Manchester United Banter Archive February 21 2013

 

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21 Feb 2013 22:57:28
Good luck Tunnicliffe on your loan

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David Flitcroft has really turned Barnsley around since he took charge and have been playing some nice stuff so this is a good move for him.

TK-Red

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21 Feb 2013 22:11:19
Long week and probably very grumpy. So:

1. Ronaldo is not coming back. Let's all move on, especially Fresh :-)
2. Kloot can be an arse but he can also make good points. He may behave like Waldorf or Statler but sometimes he is spot on.
3. Stoner, lfc, and Puzzled may support other clubs but we do tend to just insult them. A bit of banter with other fans is entertaining, let's not stoop to the lowest level.

I may have had too much Malbec but a site that normally makes me laugh out loud and feel warn and fuzzy has left me a little grumpy this week. Sorry :-/

Believable9 Unbelievable15

I'm glad you've cleared that one up for me. You clearly know how the summer will pan out and what will happen with Ronaldo.

Fresh!

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21 Feb 2013 23:08:27
banter with other clubs fans is all well and good when its actually banter. Puzzled and lfc just talk total rubbish and try annoying wind ups. Not exactly banter. Stoner is better but has trouble accepting what gets pointed out to him.

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Ronaldo won't come back, those who think otherwise are fools

nikz

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AJH - Give it a rest will you. Banter is all that is on this site there is no low blowing or insulting posts against them.

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Come on Fresh, you bring it up every week and believe it is highly plausible. I'm guessing there is less than 10% chance of it happening due to the figures involved and I'm not sure such a large outlay on 1 player would be good for the team. Tbh, just getting fed up of talking about it, it looks like it will become another Sneijder saga

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Fresh,

I have yet to see a post from you that doesn't ask what people think about Ronaldo or nonchalantly mentions Ronaldo returning.

Seriously mate, you're setting yourself up for a fall, you'll be gutted at this rate because he is NEVER coming back.

He sees United as an ex-girlfriend he loved and parted with on good terms. He thinks of us fondly, and probably quite often, but he knows we broke up for a reason and that's it.

RED_SKY

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Lol ill stick up for ya fresh, its a banter site after all and debates wotever the stories are good fun, AJH ain't u the one who frequently is posting on the Liverpool and gooner page baiting them lol :-)
Chris the REDman

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I really hope he signs now, if only to show that nobody knows for a fact what is going to happen.

TK-Red

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Personally I think everyone is free to share their opinions whether they are right (like mine) or wrong (like the poster's who disagree with me) ;)

HBadger

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Baiting is a bit harsh! But I take the point. You can see from today there are more posts on Ronaldo. Personally I think we should sign Sneijder

AJH

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21 Feb 2013 22:04:06
Looking forward to the influx of posts suggesting the abolishment of the away goals rule.

Believable9 Unbelievable2

Agreed ed, ideally it'd be a forward, a cm and a left back. However I think we will stick with Evra. We will sign Strootman, and will try for Rodriguez. Would love a move for Ronaldo though, I just can't quite rule it out - especially with all the stuff in the press about Perez now wanting to sell.

Fresh! {Ed004's Note - Yes I'd love to see the man return but I just can't haha. Though a summer of Baines, Strootman/Wanyama and Rodriguez would be very good}

Believable5 Unbelievable0

Do you think that he'll sign a new deal at Madrid?

Fresh! {Ed004's Note - Not sure}

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Also do you think Evra will be sold? I think he'll get one more season.

Fresh! {Ed004's Note - So do I unfortunately}

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22 Feb 2013 08:09:09
I'm not so sure we need any new defenders at all. We have Rafael Fabio Buttner Jones Smalling and Evans all under 25 plus Rio Vidic and Evra (who I think will have one more season) adding some experiance. Then we have the likes of Vermijl M. Keane and Blackett coming through from the academy. that's 12 defenders we could call apon. I can only see a new defender coming in if Rio leaves, and if so I expect it'd be someone with a decent amount of experiance seeing as we have a lot of young defenders.

What i'd like to see is Strootman, Ozil and Rodriguez/Bale. With Nani Anderson and possibly Rooney leaving depending on form between now and the summer.

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22 Feb 2013 12:18:01
Doesn't Evra's contract run out in summer 2014? So we either sell him, give him a new deal or let him leave on a free next summer.

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Ed 004, I understand you don't rate Strootman highly. Any particular reasons? I have been well surprised with how well he has improved in the last couple of seasons, from starting with a 2nd division side to moving to Psv and becoming the best player in the dutch league in 2 seasons is quite an accomplishement. And between him, Wanyama, Bender, Milan Badlej, and ligue 1's Veratti, Matuidi and Maxime Gonalons, which midfielder would be your pick? Mine would be Badlej ( DLP ) and Stootman ( box to box ), although anyone of the above would be a significant improvement over any of our midfielders bar Carrick. {Ed004's Note - Granted I haven't seen enough of him but he appears to be very slow, doesn't excel offensively or defensively amd his passing doesn't make up for his speed, however, I will try to watch some games of him between now and the summer as he looks a likely transfer}

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21 Feb 2013 20:32:20
I really think if Brendan Roger has any chance of inspiring a second half comeback he needs to remove his mascara for the half time team talk.

Believable3 Unbelievable1

21 Feb 2013 16:25:07
Important game this weekend. We need to get three points in London and then the next four games will be at home. With a fully fit squad, bar Jones we look to be in good shape for March.

Sydney!

Believable9 Unbelievable1

This would be a massive 3 points to get. As if 12 isn't enough, we could make it a 15 point gap by the time City play Chelsea and we can all see that City aren't responding well to pressure at the moment.

TK-Red

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Would be a fantastic position to be in TK! We may not have been 'vintage' in some ways this season but we sure have built up a good amound of momentum at the right times (so far, touch wood).

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Exactly, the artist formerly known as Gav, now is the time for us to really grind City's face into the dirt. Obviously the priority is winning the league even if its on goal difference but I'd like to see us be ruthless and humiliate City with the points gap at the end of the season.

TK-Red

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I think we'd spend on the right player, we've got a lot of experience dropping out the squad over the next 2 summers, so it won't all be kids with potential, we have plenty of those as it is.

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I know people will disagree but I can see us spending over £100 million in the next 2 years comfortably. I see Rooney going in that time as well.

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21 Feb 2013 15:57:01
From what I've been seeing it seems there could be a exodus at Madrid in the summer. Hopefully United will take advantage of this as I think we really missed out when selling Ronaldo a few years back. Imagine a United team over the last few years if we had taken Van Der Vart, Robben and Sneijder (ssss) when they went on the cheap.
Will he interesting to see who becomes available over the summer!

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I think Ozil is very plausible. Some don't agree. However we have placed bids in for him on numerous occasions over the past 3 years. SAF quite often gets his man, this could be the year. Other than Ozil I'd like to see Di Maria here, or Coentrao.

Fresh! {Ed004's Note - Don't think I would want either of the latter two. Both seem to have terrible attitudes which can be costly at times. Both have received there fair share of suspensions since joining Madrid. Something we do not want to have to worry about in games}

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I can't see Ozil going anywhere but Bayern, I'd like to think we would be in with a shot but unless they show no interested or he wants to stop at Madrid then I can see him in Munich next year.
I can see your point about the bad attitude problem Ed but if anyone can control them its Fergie. Cue Cantona debate!

If I could pick 3 players excluding the obvious I'd take -

Khedira
Varane
Alonso

Realistic targets? {Ed004's Note - I'd love Varane. He will be world class and one of the very best around the others I'm not sure we would have a chance of getting tbh}

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Do Bayern really need Ozil though? They have Robben, Ribery, Muller, Kroos, Shaqiri, not really sure he's what they need.

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I would never want nor ever have Robben he gets injured getting off the bench, Van Der Vaat Is too much like Anderson and can't last a match due to stamina issues. I would have had Sneijder but tbh am glad we blew him out

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Give me Ozil or Goetze and I will be a happy man indeed. I would sell Rooney to get both in the team imagine a front 4 all interchanging of Kagawa, Goetze, Ozil and RVP. If played like the Chelsea front 4 of Hazard, Mata, Oscar and Torres were at the start of the season it would be incredible.

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21 Feb 2013 15:46:58
Hello Eds, regulars.
long time reader, 1st time poster here.
not a rumour this, but what is people's views on Fabio's progression this season? seems to me he's doing very well in very difficult circumstances, qpr being a much better team when he is playing.
thankfully Evra has improved a lot this season, however the prospect of the the Silva twins playing in tandem for the next 10 years gives me confusing feelings in my
nether region.

Triffic work on the sites Ed's. thanks for giving backseat managers like myself a platform.

Believable9 Unbelievable1

21 Feb 2013 15:20:30
if higuein (sorry, spelling) of real was available, i'd snap him up!

Believable2 Unbelievable7

So overrated its painful. Hernandez is a much better player than him and he's out 3rd choice striker.

Park 3 lung {Ed004's Note - Higuain is a quality striker but has had a stop start season and has no consistency this season}

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21 Feb 2013 15:13:48
are we interested in getting these guys for summer buys? kurt zouma? borja lopez? and some guy at psg called verrati? apparently young with some good talent? thanks! Scott.

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Whose Borja Lopez? I really don't know why we don't invest in more Spanish talent.

Fresh!

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21 Feb 2013 17:55:14
Because you spend all that time and money invested in them and just as you start to get the benefit they go back to Spain. that's if they settle to begin with.

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21 Feb 2013 13:03:06
Shappy, Cabella plays for my local team Montpellier, so I've seen a lot of him in the last couple of seasons.

He's a 22 year old midfielder, who's equally as comfortable in any of the 3 attacking midfield positions in a 4-2-3-1 as he is in central midfield.

He has good passing ability and, like Cleverley, he likes to play quick 1-2 passes. He is also a great dribbler and can find his way in a crowded area. He can also spot a through ball and create a chance out of nothing. One of his strongest assests is his ability to keep the ball when under pressure.

He also has his weaknesses, most notably a lack of heading abilty, his finishing, his crossing ( makes Nani's crossing seems decent ) and his tackling. He works really hard and covers a lot of ground, but his tackling is Scholsesque.

As for his potential, I see a lot of Isco in this kid. He may not be as good, but he can become a worldclass player. A couple of seasons back Cabella suffered from a cruciate ligament injury, which blocked his progression and it took him a lot of time to find his form and fitness back. But he has been gradually improving in the last 12 months and I wouldn't be surprised to see him moving to a big club during the summer.


As for Erik Lamela, I see your point in him lacking the pace to play on the wing in the premier league, but I don't think that would be much trouble. This kid's ability on the ball, close control and dribbling are phenomenal. He can dribble his way past most defenders without using his pace, much like Isco.

And since he is an inverted winger, pace is not as necessary as it is to your Antonio Valencia and Gareth Bale. He cuts inside, dribbles his way past a defemder or 2, and produces a through-ball or shoots. His shooting is really impressive, and he has apparently learned the through-ball from the master Totti himself. And later on he will be moved to the attacking midfield spot where his technical ability will allow him to shine. Our very own David Silva ( with better dribbling abiliy ).

But most importantly if we buy him I hope fergy doesn't stick him on the right wing and make him hug the touchline.

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21 Feb 2013 14:16:37
Cheers Mick, i've only seen Cabella a couple of times. I don't watch Lique 1 as a rule unless i'm watching a certian player. He did look a good player from what i've seen.

I still think Lamela needs another year in Italy as he is abit raw yet and needs to be more consistant imo. But he is going to be a great player. I wouldn't be against signing him now as he'll cost considerably more in 2/3 years time.

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How about Rodriguez? I haven't seen much of him, but a lot of posters on here seem to think he is worth more than 30 mils. If that's true that means he is in Goetze and Isco's price range. Is he really that good?

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I think he is a very good player but its hard to judge a player who plays in a league as weak as Portugal's. As for how much is he worth? I don't think he's proven he's worth more than 30m yet but the same can be said for Gotze and Isco imo. The issue is he is at Porto who are well known for demanding top dollar for their players.

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I agree Shappy I am one of James Rodriguez's biggest fans but to demand the kind of money Porto want is silly. imo he is better than Moura atm and has the potential to be one of the best in his age group. It really shows where football is going though with £30+ million being splashed out on under 22 year olds who aren't even a guaranteed success.

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Rodriguez is not worth the price. I have seen him many many times. I say this again Muniain is better player and more suited to the pl. Rodriguez loves to dive and goes down with the slightest of touches and he will not get the calls in the pl.

For 30 million I would put a bid in for Goetze or Ozil and if we want a left winger Muniain for about 16 to 18 million is much better value.

Shahram {Ed004's Note - Personally I think Rodriguez is a quality little player but if I had the option of either Gotze or Ozil I would move for them first, however, I see Gotze long term position in behind the striker in a central position. Also Muniain has been dreadful this season for Bilbao and he is reported to have an awful attitude, is he what utd currently need?}

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ED004 Muniain has been injured most of this past season and I don't know anything about the bad attitude thing, I was just talking footballing ability and value for the price you pay.

Shahram {Ed004's Note - Hasn't he played 30+ games this season and scored 1 goal?}

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Ed004 I am not sure how many games he has played but pretty sure he has ben crooked most of the year. When he is fit he is brilliant and I like his decision making on the pitch.

Shahram {Ed004's Note - I rated him a few seasons back. Looked a real world beater but he has gone backwards in his development some how}

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21 Feb 2013 12:54:37
Hi Guys

The Mail is saying Rooney is out of the QPR clash. Take it from me he trained this morning

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Fergie said him and jones are out


TRUMORS

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He is training but won't play? I wish managers would make their minds up, they're playing silly buggers with my Fantasy Football selection.

TK-Red

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"He came in for the first time yesterday and the medical people are dealing with him, '' said the United boss. "He has been on medicine and hopefully he will start training today, but I wouldn't think he would be available on Saturday. ''
Fergy

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21 Feb 2013 11:47:29
Who do people think will get the vacant No# 9 shirt this summer? {Ed004's Note - Either RVP or Lewandowski if he is signed}

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Michu.

CAIN

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21 Feb 2013 09:19:28
Nani out, Ronaldo in
Chicharito out, Lewandowski in.

Could these be the two major signings for Utd this summer?

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I would be gutted if we sold Chicharito, if we were to sell a forward (which I don't think we should) I think Welbeck would be the one to go.

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21 Feb 2013 10:38:32
The Manc? No, Welbeck to stay for me.

Whistler.

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Fulham enquired about signing Welbeck in January. They were told to come back in the summer so he may move.

AndypMUFC

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I wouldn't think that signing both is an option. Can't see Lewandowski here at all if I am honest with you.

Fresh!

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Fresh, United are interested in Lewandowski. There has been several meetings with his agent since the RvP signing. The editor has already said there is a very good chance he could sign for United this summer. It doesn't mean we will sign him as he may choose to go elsewhere, but what it does show is that we want to sign him. So if we want to sign him it's likely one of Welbeck, Hernandez or Rooney are possible outs, OR perhaps they will all stay and Rooney will move to midfield? Who knows? But one thing for sure is that the club have been monitoring him recently and there have been meetings.

Sydney!

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I would rather see Rooney, Nani and Welbeck sold with Gotze, Modric, Lewandowski, Strootman and Baines coming in. Even if it took the summer and January to get the all in I would be happy.

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21 Feb 2013 11:31:18
Ronaldo won't happen, the Glazers won't spend that amount on one player. Not when we need four signings who'd cost the same amount. One or four? what's better? I think Lewandowski might come in. I also think Rooney might leave.

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Still can't see it, just seems like its going to be too difficult to keep all 4 happy. Even if Rooney leaves which he may well do. Having Lewandowski and RVP up top wouldn't work I don't think. We'd need to play a 4-2-3-1 with Kagawa in the hole behind RVP, Ozil on the left and Zaha right?

Fresh! {Ed004's Note - I think that would be too much to expect of Zaha tbh}

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21 Feb 2013 08:29:19
Happy 21st Phil Jones. Don't want you out celebrating though, get yourself to the Physio and in the gym so your fit for Madrid.

Ports

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21 Feb 2013 08:26:59
On this day in 1958, Duncan Edwards lost his battle for survival from injuries sustained in the Munich air crash.

Duncan Edwards was regarded as many as one of the greatest players ever at the young age of 21.

Thoughts and prays are with his family today. R. I. P to a United legend.

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People compare phil jones to ducan jones, strange, jones birthday is on this day.

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No names post is very badly written but is actually a very big coincidence. Jones is the same age today that Edwards was when he died.

GDS

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That is where the similarities ends. Good luck to Phil I hope he has a great career at United but to compare him to Big Dunc is like comparing Wellbeck to Pele or Cleverley to Messi. There isn't a player who played against him or with him who didn't consider him the greatest. I shall leave it to the man who brought them all through and could certainly spot a player. "When I used to hear Muhammad Ali proclaim to the world that he was the greatest, I would always smile. The greatest of them all was a footballer named Duncan Edwards. ,,,, Jimmy Murphy.

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21 Feb 2013 06:59:52
Barca, Valencia, Madrid, Malaga all are on the brink of elimination.
Although by the look of things no team is considered as favourites, I favour Bayern for UCL.

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Madrid are not on the brink of elimination we drew 1-1 it is very much still all to play for even if we are in the slightly stronger position. Malaga are a goal down but could beat porto by 2 goals at home if they play well. Valencia look like they are going out but still wouldn't count them out. Barcelona are in the worst position but it's Barcelona you really think Barcelona can't win 2-0 at the Nou camp against anybody? They could all go out but I think it's silly to say 'on the brink of elimination' to any of these teams. I'd only really say it about Arsenal and Celtic personally.

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I'm backing a utd v juventus final
Juve looking strong this yr


TRUMORS

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On another note, we might still be the only british club left in the competition if we get a good result at home. If Madrid and Barca were to go out at this round would some people be saying the Spanish league is in decline? Based on if's and maybe's concerning results but only a fool would rule out both Spanish teams still going through and not include Dortmund, PSG & Juventus although beside Bayern those three are a little inexperienced in recent years but were top sides in the 80's and 90's.

Supasub

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It is strange to think that all the Spanish clubs could be out in the first knockout round when many pundits believe that the Spanish League is strongest.

I think Dortmund look very strong, as do Bayern, and Juventus. That said if, and its still a BIG if, Barcelona and Madrid both crash out I would fancy United to beat any of the remaining teams at Old Trafford and we showed at the Bernabeu we're no pushovers away. It's still early days in all competitions but with a bit of luck we could be looking at a pretty special year.

Adz

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Although Barca can win 5 - 2 at camp nou and go 5 - 4 on agg, Remember last season?
They have madrid game in the sandwich I guess.
Same for madrid they have barca to entertain, so United are slight favourites in this tie.
My (our) heart (s) want united to win CL but who knows CL is a sort of giant killing in a way.

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Valencia and Malaga atre definitely out and both psg and porto are too good for them and will finish the job. The intriguing games are obviously United and AC milan.

Shahram

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21 Feb 2013 03:45:04
Hey all, to ed002/Sydney, would I be right in thinking that there's a slight chance that come the summer we could see scholes retire, fletcher possibly depending on his illness, nani+lindegaard and possibly Anderson sold with Zaha joining up on July 1st followed by the possibility of begovic, a centre back maybe garay/zouma/ogbonna/mangala, a centre midfielder being bender/Wanyama/strootman most likely strootman and then a versatile attacker/striker?sorry for all the questions ed002 and everyone just wondering if I'm on the right track as to what ye might be thinking/know of. thanks guys {Ed002's Note - Broadly speaking much of this could happen.}

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Don't think anybody really knows anything for sure other than people very high up in the club, and even they are probably concentrating on winning as many trophies as possible before any transfer business is dealt with in the summer.

I appreciate this is a rumour site but united are about to embark on one of the most important few weeks in recent seasons, 4 home games in a row where if we win them all we are at least 12 points clear with 9 games to go, in the fa cup semi final and into the champions league quarter final. And people are on here discussing something that nobody really knows about that will not be happening for 5 months.

When will we ever be happy as united fans? Because to be honest I am loving this season and am happy with the squad we have, let's worry about transfers for next season once this season is over eh?

Am I the only one that thinks this?

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Couldn't put it better myself GDS
Chris the REDman

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21 Feb 2013 11:20:09
GDS I agree to an extent. However behind the scenes I imagine that Gill has done his talks with Fergie and the Glazers about what cash is available and who the targets are. And that negotiations could be underway. He'll want to leave his successor in a good position, and United usually act quick in the market. As fans we can only speculate. Of course we should be behind the team but with gaps between games we need something to talk about, especially as the T word should be banned. There are only so many team line ups that can be posted and only so many delusional scousers to correct. MrE

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12 points clear in the league through to the last 16 season going well fergy saying this is a better squad than 1999, I'm not sure there will be that many signings
Who did we sign after the treble in 1999

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MrE, fair point we need something to talk about, it just frustrates me the people coming on here saying we should sell about 5 players and bring in 5 players who have won nothing and have only shown potential, something which united very rarely do.

The amount of people saying 'I would be happy with. ' And naming 4 foreign players with no premier league experience coming in astounds me. We have a massive squad with youngsters struggling to get a chance in the cups.

Happy to discuss future signings but people seem obsessed with it as if we are 5th in the league out of all the cups and need a huge overhaul. Feels like the arsenal page sometimes ;)

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Jred, Ruud Van Nistelrooy?

Mick

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21 Feb 2013 12:23:49
jred that's the thing, we rested on our laurels. As keane said we wasted the chance to improve and create a proper european dynasty. We should have tried harder for van der Saar, signed a top class centre half to replace Johnson, not sold Stam, and signed a world class striker or two to replace Cole and Yorke. MrE

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Mick
we bought ruud the following year

I'm not saying we won't spend big I just think if fergy is happy with the squad and we are winning it may not be as big a summer as some people think

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The manager can't win either way. In 1999 we signed Silvestre from Inter Milan and that was it. People have since said we missed out on the chance to really kick on and dominate although we already had a team that would dominate the league for 3 years and we still reached the quarter finals (out to Madrid) and the Semis. Then go forward to 2008 when we have won the league and CL and we sign Berbatov to add something different to the team and since then people say we shouldn't have bothered as Tevez and Rooney played so well the year before. Sometimes the fans are just never happy, regardless.

TK-Red

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We just need a couple of midfielders.

Centreback can wait, Evans, Vidic, Smalling all fighting for 2 places, Rio on hand to provide cover and experience, and Jones as well. With the likes of Keane and co loaned out.

Leftback could possibly wait a season as well, Evra might manage 1 more season, Buttner will be a year wiser, Fabio will be back as well, although I see him more as cover for both fullback spots than starting. I'd like to see us go for Baines but not essential.

Nani needs replacing, I think Valencia will be given next season to see if he can get back so I think that's something for 2014.

Its midfield that needs the work especially with question marks over Anderson and Fletcher.

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TK I think the point is that we didn't really strengthen in after '99 when maybe really we should have. Whereas in 2008 we bought the wrong player. Great technically but just didn't have the right attitude be a United player. I've no problems with the boss spending if its the right player and Berb wasn't the right player as I think most people now accept. Not saying I would have preferred Tevez as he's shown what a Rat he is.

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21 Feb 2013 14:04:51
TKRED I agree fans are fickle. But we got it the wrong way around. We didn't spend when we should have and spent when we didn't need to. In 99 as you say we signed Silvestre. Good solid pro but not the world class partner for Stam we needed. Also we didn't properly replace big Pete or look to replace Irwin. And Yorke maybe should have gone as he was class but loved to party to much. In 2008 we again got it wrong in over paying for a player we didn't really need who had the wrong attitude. MrE

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I'm beginning to think that all we REALLY need this summer is a good, recognised CM'er and a good, recognised winger (to replace Nani), as well as Zaha of course.

LB and CB could be sorted in summer of 2014 IMO but that will depend on keeping the likes of Evra, Rio, Vidic for one more year.

I agree with GDS that we don't need wholesale changes (certainly not swapping 5 experienced EPL players for 5 foreign prosepcts). I also agree with jred that we will not have as busy a summer as some are expecting - to break up a (potentially) winning squad with a good mix of age/quality is unlike SAF.

HBadger

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HBadger I said the same, CB and LB can wait till 2014, midfield is the priority. And a winger. Small steps rather than big changes.

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Mort and MrE (that sounds like a sitcom) I agree but in 1999 there wasn't much we could do to improve the starting 11. Obviously we needed to replace Schmeichel and perhaps we could have signed another partner for Jaap Stam but Ronny Johnson was a very effective player for us at the time and the rest of the team picked itself. Also Silvestre was very much someone to cover Johnson and Irwin. Had SAF gone out and spent money, who is to say that we wouldn't have been sat there 4 years later saying the same as we did about Berbatov. Plus let's not forget that even without signings we went on to win another 2 league titles. The point about Dwight Yorke is slightly off as the manager was infact looking to sign someone in 2000, RVN, but it was only his knee that put the move on hold. Its easy for us to look back with hindsight but the manager has to make the best decision at the time and, on both occasions, I bet the majority of fans were comfortable with those decisions.

TK-Red

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