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24 Jan 2013 22:45:50
Anyone else think Pardew has got Frogleg crazy?!
Half the dressing room will just speak French all the time... Can't be good for moral.
Maybe we should relieve them of Cabeye to help them out ;)
DodgyBanter
I'd prefer the term Frogleg Fever personally!
RJM
24 Jan 2013 22:24:59
I wish people will leave David de gea alone, if it wasn't for him on Sunday we would of got beaten, let's get behind this bloke . Hopefully sir Alex will come out and back him in tomorrow's press conference, remember when the Great Dane first came to England he also made the odd mistake.
Are the opposition going to leave him alone and just take shots from distance so he can keep making saves and look good?
Jono
24 Jan 2013 21:11:29
Even after the ballboy incident, I still wish we had hazard
TomBomb
24 Jan 2013 21:02:31
HBA £5.75m, Cabaye £5m, Debuchy £5m = £15.75m. Wilfred Zaha = £15m.... Why dotn we shop abroad?
This puts it in perspective... people say potential but who knows.
We do? Vidic (£7m), Evra (£5.5m), Fabio, Rafael (Around £2.5m each), Chicharito (£6-7m)...
British talent is always more expensive, but I for one know I would like to see quality english players playing alongside foreigners for Manchester United, even if it costs us more.
Covey
Where are Newcastle in the league?
Oh, that's why!
Gav
British talent? british players are terrible? compared to german, italian, spanish, portugese, french, swedish, belgian they are nothing.
Where did I compare them with all those countries in my post?
I said I want to see the best players Britain has to offer playing alongside foreigners, I didn't say they had to be as good as them.
I WANT to see British players play for United, what is the point in having an English team field no native players?
If we don't push British players to play for the top teams in the top tier of English football what hope do we have of producing any more good British players?
Part of the reason why I enjoy watching United is the blend between British and foreign players, I would hate it if we were to ever field a team with no British players.
Covey
No name, Do you watch the premier league? If you do then you'll notice it is unlike any other league in europe.
Now people will point to the number of foreign players in the EPL as to what makes it great, but there are the same nationalites in all the top leagues in europe. So what makes the Prem different? It's the British players that you don't get anywhere else.
If you only base a player on their technical ability then yes then most of the British players are behind their continental cousins. But that isn't the only abilty that footballers have, there is the physical side of the game, the Prem is well know for being one of the most physical league in europe. I'll admit this side of the game is slowly fading but it is still an important aspect for a footballer.
Then there is the mentality, a footballers mentality can take a decent player and make him good, or a good player great. The mentality of British players is different to that of our continental cousins. Is it better? who knows but it is different. Britian will catch up the rest of europe eventually when it comes to technical ability. You can see it now with academy football. But will the rest of europe be able to cope with British players who are technically equal to them, physically superior and with the British mentality? That would be interesting.
So when you see the term British talent remember to base your judgement on all of the players attributes not just his technical level.
Shappy
Where was this physical strength and mentality when we got wooped by athletic bilbao who were 10th last season. did it help against basel?
You are so biased, if there was a rule where you could only play players from the teams country no british team would win the champions league.
What a load of bull
Listen to the chelsea fans bemoaning there foreign contingency who lack the passion for the club because they have no understanding of the history and when things start to go wrong you need a milner or scholes to fight for you.
dave
24 Jan 2013 20:45:13
Nice attempt by the Glazer puppets earlier on to dirty my name because I refuse to let my anti Glazer campaign go. For god's sake they are bleeding the club dry and you lot are accepting it or just ignoring it. I keep banging on about it which is the last thing they want as they detest any publicity about what they are up to and their puppets do the best to attack anyone who points them out. Sorry GDS Gav and Luke Chadwicks teeth. Whilst they are bleeding my club I will keep banging on about them. I AM KLOOT
"My anti Glazer Campaign" Can't say I've noticed this campaign at Old Trafford KLOOT? Which suggests, you don't attend as much as you like people to think you do or your just a keyboard warrior. In fact why, if indeed you do attend Old Trafford so much do you continue to go, putting money in the pockets of the people you detest so much?
The media have given up trying to cause trouble between Glazers, Fans, Staff etc because it's a non story now, we are in the position we are, they're here to stay, the debt is slowly going, we're still competing, we're still capable of attracting the best players in Europe, proven by your new crush RVP, we're still the biggest draw in the Premier League and along with Barcelona, Madrid and Munich, the biggest draw in Europe.
So unless this "anti Glazer Campaign" is going to significantly do anything, I'd get over it if I were you and if you were me, you'd be good looking :)
Ports
Again you have used the word glazer more times than anyone else on this site. We have an important cup game on Saturday and have just spent 10 million on one of the best young talents in England. Forgive us for thinking there are more important matters at hand. I for one want to win number 20.
GDS
Have a good weekend 'Kloot the Glazer Mole'! :)
Have we touched a nerve?
What exactly have the Glazer's done to p!ss you off in recent times?
Oh, I thought so........
Gav
And when you get a heart attack (which just might happen the way you carry on) they will still be doing what they want because, quite frankly, the own (at least for now) the club. Next....
Bernidre
Thank you Kloot we all appreciate the campain you're conducting to rid us of the glazers, by constantly refering to posters on here as " Glazer muppets ". Thank you for your help, the whole Manchester United community appreciate your hard work.
But when it's all said and done, your disrespectful and unjustified " banter " is not of any worth to the glazers, and you are the muppet after all.
Mick
I am sure the glazers are really upset that you keep winging about them on this site!
Marky Mark
Nice post Mick
Bren,
Bernidre, Mick
Don't be so foolish. I'm sure the owner's are quaking in their boots at the thought of a keyboard warrior muddying their name!
What exactly do you expect KLOOT?
You are not happy with RVP and Kagawa as signings last summer? You are unhappy at us buying unproven talents such as Jones, Smalling, Rafael, Fabio, Hernandez, Powell and Zaha? Are you not happy that we are 5 points clear in the EPL in January and still in the CL? Not happy that our revenues our growing rapidly and debt is decreasing rapidly and we seem to be in a better financial situation each year?
I don't get your motivations Kloot, I really don't. Do you think any United fans were happy when THEY rocked up and dumped a load of debt on us, just for the privelidge of buying our fine club? Of course we weren't mate, so why try and cause an 'us and them' atmosphere among us? We all felt the same ffs.
We all hated what happened back then but that's like 8 years ago now, pal. Do you really want to waste that much of your life being bitter about it and not enjoying the positive things? Not only that but we've been comforted by the fact that our finances have gone from strength to strength since that point in time. And as much as you'd like to ignore the fact, a lot of that is down to the evil people who own our club. We have also won many trophies in the same time btw.
Chelsea ad City are owned by billionaires who are willing to make up for any loss in profit because their clubs are run like a play thing.
But those 2 sides apart, who exactly do you look at and think 'oh I wish United was run as well as they were' ? I'm really interested to hear your answer to this one because you seem to be looking for the 'perfect owner' which as we all know does not exist.
What exactly is making you so downbeat so as to bring up topics like this when we are in such a good position competitively? If the 'evil ones' get us to a position where we are clear of debt, winning regular trophies and buying a world class player from time to time - will you still be going on about the debt they dumped on us when they first arrived?
I truly am interested Kloot mate to hear your response to my specific questions.
Gav
Kloot mate you seriously need to stop take a breath and clear your head.
As you've so often said the Glazers don't give a toss about us fans, So why would they send people on to a site like this to smooth public relations?
If they don't care then they won't spend their money solving a problem that they aren't worried about. Think about it.
These millionaires are sittling in the luxuary mansions in america, spending their afternoons sipping cocktails on their own private beach. They don't give a rats ass what you think or what you do, as quite frankly it's never going to effect them. They've rightly or wrongly bought the club. Now everything to do with the club belongs to them no matter how you feel about it.
Your choices are simple, either continue to support the club and by extension the Glazers or go and support another club, as much as it will hurt to do so.
I hate the government and I hate paying so much in tax to support them, I could not pay it and move to another country but my friends and family are here, this is my home. You are in the same predicement with the Glazers and Manchester United.
I'm still in england and still paying my taxes, but i've just accepted that that is the price I have to pay to be here. I still don't like it but there is no point in being angry and bitter about it as this will neither make me friends or happiness for myself.
Let it go before it's too late and you realise you have let this anger and bitterness eat you up inside until there is nothing left but an angry bitter and deeply unhappy man.
Shappy
Look at the names of those who have come out to attack me. Same old Glazer excuse merchants. one of them even wants me to be greatful we have spent 10 million on an unproven forward when we are crying out for a world class midfielder. Another criticises me for going to OT and supporting the team whatever my thoughts about the owners. I wonder how many of those who are having a go at me have ever even been to Manchester never mind OT they just wear their replica shirts down the pub. I AM KLOOT
It's prob the same kloot that dnt agree with sugar daddys too lol bless him he's old and dnt know wot he wants!
I picture KLOOT like andy off little Britan, "i want that 1" " I dnt like it"
He will never be happg unless the glazers invent a time machine and brings back the legends!
Bloody glazers can't defie physics!
Chris the REDman
Kloot, lol
Zero response to any of the question's asked of you, I can only assume you don't have the answers. You enjoy the bit where you get to moan about stuff, but when it comes to constructive solutions you're not so keen. You'd prefer to make throwaway comments about living outside Manchester and wearing replica tops.
Still, you take the moral high ground because you've got your season ticket (which btw helps fund our evil owner's!)
Gav
Kloot, we have a world class central midfielder, his name is Tom 'The Brand' Cleverley ;)
Sorry but I couldn't resist.
Sydney!
24 Jan 2013 16:17:31
Eds and fellow poster can we refer to fergie as the godfather on here for a while {Ed007's Note - Only if you send me in money.}
24 Jan 2013 20:14:55
Hey peep's
I must admit i'm very happy about the Zaha deal, this boy is going to be Amazing!
I work with Palace fan (hes is born and bred liverpudlian too :S ), now for the last 18 months this bloke has been banging on about zaha telling me how great he is, so I started looking out for him if he was on t.v. Now to me, I say he reminds me of a very young ronaldo or neymar(i know not that great yet) but still has crazy potential for a 20yr old, he has proven himself at championship level to a very consistently high level for 18 months or more and again he is 20!
I know it is a lot of money, but so was ronaldo when he came and we know how that turned out.
All I'm really saying is lets not get down on this deal as some are, which I understand because its not the area that needs the most work, but to think of it like we may of just signed another 'ronaldo' :)
Chris the REDman
Totally agree REDman, Zaha is an exciting player who will get fans on their feet when he gets the ball.
It annoy's me when people say he has no end product, neither did Ronaldo when he signed. Zaha is can now take his ability to the next level, I'm not expecting him to become as good as Ronaldo, but Ronaldo and Messi are on another level anyway but with better training with better players and that's nothing against Palace as they have giving him a great Schooling, but now Zaha can go to his next level and wherever it could possibly take him!
Also, to those saying we should of spent elsewhere, well in the summer we weren't desperate for a Striker and RVP became available and SAF went for him and he could be the difference between 1st and 2nd, so point is, when special players become available, we should go out and get them.
I think Zaha will become a fan favourite very quickly.
Ports
24 Jan 2013 18:52:10
Pogba wonder goal for Juventus, I'm sure in time we will regret letting him go.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QbgLkhCOlhM
My apologies if you seen this already.... 15 mill for Zaha is way OTT would rather put the extra few million for a proven player like Isco
Isco would end up costing a good £30m when he is finally sold. Then he would command a salary of £4m a year (£20m over five years). He would command a bigger signing on fee and agent fee. I completely agree that Isco would be a fantastic signing and that he would be my first or second choice for a winger, BUT he would not cost just a few extra million, rather a good £30m+ more.
Sydney!
Proven player? In England?
GDS
24 Jan 2013 22:31:08
how is isco proven? People moan zaha isn't prem proven. Well neither is isco.
24 Jan 2013 18:46:09
When Zaha signs hope he comes straight away and is not loaned back, if he is to stay at palace I'd rather a 1st option to buy in the summer for the simple reason being what if the worst happened and he signs for us now but stays at palace on loan then gets a bad injury between now and the summer?were would that leave us then?if we're going to fork out for him I'd rather him in our squad now not the summer!
24 Jan 2013 19:12:46
i know he is not our player syd but I found about today so I just wanted to hear, what you guys think about what he did.and AJH you to mate see you guys on saturday I hope we crush them and I hope we can handle berbetov he will play like its his last day on earth, I hate when every team in the league play like its theyr last game against us(i know we are the champions)but when the other teams play against each other they just plays like they are playing a friendly game, well I don't care as long we are doing ok and are on the top of the premier league.manchester united the univers no 1 team zee:)
Were not the champions yet;) FREDO
Sorry mate, I didn't mean for you to stop talking about it, personally I have heard enough of it today and it's driving me bonkers. Personally I think he will get a 3-4 game ban and that will be the end of it. Personally I hope he plays against City as he is due a game to show he's worth £34m, the £6m agent fee plus the salary he is on.
Sydney!
Hate to be the one to break this to you Zee... But we aren't the champions. Not this year anyway.
We weren't even in the final of the FA cup. (Cue Liverpool trolls stage left)
If you we're talking about the league and had turned off the city match a couple of minutes into injury time against QPR on the last day of the season I've got some bad news for you mate...
DodgyBanter
24 Jan 2013 19:07:40
£15m would have secured Dembele this summer and would have come close to matching Everton's valuation for Baines. £15m is too much for proven EPL players who would walk right into our first team and help solve some of the biggest problems in the team. Yet, it's the right amount to pay for an unproven winger who has never been tested at the highest level.
And don't bang on about the low wages the lad will be on. If he manages to work himself into a regular first team place he will be looking for wages comparable to, if not greater than, the above players. Priorities are completely skewed at the club. Silly money for untested potential that does nothing to solve the immediate problems in the squad.
On a brighter note, Rio has finally learned how to use twitter properly. His response to the Hazard incident is pure gold, "17 year old ball boy... is that a wind up!? Is being a ball boy now a career move?"
Danny Pughnited
Completely agree, was only saying the same thing to my m8 at work, he's happy we are getting zaha but I said the money should be spent on a midfielder. i'm not against the zaha signing, like most people are saying he has potential and he is british, I just feel a cm player would benefit the team more. tom17
Completely agree Danny, some of our transfer dealings are simply bizarre.
AJH
It's still the same financial year as the summer so perhaps money wasn't the reason why we didn't sign Dembele. Perhaps he wasn't a priority and the manager offered a cheeky bid to Fulham. We did want Witsel so perhaps he was the priority until Zenit came in an offered double his true valuation. Perhaps Everton were not compromising over Baines? I am not sure if these figures are accurate and they are only rumour, but Everton apparently wanted £17m and we would only go to £12m.
Sydney!
I wonder how many United fans would have come on here and said what an opportunity we had missed, had we NOT signed him.
Sometimes you have to take risks for reward, besides I doubt this transfer will affect any of our dealings in summer. Since when did united invest in proven EPL players in January anyway? SAF said it himself that it is a tricky window to be doing business.
We've signed him, you can't change it, just support the lad and hope he grows into a world beater.
Covey
If you want the brightest British talent you have to pay premium and imo he has the ability to shine in the epl. If Zaha was playing for Wigan or Southampton right now and we were interested people would be saying £10million with add ons is a bargain for a 20 year old with huge potential.
As said before though Zaha is English (I know Baines is as well) and won't crave a move to a boyhood club he supported like Barcelona or Real Madrid, you just have to look at some of the young talents that teams have had that have been foreign like Pique, Fabregas and Ronaldo, they have all gone to the clubs they idolised as a child.
I know Zaha also hasn't been proven in the premier league but had Walcott, Oxlade Chamberlain and Bale before they were bought? Look at Chris Smalling, if a few years ago you suggested he would be playing at Manchester United when he was playing non-league you would be laughed off the site.
There are bigger problems in our team but I think this signing will stop a winger problem developing which it has started to do.
All in all don't slate the lad until he has a few games under is belt in the famous red united jersey.
AvidDevil
Tom, what if there is enough money for both Zaha and a midfielder, but the midfielder will not be joining til the summer?
Sydney!
It's not 15m though is it? it's around 10m with add ons which will only be activated if he is a success.
Also you can't discount the wages as they are part of the investment of signing a player.
The other thing you need to consider is age. Zaha is 20 so in 4/5 years time will still have a significant value in the transfer market, Baines and Dembele are 25/26 so in 4/5 years time will have lost nearly all of their value in the transfer market.
Then there is talent, IF and that's a big IF Zaha reaches his potential he will be a far better player than both Baines and Dembele.
So Zaha represents a player who is cheaper than the others you've mentioned in both wages and in fee(at least initially), has more potential, and would have more value to us in five years time. Plus he plays in a position we need strengthening, although I would agree that there are other areas we need strengthening more.
I think people also need to realise we have our transfer targets, and if they are available in this window then we may move for them now, if they aren't available until the summer then we'll simply have to wait until then. Zaha is available now, other targets don't appear to be.
Shappy
Lot of perhaps(s) there Syd, but i'll add one more. Perhaps the manager's priorities in the transfer market are looking more and more bizarre? If the team didn't have some obvious flaws that needed immediate action then you could understand taking a gamble on a young lad with bags of potential who could push his way into the first team in a few years. For example, signing Smalling when we already had Vidic, Rio and Evans.
But we're prioritising a young winger who won't join up with the team until next season, let alone become a regular starter, when (a) we are really struggling in this position at the moment, and (b) we are also desperately short on midfielders. Spending £15m on a young prospect tells us that we have money to spend but the manager doesn't see any areas of the squad that need immediate improvement.
I don't see why we can think that £15m is too much money for an established player like Dembele who would be an immediate first team regular. Or that we wouldn't pay more than £12m for the best lb currently playing in the league. But we will pay £15m for a player who may or may not become a crucial part of the first team.
And it's not that I don't want Zaha to succeed, or that I won't support him. I'm just struggling to see the logic in a transfer policy that refuses to prioritise the immediate areas of concern.
Danny Pughnited
Totally disagree
You must understand that the cost of a player includes transfer fee + wages + agents fees etc. So are you trying to say that we should just look at the transfer fee alone and start slating our club? Don't think so, yo have to look at the whole package. Also, who are you to say he will cost £15m? The reports I have read say it will be more like £10m with extra bonuses. He is not proven at the top level but when you compare his price with the £40m paid for Lucas do you still see £10-15m as bad value? You come across as negative.
Gav
Until someone at the club can confirm that Dembele or Baines weren't bought because the fee was too high, then it's all a rumour. Everyone seems to be playing around with their own versions of it. Who says Dembele wanted to come to us? Who says Baines wants to? There are targets, but if they aren't available what are we to do? Jeeez.
Bernidre
Danny, maybe the manager's central midfield target is not available this month. Maybe SAF was forced to buy Zaha this month as Spurs pounced? Perhaps Zaha was a summer target originally.
Zaha has initially cost £10m. The rest is dependent on appearances and United success. I do not see why this bothers you so much if I am honest. Buying Zaha doesn't mean we will not buy a midfielder.
Sydney!
Shappy, great post!
Danny Pugh, in your assumptions you are overlooking so many factors that it seems laughable that you are so critical. For example 1) do you know who the manager actually rates from the players mentioned? 2) do you know what research the manager/cub has done into certain players abilities, attidutes, injuries etc? 3) you say 'prioritising' whereas most sensible people can see that we were never going to make a major signing in January and that agreeing a fixed fee for a top youngster for the summer is actually a positive thing.
Do you actually believe that SAF was in his office one day and had to choose between signing Zaha or signing a good CM'er? Come on now.
I don't understand your 'prioritising' theory at all as it doesn't work like that IMO.
And you keep quoting £15m when nobody else believes that is the price - unless the guy proves he is worth it via a certain number of appearances or trophies won (and if that happens we will have made the extra £2.5-5m back anyway!).
Gav
Gav the agents fees are equally applicable in the case of Zaha, and as for wages, as I have clearly said, if Zaha becomes a first team regular his wages would be on par with what Dembele or Baines would expect. We may save on wages in the short term, but Zaha will not be a regular starter in the short term, same way Powell isn't.
Bernidre, if Dembele was open to a move to Spurs, I'm pretty sure he would be open to a move to us, unless he had a huge desire to stay in London. Fact is we didn't bid enough to get this far. As for Baines, I'm pretty sure at this stage in his career he is looking for a move to a top team. I remember him saying he was flattered to be linked to United which is a polite way of saying I'm open to a move. Both Baines and Dembele were available for the right price, same way Zaha has been made available for the right price.
Syd, how many years has the illusive central midfielder not been available? He keeps changing his name and number, and he never seems to be home when we call. But we're already over 3 years late for the prom and at some stage we're going to need to find a date somewhere. It's funny that we pounce for Zaha because we can't afford to miss out on him but we can afford to wheel out the same tired excuses every year when we fail to address our blatant weakness in the centre of the park. Making sure we don't miss out on a young player while allowing our midfield to stagnate year after year, baffling.
Danny Pughnited
Danny, I am with you in agreement about a midfielder, but I do not see what Zaha has to do with this. The manager will have his midfield targets and he will go for them in the summer.
Sydney!
Shappy
Whilst quite a few things you mention are fair point, your base assumption that he will be worth more in 4 or 5 years time has no basis and only wish full thinking. Is anderson or Nani worth more today that what we paid for them.
The argument against this sort of a purchase is why not pay 20 million for a proven cm than 10 for another maybe good winger.
How does he help us now or next year?
Do you see teams like Barca, Madrid, Bayern who we consider ourselves on the same level going out and buying potential at the expense of what is an imminent need?
Do you believe we can win trophies by constantly buying potential or the finished article. Look at RVP effect on our performance and league standings.
I am still waiting to see greatness from a lot of players bought in the last 3 or 4 windows but frankly the law of averages says they turn out average.
If you add up the total cost of paying for potential and how they tend to mostly miss, I am inclined to favor buying the finished article.
Shahram
24 Jan 2013 18:17:59
Not sure about this Zaha signing.
It seems so wierd that with half of the season gone and no dominating games at all we are still not any better off in the centre.
If anything we are worse! Fletch confirmed out for season, scholes and giggs proving against almost all their effectiveness has disappeared, ando contributing more in his 2 game showing than he normally does but then spending 2 months on Xmas. Only clevs and carrick are holding the middle together.
I think that SAF doesn't want to sign anyone to replace one of those two in the team therefore allowing the oldies their spots on the bench. Maybe that's why he feels comfortable waiting till summer and instead of bowing to publi pressure of getting a CMer he can use the guise of Scholes and possibly giggs retiring and point to squad available as to why they were signed instead of we actually NEED them.
Just a thought!
Jono
I think the club's midfield target is earmarked for the summer when Scholes retires. I think now Powell is back from injury he may stay in the 1st team squad and we will use Anderson, Powell, Cleverley & Carrick til the summer with Scholes & Giggs chipping in with games.
Sydney!
Giggs has been phenomenal last few games.
Caolán.
I think he has his targets and none are available in this window, so instead of just signing who is available he'll wait until the summer to get who he feels is best rather than just who is available atm.
I think he see's Carrick as first choice and he want's to give Anderson Cleverley and Jones games to see if they can step up or keep fit. When you consider we normally play with a midfield two then four players with Giggs and Scholes playing the odd game should be enough.
You need to remember that Sir Alex rightly or wrongly has total faith in all our midfielders, so six players into two positions seems good enough to him.
We don't dominate teams due to our tactics as much as to our personel. We play and attacking game with two strikers and two wingers who push on very high as we have attacking fullbacks pushing forward into midfield, when we are attacking teams we have our two CB's then a midfield four of our two CM's plus our two FB's then a front four consisting of our strikers and wingers. Our line up looks more 244, and seeing as Sir Alex also likes one of his midfielders to push forward as well then means we can have only three covering players. This would work fine if we had a midfielder who is strictly a DM and will always sit and cover and aslong as all the other players can keep possession and not give the ball away.
But we don't have a solid DM and we have wingers not inside forwards which by their nature tend to give the ball away too much. Also Rooney has given the ball away too much this season trying silly passes that aren't on.
This is one of the reasons why Valencia is out of sorts, he's been told to come infield more and look for a pass rather than take his man on then cross. He isn't comfortable in possession and has been found out as abit one dimentional.
If we had a fast strong DM and a couple of better wide players who can keep possession and play through balls then we would be dominating games.
Thats why we looked at Hazard and tried for Moura, it's why Nani won't be getting a new contract and why Valencia won't be here in 18 months time. And why we signed Kagawa.
We are trying to evolve into a possession based high pressing team but this process takes time. As we risk destroying the team moral and spirt if we rip one team apart and sign all the needed players in one go. The process is evolution not revolution.
Shappy
Did you really expect a top class CM to arrive in Jan?
I certainly didn't!
In fact I don't thonk there are any top clas CM'ers available.
We will buy one in the summer mate, there's no need to moan in January!
Gav
Gav
We said the same thing last summer mate, did we get one then?
Jono
Jono
No we didnn't but that was not because we spent the money on other positions IMO. I really don't think it works likes that. The manager just chose to strengthen other areas and give Cleverly/Anderson a chance to shine alongside Carrick, and perhaps he thought Fletcher would be available along with Giggs and Scholes. We have all wanted a CM bought for ages, doesn't mean the manager has though. He has his own mind as we all know too well!
Gav
Gav, Sydney, Shappy
This is the same conversation every year with each summer coming and going and SAF does nothing. Have you ever thought about the fact that maybe he genuinely believes we don't have a need to buy there.
Shahram
Shahram
Yes that's exactly what I think has happened. If the manager wanted a CM he would have got one. I honestly believe Cleverly was going to have his chance to shine last year but couldn't take it because of his injury. So he has been given this season instead, then the manager will assess what we need in CM in the summer. Similarly he gave Welbeck a good chance last season, then decided we needed RVP the following summer. He will always have faith in our current crop even when the fan's don't. But I do think we will finally buy a CM this summer. And I can't wait to find out who.
Gav
Gav
I didn't say we never bought due to spending elsewhere I said SAF seems to me as not buying in the centre as for some reason he thinks what we have is good enough.
Look at every other elite team in Europe. If they had both their first teamers out they hav dreads made CMers to replace them we have no fletch, injured Ando, almost 40 Scholes, almost 40 Giggs who isn't a CM, Jones who is a defender, Powell who has had about 4-5 games at this level. Now with all those fit clev, Carrick, fletch and Ando could do (I wouldn't want Ando) with the other three picking up the injury positions but that is the weakest iCM in comparison to all the elite Teams CMs and most top teams aswell.
I have said before I have had info from fletchs Scotland meet up that he was never fit enough to return full time and was more a toe in the water to see what he could manage. Funnily enough timed exactly as the window was coming to a close and no CMer in sight.
With his public failing to get WS as well as derogatory bids for Dembele I think he knows he needs a player or 2 but with everyone highlighting how weak we are in there he is closing ranks and not admitting the problem by buying.
Let's put it this way, our wingers have been sub standards this season but our main problems have come from no control in the middle so which should be the first problem solved? Our wingers out of form has still not effected us scoring well its the running over our CM that's causing us to conceded and continually get pressed back.
With fletch out for the season, Ando consistently injured, Powell not in ahead of Scholes or Giggs SAF clearly thinks these two are good enough to hold our CM together if Carrick or Clevs gets injured. I don't!
Targets are made available if your willing to pay. We could easily get strootman (who seems likely in the summer) for the same or less than we are paying for Zaha so why are we waiting?
The CM has needed a player for 7 windows, now IMO it needs 2 as this summer we could see fletch, Scholes and Giggs gone.
We shouldn't be waiting for other teams to move before we are forced into buying we should be sorting our main issues first and foremost instead of spending half a transfer window chasing another winger.
Jono
Jono
I actually agree with your view on our midfield. We need to invest as we are lacking quality in there. But I don't think we're desperate til the summer.
Like I said above - I believe the manager is giving Cleverly his chance this season like he did with Welbeck up front last season. Also, the manager still has faith in Giggs and Scholes. And although fan's may be ready to write off Anderson because of his injuries - the manager will still see him as a valuable squad member. Add those options to Carrick and Jones and we have 5 optins to cover 2 positions. SAF won't just go out and buy a 6th squad CM'er just because we fans see flaws in some of our current midfielders.
I think Scholes, Giggs and Fletcher are unlikely to make any further impact after this season and I think we will sign at least one CM'er in the summer.
I've said it many times but just because fans have wanted a CM'er for years does not mean the manager has. If he wants one he'll go for one, and I think he'll do so in the summer (possibly even 2).
Your opening gambit was "Not sure about the Zaha signing" before going on to say we should be investing in midfield. Which is why me, Syd and Shappy have replied to say we think they are unrelated and the manager will get a CM'er in the summer regardless of agreeing a fee for Zaha in January.
Gav
p.s. Sneijder was wanted as an AM imo but no longer needed after we got Kagawa. Dembele I'm a huge fan of but if we made a 'derogatory' offer for him that shows me that the manger can't have wanted him that badly, especially when you consider how much we were willing to spend on DDG, Smalling, Jones as examples.
24 Jan 2013 18:11:26
Qpr have signed a new LB I wonder if this will limit Fabio chances
Z
24 Jan 2013 17:41:24
ok, zaha, nice signing, but our midfield and defence really need sorting out? vida's maybe ok but then who? rafa's got a lot better at right back, granted but?? do you think rooney will be pushed back into midfield to control things and let rvp do what he does best - score goals! oh, lets not sell DDG either, deep down we all know he's a class act! get behind the guy!!
Well...Smalling, Jonen, Evans are 3 names for starters mate.
AJH
Dont rate him there is no end product money should of been spent were we need most
Disagree. I think you have forgotten about most of our defenders!
Gav
24 Jan 2013 17:02:03
So Kiko is finally off and he is joining Stuttgart. The same day as a deal is agreed for Zaha. Was his move dependent on whether or not we signed Zaha? Why would that matter if Zaha was going out on loan anyway? Is Zaha definitely going out on loan?
Sydney!
According to sly sports and every news article zaha will be loaned bk. makes no sense to me. Sydney do you think there's any chance that he might actually come to mufc this January? T45
Syd, with the news that palace have brought a new winger and striker I'm starting to think that zaha is coming this window and not going on loan, the news on sly sports is that there is a hold up as palace didn't want to sell till the summer and just wanted a garenteed sale for then not now
Munkydunc
I don't know, maybe reading too much into it? Anyway, I really wouldn't want Zaha to be loaned back tbh. Considering our current dilema with wingers, unless we plan to use the diamond permanently, I think we should keep him.
Bernidre
Honestly, for the price, I really hope we don't send him back out on loan. Other young players we have signed for similar sums have come in and done fine for the first team, Jones for example.
I doubt the Kiko deal has anything to do with it, I would imagine he has been on the way out for a while.
Covey
24 Jan 2013 18:42:45
We signed Smalling for similar in January but didn't sign him till summer.
T45, I think it's unlikely he will join immediately, but it does seem that Kiko's Stuttgart move was dependent on Zaha. It may just be a coincidence though.
Sydney!
Guys, we have Valencia, Young, Nani & Kagawa who can all already play on the wings (only 2 from 4 can be picked). In fact, we had Young injured on the weekend and still Nani did not make the squad! Do you really think Zaha is going to come in and overtake 2 winger's who the manager has had faith in for years? He's not long turned 20 years old and has only played in the Championship for god sake.
Zaha will play every game for CP between now and the summer, OR he could play the odd 15-20mins for us...
I wonder which option aid his development the most? Come on guys, this is not FIFA or FM!
Gav
24 Jan 2013 16:35:16
Any truth in the rumour that Ezekiel Garay could be signing for United in the summer?
24 Jan 2013 16:27:38
I have seen Zaha play live a few times as my Cousin is an Ipswich Town supported and I go to most games with him.
He can be a great star for us if he continues to progress the way he is, if he makes sure he gets no injuries and keeps to his style of play I can't see anything wrong with him.
And for a winger, he is tall, strong, fast, young and English! Everything you need in a player for Manchester United, lets hope he shines here.
I am hoping for that all needed midfield signing to be announced soon, we seem to drift away from our problems a lot.
Here is to a good career at United for Zaha!
-JakeW
My Cousin is an Ipswich Town supporter*.
-JakeW
24 Jan 2013 16:14:10
I don't think De Gea gets enough credit for being positive w/ negative media around him. Lots of young players would be damaged in confidence. Whenever he thinks about being a better it's like the media sends out the message to say he must be losing his mind or something.
24 Jan 2013 16:03:58
Spanish star Isco, who has been linked with several Premier League clubs, is going to sign a new deal with Malaga until June 2018 with a buyout clause of €35million (£30m), according to Marca.
Sulei
24 Jan 2013 16:03:16
READ THE BELOW ARTICLE:
As revealed comin May, the talks took place on Wednesday, 16 May, less than 72 hours after Arsenal had sealed third spot in the league - and with it a prized Champions League place for the following season - courtesy of a fortuitous 3-2 win at West Brom.
Van Persie and his agent Kees Vos, a long-time family friend, met face to face with Wenger and the Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis. The meeting took place at the manager's home because he had just undergone eye surgery and was wearing an eye patch.
Discussions did not centre on what kind of contract Arsenal were willing to offer or, indeed, the type of deal that Van Persie wanted. Instead, the reigning PFA and FWAPlayer of the Year demanded to know the direction in which Arsenal were heading.
Wenger explained Lukas Podolski, a signing that had been announced in April, would provide greater penetration on the left flank and there were plans to add greater depth and quality to the squad.
Van Persie was not happy with what he heard. Emboldened by his remarkable performances in 2011-12, when his 37 goals inspired the team to heights that hadseemed impossible following a disastrous start to the season, the Dutchman spoke his mind.
"There were very heated discussions, " a source with knowledge of the talks told . "Van Persie told Wenger which players to sign and who he should appoint as his number two. He wanted an external coach from outside of the club to replace [the retired] Pat Rice and didn't want Steve Bould to get promoted because he felt the current staff were all 'yes' men andtoo comfortable in the job."
Arsenal were unwilling to comment when contacted by but it is understood that Wenger was furious. He had once axed Thierry Henry from the team for declaring in his national newspaper columnthat the club should sign Shaun Wright-Phillips and did not take kindly to his judgement being questioned, however celebrated the player.
"Van Persie challenged Wenger and no-onereally does that, " the source added. "It developed into quite a row."
Subsequently, the relationship between the one of the most respected managers ofhis generation and one of Europe's most feared forwards broke down.
Van Persie left for Euro 2012 with his future unresolved, while Wenger pushed ahead with plans to sign not one, but two stellar replacements .
The Arsenal board were keen to stick to their guns and refuse to grant Van Persie the simple exit out of the club that he wanted, while Wenger vowed to sell the player no matter what.
This view was strengthened when the Dutchman went public with his misgivings by releasing an incendiary statement on July 4 which effectively said he wanted to leave because he disagreed with Wenger and the board of directors "in many aspects... on the way Arsenal should move forward".
To Wenger, this amounted to treachery and, by twice crossing the line, he felt Van Persie had caused irreparable damage to their relationship.
The striker returned to pre-season trainingin mid-July but pulled out of Arsenal's tour to try and force through a transfer. In the eyes of manager and player, it was not a matter of if but where.
The departure avenues had been narrowed down to the two Manchester clubs and Serie A champions Juventus. To Van Persie's dismay, the two Spanish giants, Real Madrid and Barcelona, did not bite when the hook was dangled, while he refused Chelsea's tentative interest because he did not want to move to another London club.
"There was one price for European clubs and another price for English clubs, " the source added. "Wenger cut the £25m (€31m) asking price by £10m (€12m) to sellhim abroad but Van Persie didn't want to go to Juventus."
The 29-year-old risked tarnishing his legacy even further by taking the already well-trodden path from Arsenal to Manchester City, a route taken by Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure, Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy.
Wenger told a shareholder after the Arsenal AGM last week than City offered Van Persie an astonishing £300,000-a-week (€373,000). There was even a rumour that the Premier League champions were willing to pay for a helicopter to enable the Dutchman to commute from his Hertfordshire home to Manchester for training every day.
However, City were keen to end the overspending on transfers that accompanied their rapid rise from mid-table club to champions and refused topay more than £15m (€19m) for Van Persie's signature .
In any case, the Dutchman did not want to tarnish his Arsenal legacy even further by making what would have been viewed as the greediest move available, to City. The forward vowed to accept an offer on the table from Manchester United.
However, Van Persie's stance changed slightly in the first few days of August as rumours spread around the London Colney headquarters that Santi Cazorla was on his way to the club, and could be followed by Nuri Sahin.
He had been going through the motions while he waited for a move to materialise but, suddenly, he appeared more motivated and interested. "His attitude and body language was different, " the source added. "He seemed to be saluting the signing of Cazorla."
Van Persie flew out to Arsenal's week-long training camp in Germany ahead of a friendly against Cologne but Wenger's mind was made up.
A few days before the match, which took place on a Sunday night, the Frenchman gave the go-ahead for Gazidis and his opposite number at United, David Gill, to open talks on a deal that would take Van Persie to Old Trafford.
Twenty-four hours after Van Persie had been jeered by some Arsenal fans during a cameo appearance against Cologne, Unitedand Arsenal agreed a £22m (€27m) transfer fee.
But, there was one final twist. Wenger, loathe to sell to a rival, said he wanted another £2m (€2.5m) from United, which frustrated the 19-times league champions and delayed the deal by another 24 hours. It would be late on Tuesday, 13 August before a £24m (€30m) fee was finally agreed between the two clubs, which was then announced to the media the followingday.
Ever the gentleman, Wenger will no doubt shake the hand of Van Persie before proceedings gets underway at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon as the Dutchman prepares to play against the team that he graced for eight seasons.
Hiding behind the mask of politeness will be the face of a manager let down by someone he had helped nurture into a superstar.
YASH {india}
This is all old news, I'm not sure what the relevance of this article is right now.
TK-Red
I don't understand what made you want to copy and paste this old article on here? Please stop.
-JakeW
This has been posted before mate, but thanks for posting it as it is good info if true.
Sydney!
Hold on he said the lil boy inside told him to come here........ Damn liar..... Ah well I would of forgiving him after the first goal ......... Now I just love him ....RVP RVP RVP RVP RVP .....
CAIN
24 Jan 2013 16:01:03
Not United related, but I would really like to see how Bradford would do at the Europa League if they won the League Cup...
They'd lose
AJH
24 Jan 2013 15:35:33
I know this might be controversial, but in my opinion, shouldn't hazard get the same ban as Cantona did? I know cantona jumped over the barriers to get a fan, but this fan was saying everything under the sun to him, and he pretty much hardly touched him. Hazard kicks a child (well annoying youth who is everything wrong with kids these days). All I can see is that the FA will probably fine Hazard, maybe a few extra games ban. Anyone else agree it should be a lengthy period?
Fagan
IMO he should get 6-9 games or somewhere in that region. It's not as bad as Cantona's because he went out to badly hurt someone. But it deserves more than 3 games IMO as you just can't go round kicking people off the pitch. Would be a bad precedent to set to let him get away with just a normal ban.
Gav
Listen to yourselves! 6-9 game ban? Come on.
AJH
If Rooney can get a 4 game ban for swearing into a camera it should be a 12 game ban minimum....won't be though!
And people say United have the FA in there pocket...Jesus, had it been Rooney who did what Hazard did we probably wouldn't be seeing him again before August!
24 Jan 2013 19:15:06
I agree Hazard's actions were stupid and too a degree violent, but the ball boys actions were pre-meditated. His twitter account confirms this. Swansea should be hit with a substantial fine for allowing this to happen. Wipes the smirk off the kids face...Neil
24 Jan 2013 19:19:02
That situation could of easily happened to any of our players, hazard was trying to get the ball, and the ball boy was deliberately wasting time. At the same time hazard should of been mature enough not to act out however did look like he was trying to kick the ball from the grasp of the kid.
The ball boy on twitter a few hours before the game said he was going to waste time. Cantona kick was deliberate, like you could not argue that cantona was trying to kick a ball. This situation could of easily happened to RVP, Rooney, etc. How would you feel then? Imagine it was a liverpool or man city ball boy, you would immediately change your opinion.
Sulei
Actually the yob posing as a ballboy should get a good thrashing from his dad
Puzzled {Ed007's Note - Puzzled, I think this is the first time I have ever agreed with you!}
The red card and 3 match ban is sufficient. The 'child' is 17yrs old the same age as Rooney and Owen were when they made their senior debut's, the same age as Johnny Wilkinson when he played rugby for Newcastle in the rugby premiership, men can join the armed forces at this age, my point is he's not a child. Hazards intent was to get the ball from underneath the ballman, Eric's intent (god love him) was to harm the fan.
Flyhalfmitch.
People are missing the point, it's irrelevant what the ball boy did. I think either the three game ban will remain or the FA will add one more on to make an example of him to stop this from happening again. But until the FA release a statement there isn't a great deal more to discuss. Every man and his pet mongoose had their opinion on this last night.
Sydney!
Syd! you say you've had enough of this and yet you keep commenting on the threads. If people want to talk about it then let them. You don't have to read it.
TK-Red
Puzzled - I agree but how is that relevant to what punishment Hazard receives? They both were in the wrong, surely.
Gav
24 Jan 2013 15:13:20
Good luck Zaha = 10m plus 5m Add ons?
The last winger/strikers we bought struggled to get games.
Diouf 3.5m, Bebe 7.4m & Obertan 3.5m = 14.4m
Let's hope he hits the ground running. Our wing play is dire at the moment.
TJ
The club have been buying higher quality youth than 2-3 years ago. Henriquez, Jones, Powell & Zaha for example. I think the manager is fed up with the Bebe's, Tosic's & Obertan's. If you pay a little more you will get a better product.
Sydney!
24 Jan 2013 15:11:13
Ashley Williams seems like he might be a good long term replacement for Ferdinand
Not good enough, too old.
Sydney!
Id rather kick a ball into his head.....
ms85
Is that you Robin?
24 Jan 2013 15:08:47
so 17 milllion for zebra, good at running fast, not so good with the ball, bebe is a better player lol.
ps, could someone help dress saf these days, he's starting to look like papa smuf.............lfc {Ed004's Note - 35 million for a donkey that's not even at the club anymore and over spending on Henderson, downing etc you can't say much}
24 Jan 2013 15:20:37
Smuf? Embarrassing.....
Whistler.
24 Jan 2013 15:39:49
sorry the whistle, it should be smurf, and there is no need to feel embarrassed for paying 17 million mate.................lfc {Ed004's Note - But we didn't and haven't yet}
Welcome back lfc oh how we have missed your mindless drivel. Have you learnt to count yet? Can you count how many points behind us you are, probably not as its more than your number of fingers.
Still keep on with the same old saying......there always next year.
Bazza
24 Jan 2013 15:47:00
your a tough man to get anything past ed004 lol.
ps, maybe you should replace de gea in nets.............lfc {Ed004's Note - With who butter fingers reina who is lucky he is playing for a mid table team or his many errors this year would have been highlighted in the media}
Lfc, another one who doesn't look at the bigger picture. ignoring agent fees, signing on fees etc.
Henderson
£15.6m plus add-ons, £15m contract salary.
Carroll
£35m plus add-ons, £20m contract salary.
Downing 19.1m, £20m contract salary.
Zaha, £10m plus add-ons, £8.25m contract salary.
Sydney!
£17m?!
Papa Smuf?!
Words fail me they really do.......I'm guessing you are not in many of the top sets at school, lol. (You must be a child, going off your banter)
You tend to hear a lot about the 'Liverpool philosophy' these days so I thought I'd sum up how I understand it to be:
"When you plant sh!t-seeds, you get sh!t-weeds."
Gav
When you think about it, it's embarrassing how poor Reina has become yet he wants to leave Liverpool because of how far they've dropped......kind of puts things into perspective.
Gav
Poor little lfc is taking more of a beating than the s**t he supports.........will Utd finish with more points than lfc has brain cells??
Bazza
We already did after the first win;) FREDO
24 Jan 2013 15:05:12
Zaha will be the only piece of business this month
Thanks for letting us know Sir Alex!
Parks
24 Jan 2013 15:03:07
hi guys its zee. I so it on youtube it looks like when hazard puts his hands on the back of the ball boy he just fell down hazard did not used force he just had his hands on his back and he falls on the ball and hazard kicked the ball not the kid so it should have been yellow not red but if he kicked the ball boy on purpose then it is a red, it was not nice by hazard if he kicked the boy, i'm going to see it on youtube again but I could not see if the boy fall's down or if it was hazard who pushed him down, what do you guys mean did he fell or did he got pushed down on the ground(ball)zee.
In my opinion it makes no difference hazard was a pratt and it had to be a red card, he deserved it for stupidity
Pardoe
I couldn't give a monkey's about this subject Zee mate. Not our player, not our problem.
Sydney!
Come on Syd, your bets are not our business but we get to hear about them! I like the Hazard discussion. Keep it up zee.
AJH
Oh rubbish syd has a monkey...
CAIN
24 Jan 2013 14:50:38
there seems to be a lot of talk about these players maybe making a move to United either this window or in the summer.
Zaha 10m + 2.5m add ons. Could it be Nani won't be given the contract he craves or a replacement for either Valencia whos out of form or an injured again Young.
Strootman or Wanyama or Lars Bender 15m. These 3 seem to always to be mentioned. We need that bite back in the midfield since we've lost Hargreaves & possible Fletcher.
Garay or Ogbonna. Is Rio off somewhere or does it seem Vidic can't play too many games a season.
Lewandowski 17m. Always mentioned. Is Rooney dropping deep, Welbeck pulling wide or one of him or Chicharito being sold?
Could any of these players be real targets or just smokescreens?
TJ
Personally, I think Zaha replaces Nani and I think we are also going to replace Valencia in the summer, he is found wanting every game as he is so one dimensional. I also think we will sign Wanyama and will be in for Cabaye. Wanyama will be able to cover CB if need be so a defender won't come in I don't think.
I think Lewandowski will sign a new deal, or I fancy him going to Madrid. I think the rumours linking him with us is just paper talk.
Fresh!
24 Jan 2013 14:22:25
Bad news.
Rooney got injured during qutar training and is out for probably a month. Very very bad blow.
Rodio17
Good news.
Rooney was seen during Qatar training today is is quite fit...that means not injured. You can find images on the mail.
Bernidre
Bad news
You have to go on The Mail to find out
|Luke Chadwick's Teeth|
Good news.
It was the Mail that reported the injury in the first place.
Bernidre
24 Jan 2013 13:22:35
Zaha 10-15 million, when we payed 7m for a player fergi had never seen, (bebe)I think it's not a bad deal.
The guy is strong, quick feet.
With de gea, jones, smalling, Rafael, fabio, Powell, ando if fit, now zaha the future looks bright. Not to mention a few prospects we have in the academy.
Fergi is building his last legacy.
Williams13
Just because we were persons and people lined their pockets on the bebe deal does not make the Zaha transfer deal if true any better.
Shahram
Damn spell check, meant stupid enough
Is there anything that makes the Zaha deal bad or worse than Bebe's?
24 Jan 2013 12:36:55
£15 million for zaha is very steep! One England cap and everyones raving about him, he's not premier league proven and I can't help but think for not much more we could have gotten a more proven player but I guess home grown players are going to cost in this current market
Sean Cav
Yeah we could have maybe paid more for Downing or Carroll or Henderson and got a proven PL player, or maybe not!
KevDarko
Zaha has the potential to be a very good player for us. Just because he is not from a foreign league doesn't mean he is no good. I think the fee is around 10mil+add ons and not the one being quoted.
kdevil10
Kdevil10
Thats exactly what's being quoted
If true I agree and would be very surprised. He will give the ball away a lot and we will get hit on the counter, with an ailing slow midfield not the greatest requirement in my opinion.
It is quite interesting that the manager just can not see past wingers and strikers and blind to a buying a couple of midfielders.
Shahram
Sean, you need to look at the overall package and Zaha plus his 5.5 year salary is probably less than £17m, certainly less than £20m.
Sydney!
KevDarko yes they played in the prem but they weren't exactly great players, the likes of isco or munian could have been bought for not an awful lot more and these players are actually class!
Sean Cav
Sean, Isco and Muniain if available would both cost considerably more than Zaha as a package. I am not convinced either are achievable at this time. £15m if a correct figure would be the maximum amount if all add-ons were paid. Initially he probably cost £10m. We will see soon enough as the editor has said he will let us know the figure, but only when he has signed.
Sydney!
Sean,
Have you been keeping tabs on Munian lately? It's widely being discussed in Spain how badly out-of-form he is, and has failed to live up to last season's hype. All of this seaon, he has one (1) goal and three (3) assists.
Let Zaha get his chance and judge him after.
Bernidre
24 Jan 2013 12:25:35
It's reported from Spain that Real Madrid's goalkeeper (recently voted the World's best), Iker Casillas, will miss both games against us in the Champions League through a broken wrist.
I don't know who their reserve keeper is, sure he'll be no mug, perhaps someone can advise me.
Adan. Remember him?
SK.
I really hope its still Jerzy Dudek
|Luke Chadwick's Teeth|
He has a broke thumb. And it will be Adan who is a fairly useless keeper. We need to get shots on targets.
Fresh!
It's a bonus, but I fully expected us to beat them anyway..
Patzi
24 Jan 2013 12:00:16
Going on zaha's transfer goes through smoothly I'm quite looking 4ward to seeing him light up old Trafford next season!
24 Jan 2013 11:46:20
Good News: Wilfried Zaha to have a, edical at Manchester United withing 48 hours.
Bad News: They also understand he will loaned back for the remainder of the season.
I really cannot understand why he would be loaned back when our wingers are really out of form.
Hoppy
No idea Hoppy. SAF baffles me sometimes. We need some urgency NOW, not next seaosn when we could have potentially let a second straight title slip through our fingers.
I don't get our transfer policy anymore.
RVP was a one-off, a legit signing.
Most others have been questionable as hell.
DDG - those flaws were clear to see before we signed him (Im a fan, btw).
Jones - where the hell does SAF see him playing? As a new O'Shea who only plays when others are injured?!
Smalling - fairdoes.
Kagawa - see Jones.
Bebe - 7million for a tramp SAF had never seen play before.
Buttner - not even considered Utd quality by scouts and pundits alike, who were shocked by the signing.
Then hark back slightly to Manucho, Dong Fangzhou, Diouf, Tosic.
SAF has lost his marbles, when it comes to the transfer market.
RED_SKY
Cant understand how an unproven championship players worth 15 mill!
someone tell me the value in that? its a risk for that price
ms85
Red_sky ... I disagree about buttner fair enough he was not highly rated but I do have a good feeling about him ...... Degea is a fantastic keeper but I really wonder Wat training he is doin I was a kepper an if I played a match an couldn't deal wit cornors the next training session would be 80% cornors 20% making sure I don't forget Wat I had learned ........ Kagawa is yet to prove himself but it's plain to see he has bags of talent .....RVP need I say more........ Jones is excellent but the experience is all that's missin from his game future England captain IMO......young for me has being a contstant treth runnin at defenders chasing back the whole lot yes he has some off games but at the moment he is our best winger ........ Now Wat can zaha bring to the table ....... An who else can we get cause lord knows wit fletch gone ando injured all the time we could run into trouble
CAIN
24 Jan 2013 13:50:11
red sky if you think that's bad then go look at every premier league era liverpool manager and the amounts of money they wasted on rubbish. Or look at wenger's record, there's a few duds in there.
RED_SKY, I am not sure you can have any complaints about any of your list other than Bebe. Buttner is a £3.5m buy, initially just £1m. He is on the fringes of the Holland squad. Recently converted to a LB at 22. Of course Baines was first choice, but Everton did want a king's ransom and we did spend more than we expected to on RvP without flogging Nani. Funds simply dried up. Jones is a fine signing at £16m. As is Kagawa for £14m.
We definitely need an established midfielder, that has to happen IMO. We have Powell, Petrucci, Cleverley, but we need someone like Strootman or Bender.
Sydney!
Red Sky,
I totally disagree. We do and have always mixed up our transfer policy. Mostly youngish players but some more experienced. Players who are still developing and some who are at their peak. Do you expect every signing to just slot into the starting 11 and make an immediate impact? It's never been that way.
Side point, players like Jones and Kagawa are played in different positions for one reason only, and that's to give them game time - which helps their development. Did you expect Jones to take Rio or Vidic or even Evans or Smalling's place from day one? The fact he is at our club already will benefit us in the long term as he will have a good grounding in what it takes to be a United player. And he will know the club and players inside out. But until he's our number one CB he will be given chances in other positions.
I don't see the difference in our transfer policy now to what it's always been like. So don't really understand where you are coming from.
Gav
My point was, we spend on weird players these days. SAF seems more intent on securing youngsters he would like to play in 2-3 yrs time, than shoring up the glaring problems in our team of today/tomorrow.
A solid CM and Zaha NOW, would probably have secured us the league, IMO. Now, it'll go to the wire, here's hoping we can manage with what we have (and at CM, that is not much).
RED_SKY
R_S, I agree, but now think a CM in the summer HAS to be a player that will come straight in and do a job. We all wanted a CM now, but that isn't going to happen. No more potential, we have a lot of that, we need more Kagawa/RvP type signings.
Sydney!
Red Sky
In your 2nd post you make an interesting point - I honestly believe that SAF has deliberately bolstered the youth in our squad in recent years, in readiness for the new manager. In fact, I think he's even said that himself. This theory is strengthened when you consider the amounts of money we have been willing to spend on young payers in recent years, as Syd says in another thread e.g. Smalling, Jones, Powell, Zaha - all with notable transfer fees.
Personally I'm a fan of this approach, I think it stands us in really good stead for the next 5-10 years. We're so lucky to have a manager who wants the best for the club, if we had Mourinho in charge (for instance) I cannot imaine him looking to improve things for the future beyond him being in charge.
Having said all that, we do need a couple players who are ready to slot straight in. But in the summer IMO because it's dificult to get those I Jan. I think we will need to sign a recognised CM, and possibly LB or winger (depending on outgoing players). But at the same time, I hope we keep buying as many 'players for the future' as we can.
Gav
Gav, precisely the problem with Jose, he would know how long he would want to be at a club, no one else would know. So all he cares about is his tenure in charge. So buying players that will win HIM the most trophies in that time period, then whoever takes over after is left with the mess. Red Man has said that Jose would be a good stopgap, I tend to agree, but I wouldn't give him the power to bring in all players. We would need someone making sure youth is being targeted for the future for when he leaves.
Sydney!
Sydney!
I tend to agree - Klopp is my personal favourite as I think he would utilise our youth and look to build a good long term squad for the future. And I think he would be given the time to do so. I wouldn't be p!ssed off to get Mourinho as I'd be confident of him gaining short term success but I would worry about what kind of state he would leave us in, when he feels like he's had enough.
Gav
24 Jan 2013 11:37:35
So zaha is having a medical in the next 48 hours. I think he will be staying with us especially after crystal palace are signing a replacement. He could be a great signing has bags of potential. Not saying he will be as good as Ronaldo but he has a few similarities he's big strong fast quick feet and both footed. Could be a gm or could be an overran only time will tell!
Caolán.
I thought he played very well against us in the cup last year, did a lot of tracking back too. I was at 2 Palace games last season and I have to say he was non-existent. Did a few good runs that ended with a frustrating final product. I think he has all the right qualities, but I am very concerned about the price tag. Didn't we get Kagawa for less?
Gar
24 Jan 2013 11:24:35
So according to a website Zaha is to have a medical within the next 48 hours. We still don't know if he will be here from now or from the summer. Also happy to see us linked with Wanyama and Digne. Would not mind at all if our full back options next season are Rafael, Fabio, Evra & Digne - perhaps loan out Buttner. Then we can allow Jones & Smalling to focus on being centre backs. Wanyama also would of course be cover at centre back anyway.
Fresh!
24 Jan 2013 10:18:42
Garay from Benfica this window ?
I'd prefer to get Garay Neville back
Gav (sorry!)
24 Jan 2013 10:02:44
Hii guys my name is alamin. I want you guys to take note of the following
1) rooneys form has been kind of bad commpared to our goal machine van persie
2)every has a good form run for the past 8 games so I think the left back position is covered
3)rafael has been superb and has been our best tackler and interceptor
4)van persie is just so fantastic as well as hernandez
50 I like welbeck because of his strength and ability to collect the ball from players
5) I think anderson has been good too even in the fa cup replay against west ham making decent passes;
6)carrick has been our best midfielder this season and he shines well when paired with cleverly who has energetic pace.
7) valencia keeps annoying me because of his lack of ability to beat his man even when nani against west ham he beat his man more than valencia has done dis season
Alamin
I got my pen and paper and have taken the following notes.
1) Rooney bad
2) Every good last 8 games
3) Rafael best interceptor
4) Welbeck good at collecting balls
Thanks mate.
Devil Dust.
Gary Neville take note, there is a new in depth football analyser around!
Ports
DD,
Could you send me a copy of them notes please? Mightily important.
GDS
GDS
There in the safe now mate and I ate the code for extra security.
Trouble is I can't remember it now..leave it with me.
Devil Dust.
7 valencia annoys him
ms85
LOL at Every
Mick
You have all missed the most important point. We've signed a new player!
Who is this "Every" and is he any good?
RedDub
Johnny Everyans?
Gav
24 Jan 2013 10:01:38
Hoping a quick recovery for Dan Potts who has been in hospital all night after a concussion in the Arsenal match, very good young player with lots of potential.T-O-I
24 Jan 2013 09:41:45
I don't think Ronaldo loves the club, but I love Ronaldo he is an amazing player and one of the best I've seen at old Trafford. Again kloot, if people want to cheer him and sing Viva Ronaldo (like we do at every game) then what are you going to do about it?
Stop trying to tell fans what to do, it's annoying and makes you sound like a pathetic man.
Love and kisses,
GDS
GDS appart from being a Glazer Puppet you really are a very stupid man. If you read what I said, it was cheer Ronaldo before the game began but when the game starts get behind players in Red not the opposition. But knowing you GDS you will just do whatever you think makes Uncle Malcom happy. I AM KLOOT
Yea you are right, because I have always praised the glazers on here, and I am working for them.
I won't sing viva Ronaldo during the game, but if I did, what are you going to do about it. You seem to think you are a united 'super fan' or in America I think they call it a 'mark' who knows better than everyone else and can tell them what to do.
Cant you see how telling people what to do comes across as patronising and immature?
GDS
Also how does cheering for my favourite player make uncle Malcolm happy? Love to know that one.
Kisses
GDS
RFT seems to have a bit of a thing for you GDS. I can just imagine him, sat in his poor old mums box room, surrounded by photo negatives and your face plastered all over the wall.
TK-Red
Uncle Malcolm grows in strength whenever people cheer for the players he sold for profit...obviously
Anyone else starting to get the impression that KLOOT is in fact Glazer plant on the site and trying to use reverse psychology on us all?
|Luke Chadwicks Teeth|
Lots of man love in this thread keep it up chaps
Pardoe
|Luke Chadwicks Teeth|
Lol must admit I've had the same thoughts regarding the KLOOT/mole consiracy, haha.
He is the only one who mentions these 'Glazer moles'...could he be putting it out there so that the last person any of us would expect it to be is him?
Then there's going on and on about the Glazer's when nobody else has even mentioned them for months, seems strange. Perhaps KLOOT is in the final stage of his 'Glazer mole project' whereby he get's posters to think that he's being so rediculously anti-Glazer that he gets us all to think they're OK after all!
Top, reverse-psychology, KLOOT. But you have been rumbled my friend ; )
Gav
24 Jan 2013 03:08:23
By the way...
Well done Swansea haha
And Bradford.
Jono
24 Jan 2013 00:34:42
Good morning lads, ladies,
Been working over the weekend end late the last couple of days so only catching up on the football now, on the match on Sunday thought it looked a tired performance all round, hopefully the week in the sun will have recharged the batteries a little and please ala toni will have found a bit of form out in the sand, but getting to the reason I am bothering to post this, I just watched RVP's interview with Geoff Shreeves, well colour me impressed, not that I haven't been with his form for us, its been outstanding, but the mans for the club and the players around him, he is an out and out pro and has come to us "at the right time". I think Gill and Fergie should bring that video to contract negotiations for current players and perspective players. Now lads I was scepticle when he signed as I'm sure a lot were and rightly so, but a gem is what he is and the hats must come off for Gill and Fergie for a master stroke in getting him, oh and "the littleboy inside" RVP.
Here is to you Mr RVP, may your seasons be long and injury free, and your summers warm looking back on your season with glee.
Good luck lads, ladies
Lorcan
24 Jan 2013 00:33:27
Luke Shaw Southampton's left back is so far up Chelsea's backside check his twitter feed it's like he is defending his team mate no doubt a chelsea fan.
fred the red
He's admitted to being a Chelsea fan, destined to end up being a w*nker. Which is a shame as he's a quality player.
24 Jan 2013 00:31:14
I know what Hazard done was wrong, but from looking at twitter, the Kid had planned to do that. He tweeted about helping the team from "behind the home goal each half".
MPez
Doesn't matter. You can't take the bait and do what he did. I am expecting a hefty fine and a maybe a 10 match ban.
Shahram
Shahram, I reckon it will be just the 3 match ban for a straight red. The Ref dealt with the incident.
Had the Ref not dealt with it, and the matter dealt with after the match, maybe a bigger ban might be considered.
RedDub
Yes, but what about Hazard?!!!!!!
Steve
Mpez - so what? Should the ball boy be punished and banned from being a ball boy? Yes actually I think he probably should.
Does that justify Hazard kicking the ball boy in the ribs? NO!
I don't get what is so hard to understand. What's that saying - 2 wrongs don't make a right?
Also, how hard he kicked him is irrelevant IMO (not directed towards you). Someone even phoned up TS Radio last night and said he was wearing a 'puffy' jacket, which somehow makes a difference, lol.
Gav
24 Jan 2013 00:14:36
Gareth Bale is still the best diver in Wales.
Er.........he isn't in wales do you mean the best diver FROM wales
dave
24 Jan 2013 00:01:13
gunna have to use my wildcard and swap hazard..
JK92