Manchester United Banter Archive January 16 2014

16 Jan 2014 23:18:18
Ilkay Gundogan has stated that he will soon have a big decision to make after being heavily linked with us and recently Madrid

I believe we're in a good position to sign the lad! Fingers crossed boys

Think he will move to RM unfortunately.

Possibly, but ever since rvp moved from arsenal I won't rule anything out

So Madrid want Gundogan? They already have Khedira, Alonso, Bale, Di Maria, Modric etc They will also want Koke, Vidal, Pogba and Reus? How about we see if Arsenal get Draxler and make a cheeky bid on Ramsey or Wilshere?

They also have Icso, illaramendi, alonso

He's going to Madrid to play along with the best player of the world.

I believe he will end up with us if we make a proper bid.

16 Jan 2014 21:38:14
Having been skeptical all window in regards to possible signings I'm suddenly expecting something big to happen in the way of transfers. The sheer number of games we're sending scouts to this week can realistically mean one of two things. Either we're about to put in a few big bids or we're intentionally scouting to make it look like we're about to put in some big bids. For some reason I'm leaning towards the former.

I think we will sign Coentrao and either Vidal or Matuidi in the next seven days. Maybe Garay too (although from what I have been told he wants to wait until after the World Cup before making any decisions on his future).

I wouldn't count on much activity in January.

They only thing big to come out of all these scouting trips will be the bill for airfares and hotels

16 Jan 2014 20:39:26
Press are reporting we've been offered the chance to sign Inter's left back Yuto Nagatomo.

Awful player, far too weak for the serie a let alone the premier league

Granted he's not the most physical of players, but he's already scored 5 & assisted 3 in the Serie A this season. You call that awful?

Red spark,

If we judge our full backs on goals and assists evra has been miles ahead of Rafael for the last 2 years. Still think we should?

He can cover either left or right back. With Evra, Fabio & Buttner all reportedly on their way out we'll still be short staffed even if we get hold of Sandro or Shaw. Unless of course you think Smalling can cover both full back positions ;-)

16 Jan 2014 18:55:06
I am going to be honest, my post the other day about Pogba, vidal and one other may have been a little rash as its come to light now that we are once again shaping up for a quiet window. the source many of you were asking was Irwin, as I met him during an awards night at the wolves academy. (gospel truth) we were chatting and he said if you want concrete then look no further than pogba and vidal. looks like once again he was wrong. Would any of the eds been inclined to agree there will be no signings this window?

I don't believe anything that former players say, or rather, former players who are still on the payroll in some manner or other.

Irwin's just going to say whatever makes the club/owners look good.

16 Jan 2014 17:55:41
Ed if your around, with the imminent departures of nani and Anderson or so we hear does it mean we are more likely to sign a couple of players this month?

{Ed002's Note - The club is doing what it can.}

16 Jan 2014 17:35:08
This is something of a rhetorical question but which of you would not swap our situation with that of City, Chelsea, PSG or Monaco, where the owners are prepared to pump hundreds of millions into the club, rather than squeeze it out in financing costs? Or a Real Madrid, Barcelona, or a non-debt burdened Bayern Munich?

As critical as we may be of those who are trying to buy success, I find it hard to believe there's more than a handful of United supporters who wouldn't be delighted to sell their souls to some moneybags investor with a few billion burning a hole in his pocket, to be in a situation where we could simply buy the best.

Peashooter to be honest I wouldn't mind a moneybags owner as long as they cleared the debt and ran the club on its profits to stay within ffp. The only issue is when they spend so much that the club alone cannot finance the expenditure should the owner leave. There are obviously two teams in the PL that probably wouldn't be where they are now without considerable owner investment(which is obviously perfectly acceptable and been the norm, albeit at lower investment levels). That said city and Chelsea owners have built both clubs up to a level that I believe more or less are acceptable for ffp.

I do wish we were more willing to spend, but the beauty of our club is that we do it differently and the proper way. We try not to waste money, but when we are sure of a player we should invest more.

Tries not to waste money, buys felaini for 28 million when he had a buy out clause of 24 million.

I'd love a billionaire owner provided they were prepared to wait for their teams to gel. The situation at City has been embarrassing at times - in that they've spent silly money on players who simply weren't good enough to achieve their goals before selling them / letting them go at massive losses. I appreciate that they needed to build up their team to a level that would allow them the chance to attract the very best - but there is a limit.

De Jong, Robinho, Tevez, Santa Cruz, Kolo Toure, Adebayor, Balotelli and Jo cost them £175m. They were sold for a total of £55.5m (not to mention the money they're still paying out for Adebayor and the stupid amount spent on the wages of the aforementioned players during their time at the club). No matter which way you look at it - that's a joke. I'd NEVER want to see our club become like that!

I'm all for us getting owners who care about the team. Because that's why we love united. Not for the million sponsorship deals they're signing.
If we are talking about wasted money, let's not forget we've had our own disasters, nani, young, Anderson, tosic, obertan, bebe, bellion, buttner. And the jury is still out on fellaini.
We want to see the best here and that costs money.
The difference is if we do get bought by a rich man/woman, then united will actually give them return on their investment as we are one of the biggest sports brands around, unlike city, Chelsea, PSG etc.

Point taken NM - but as of the moment all of the players you mention are still at the club with the exception of Bellion (Maximum of £2m loss as the amount we sold for seems to be undisclosed everywhere I can think to look), Obertan (bought and sold for £3m) and Tosic (who I believe we made a £1-2m profit on).

We'll lose about £20m when Nani and Ando leave, another £10m on Young and no more than £6m on Buttner and Bebe. That's £36-37m lost over a longer period. A lot more than City's £125m. We could let DDG, Rooney, Fellaini and Kagawa leave on free transfers tomorrow and still have lost less on transfers.

You forget that we've also made decent profits from players who didn't work out in the past (£6m each on Rossi and Pique and a cool £12m for Obi Mikel).

16 Jan 2014 17:03:37
Once again we are getting our hopes up over a big signing Vidal, we are going to be disappointed, with excuses to follow, difficult to get him at this time, they want too much money, players aren't available. Then in the summer watch them sign for someone else for big money, and oh its a world cup year, players don't want to move they want to concentrate on their national team and world cup.
He is a joke and another transfer shambles.
Identify your targets and be ready to move as soon as the window opens not halway through it ffs!

Bad day at work?

16 Jan 2014 16:45:51
I feel that people who think that we could get BOTH Reus and Gundogan have very short memories.

Both the mentioned players play for Dortmund, that's the same Dortmund who have allowed Lewandowski to run his contract down rather than face losing both Lewandowski and Goetze in the same window. They have lost Kagawa, Gotze and come the summer Lewandowski in three years.

Now they have us and Madrid after Gundogan, us and City after Reus and Barca sniffing around Hummels. If they were to lose all three then they would have lost half a team in the space of three summers. I really can't see them allowing that to happen, especially after the way they have handled Lewandowski.

Now Hummels is probably least likely to leave, as Barca are unlikely to pay the asking price, especially for a defender. besides they also have other targets in mind.

Which means that it comes down to whether Gundogan or Reus will leave this summer. Really the power is with Reus, if he wants to leave then someone will match his buy out clause and he'll leave, if he doesn't want to leave then he'll agree a new deal with Dortmund and get a higher wage with his "clause" either being written out or significantly increased.

If this happens then Gundogan will be allowed to leave, but if Reus leaves then don't be suprised to see then make Gundogan play out his final year then leave in 2015 on a free.

I expect the most likely scenario is Reus will get a pay rise and his clause removed/increased(if its increased it'll probably not kick in until the summer of 2015 at the earilest). Then we will battle it out with Madrid for Gundogan and likely lose(definately lose if we don't have UCL football to offer him).

So I doubt we'll see either, but at the very best we'll only get one of them. Personally i'd rather get Reus than Gundogan, I rate Gundogan very highly but I think Reus would ultimately win us more games, and there are other options for midfield. Where as Reus is probably the best options for a wide attack minded player.

Shappy but we have a bargaining chip in the form of Kagawa.

Gundogan wants to go and Reus has a release clause like Gotze all be it lower. So it's not really in Dortmund's hands.

16 Jan 2014 19:10:29
Fresh, Lewandowski wanted to leave but Dortmund still made him play out his final year. There is no reason why they wouldn't do the same with Gundogan in the scenario that Reus leaves in a similar way to that of Goetze last summer.

Dortmund have never let two star players leave in one window even if it ment cutting their nose off to spite their face as in the case with Lewandowski. So why do we expect them to let two leave this summer?

Imo the only way it could happen is if Klopp left and they needed to raise funds for the new manager to buy who he wanted and those players went part of his long term plan.

Shappy, that's because Lew was going to Bayern (rival) and Bayern offered Dortmund peanuts for him. They also didn't like the way they snooped around convincing Goetze to join them.

Surely if we were clever enough we could get Gundogan first and then meet Reus's release clause after? Seems somewhat logical?

Suppose we'd have to act quick with those teams sniffing around though

16 Jan 2014 21:34:22
Syd, they turned down all offers for Lewandowski. They could have accepted an offer from someone else but they didn't want to lose two stars in one window. In the end by not taking one of the other bids they still lost him to Bayern.

Shappy, it was Lew who turned down moves elsewhere. They knew he wanted the Bayern move.

Shappy - Lewandowski only wanted to go to Bayern. I'm not entirely sure there were any other offers but even if there had been the club had been informed by the player and his agent that Bayern was the only club he wanted to play for.

Shappy

I think Lewandowski only had Bayern in mind.

17 Jan 2014 09:32:24
I think you'll find that Dortmund were approached by several clubs including PSG and Real Madrid, but were told by Dortmund that they had no intention of selling.

I've been told that Madrid were prepared to go big to get Lewandowski, but that Dortmund wouldn't even listen to their offer.

Dortmund didn't want to lose two key players in one window, so they point blank refused to sell to anyone.

Apparently Lewandowski took it very badly when he found out Dortmund wouldn't consider Madrids offer, so I wouldn't be so sure that he only had eyes for Bayern.

Either way Dortmund have history for prefering to allow a player to leave on a free rather than lose two key players in one window. And seeing how they have struggled this season compared to last season I can't see them letting two star players leave this summer thus moving them even further away from Bayern. When you consider that they will already have to replace Lewandowski, they won't want to have to replace THREE key mambers of their team or they might as well right off their title challenge for next season before september.

16 Jan 2014 14:58:01
It really would be fantastic for the club to surprise all and pull of the signings for Coentrao, Garay, Gundogan, Vidal and Reus. That's probably £150 million worth of talent but I think that's the sort of investment we need if I am being perfectly honest.

Sounds a bit like trying to buy the league but I forgot that only apply stop Chelsea or City

CFC, the difference is MU would be using their own money, money that they have generated via revenue streams. Not money from our owners personal bank account. It's not how much you spend, it's where the money has come from.

The difference being, CFC, we try to balance spending, with bringing through our own young players.

Anyway, this figure has just been plucked out of the sky, and if we do spend that sort of money, it will not all be in one go, I can assure you.

Clapham football club CFC? even if we spent £150m and you spent nothing, er oops too late you already spent £25m, we'd still be over £100m less than you over the last 5 years. You didn't have to replace players of the quality of Scholes and Giggs either (you never had any that good). Yes we know here we need to spend, many of us believe it should have started 2 or 3 years ago.

Using the club's own funds to fund the purchase of players is the norm. It's what all clubs do and what they have done from the beginning of time. Whether it's £15m of the club's money or £150m of the club's money it's irrelevant as the club is using it's own cash to improve the squad.

A club that "buys the league" is a club that uses money from outside the club. Money that the club have not generated themselves through revenue streams. For example, the £1,000,000,000+ that Roman has pumped into the club or a similar amount the Sheikh's have pumped into City.

Arsenal, MU, Spurs are all self sufficient football clubs. They live within their means. Liverpool, Chelsea & City rely on their owner/s for money. That is buying or trying to buy success.

Financially, we could afford to spend that amount of money if you look at the accounts. That would be without any more borrowing, it's perfectly acceptable.

I don't have a problem with the sugar daddy clubs, if they have owners that are happy to put there own money in then good on them . Shame theglazers won't.
surely putting money in is better than taking out .
Also Munich have proved that a well run club with good owners and the right ambition can still compete at the very top

Personally I would hate to be bankrolled by a billionaire as for me it taints your success. Equally I hate money coming out of the club unnecessarily like on interest payments. I would like the club to run itself. That's my opinion, others will differ.

Sydney! What are you talking about? Liverpool are doing everything possible to fit in with financial fare play! We have revenues coming in from all over yhe place, we have the warrior shirt deals, stsmdard chartered sponsorship, and we have just today announced a deal with dunkin donuts! What the deal is worth I don't kbow but to harp on about liverpool trying to buy success is rediculous mate! Your forever sticking the knife in liverpool and there is no need! There is nobody spent more money on transfers than what yourselves did during the fergie era, flittering away momey on the likes of veron, ferdinand, rooney and the rest! Give it a rest!

Ian the red

{Ed002's Note - Liverpool are one of only two EPL clubs that have failed to meet the FFP criteria for each of the three years where data has been gathered. The income of the club is far, far less than the likes of Manchester United - regardless of Dunkin' Donuts becoming the foodstuffs partner to the manager.}

Ian, Manchester United spend Manchester United's money. There is nothing wrong with that. If spending your own money was "buying success" then every professional club is trying to buy success aren't they? Chelsea, City and Liverpool would not be where they are today without their owners piling in their personal cash.

I do not blame fans of City, Chelsea & Liverpool for being happy with being bankrolled by their owner/s. Especially when the alternative was going into administration. But personally I would be disappointed if MU were bankrolled by an owner, I would like MU to run itself. A debt-free MU would make £100m-£200m profits every season.

Thank God we did not get a deal with Dunkin doughnuts, we'd never have got rid of Anderson.

I think some United fans should look up the name 'James W Gibson' and learn a thing or two about their own club's history.

Without his (own) money, United would quite possibly not exist as a league club today.

I like Anderson, but that really made me chuckle, Grund :)

Ed! Where in my post does it say that we fit in with financial fair play? I said we are trying everything possible to fit in with ffp! Slight difference there wouldn't you think? And also, I feel you have a personal agenda against liverpool and brendan rodgers and the fans to the point where you brandished a manchester united supporter as sounding like a liverpool fan! A litle laugh at the expense of scousers I presume? for what reason I have no clue, possibly due to the endless drivel you have to put up with on a daily basis from the liverpool site, but I don't feel my post warranted the kind of sarcasm that it received! I merely responded to the constant attacks made by sidney about liverpool, which I have to say happens now on a continual basis, probably because the great empire is crumbling around him and he can't face the fact that his prediction of manchester united finishing a whole 25 points infront of us isn't going to happen! This is not a rant or abuse, this is just an observation, no more, no less! Thank you for your time!

Ian the red

{Ed002's Note - Liverpool has knowingly gone well beyond any compliance with the FFP rules since they were first mooted. The club knows that in the longer term this cannot continue, but a great deal of money has been wasted in an attempt to regain Champions League football. It is hardly any sort of agenda against Liverpool, it is simply the truth. You need to suck it up and move on.}

16 Jan 2014 14:45:42
how would you guys feel if moyes were to sign draxler?

Happy but would still feel that the money could of been used on Reus.

Surprised. Very surprised.

Do you mean if Manchester United were to sign Julian Draxler

To be honest, nobody here would be unhappy, but imo he is not something we need. Too risky for the money quoted as well

Moyes wouldn't be sure he would be up to playing in the premier league and would be prepared to pay that sum, let's wait and see what we think in the summer, after he has signed for someone else!

16 Jan 2014 12:44:12
Question for the posters, and Ed004.

If you could choose between Gundogan and Vidal to bring to the club, who would it be?

We need a dynamic ball winner, a physical specimen who can dominate opponents, but we also need a pace setter, someone who can dominate possession and create chances. These 2 are probably the most accomplished in those roles.

But in my opinion, as much as a Yaya Toure or a Vidal are important for a team, I can't see beyond a Scholes or a Xavi. The central playmaker is the most important part of a team.

And despite the fact that Vidal is better than Gundogan as an overall player, I'd rather have the later in my team.

But now, after a long term injury, Gundogan presents a bit of a risk so I honestly have no clue which one I'd rather have.

{Ed004's Note - Ideally both. Thought ATM Vidal}

Vidal no question. Probably worth 1- t0 15 million more than gundogan if a deal can ever get done.

@Ed004

Agreed about Gundogan and Vidal. Vidal is more experienced and currently nearing or perhaps at his peak.

I would also be happy with Koke and Vidal, if Gundogan is moving to Real Madrid.

I think Reus is a must buy for the summer. We seriously need some pace and creativity from the wingers, Januzaj is the only one who creates right now. Di Maria could be a second option which we could look at if Reus fails.

Left back is a position that worries me as far as targets are concerned. Coentrao is ok but not great. Sandro is the same. Baines is a top player but due to his age and price should not be looked at. That leaves us with Shaw and Moreno and I would prefer Shaw, but he is most likely to join Chelsea. Kind of explains why Moyes was so adamant on Baines in the summer. The other editor is suggesting that Filipe Luis could be an option, good defender not particularly great attacker, but I could live with that.

For defense Garay could be an option. Mangala will be very expensive. Although if he is a Mendes client anything is possible.

So ideally I would like to see Rvp up top, with Reus, Rooney, Januzaj playing in behind with Vidal and Koke/Gundogan being the midfielders playing behind them.

Even if we don't sign Koke/Gundogan that is still a good team with Carrick in it or even Jones/Fellaini/Fletcher/Cleverley.

Its not controlling games imo but breaking them open is where we have been struggling and Reus, Vidal and Garay allowing us to play a high line, would allow us to be play a high tempo. From what the scouting is supposed to have been, this is the way which I think Moyes wants us to play. Full backs providing width and inverted wingers who could always switch to stretch the game.

So Vidal, Reus, Garay, left back signed by september 2014 i'l be happy . If Koke/Gundogan are added to that then it would be phenomenal. Something tells me that one of Real's midfielders might leave and perhaps even Cesc if he sees that he isn't the Xavi replacement and maybe we will open that can of worms again if we are desperate.

{Ed004's Note - I agree I'd be delighted with that. However, what if Rooney does not sign a new deal? I would consider selling him and hope PSG or Monaco where interested. I just think a fluid line of Di Maria, Kagawa, Reus would be better than the one you mentioned. I'm in agreement with the rest of your team. Signing Gundogan and Vidal would be my dream midfield and I'd love Mangala but would settler or Garay and as long as as one of the left backs mentioned is signed I'd be happy. That's why I'm hoping 2 or so players are signed this window as that is a lot of signings for one window}

@Ed004

If we are to make these sort of summer signings I doubt Rooney would move anywhere. Also I don't think there is sufficient interest in him from the continent and I highly doubt the club would let him go to Chelsea, Spurs or Arsenal. Can't see him moving to PSG or Monaco personally but who knows.

I like Kagawa, but only in Europe. There are just far too many games in the EPL imo where he will be ineffective. If Rooney goes we need a striker or perhaps somebody like a Fabregas who can play behind the striker and is well accustomed to the physicality of the EPL.

If we sign Reus, no need for Di Maria imo. We need to trust Januzaj, he has been phenomenal up until now and give Lingard a chance too. Powell will be coming back as well.

Left back is the only position really that worries me a lot since there I only see Shaw as a quality option who ticks all boxes, something which Moyes is insistent upon.

I think Moyes wants a smaller, but better quality squad of 19-20 players and cut out the deadwood.

004, I mean this in a nice way, but I think you may be setting yourself up for a disappointing window. I do not think we will sign either of Gundogan or Vidal. I hope I am wrong, but I just cannot see either happening.

{Ed004's Note - I agree 100% syd I can't see that happening either. I reckon we will see 3 signings over next two windows and I reckon no more than 60 million. I'd guess Garay, Coentrao and a surprise or unknown midfielder like Banega}

004, I think we will sign maybe 5-6 players in the two windows, but I think Gundogan and Vidal maybe out of reach for us. I hope I am wrong though.

Sydney

You should have more faith in us signing some of the names being mentioned :)

Sorry Shahram, but I do not see either signing for us. I do not believe we will go the extra mile for Vidal and I think Gundogan is a cert for RM.

Ed004, I've always thought signing Di Maria would be a step in the right direction, since it means we're moving towards playing with inverted wingers who can do more than just run and cross, but Januzaj's performances on the right this season showed we have our very own inverted right winger. Reus/Draxler would be a much better purchase imo

16 Jan 2014 09:32:51
If Spurs are willing to sell Capoue for 12 million Euros, would it represent a good deal to move for him? We don't always need a true defensive midfielder so splashing out on one would be a waste of money (unless we could get Matuidi for cheap). I think it could be something that's worth looking at.

16 Jan 2014 13:02:07
Good Shout, I too would look at him.

16 Jan 2014 08:00:58
I reckon we should go for lallana now that the club seems to be in a bit of turmoil he might be more eager to move than he was he would be really good on the left or right of a 3 behind a striker januzaj kagawa lallana behind rvp then we would just need vidal to go with fellaini or carrick and are midfield would be very good.

Really like Lallana, but if we signed him I worry that we wouldn't go for someone like Reus in the summer.

I'm sorry but I really don't see what the fuss is about with lallana? Can someone explain to me how he is much better than what we have who can play left? I think he's an average player personally.

Lallana is a good player Supersub and has the talent to become a very special player if he came to united and developed.
I think 20 million would get him, he would a a superb addition to the team.

Supasub, Januzaj won't play every game yet. Kagawa is clearly not effective on the left. Welbeck has been tried there but is never going to be a winger. Our only other option is that Ashley Young fella. Less said there the better. Foe that its worth, I do think Lallana is a very good player, and could flourish at a bid club. I know we all want superstars in every position, but I don't think that will happen. If we can get players of the calibre being talked about ie Gundogan and Vidal that is fantastic. But the outlay on players like that will probably mean we may have to look at slightly cheaper options in other positions, which I think is realistic. I think Lallana is a very good player who would fall into that category.

For the money being quoted for lallana I'd rather have Morrison for half that and stick him out left when needed. He'd have a period of time where he'd have extra impetuous (in theory) to prove himself.

16 Jan 2014 01:36:56
We all need a wake up call our beloved united is gone for some time and will take time to get back to the top, our chairman is clueless in the transfer market and I'm afraid so is the manager there was players lined up to come in and he ignored them and also ignored some of the best coaches we had and brought in his own coaches who are military style they contibuated to van Persie injury, and as for our players who's got the heart of Roy keane and the brain and skill is scholes not there lads and that's a big problem we need heart and spirit, half the team I worried about contracts and money and the other half simply not good enough to play for united, whatever team u have need a Roy keane in the middle we don't have a leader and we badly need one

Its midnight here in Atlanta. Its time to go to bed and I definitely won't be needing a wake up call.

Blimey Leahy, you ever heard of full stops? Not sure I accept the Keane issue. He left, Carrick came in, and we won the league 3 years on the trot. Schles is a fair point, bringing him out of retirement smacked of not planning properly. We will never truly know how our midfield got into such a state. As for Woodward and Moyes, let's give them a chance

There are way too many fans coming out with this rubbish. I think most fans are fully aware we are in a transition, we do not need a wake up call. If you want to be pessimistic about our situation then that is entirely up to you but don't tell us what we 'need' to do.

We are fans of the greatest football team in the world, 6 bad months does not mean the whole world has fallen in like some would have you believe. It is like some people are listening to what fans of other clubs are telling us, why not have some pride about the team we all love?

16 Jan 2014 08:03:23
I don't wanna be negative early on. But we are pretty much in a bad shape now.
I don't see us getting a result at chelsea, and with Moyes Risking Rooney, I could see him missing rest of the seaosn.

Leahy has a point and I think he is feeling like the rest of us. When you look at the likes of City, chelsea and arsenal in this country alone, you realise that we have allowed the team to stagnate through poor investment and some awful purchases.
But all is not lost, if the money is there (and I am not one of those who believe it is), then it is time for our club to stand up and be counted. Two top midfield signings and a left back, together with promotion of our youngsters, will solve most of the issues.
I am astounded we have not brought Coentrao in, I am also surprised that we have not brought in at least one midfielder. Fernando is available, and he will instantly improve us defensively and offensively.
But if there is any truth in the rumours we are chasing Vidal or pogba or any of the other top players, then let's make our intentions clear and go out and get them. As someone posted on here few days ago, £20m a year spent on players for a club with revenues of over £400m, quite frankly, is pathetic and insulting to the fans.
Many have come on here and slagged city, but they have owners who actually care about the football side of the club, and through that, they are expanding the club image. Our owners do it in exactly the opposite way, they go around selling our name and reap the benefits, and the football side is secondary. Before I get posts saying go support city, I am only pointing this out as I am deeply passionate about United (my wife will vouch for that one). We need the owners to have the same ambitions on the football pitch as they have towards their sponsorship deals. Sadly, as I have said previously, "soccer" as they call it, does not run in their blood, no one can make them like it, understand it, or feel as we do towards it. And I think that will not change while they're in control.

AJH

Please tell me you are not even comparing Michael Carrick to Roy Keane?

"My wife will vouch for that one"

Thanks, NM. I'm now stuck with the mental image of you doing a 'David Mellor', except in a Utd top.

We also have a nightmare prospect of city still being in all 4 competitions/trophys and with the squad they have and the way they are scoring freely at the moment it could happen.i will never be able to go outside or to work ever again lol

John, the UCL will be difficult for them. perhaps their only stumbling block.

Syd I hate to say it but I think they will turn barcelona over, they don't seem the same team at the moment teams don't seem as scared of them.

John, it's possible and I expect a high scoring tie, but I think Bayern will be too good for City over to legs. I can see them meeting them in the Semis.

16 Jan 2014 00:26:27
what are everyones thoughtson moyes biding for hamsik?

Personally I think he would be quality.

A goalscoring creative CAM who doesn't mind a bit of physical play. Hopefully moyes puts a bid in and doesn't fanny about with it.

Would be a good signing. Can't see him coming cheap (just look how much they sold Cavani for) nor do I imagine Rafa will be keen to see him go to United.

16 Jan 2014 08:04:54
No ways Napoli would let him go, He has been influential for them and being the captain, I doubt this move and moreover, Napoli would demand a very high fees. remember Cavani?

I've said this before he would be a great signing

Great all-round midfielder. After Vidal, he would be my choice, even ahead of Gundogan.

Vidal > Gundogan > Hamsik.

I was thinking about Hamsik in the summer and as a few posters around here pointed out, Napoli do not like to sell, he'd probably cost more than Vidal!