Manchester United Banter Archive December 19 2012

 

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19 Dec 2012 21:54:30
Just to add to the manager debate could pep recreate that Barcelona style at an other club
Could any other club play like that or do you need players of the quality of xavi inesta messi
For me it's great football but would it work as well with out the cutting edge of messi who turns all that possession in to goals
Jred

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I don't think so mate and he has not displayed any capability to manage a team any other way so just because of that I have him a distant 5th choice behind Jose, Blanc, Klopp and Loew.

Jono

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I wouldn't want him to replicate the exact style of football. Towards the end of Guardiola's time at the club, even though they were still winning, clubs had started to find ways to keep them out. When faced with 10 men all behind the ball they started to struggle to break them down as they didn't know how to be direct. This season under Vilanova they have been mixing it up a bit more.

TK-Red

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A club Pep takes over does not have to play exactly the same way as Barcelona, all they have to do is keep possession and close down well off the ball. The rest of the football will take care of itself.

Sydney!

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Any of the managers being discussed are all capable and it is silly to believe they would dump players when not warranted.

The future core of the team, Smalling, Jones, Rafael, Cleverly,Powell, Welbeck(maybe) and hopefully a few from the academy will be good for any manager.

What will change is what should have been done some time ago which is bringing in a few quality midfielders, A new centre back if Evans is deemed not good enough and upfront with Rooney and RVP closing in on their 30's, some younger world class strikers in a few years.

I also think the reason, we did not buy a established left back might have to with the fact that say sees Fabio as long term solution with buttner as back up.


Shahram

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There is no debate guys- its Jose all the way- least thats whats going rd at ot and from nxt season- not really a surprise is it.

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19 Dec 2012 21:28:12
I pop on this site every so often an scroll down the page an I always see Sydneys comment like everywhere an iv gotta ask bro do you work or is it a desk job your always on ....... Ps always enjoy the comments ...

CAIN

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I work early mornings. Not many hours 6am-9am, but must take advantage of the tax credits while my kids are young. Will have to get a proper job in 15 years ;)

Sydney!

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Classic reply, why do some people want to know your personal life Syd? are you famous?

-JakeW

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Sydney, the most famous milkman in the north west!

GDS

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Mini-Celebrity of the year award...

Sydney!! :L

ALDUtd

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You're a paper boy aren't you Syd?

AJH

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My job is to deliver milk to all of the milkmen. While they are out delivering other people's milk, I deliver theirs, I am only famous with their missus' ;)

Sydney!

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19 Dec 2012 21:18:13
Mario Gotze, 11 goals already this season and he is shaping into a fantastic player. Would be interesting to see how we do against Dortmund!


Red Samurai

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19 Dec 2012 21:11:19
Real Madrid now leading the race to sign Celtics wanyama with Barca showing strong interest also according to reports in spain. Looks like there is going to be a huge bidding war for him...

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19 Dec 2012 18:08:49
Reading down the site i still see people saying we need this person that person!

Lets get it right no doubt we wont sign anyone in january !

Also the squad now is good enough for prem , you can argue we need a midfeilder but anderson kagawa carrick cleverly and fletcher is enough to last us until the summer!

As for nani he will be sold and he will promote some one from youth or reserves to cover alongside with powell!]

Big V

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19 Dec 2012 18:02:40
i must admit the martin kelly thing made me chuckle but then it made me think. So my question is: if you could sign any player from liverpool who would it be and why?

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Honestly wouldn't be fussed on any of them, regardless of the rivalry. Suarez is obviously a talent but he suffers from being such an nobjockey, plus we already have Rooney/RVP up front.

I would probably take Sterling & Suso just to see how they could turn out at a top club, and just to see how poor Liverpool end up without them!

Gav

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Sterling. No question. Young, talented and a replacement for Nani.
Nov00

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19 Dec 2012 18:56:03
suarez
a front 3 of rooney rvp & suarez would be mouth watering

vishu red devil

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Andy Carroll. He could play the donkey in the club Christmas nativity then I'd get rid.

FHS

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19 Dec 2012 17:55:17
"Jono, Balotelli was already playing in the Inter senior side when Jose took over and was pretty much forced to play him by Moratti, much to Jose's dislike. Jose has little say in who RM buys as that is Perez' job. "

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Sydney, that's where you're wrong. Jose does have a say in who RM buy, he - like other managers didn't - but he wrestled with Perez and the other bloke whos name it would be brilliant to remember.

Mourinho threatened to walk out, something Perez couldn't risk, with this being his best chance of seeing the title vs the current Barca team.

Do you think Perez wanted Essien? I definately don't think so, mourinho did.

Mourinho now has as much control at RM as he did at PFC, CFC and IM.

MPez

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Maybe because eseien was a free transfer but still a big name so sort of fits RMs style of signings......

CAIN

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Jorge Valdano, MPez....

G.A.G.U.S

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I don't think Modric is a Mourinho signing MPez mate. Essien for free maybe? Jose may have an input from this summer onwards, but personally I doubt it very much.

Sydney!

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Carvalho with mourhino at porto chelsea and Madrid

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Do you think he had a say in Khedira, Oezil, Sahin, Callejon, Canales, Varane, Modric? I am sure he will float some ideas to the board, but I have my doubts that he has the final decision so to speak.

Sydney!

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He talked up both khedira and oezil before he bought them not sure about the others
Jred

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Why wouldn't he? He knew the club were signing them.

What a difference them pair would have made to our team hey Jred?

Sydney!

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Syd
Very true
Jred

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19 Dec 2012 17:15:37
Manchester United agreed a fee to sign Oxford United youngster James Roberts who is the top scorer in the youth team. Playing tonight in the FA Youth Cup vs Barnsley

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19 Dec 2012 17:17:44
Anyone know if anderson is on the bench on sunday?

also is kagawa in line for an appearance?

I want jones and cleverly to play again to keep their run going!

going for a 5-1

Big V

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19 Dec 2012 16:58:15
Arsenal contract talks for Ramsey have broken down, Fergie to make a move and play him in a dream midfield alongside Cleverley and the inform Anderson.

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You are kidding me he only plays for Arsenal to cover for injuries he is average at best
ARB

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No, Ramsey has just signed a new contract. Who told you talks had broken down?
Nov00

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He might have been told talks are over and misinterpreted :D
Jonny8

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19 Dec 2012 16:38:21
Hi Guys

Check out the torygraph; good article on SAF comments to Harvard group.

SAF - the greatest ever.

Mike

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Enjoyed the article, love getting any little insight into the brain of the great one!

I like what he said about telling people what mistakes they made straight after the match. He says that nobody likes critisism but needs to tell the player's straight away so they can move on to thinking about the next match ASAP. I know some managers wait til the Monday for fear of crushing players' confidence but I love the way he instills such a business like ethic into the squad. You can tell the players understand his way and really buy into his winning mentality, and if they don't then theres only one route for them!

Gav

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19 Dec 2012 15:37:59
Question for Sydney. Assuming that Ronaldo leaves Madrid, which is apparently likely do you really see him leaving to anywhere but us? He wouldn't betray us and go to City, PSG are part of an appauling standard of League so he'd get no individual recognition. He wouldn't go to a corrupt League like Italy and he'd hate the weather in Russia as well as it being a poor League.

I really do see us being his only destination (if he leaves).

Fresh!

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I imagine the clubs interested in Ronaldo if he became available that could possibly afford him would be us, Chelsea, City, PSG & Anzhi. I think China, MLS or Middle East is too early at 28. I would say there is a better chance of him joining PSG, City or staying at RM than him joining us. We would never spend £75m on him and you would be a fool to think otherwise. We could cope with his salary if he agreed to compromise, but spending £75m on one player when we need 3-4 more just wouldn't happen.

Sydney!

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Are you deluded of course he would go to PSG who will make him the highest paid player in the world

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So you know what Ronaldo thinks about other leagues do you?

Personally I believe he'll stay in Madrid.
I don't think he's ever going to return to United in a playing capacity.

The standard of the French league has been pretty decent the last few years, over the past 10 years they're had teams in the latter stages of the UCL pretty much every year.

Just looking at the french league alone you've got players like; Sirigu, Alex, Silva, Pastore, Ibrahimovic, Lavezzi, Jordan Ayew, Andre Ayew, Remy, Debuchy, M'vila, M'bia, Sow, Kalou. last year they had Giroud, Hazard, Lloris etc.

And in the recent past they've produced talent like Benzema, Ben Arfa, Lloris, Mexes, and so on.

your views on the French league are a bit like most peoples on the Brazilian league, people think it's all fancy flicks and step overs when in fact it's the closest thing to English football outside of Europe.

As for Italy, it can be as corrupt as it likes but it still has some of the best players in the world.

Isn't his girlfriend Russian? I think if she wanted to move back and he wanted to leave Madrid then he'd take it into serious consideration.

It's not all about playing football anymore, he has a family to look out for, he needs to decide where is the best place to bring his son up.

As I said, I think he'll stay in Madrid, failing that I think he'll either go to the states or somewhere like PSG, Zenit, Anzhi, etc. - Somewhere that'll offer him a few million.

One thing is for sure though, he will NEVER be back playing in a United shirt.

I think some people believe he loves United like Giggs and Scholes do. Or the way that Henry loves Arsenal, Drogba & chelsea, etc. However I think he's greatful for his time at the club that made him a superstar and that's as far as it goes.

Similar to Ronaldinho and PSG, Cesc and Arsenal, Hazard and Lille, etc.

The Moon.

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He may not have much choice. IF he leaves Madrid and we are willing to pay the money for him then, yes, we would probably be his first choice but if he leaves Madrid and SAF decides that it isn't a prudent move then Ronaldo will have no choice but to go elsewhere. He will be well aware of this and has no doubt already considered where is the best for his career.

TK-Red

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Fresh

He will go where the money is, don't kid youself.
Ronaldo will want top dollar as this will be his last major contract.
Even though he loved his time at United he will sign for which ever team coughs up the money.

Simmo

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I always thought a move to City was a possibility. I would say him staying at RM or moving to PSG is more likely. City have Silva and Aguero who would interest RM. Aguero would also free-up £300k a week for Ronaldo. Even Tevez and his £250k a week could be used to get RM to part with Ronaldo. So wages wouldn't be a problem and City could easily spend £40m on Ronaldo and give them Aguero.

Sydney!

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He would come here for SAF and him alone. That's the only area we could have an advantage in but with him likely gone soon it's very, very, very unlikely.

I think there's more chance we will sign a CMer than him ;-)

Jono

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Would united be as big an attraction to ronaldo if fergy is no longer manager?
jred

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You don't have to be a genius to know that Ronaldo wants to play with and against the best in the best Leagues. Whatever you say the French League isnt one of them. I don't know his opinions on leagues, but he wouldn't be as big a star in France or Russia because they just aren't important and there is no way that he would settle for that.

Fresh!

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Fresh

Just like you I would love to see him play for us but i see it as a pipe dream. He will not entertain russian clubs and his likely destinations would be Chelsea or PSG if he ever moved. Unlike you I don't agree that the french league is poor and living in Paris and playing with some of the best players assembled in a team designed to win trophies is not a bad way to end your career.

Shahram

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19 Dec 2012 16:08:58
as sir alex has said theres no real value in the jan market so there will be no signings for us in jan,the summer may be diff we all no its the centre off the midfield we need sorted i hope we dont go back in for sneijder but i think he blew his chance to come last time round for me id like moutinho class player great passer he could be the one to fill scholes boots but come jan people no one is coming mark my words.

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19 Dec 2012 15:27:06
Will Shinji Kagawa be ready for the game against Swansea?

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19 Dec 2012 13:34:42
Cristian Tello has a buyout clause of 10m. Im surprised United haven't shown interest.
David Villa who can also play on the left wing would be on his last year of contract, could perhaps snatch him for cheap?

Any interest lie in these players Ed002? {Ed002's Note - Tello has just signed a new contract (this Monday). If you are keen on "buy out" clauses perhaps you should look up Villa's.}

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This may sound a little crazy, but why would Tello want to leave one of the best youth systems and clubs in the world?

And why would Villa want the move to England?

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't we try for him a few years ago and he knocked us back? what would have changed on his part and I don't think SAF would go back in for him.

The Moon.

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To answer you, to get more game time. Tello could always go back, and his agent insisted on the 10m buyout clause, must be a reason?
Also Villa does not get game time and the manager had said there isn't space for him at the moment. However they are trying to renew his contract till 2014 then sell him off, but he is not satisfied with game time and so a deal can be pushed this summer for cheap if he is offered game time. (regardless of his insane buyout clause)

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19 Dec 2012 14:27:57
Witsel, Strootman, Sneijder or Wanyama? If you had the funds, take your pick of ONE... For me Witsel is ideal. Get him for around 14mill? {Ed004's Note - I think he would cost a bit more. Also I haven't seen enough of Witsel's passing to judge whether he is good enough. Though from what I hear he is exactly the type of player we are missing. After I'm I would go for Wanyama}

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Isn't witsel a dirty player though?
i remember when he was a standard liege and people were saying they didn't want him because he was a dirty player.

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No way are you getting Vic he is staying at Celtic.

Ian

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So Zenit are gonna sell him to us for 14 million pounds when they paid 40 million EUROS for him in August?
Jesus what planet are you on?

Simmo

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"No way are you getting Vic he is staying at Celtic.

Ian"

Perhaps in January, but not for long surely?

Gav

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Sneijder all day long he wanted a move but went about it all the wrong way an now with RVP here I think he could bed in quickly. I know it's being a horror how many times we have being "linked" wit him but the facts are this he is a world class player he is at an age where he should be reaching his prime an has a welt of experience his transfer could be cheap his wage should no longer be a problem giving inters stance an last but not least he is not cup tied.......... If I was in charge I'd be willing to pay 17-22mill an 160k weekly minus bonuses .......... Great deal all around

CAIN

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Thank god your not in charge then

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Your comment is fair but giving the fact you didn leave a name I assume your a nobody who leaves comments wit no name so he can't be called out on the crp he sproutes..... But it's ok we all love a keyboard worrier.....

CAIN

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19 Dec 2012 13:17:58
with vilanova stepping down as barce coach does that mean guardiola is back off the market?
jred

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I thought the same thing, or at least I thought he would takeover til the summer. Is this why SAF held talks with Pep in the past couple days? To see if this changes anything in regards to him taking over United in the summer?

Sydney!

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I just don't get the Pep to Utd link.

I know it's been highlighted that there were 'meetings' or 'talks' in New York or wherever but if he were to take over and have the team we have now what style of football are we going to play?

We don't have the players to even try and impliment the Barca way SAF craved after the spanking in the final and also Pep has yet to show an understanding of any other system with barca's only big criticism of recent years was there's no plan B.

People are talking about limited budgets and funds for players requiring selling first so IMO Pep will have the same now with 3-4 signings which is what we all want to play the Utd way, could we play like Barca with just 3-4 signings?

I don't think so!

Get well soon Tito.

Jono

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We need Klopp!

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Perhaps he wouldn't want to play an identical way to that of Barcelona. Perhaps that would be difficult to implement with our physical full contact league, maybe a United/Barcelona hybrid could work. Keeping the ball and closing down when you haven't got the ball are the two main components. We have an academy full of players that play that way already. Daehli, Januzaj, Pearson all keep the ball well and close down well off the ball. Cleverley can keep possession, but needs to work on his closing down, Petrucci can keep possession. Kagawa fits this style of play and so could Anderson (when fit). Then there is the transfer window where he can add a few players, then keep adding Spanish youth that he rates highly.

I would prefer this than getting Jose Mourinho in and him buying four 33 year old players that will win him trophies for the 2-3 years he is here then him buggering off and leaving us with the oldies. Youth players will never get promoted. He wouldn't give a rat's ass about the future of United, just his time in charge.

Sydney! {Ed004's Note - I disagree hasnt mourinho been quoted saying he wants to build his own team and stay at a club for a long time before in the past?}

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Jono
i think its odd that fergy has met with pep twice in NY in the last few months.

if united were to go for pep i think you would have to be looking long term and to be honest i think that is what united will try to do. I think we will go for a manager who wants to build something over a period of time a bit like fergy has.

also any team that pep takes over will have to give him time to implement his own style and i think he has more chance of getting that at a team like united than say city or chelsea.

that said i would be quite happy with mourhino but who knows
jred

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Ed004, but SAF is in the middle of building this team. Wouldn't Jose be the one who wants to build this team from scratch? Is ego couldn't cope if he had to win trophies with other manager's teams.

Sydney! {Ed004's Note - That's my biggest worry aswell. However the foundations for a team are here DDG, Rafael, Smalling, jones, Evans, Fabio, Cleverley, Powell, Rooney, van persie and a few others but there is still deadwood in the squad. And a few players out and in and your looking at a newish team}

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Ed004
mourinho has said that his next move will be for his heart not money and that he wants to build a legacy
jred {Ed004's Note - Yeah hopefully the legacy he talks about refers to building a great team and continuing on the process of being successful like Ferguson has done}

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Jred

I agree, with the longer term manager getting time at Utd and maybe Arsenal but what I mean is Pep has never had to impliment HIS style on a team yet. He had the pressure game in Barca which was implimented perfectly that all the players knew this from the younger levels and he just continued it through to the first team. The players at his disposal fitted it and so we have all seen the emergance of that team.

Any signs of where he tried to change from that style ie Ibrahimovic or stronger russian (i think cant mind his name) type players was instantly shown up as almost useless as their style didn't fit. IMO our style mixed as Syd said is a gamble but could pay off IF and a big IF we signed a fair few players as the likes of Daehli and co are nowhere near ready for the first team yet.

So do we wait 3-4 years on a gamble working?

Syd

jose has said previous he has wanted a long term position. Why not at Utd? He would relish the chance to take on the challenge of replacing the best manager ever and is one of the few who could handle the pressure. Only at Madrid has he signed a few older players to fill certain roles in the team but you can't say youth doesn't get a chance mate. At Inter Santon and Balotelli were promoted from the youths. Madrid he has bought and played Callejon and Varane. Neither these two or Chelsea are or ever have been renouned for bringing the youth through so he has not stifiled the youth there at all.

He also has shaken off the tag many on here labelled him as a defensive minded coach with breaking records even the mighty Barca couldn't.

IMO if we are going for the best option it should be Jose but the gamble is how long for but if we gamble with the style instead for a manager who can't stand the pressure at Barca for 4 years we may end up far worse off if he jacks it in.

Best option could be Blanc then haha.

Jono

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Jono
pep implemented the pressure game at barce
jred

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Jono, Balotelli was already playing in the Inter senior side when Jose took over and was pretty much forced to play him by Moratti, much to Jose's dislike. Jose has little say in who RM buys as that is Perez' job.

He still is a defensive minded coach, but has no need to be with the team he has inherited. If he went back to the EPL he would have two defensive midfielders playing in the centre I am sure. I am not against Jose becoming the manager, I just think for these very reasons it's unlikely. Bobby Charlton is weary of his appointment which is well documented. I think he would want to have a say in the current United transition as he will not want to play with SAF's players. His ego couldn't allow that. With the manager coming out and saying Jose could manage United etc etc, I think it's no more than a smokescreen.

Sydney!

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Jono, despite what Pep says I doubt him leaving Barcelona had much to do with pressure. He clearly wanted a new challenge, but wanted a break from football first having played or managed non-stop for nearly 30 years. Parting the way he did was the only way he could do it without hurting the fans. He could have sat in that job winning cup after cup, but chose to move away so he could try something new.

Both Pep and Jose have inherited top teams, but Pep has made Barcelona play a different way and it has brought a lot of success. He also implemented his style during his time in La Masia and that filtered into the first team. I do not see RM playing a different way and I think RM were going to win a La Liga sooner or later with all of the extra games Barcelona had to play for winning the UCL. We can all see Pep has had the better of Jose.

However I agree Jose would be a bigger appointment than Pep and would hurt a few rivals more.

Sydney!

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Syd
you say "he will not want to play with SAF players his ego couldn't allow it"

but at the same time you say "jose has little say in who RM buys as that is perez job"

I really dont think it would be an issue I think jose could come in and put his own style on united easier than pep to be honest as i think there is less difference in there footballing styles.
it doesnt matter if it mourhino or pep both will want to make changes , for me mourhino less so.
if it was up to me i would like jose but i think united may go for pep and if they do i think they will want him to build his own team ,after all any team that appoints pep will be expecting the barce style of play
jred

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Jred, I fail to see your point. The RM managers have never chose the club's signings. Jose's job is to manage a squad of players that is assembled for him by the RM hierarchy. It is the same at Chelsea and many other clubs. At Manchester United the manager chooses the signings. If Jose was earmarked to take over at United he would expect to oversee the transition, not have SAF do it for him and leave him with his squad of players.

Sydney!

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Jred, the difference is Perez is the club president. SAF would be the previous manager that Jose will have to live up to. People would always say that the team he is using is Fergie's team. Just like he said Ancelotti's league winning team was his. To be honest I do look at Jose's reign at RM and think it's tainted due to the team not being a team that he built.

As for the style of play that each manager would bring, I would prefer Pep's sexy football than Jose's 1.0 wins, scoring first then sitting back and defending it.

Sydney!

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Syd
my point is i dont get how you can say" jose wont want to play with SAF players"
and at the same time say at madrid his job is" only to manage a team that is assembled for him"

as for jose would want to oversee the transition , you make it sound as if uniteds next manager wont have a job to do and wont have to buy anyone.
who ever takes over will want to add there own players.
if fergy leaves at the end of season there will still be plenty of work to do if fergy leaves next season after the "transition" i would think jose and pep would already have jobs.

it sounds as if jose wants the united job but you say he would" expect to oversee the transition not have SAF do it"
so are you saying that jose would turn down the united job if offered .

i actualy think he would jump at the chance to take the united job and would add a couple of players and put his own style on the squad.
I think PEP would do exactly the same
jred

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Syd

I fail to see where you get this ego trail that leads you to believe Jose would have the need to completely overhaul SAf team? Any club that any manager moves to needs tweaking the same would be at utd. I cannot see any different if pep or Jose came in as both would sign 2 CMer IMO and probably a LB. that's all that's needed for any man. After that it's personal choices to replace individuals and so what if they did? It's not SAF team anymore. If pep wants us to play anywhere near the barca style he can scrap all but Clev in the middle and start again!

Jose if back in the prem would play like he does at RM with a holder and a box to boxer exactly as we all want SAf to with a fluid forward four which we have but can add to so I think we are far closer to what Jose would want than what pep would need.

Plus thinking about it the united way is fast paced attacks using width, I can't see how that can hybrid with the barca narrow pressing possession game as they are opposing phyilosofys!

Jred

The football they play is based on an ideal from cruyff back in the 90's. They have been implementing it in la Masia for ages and this group together have fit perfectly into that style.

Pep was trained to be that pivotal CM joint back when he was playing and has helped develop the likes of Xavi, biscuits and Iniesta from his exp aswell as their teachings from the school.

I don't know where people get this idea that the pressing game is peps idea alone he is just the first manager of the first barca team capable of implementing the style correctly.

You can see that with his transfers. Which signing can you say he has signed that has impressed immensely?

None because they are not of the same cloth as the rest. They have to adapt and play the barca way and even top players like Ibrahimovic couldn't do it.

IMO he jumped ship just in time as over the next 2 years they will start to decline without some new magicians and it will be interesting to see how it pans out for them.

Jono

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Syd
joses 1.0 wins ? when was the last time you watched madrid

i would be happy with either pep or jose
jred

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Jono
when pep first took over he was asked what changes he would bring to the team he answer was "pressure ,pressure ,pressure"
he gives lectures that are titled re-coving possession and says it the most important aspect of football.
he has said many times he based his philosophy on cruyff but the intensity of the closing down is added by him self.
did you ever see a cruyff team close down and apply pressure quite the same way , it looks like kids in a play ground at time all chasing the ball.
I dont know how true it but bal

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1) So, we need someone who will stick around and build a long term squad?

2) But we're worried Guardiola might have trouble imprinting the only style he knows onto our squad, in a more physical EPL?

Well...surely Jurgen Klopp must be prime candidate then? He has proven point 1) perfectly at Dortmund plus their style is in line with what we've been aiming for for ages (point 2). They are more direct in their style (than Barca) but also good in possession.

So, it's Klopp for me.

Jono

"You can see that with his transfers. Which signing can you say he has signed that has impressed immensely?

None because they are not of the same cloth as the rest. They have to adapt and play the barca way and even top players like Ibrahimovic couldn't do it."

That is an interesting point and I hadn't given it much thought before. You'd have thought players like Villa and Sanchez especially would slot right into the Barca team so it's strange/worrying to see them struggle to intergrate.

I disagree that Pep 'jumped ship' though. He's not going to find any easier jobs than Barca to take over from, even if Puyol & Xavi will be retiring soon. They have plenty of magicians.

Gav

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That should of ended

I dont know how true it is but balugue says after his first game he criticize the players work ethic told mess it was no good being the best player with the ball he had to be the best with out it and used rooney as am example of the commitment he expected from a player.

completely agree with your point about Peps new signings which is why i think he would need time to implement his own style.
this is also where i disagree with syd i think Jose could just walk in to the united job take over and be a success where as i think guardiola may need more time and players to implement his style of play
jred

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Jred, SAF has been overseeing our transition for the past two summers and still hasn't finished. I am sure Jose would accept the post if offered, but IMO if he was earmarked as the successor then it would have been arranged between United and Jose before now and therefore he would want a say in who the manager buys. This is why I think it isn't him and that it might be Pep. Pep has been living in America and could have had a say in last summers signings. The manager could have been visiting him to get his opinion on possible January signings? Or players who could be sold. I see no other reason for them to keep meeting. Although the Harvard visit was a good cover.

In regards to Jose and 1.0's, I meant in the EPL with Chelsea. Kenny Dalglish could do wonders with Real Madrid in fairness.

Sydney!

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Jono, at this moment in time SAF is overhauling the team. He is dealing with the transition. IMO if Jose was earmarked to take over then he would already know about it. I think if he knew he was going to be the United manager he would want a say in regards to the transition and the personnel that SAF intends to buy. Now for me that sounds unlikely as he is at RM, BUT Pep isn't at Barcelona anymore and our manager keeps having meetings with him. Twice in America and once in Qatar. WHY? I wouldn't be at all disappointed if it was Jose, but personally I think it's Pep.

Sydney!

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"this is also where i disagree with syd i think Jose could just walk in to the united job take over and be a success where as i think guardiola may need more time and players to implement his style of play"

Jred, to be fair Cleverley, Rooney, Carrick and Kagawa can fit into Pep's style. Pep bought Ibrahimovic and Villa so did initially want to play with a striker so RvP would fit too. I am sure Anderson would fit and attacking wingbacks fit. Smalling and Evans are both ball playing CB's and we have a young Spanish keeper. Then add that to the manager saying he wants to mirror Barcelona's style. We have targeted youth players that mirror Barcelona type players. Numerous meeting with Pep. Has to be Pep doesn't it?

Sydney!

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Syd
I don't believe for one minute that pep or Jose would have any say in our signings. What if they got a offered a better job or became ill I think it's a case of 2+2 and getting 10
I wouldn't read to much in to his meetings with pep or Jose if he wanted to talk about players he could pick up the phone I would also think if pep had already agreed to be our manager fergy wouldn't be meeting him so publicly
I don't think Jose would care if it was fergys squad or not I thin he would quite happily take over
Jred

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Syd
You are trying to make a case for pep but to be fair you could do the same for any manager
How many times have we thought fergy would sign a certain player only for him to pull something else out the bag
Is it pep I'm not even sure when fergy will call it a day so god knows
Jred

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Barca got rid of Ibrahimovic because messi said to Pep "it's me or him" But Pep was already thinking of getting rid of him because he feared it would stifle Messi's development not because he could play the Barca way. Just thought I'd clear that up.

Thomas

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Also Sir Alex has an apartment in
New York and Pep's living in New York, could explain the meetings in New York, two guys, that are known to be friendly meet up for a coffee when one comes over to stay for awhile.

Thomas

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19 Dec 2012 13:01:35
I would take it as gospel that there will be no signings in Jan, the one transfer that maybe could of happened was that Hector geezer from some club called Pashca or something. Well anyways the club have accepted a bid from Porto so it looks like he's going there...

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19 Dec 2012 12:43:51
Get well soon, Tita Vilanova. Impressive start as a Barca coach and very sad to see him have his illness.

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Pep may be persuade to take over barca on a interim basis as per reports and may be al manger circus wil strt al ova agn....
But ryt now tito's health is major concern

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Agreed hope he recovers fully

Pardoe

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18 Dec 2012 18:31:36
Ed002, if you're about

Haven't seen you being asked this so apologise if you have - what do you make of the new financial constraints being talked about in the Premier League? I understand you are sceptical about the FFPR being implemented in a strict way but do you think the PL rules could have any greater effect?

I'm optomistic to read that only 14 out of the 20 clubs have to agree for the ruling to be passed. BBC are reporting that only City (wonder why!) and Fulham (more of a strange one?) are totally against it.

Gav {Ed002's Note - Aston Villa also voted against the proposal. The plan is to try and implement FFPR (in a simplistic way) locally. I would not worry too much about it right now.}

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Fair enough, cheers for the reply.

Gav

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19 Dec 2012 09:26:11
Apparently PSG will offer £75 million for Ronaldo, this is argued to be accepted by Madrid given that he only has two years left on his contract after the summer and he is unhappy. This has to be worth going for for us, we'd be making money on the deal!

Fresh!

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How would we be making money on the deal? He is four years older.

Sydney!

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So Madrid would pay 5 million to get ronaldo in the best 4 years of his career. Even ignore the time value of money surely you can see we wouldn't be making money?

GDS

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As much as I would love to see Ronaldo back at the club, RM will be laughing all the way to the bank if we gave them £75m for Ronaldo. £50m yes, anything above would be ridiculous.

Sydney! {Ed004's Note - I would go as far as 60 million. You would still get 5-6 good seasons out of him as he keeps himself in top shape and he will contribute to minimum 30+ goals a season. I reckon we would have the best front four in Europe with RVP (30+ goals), Rooney (25+ goals), Ronaldo (I reckon 40+ goals) and Kagawa is a very creative player. You also have Welbeck and Hernandez supporting them and Valencia and Young will score goals and assist. All you would need would be one DM and a LB and I reckon sales and players retiring would cover the cost of Baines and Bender/Wanyama. Just means we will be very dependant on Cleverley and Carrick/Anderson or hopefully Powell steps up}

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Ed004, the thing is RM can ask for £75m+ and they will get it from one or two teams. I just hope it's PSG and not City.

Sydney! {Ed004's Note - I suppose I doubt Ronaldo will have much influence over the transfer. However I can't see the ego's of Ronaldo and Ibra working tbh. Can't see him/won't image him playing for City. He won't go to Russia and not sure he would go to France. Maybe he could push through a move to come back I don't know}

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No one could say that its not a good deal. He's the best in my opinion and he would give us the best attacking line up in the world, possibly ever.

Selling a guy for £80 million and buying him back for £75 million isn't that bad, and he is in his peak right now.

Fresh!

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I wonder whether Nike would consider Ronaldo as worth paying United a premium for when the negotiations occur. A world superstar in Nike kit ?

Red Man

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Ed04

so you would have something like this...


___________ De Gea ____________

Rafael _ Vidic _ Smalling _ Baines

Bender/Wanyama _ Cleverly/Anderson

Ronaldo ___ Rooney ____ Kagawa

____________ RVP ___________

I LIKE IT ......

Oxred {Ed004's Note - Yes something like that. My only other concern would be whether the midfield is strong enough. I think Bender and Cleverley would work. I am not sure if two dm's would be needed as only Rooney is good at defending in that attack}

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The only problem with that is that PSG also have their kits supplied by Nike so I don't think Nike would care which club he went to which gives PSG the financial advantage again.

TK-Red

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Fresh, it is not a good deal, not in the slightest. £75m for Ronaldo at 28 years and 4 months is only a good deal for RM. It would cost us around £150m including salary.

Sydney!

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City are also with Nike.

Sydney!

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But City and PSG shirt sales are peanuts compared to United shirt sales.

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Sydney

City PSG or United to have Ronaldo in a Nike kit. Do you really think there is any serious competition as to the biggest most marketable club in those three? Seriously? Which would make Nike the most?

Red Man

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Red Man, I agree and I think Nike could make the Ronaldo deal possible, I just think it's unlikely mate.

Sydney!

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19 Dec 2012 09:25:13
Champions League draw tonight. Bring on Madrid I say!

kdevil10

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Tomorrow dopey!

ms85

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Sorry kDevil10, don't get too excited its tomorrow (20th) at 10am

Giants14

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Tommorrow.

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Remember kdevil might be in a foreign country and for him it may be tonight!

GDS

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GDS, the draw is 22 hours away so I think that's unlikely bud ;)

Sydney!

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In fact when KDevil10 posted there was over 24 hours til the draw so he could only have mistakenly got the wrong day.

Sydney!

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I did realise that I was just trying to make him feel better lol :)

GDS

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Whoops!

kdevil10

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19 Dec 2012 08:21:31
What would people think of Nani being sold in January and David Villa coming in to play on the left ?

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Not a lot really,although i think its time for nani to leave villa is 100% not the replacement for him,i want to see a natural left footed winger brought in not an ageing injury prone striker.

phil

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No no and NO!

31 years old. would struggle in prem as a forward let alone a winger.

ms85

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