Manchester United Banter Archive August 21 2014

21 Aug 2014 23:31:35
Hey eds
Recently I've read that the glaziers won't be selling the club for at least another 5 years, given that I've read a few things on your site pointing to a 2017 selling has that estimation blown out to 2019+ or could it be another paper trying to sell nonsense?

Thanks for your time

{Ed002's Note - The owners are not going to want too much distraction. The dependencies will surround the market.}

22 Aug 2014 09:07:21
They are probably too busy fixing them windows to do anything else anyway.

21 Aug 2014 21:56:12
Whilst we are all arguing over signings we may be missing one of the real issues, strategy, forward planning and improvement of the infrastructure of our club. Take a look at what City are doing around their stadium including a new 7,000 capacity stadium and very impressive facilities including a college which connects them to the local people.

There is a plan, a direction of where they want to get to, I get a sense they are not just wanting to win now but are playing a long game, securing their key players on long term deals and planning a long term strategy. Our strategy seems to have become muddled, a poor transition, a buying strategy that ended with an unbalanced squad and a focus on the financial side, our sponsors. I just hope we haven't fallen behind too far but I suspect City have taken a leap ahead with what they are doing for now at least. We appointed Woodward based on his commercial strengths whilst City appointed the ex Barca strategists into the club. We now expect it all of LvG, revolutionise the team and the club, City started planning this several years ago whilst we stuck with the old tried and trusted methods.
I hope there is someone with a good strategy that involves more than player purchases and sponsors and if you don't believe me take a look at City's development.

I agree, it all boils down to us standing still and allowing our big rivals to overtake us, and our lesser rivals get on par or (by last seasons standards) overtake us also.

This is what Scholes is alluding to, IMO. We're stagnating and other teams are passing us by.

21 Aug 2014 23:02:14
Course Scholes coming out of retirement and Giggs playing til he was 40 didn't contribute to our stagnation at all

Redman the main problem is that there is no strategy for anything other than making as much money out the club as possible. There is no real plan for the future or for transfers etc but there is for revenue which woodenhead has been very good at .

There is a very clear plan pancho: secure as much income as possible and reduce the expenditure to the lowest level necessary to remain competitive, use the growing profitability to inflate the value of the club and eliminate the debt, then sell for a world record fee and walk away.

The Glazers have always known that their lack of investment was going to catch up with them, they just hoped the SAF would stay on for a bit longer to paper over the cracks. The last year has shown them that we are in danger of slipping from the top echelon and that means risks to sponsorship, competition and tv income. So they will spend a bit more money over the next few windows to try to get us back into the top 4. However, they won't bankroll the rebuild that we actually need because they only need short term competitiveness, not long term stability. We need experienced top quality players, and have balked at the fees these players command.

Danny, you are largely right but anyone looking at spending close to £2b is going to do their due diligence and examine the club's projections and infrastructure to determine the additional investment needed before they purchase - unless money is no object.

The worst case scenario for us fans would be if the next owner decides to re-leverage and put us back to square one.

The thing about sports franchises is you just never know what's going to happen.

A great debate with some really good points raised.

In the 70's and 80's we were nothing more than an FA Cup side but we were developing old Trafford while the competition wasn't then we got SAF and everything changed. Our number of scouts doubled and we got success and built a state of the art training facility ahead of anyone in Britain and the success continued.
Now the competition has caught us up and in the case of City and Chelsea have overtaken us. They have a clear path and vision of the future whereas we don't as we are in the post SAF era and have owners who are only interested in the bottom line over the short term.
We need someone at Man Utd who looks after the long term interests of the club in terms of the football side.
As has been said by others Ed Woodward has done a great job commercially but he has no knowledge or interest in football. Although I have not been a fan of this thing in the past I think we are in need of a Director of Football. Someone who can plan the clubs strategy and long term vision, assist the manager with transfer targets and ensure that the football side of the business is moving in the right direction long term. LVG is very knowledgable and experienced, he will have views about the clubs strategy etc once he has settled in but he can't do it all.
In the short term we just need a few new players in so that we compete ar the top of the PL. Then the club need to look at the long term strategy but with the Glazers owning the club this is unlikely to happen.
Just hope one day that the club is owned by someone who genuinley loves football and can relate to the fans as well as look at commercial success.

I live in hope!

There are many problems with the way we are going. I don't know of too many billionaire individuals that love football who have not already acquired a football club, so the chances are when the Glaziers sell it will be very messy and will involve a lot of debt.

The thing that sets City apart and any other club owned by a Sheikh/Oligarch is that there is a long term plan for places like the UAE - they know their oil/gas etc will run out so there is plans in place for using that money for long term investments and the mind-set of the wealthy is to play the long game in all their businesses with a global portfolio. The problem with the majority of listed companies or Western owners is that like society everything is needed instantly, so we slip into this problem of constantly changing the plan dependent on who leads. Likewise if you don't adapt we don't have the resources to sustain a poor run - we held onto SAF and in turn old guard for a couple of seasons too long, this made us stale and harder to change course.

We had our chance for 20 years to build a long lasting legacy because the Prem started and we were just taking over as money flowed in, we had our luck. However we became greedy and complacent due to the owners and stubbornness of key individuals. We are no longer ruthless enough, players like Rooney would have been moved on a few years ago (Stam, Beckham etc), Mata & Fellaini wouldn't have been signed in desperation, systems would be built for the long term, but we are chasing the quick win now.

We are focussing energy on sponsorship deals but they are short term, when the deal runs out the sponsor goes to the next big thing and that in all likelihood won't be us in 5-10 years time.

The game has moved on to the next stage and probably the penultimate stage before break down. Next will come a Euro Super League and then a return to domestic focus again I hope, where football matters not the bank balance.

Until then I think we will see our desperate attempts to correct matters, but the runaway train has built up too much tempo now and we don't have the people or plan in place to change it.

{Ed002's Note - The sale of the club won't be messy with debt.}

21 Aug 2014 21:38:17
All the talk is about Di Maria, but I'm getting a little excited by the Lucas Silva rumours who is being regarded as one of the best passing central midfielders Brazil has had for a long time. He would be a great addition to ease into the side ahead of Cleverley.

{Ed002's Note - I would not get too excited just yet.}

21 Aug 2014 20:10:57
Is the vidal deal completely dead and buried? Does anyone know if the clubs are in discussions? Too many conflicting reports?!

21 Aug 2014 20:23:33
I would like an answer for this also. media these days saying one thing one day then another thing the next day guess will have to jus wait untill deadline day.

21 Aug 2014 18:54:59
Are united interested in Daley blind? If they are will they submit a bid or have they?

{Ed002's Note - UTSF.}

I don't understand what you mean are they interested or not?

21 Aug 2014 17:43:42
The biggest thing holding Di Maria from joining Untied is no Champions League this yr and possible next yr. Although if he came to United that would really help qualifying next yr.

21 Aug 2014 15:07:38
The money is there. I haven't "changed my mind" either. MU have plenty of money, but the club do penny pinch. I have always said this.

Sydney!
we disagreed about this a lot a few years ago, I argued long and hard that the glazers were not willing to splash the cash .
i didn't think we really went after the top players like we had in the past and used ferdinand as a prime example.
you argued we couldn't kidnap players etc etc. Or your famous " we tried "
i always though the glazers main priority was getting the debt down and it affected our transfer dealings.
i actually think the has been a change in attitude and united are now ready to buy big but time will tell.

now we have disagreed over a few things in the past but imo no more than this .
so I am genuinely interested when and what was it that changed your mind

Nani £20, Anderson £25m, Berbatov £31m, Herrera £30m, Shaw £33m, Fellaini £27.5m, Van Persie £27m, Rojo £20m, Mata £40m. Money is there, the problem with MU IMO and has always been my opinion is that the club penny pinch too much when other clubs like Chelsea, PSG, Monaco, City, RM, Barcelona etc can trump us. We take too long negotiating to get pennies knocked off, then in comes a club above and pays the premium and they get the player. It's hard enough attracting top stars to go to Manchester anyway, so you have to pay what it takes. Over the past 2-3 years we have need 3-4 world-class signings. Mata is one, we need 2-3 more IMO.

It may well be true that we are penny pinching but a penny pinching club does not pay 27 million pounds for a Fellaini.

Granted it was a panic buy but you'd think we would learn our lesson but we clearly haven't, have we?

Hummels, Vidal & Di Maria would put us right back to where we need to be.

Syd
5 of them players you named we have bought over the last 12 month which is why I think there has been a change in attitude . i'm much more confident we will now buy big .

But like I said I think this particular topic is what we have disagreed over most .

There was a time you argued we couldn't kidnap players or that there was nothing wrong as we " tried " to sign players.
The main issue was prob the glazers willingness to really go the extra mile for the top players .

Now this was a hot topic on the site for a while as i'm sure a few can remember but imo you seem to of changed now mind .
I have no interest of getting in to an argument but did wonder what had changed your mind.

Ps if u have not changed your mind no probs I must of imagined it so let's leave it at that

Mumbai
40 mill for mata

Jred, we have tried to sign many players. I would love to have a list of the one's we have came close to, but just missed out on. I think it would bring us fans to tears personally. I wrote this a long time ago:

"15 Nov 2011 12:56:52
United's gross debt down to £433.2m, down from £516.7m this time last year. That is a debt reduction of £83.5m in just one year. Our yearly bond interest payment will dip below £40m this year compared to the £50.7m paid out last year.

Even though are debt is being reduced rapidly, I still cannot help but think who we could have signed without this unwanted debt that the Glazers saddled us with.

Sydney!"

We have plenty of money, more so than we did a few years ago, but we will always penny pinch because it's in the owner's nature. Problem is this summer we needed to make an exception.

21 Aug 2014 16:23:59
"I have no interest in getting into an argument"

Pull the other one, jred :)

I don't believe there's any doubt whatsoever that the debt burden pursuant to the LBO adversely affected our ability to step into the market for the very best players. And I also believe that Rooney's issues revolved around his recognition that the club was no longer able to compete with the European elite. Let's face it £60m+ a year has been going out of the club to finance debt. Just imagine if that had been invested in the squad.

That being said I think it's evident that the club is now in a more stable financial position and is prepared to spend. In fact, the Glazers must recognize that if the club wants to remain among the elite of European football, and maintain its investment value, they have little to no choice.

Unfortunately the last few years have been dogged by a lack of vision and hubris. I honestly believe that SAF, while still driven, did not have the vision to respond to developments either on the pitch or in the transfer market. The gulf between us and the elite European teams was clearly widening. The hubris has been evident in the the delay in responding to the need for change, and the dismissive attitude to other clubs, in particular the noisy neighbours.

The appointment of David Moyes was a manifestation of both lack of vision and hubris. To think that this man who demonstrated no ability to take a team beyond its modest expectations, could suddenly step into a hot seat of expectation and replicate the success of his far more capable predecessor, was madness.

It is not uncommon for businesses at the top not to recognize threats early enough to respond effectively or at all. I'm sure many of us will have met those smug superiors who sit in their corner offices and say things like "we've always done it that way", as a justification for refusing to change with the times.

Steviek
i honestly haven't , have a look at my op from the other day that started the discussion .
this was a hot topic on the site a few year back and was debated at length by several of the regulars.
It went on for a couple of year.
syd
You think we need to make an exception this summer I think to stay at the top we need to pay top dollar every summer

21 Aug 2014 22:40:38
Mate, I'm only joking. I swear you two get some sort of kick out of baiting each other :)

21 Aug 2014 13:56:31
How many people would be happy if we followed up the Shaw, Rojo & Hererra signings by signing Carvalho, Clasie and Depay?

Those 6 along with De Gea, Raf, Jones, Januzaj and Wilson would be the foundations for hopefully a wc team, with an average age of 21.7 years.

I appreciate that they may not be ready now, but with VG leading this group of players who thinks that could lead to a World class team in a couple of years?

Carvalho would be a good signing as would Depay but not sure on Clasie - similar but not as good as Herrera.

Claise is not very good at tackling, or taking on players and is not renowned for his scoring ability but one thing he has is his passing ability is amazing! Always seems to ind his targets and he plays his passes at pace which would not slow down our game. Long passing or short passes always seem crisp and snappy. He can control games with his passing. Not very similar to Herrera IMO likes to dictate the tempo while Herrera likes to play higher up the pitch and works better in tight spaces.

Clasie would definitely be a better option than Cleverley

Sounds like Scholesy, especially the tackling.

21 Aug 2014 13:39:14
: Carlo Ancelotti confirms Angel di Maria wants to leave Rm. don't mess up this time Woodward!

Best regards
Wilf

21 Aug 2014 13:22:49
Reports coming out that Carlo Ancelotti has confimed Di Maria has refused a new contract and asked for a transfer, any truth in this?

21 Aug 2014 13:14:16
So it is confirmed that di Maria is to leave Madrid. Does this mean we all sit glued to Manchester Airport webcam for his plane to arrive?

21 Aug 2014 13:02:27
Carlo ancelloti has confirmed that de maria has asked to leave Madrid. please hope we get him what do you think edd002?

{Ed002's Note - I expect him to move to PSG or MU.}

This was one that I really didn't expect to happen but it seems we are in with a chance.

He isn't my favorite player in the world but he has what we have missed since Ronaldo he is exciting, versatile and in the top echelon of world footballers.

I think the club are doing everything right at the moment and a next week or so could be amazing for us all.

With the Rojo, Shaw and Ander signings we are nearly there a bit of goldust sprinkled over them 3 and we are away!:)

21 Aug 2014 13:02:09
So it appears that a number of sources are claiming Di Maria has put in a transfer request, things are finally looking good for united 'if' we pay Madrid's £50-60 valuation, but I feel we must act fast before PSG Finally decide if they are going in for him!

21 Aug 2014 12:56:53
SSN reporting , Ancelotti confirming Di Maria and Khedira both asked to leave and club hav recd and rejected a bid for Di Maria but won't name the club!

PSG or Utd?. now this will be entertaining!

This will run and run now!

21 Aug 2014 12:54:43
I wonder why we haven't shown interest in Khedira this summer? A double deal for him and Di Maria would solve 2/3 issues for us anyway.

There will be a mass flurry of activity this month, let's hope we are involved :)

Think your right Syd it will go mental over the next week. I have even booked the the day after deadline day off so I can enjoy it properly ( a few scoops) :)

21 Aug 2014 12:48:31
Hi all,
Di Maria and Khedira have asked to leave RM.
KingGiggsy

21 Aug 2014 12:45:53
Real Madrid manager Carlo ancelotti says angel di Maria and Sami khedira have both asked to leave the club

An unnamed club have had a bid rejected by Madrid for di Maria

21 Aug 2014 12:40:16
S"Di Maria has asked to leave and rejected [a contract] offer from club, "
"[But] if he does not find a future solution he stays, no problem.

"Khedira has one more year and has rejected new deal. It is different than Di Maria as he has not asked to leave." Ancelloti

21 Aug 2014 12:17:46
If rumours are true and if Liverpool sign Balotelli and Arsenal a DM and a CB.
I don't think we'd finish in the top 4 unless quality comes.
Chelsea City Liverpool and Arsenal would all have had a great transfer window and would have filled all their weaker positions.
We needed

3 Defenders - Have already signed 2 in rojo & shaw. Another CB like Benatia and our defence looka promising and strong. Although Mexes would be an average signing if we are unable to land any top targets.

2 CM - With Herrera having signed, another box-2-box or DM would be great. Carvalho seems unlikely. Vidal impossible. And strootman not close. De jong could be okay.
But I won't be a fan of us signing 2 players from a very awful milan side. Blind would be quite achievable and nice signing.

Don't think a World class would come over to unites for obvious reasons.

So Blind, Mexes and Depay would be decent business IMO

Let's put it this way, Arsenal will have got Sanchez, Liverpool Balotelli - but if we sign Di Maria I think that we have got the best of the bunch.

Personally I wouldn't want Mexes anywhere near our squad

21 Aug 2014 11:32:30
"All the requirements are there for Vidal not to leave before the end of the transfer market, " Juve general director Giuseppe Marotta told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"The contract extension he signed has made more solid the marriage between Juve and Vidal.

"Vidal has always said he wanted to stay here and we are more than happy to keep him."

What's your point?

Sorry that sounds a bit harsh, what I meant was what's your thoughts on this? You usually have an opinion after a copy and paste.

Syd
To be honest it just adds to my feeling that this deal is dead, no inside info or anything I just haven't been confidant of this for a while now.
cant wait to be proved wrong.
still have a good feeling about di maria so fingers crossed

Fingers and toes crossed :)

21 Aug 2014 11:17:09
If Vidal isn't going to happen then carvalho is the perfect choice. In fact, considering vidal is more of a box to box player similar to herrera although with more bite, carvalho might be the better fit in our system as he seems to like sitting deep and just destroying everything in front of the defenders. He'd even be able to slide into the backline if you have either wingback caught forward. We need one of the two, but I wouldn't be upset about missing on vidal if we signed carvalho. I rate him highly and I hope lvg does too.

It's far more probable that when Chelsea fail in their efforts to get Pogba, they will sign Carvalho.

21 Aug 2014 10:47:20
Hi Edds, has ther ever been any interest for ron vlaar. could u suspect a plan c option for man utd? I wudn't mind seeing him at utd. His WC performances didn't surprise me!

{Ed002's Note - Not that I am aware.}

Plan C? More like plan H.

Desperation.

More like plan z Sydney he is a disaster worse than what we have and is as injury prone

21 Aug 2014 05:46:01
Ed002, I know you don't usually have an opinion on players, but you did mention the likes of Rojo and Moreno (the CB) before the World cup to the Liverpool fans. What do you make of Rojo? Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - He has very greasy hair.}

Greasier than most I have to admit. It's to help him run faster and jump higher.

I went into the local subway the other day and said to the waiter give me the biggest greasiest sub you have the gave me Andy Carroll

21 Aug 2014 13:57:53
That is why City never had any interest in Rojo, Joe Hart said he wouldn't be able concentrate looking at that greasy mop in front of him.

21 Aug 2014 09:40:51
So this is the way I see things atm.

LvG wanted to bring a balance to the side, he wants to have two box to box midfielders who can both defend and attack, he also wants wide players who can play as full backs, wing backs and wingers. He wants this as it allows him to constantly change the shape of the team during a match almost making it impossible to play against. But it appears that his main targets are differcult to sign to say the least.

Hummels looks like he will stay at Dortmund, Benatia wants to go to Bayern, Vidal wants to stay at Juve and Di Maria wants to either stay at Real or join PSG. Personally I don't think we will be able to pull off any of those signings. So we are left with three options.

First sign players who can play the same roles but aren't as good. This means LvG will still be able to play the way he wants but more emphasis will be placed on team play as there will be less individual brilliance in the team.

Second option sign no one and wait until the players he wants become available. This is a terrible option, mostly because the players he wants will have likely moved to other clubs so won't ever be available.

The final option is the one I would go for. That is to slightly tweak his system, it won't be quite as fluid or interchangable as he would like but it could work well as a half way house while they learn his methods and allow them to evolve into his system in a more natural way. For this what I think is needed to to look at the situation, we are unlikely to be able to get a world class CB which means we will be a bit open through the middle. As we can't get a world class box to box player either then the compromise has to be to sign a great or potentially great defensive midfielder. This will provide two benefits, first off it will provide more cover for the defence and hopefully stop us conceding goals like we did against Swansea, and secondly it would release the wide players to attack more and potentially the other midfielder as well. So we could switch and go for Carvalho/De Jong/Mascherano ect and push through a deal for Cuadrado. That would then be enough make do and allow LvG the time to implement his systems while still having more security to the defence. It will also allow Woodward to have the time to focus on the big signings for next summer as he has shown it takes him around a year to get a target once it is picked.

Lvg will have a plan to build united over a season or 2 not one summer.
Every manager is flexible how many post did we have about lvg system and that he would only play 4-3-3.
People need to calm down .
Lvg and united will sign players with a long term view not with a short term view just for the sake of it.

Good post Shappy!

One thing is for sure, we won't make top 4 with our current squad. Chelsea, Liverpool, City and Arsenal clearly have better chances than us.

We need reinforcements and stay away from injures(difficult this one).
Rojo is a good defender and will help a lot, but we still need another CB, CM and a winger preferable 2 to be able to compete for top 4.

I just hope we don't become complacent and end up in a Liverpool away.

We always spend a lot of money on signings but most of the time, we invest in the wrong ones.

Even thou, I'm still positive about this season because it can't be worse than the last one.

Great post Shappy.

I agree that signing no more players would be suicide, without at least two more world class players I can't see us securing a spot in the top four. We do seem to be having trouble securing the services of most of the top targets you mention, although I think you're a little wide of the mark when it comes to Vidal; if he's so happy at Juve, why hasn't he publicly stated his desire and intent to stay in Italy? I think Vidal is attainable, it's just a case of paying what is being asked for and I can't see that happening, even though he would be the difference between Champions League and Europa League qualification.

Jred, It's all well and good preaching about a long-term perspective but Champions League qualification is essential this season and could well be the difference between a sustained period of decline and a minor blip on the radar.

Rumple
Imo we have been in decline for the last 5 year, I've made no secret of this .
we are now seeing the result of not properly investing in the squad in the years after ronaldo.
United and lvg will have a plan imo and I don't think it will a case of just buying anyone.

1 week ago everyone thought lvg was a god the team where on an up young and fletcher where great lvg had installed confidence in the team etc etc.
Then after 1 defeat everything changes.
Lvg should change the system he has worked on all summer, the same system people where raving about 5 days ago, if we don't suddenly sign x y z we won't make top 4.

But nothing has changed since lvg took over . I am sure when lvg took over he will of sat down with the relevant people and set out a long term plan and I don't believe that will change on a week to week bases

LvG will continue to play a 3412 and we will be much better this season under LvG. But we still need 2-3 top notch signings. That has been the case for 2-3 seasons now.

21 Aug 2014 08:35:47
I am pleased to read this morning that Man Utd have denied making any bids for Muller and Reus.
It has also been stated by Juventus that no negotiations and have taken place for Vidal from United. Earlier in the transfer window we had all the crap about Uniteds interest in Cavani. And there are many more that I cannot be bothered to list including almost the entire Dutch World Cup Squad.

So as we approach the last week of the transfer window it is now becoming clear that the press really do not have any idea at all of the United transfer targets. Even yesterday Sky Sports were reporting that United had no outstanding bids for any player. They just do not know so they fill their pages with rubbish about players turning us down that United never ever wanted. Because, let's be honest, they are enjoying this period when Uniteds dominance is being threatened & questioned. Every report is a put down.

So let's enjoy the final 10 days of the transfer window and see what exciting presents (players) sign for us in this remaining period.

Its a bit like an early Christmas when you think about it. Haha.

21 Aug 2014 07:28:56
When a player like scholes comes out and says what he's saying, you know something is very wrong.

21 Aug 2014 09:10:43
Or you know the paper he is writing for are paying him a lot of money.

21 Aug 2014 09:30:29
When he's prepared to come out and give Fergie his fair share of criticism I'll listen to him .

The guy is a legend in football terms, and is passionate about UTD.

He makes good points which probably a lot of us agree with but these days his job is column inches and let's face it he's been v outspoken about utd and its making it easier to do his job. We are making headlines for him and he's being a bit too anxious to quote them in order to do his new job.

Purely personal opinion but I don't like Utd greats having a pop at us when all social media and gutter press are doing the same. Not helpful!

21 Aug 2014 09:57:24
Champions,

I agree, because it gives these people an extra angle. 'Paul Scholes said it so it must be true' etc.

I think scholes just tells it like it is .
For most fans its no big secret they can see it for themselves .

21 Aug 2014 11:04:26
In the middle of Scholes article he says that it's 'not all Van Gaal's fault' , thereby implying between the lines that a lot of it is

MUFC is like a religious cult. Even when a worshipped legend of the club speaks out, the fans turn on them and claim they're talking crap. Like last season, because SAF told us to give Moyes time, any fans who started dissenting and seeing Moyes for what he was (seriously out of his depth) were lambasted by other fans.

Scholes is speaking the truth. It's just an uncomfortable truth for a lot of fans.

It's obvious we need 2-3 top notch signings, but MU will not pay what is needed. The penny pinching continues.

21 Aug 2014 12:01:42
It is not that I disagree with some of what Scholes is saying, I just think it does not help when you already have a greedy fickle fanbase who are already threatening protests because the club haven't signed anyone in a summer where we have spent over 70 million on 3 players in positions we needed.

Syd
You argued for a long time that the money was there, " we tried to sign " or you can't kidnap player.
Honest question not on the wind up but when did you change your mind

The money is there. I haven't "changed my mind" either. MU have plenty of money, but the club do penny pinch. I have always said this.

Whilst Scholes didn't blame fergie he did actually say that looking back it was bad that a 38yr old was often picked because he had noo genuine challengers to his place (or words to that effect) the thing he said that we can all agree with the most is that this summer was not the time to be buying potential we need the real deals this summer who will instantly improve us

21 Aug 2014 05:46:18
Hi all,
Purely my own 'rumour' but I hope an educated one.
Just been looking into the Rojo signing, one I think will prove an astute one. More specifically the money side of things (sorry Ed002). Interestingly it would appear that only €10million is being paid up front with two later instalments of €5million. Now, didn't our board state that 'enough money was available to sign the most expensive player in the world'? I might be acting slightly naive here, and I am aware that more often than not transfer fees are paid in instalments, but could the €10million be an indication that money is being set aside for something 'bigger' in terms of transfer fee? Maybe it is just a case that 50% was required up front and I am reading into nothing but I am curious (and hopeful) that a bigger deal might be about to happen.

KingGiggsy

21 Aug 2014 08:15:10
I think we know for a fact we have made bids for top players and are looking to do business for these players in the coming days, so you are right but that has nothing to do with the Rojo fee I imagine.

21 Aug 2014 01:27:56
Just pulled this off the ESPN website tonight:
Javier Mascherano has revealed he asked Barcelona if they wanted him to leave this summer, then he would. He said: "At the end of last season, I offered the club to leave if they wanted me to. But they told me to stay. I try to give my best."

Imagine getting Mascherano in. It is criminal that a player that good is not starting. I am not saying I think we can get him, but I would love it if it happened. He is a true leader and a fierce competitor.

20 Aug 2014 23:23:12
Hi all, long time reader first time posting.
Edds
I got to say this is truly the best rumour site around. Always looking forward to your replies. Keep up the great work.
Fellow reds
Just wondering where most of the regular posters are from and your veiws on which direction the club is heading.
Im from Bermuda so never been to Old Trafford but its on my bucket list. I think where gona be fine this season with what we have but wouldn't mind a few more. A few of the youngsters need to step up and and show their worth but I have faith. Anyway looking forward to this season it should be interesting.

iAreDe1

{Ed001's Note - I would keep it quiet you are in Bermuda, if Ed007 finds out he will be tapping you up for a place to stay on his holidays!}

Im from a little place called newport in south wales