time united come back from this ridiculous money grabbing tour they're on, the season will be round the corner. City, Chelsea, and spurs have all strengthened, while the club and some of the eternally optimistic posters sit here and tell us, we are champions so we must have a great team. That's bull, cause while we were good last year, the competition was total crap. And that will not happen again this year.

I'm not against moyes at all. I will support him 100%, I will question him at times no doubt but I have faith that he will win us lots of trophies and one day maybe become a manager that players want to flock to but that day isn't today and with that in mind the club needs to support him by doing whatever is needed to make the squad the best in the world. That means not just saying that we're the biggest club in the world in every press release but getting the best players in the world even if its expensive. How many transfers this window have been more expensive than our club record?! I'm not saying we need to pay a lot for quality all the time (RVP/kagawa/vidic/evra, etc but a time like now when we don't need depth but just one or two world class players, you need to break the piggybank open and spend the money. -KG