Manchester United Banter Archive January 31 2014

31 Jan 2014 23:15:42
Ever Banega released on a free transfer. Wonder why we didn't go for him? Not Vidal class, but surely would have been useful for the squad given our lightweight midfield.

He went to Newell's Old Boys on loan. I love that name Newell's Old Boy, it sounds like a elderly care homes team.

31 Jan 2014 22:35:29
Looks like Mata will be our only signing this month guys but better one quality player than two squad players! Thanks to all the Ed s for their great work this month

Here here!

What we need is Mata quality at RB, LB, CB, CM and an attacking wide player. Depending on what happens with Rooney/Hernandez will decide if we need another striker. I would rather wait until summer than waste any more money on poorer alternatives, who will end up as just extra squad players or players we can't move on. We will need to sell first though, I think, due to the rules on yearly club wage increases and the number of players in our squad etc.

Summer should really be fun :-)

Agreed. If we're going to rebuild, we might as well do it properly; no point bringing in a load of nearly men.

Fortunately Moyes has time on his side and doesn't need to make quick fixes just to keep his position. Those who have been calling for moyes out would do well to remember that.

If the top top players can't be bought right now then better to wait until they can be. Until then, let's just keep in mind that RVP, Rooney, Mata and Januzaj up front isn't too shoddy.

31 Jan 2014 22:23:51
Jack Barmby to Hartlepool, Tom Lawrence to Yeovil Town, Sam Byrne and Charni Ekangamene to Carlisle United, Tyler Blackett, Tom Thorpe, Federico Macheda all 3 to Birmingham City, And all on Loan

Zaha to Cardiff on Loan,
Fabio sold to Cardiff,
Anderson loan to buy to Florentine.

Good for our youth players and Zaha as they should get some game time.

Don't forget potentially selling cole and tunicliffe to Fulham .

Will keane loaned to QPR also.

Will Keane to QPR, Jack Rudge to Torquay and Sam Johnstone to Doncaster. I think we can safely say our U21's won't be doing much this year.

Looks like they have been sold. It looks like we are clearing out at all levels.

Yeah bit surprised at them being sold.

31 Jan 2014 20:55:31
ed's,

i apologise if wrong, but has a post to do with herrera been taken off? apparently he had been at carrington, or rather 'spotted' there?

thanks in advance.

31 Jan 2014 21:28:14
Who do you see us signing in the summer? Personally I would like to see Mangala, Vidal, rodriguez the LB from wolfsburg, Fernando, and I would like to see Powell, lingard and micheal Keane rotated into the first team

Great choices ox, you sound like a scout in the making. Seriously, even two of those names would be great, hope we can beat out the rival bids. Hopefully our second half will make Old Trafford that much more appealing come summertime.

31 Jan 2014 20:38:09
There are reports that Hernandez as joined Valencia on loan.

31 Jan 2014 20:16:16
ed's,

what do think about the herrera rumours about him being at carrington?

31 Jan 2014 19:04:19
Trying to stay positive but all the enthusiasm gained from the Mata deal has drained away. very good player but not addressing our main areas of worry. Now I get we want the big players, however sometime you have to take lesser to move forward. Cabare would have been ideal this year but too much money for short term, Fernando if he was available for the reported 6m and or guarin in a loan swap with nani would both have been better and cheap for rest of this year.
No CL football next year not a financial disaster but would make signing the vidal, pogba, groom's of the world impossible!
Ah well 4 hours to go!

Of course we don't know the ins and outs. But all my porto friends say that fernando would have been delighted with a united move.
So strange that we didn't go in for him.

31 Jan 2014 18:13:46
How does RooVanMataZaj sound?

Sounds like a russian football team.

For a boy or girl? Is it your first baby?

Lol Brendan, quality

Dutch porn star?

Is it an anagram of Janaravtoomaz?
Cosh

31 Jan 2014 18:10:39
I don't think the U21's have much chance this year with the amount of players being loaned out or sold these past few days. I know we're ninth anyway but there is hardly anybody left behind.

31 Jan 2014 17:55:09
Moyes must deliver in the summer or us fans will be totally pi$$ed. and finish in the top 4!

31 Jan 2014 17:40:23
So, we started the January transfer window looking for a lb and a cm and we ended up with another am that will probably be played out of position. How many more transfer windows do we have to endure with dithering dave before someone sees sense and finally sacks the man. Sorry to be negative when the mood of the site has been lifted but this simply isn't good enough.

Oh get out will you. This is his 2nd transfer window at the club and the quality of player he wants just isn't available at this time of year, Mata being the exception. As for Mata being played out if position, his 'position' is anywhere across that forward line or behind the striker so unless Moyes starts playing him at LB then him being played out of position is unlikely. I can only assume that you genuinely believed we would bring in Vidal, Reus, Pogba etc in the January window which is unrealistic to say the least.

I'm thinking sarcasm but I'm not quite sure?

Mate, i'm as angry as as you about us AGAIN failing to strengthen where we are weakest, and I constantly slate our behaviour in the market but this one is different. I'd rather we didn't sign a stopgap, but I do believe a LB should have been easier to come by for a decent price – a CM, no chance, that's going to have to wait.

I just hope our big talk is backed up this summer, but this one is not Moyes' fault. It definitely was Moyes/Woodward's fault in the summer though, this is the knock-on effect of that failure.

The fact that the club couldn't acquire anyone to fill those positions had little to do with dithering, rather it's just the simple fact that the best players are generally not available in January. Why would players like Vidal who are cup tied and are already on the best teams in their respective leagues, want to leave now?

There are so many issues related to transfer activity that transcend the actions or desires of the manager. Even if a player was theoretically open to being coaxed away from his club perhaps the Board was not prepared to come up with the asking price. And then there's the draw of clubs who may now leaped above us in the "desirability" standings - Chelsea, City, PSG, Barcelona, Real and Bayern for sure, with Arsenal and Monaco also in contention. All of these clubs, other than City, offer what many would view as a more attractive environment than rainy old Manchester.

Under the current competitive circumstances, rebuilding the club is not going to be easy or as quick as we would like.

31 Jan 2014 17:14:07
ED over the past 4-5 seasons we have failed to land any "BARGAIN BUYS"?

Last bargain buys who actually worked for us were Vidic and Evra back in 2006. Chicharito can be termed as a bargain buy but he hasn't had the impact of Vidic or Evra.

To be fair Moyes has said that he wants top players. Mata type players. It's about time we started improving the first team with top notch players. let's worry about bargains when we have a complete team.

31 Jan 2014 17:12:04
Wow! Loads of moaners on here today. Perhaps if we do not sign a CM it's because the ones we are after are not available until summer? I'm sure the backroom staff are all working hard to bring in players but if the right players are not available there is no point wasting cash in Jan. I'm sure we will make some good signings in summer, if not tonight. And for anyone who is really depressed - we signed Juan Mata the other day!

31 Jan 2014 17:06:02
I feel that the summer is going to very difficult to
get players too. All top players will be at the world cup, then will b on holidays, usual panic at the end the window and then they need time to settle in, new players new league new system etc. If we do make top 4 we play a qualifer in August. City could be already well ahead of us before we even get our new team together
.

31 Jan 2014 16:45:43
Ed002, can anyone Stoke sign tonight be eligible to play us tomorrow, or did they need to be registered before 12pm today? Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - Midday today Syd.}

I thought so, thanks.

31 Jan 2014 16:25:40
I think that the majority Manchester United fans need to realise is that the club is not choking on every CM we are linked with, or are interested in.

The club isn't looking for a player like Cabaye to fill a gap for a while, the club is looking for a player who will make our midfield very good for the next 5, 6, 7 years. It's evident the club has set targets and want only them.

I think it's quite apparent that we want a midfield general, Vidal is quite obviously the one United want above all. Ed002 has confirmed numerous times that United want to strike a deal for him, but Juve aren't dumb enough to give up a player like Vidal easily.

I think we also want a creative midfielder, one who can pick that pass to anyone, from anywhere on the pitch (to an extent ofcourse), which is why we have looked at/tried for Fabregas, Thiago and more recently been interested in Toni Kroos.

These are top of the mark players, they won't be easy to acquire from their clubs, each of which play for the best team in their respective country, and obviously Barca and Bayern are arguably the two best teams right now. It was never going to be easy to get these players, and we haven't. It's not as if the club isn't trying.

It's not as if we see a player and immediately their team agree to sell. Vidal, Fabregas, Thiago, Kroos are extremely talented players, do you think they want to let go of these players? Teams want players, just as much as teams want to keep players.

It will come in time, the club knows what it needs to do, we aren't just going to buy for the sake of buying somebody. Moyes has even said it, we want the best players, and we intend to go for them. I believe the club has realised they will have to pay more than face value now, SAF was proud and paid what he wanted (again to an extent) and backed out of any attempt to get a player if he felt the money was too much. Moyes (probably fortunately for us fans) will pay more than face value.

Give it time, we'll get our players eventually, and when we do you'll be more than glad that we waited for them, instead of buying average stop gaps.

Mpez

We know this, when is it giong to happen then?
It's ok making the right noises but they have follow it up with the right action. For goodness sake how many seasons have we needed this gap filling, it's simply ridiculious.

Good post Mpez, hard to believe you are just 17/18.

Deadline day has no place for your optimism MPez. we shall make late bids for Ronaldo to push for top spot. And for the love of God is Shneyder at Carrington yet?

Garay is on his way, carrying Sneijder on his back, they may arrive 2 mins too late sadly.

Grund then please ask Garay to leave Sneijder. that way at least Garay would reach in time.

Good post, Mpez. I think Mpez's whole point, Simmo, in answer to your question, was 'the summer'.

Do you want top players then, or sticking plasters now? I'd rather have Vidal in the summer, than Fernando just now. We have money, but we still have to be realistic.

Weve obviously not found the midfielder we need for the last 5 years so there can't be any about.the ones other clubs buy must be strikers or defenders pretending to be midfielders

Yes, John, Kallstrom was available on loan. Should we have went for him?

31 Jan 2014 15:47:54
All the top teams just keep adding to there squads, when you feel you have taken a step forward with mata, man city sign mangala and fernando and chelsea sign matic salah and zouma it feela like you have taken two steps back, at least we cam take solace that wengers back to his old tricks, kim kallstrom?!

There are a lot of spoiled brats on here today ;)

When did city sign those 2, must have missed that. Some people seem to think their experts when it comes to transfers, maybe they should look at going into that line of business, just be grateful we have signed 1 world class player this january because I didn't have expectations of someone of matas quality coming in, yes I know we need midfielders but i'd rather wait for the right players to hopefully be available and not panic buy, if the right players aren't available there's not much that can be done.

Fair enoughare you saying you wouldn't take zouma though? And i'm left with egg on my
face because citys deals have fallen through

Mangala and Fernando deal is off. We should try and sneak them to OT!

Jake, I bet you don't mind having egg on your face when rivals miss out on players?

Jake I wouldn't take Zouma, yeah he is a good prospect but we have a number of good young CB at the club who are as good or better than Zouma. What we need is an experienced player to replace Rio and Vidic, someone who can come into the side straight away and add composure and experience.

31 Jan 2014 15:23:17
It would be nice to be surprised by a signing late on but can't see it unfortunately.Bit dissapointed with Garay he lookes a great player would have improved us vastly.

31 Jan 2014 14:57:55
I think some of the people here need to understand how transfers work. It's not FIFA or Football Manager and you can't just bid for whoever you feel like. How stupid would we look if we put bids in for everyone we wanted and repeatedly got rejected (See last summer). Unfortunately players need to be available for us to even consider putting a bid in.

The way I see it availability comes in a few different shapes and forms, the most common of which are; contract running out in the next year, the club want to get rid of the player or the player wants out. Moyes will have identified the players he wants, probably most of those players are also players we want too. He will then assess the availability of those players. As it stands none of those players are currently available.

Do you think Moyes isn't aware we need a CM? The entire footballing community worldwide could probably tell you that! Moyes wants to fix our CM problem for good and it's been made clear he has plans for this in the summer. He doesn't want to buy a CM just to see us through to the end of the season, he wants to sign a CM that will see us through the next 10!

So please, to those saying our seasons over and Moyes can't get it right, be patient and stop throwing your bloody toys out of the pram. Things will get better.

Rosie, we agree on that.

We should only be bringing players that will improve us in the long term. World class players who will rival those of other big teams.

But the current problem is our league standing. The players we're supposed to be looking at, the likes of Vidal, Gundogan and Kroos, are playing for big teams and are assured champions league football.

While these players would either be moving up by joining us, or at least moving sideways, it will be difficult to get players are that caliber while we are not in the champions league.

Which is why a lot of the posters feel like we might need a stop gap option, that will help us improve momentarily and guarantee us champions league football next season, the likes of Fernando, Banega and Otamendi.

But it all rests on Moyes. If he believes we can improve enough to climb our way back to a european position without buying stop gaps, than I'm all for it.

But some feel we're not capable of doing so, which is why we need signings, even if they are not the usual manchester united class.

I personally believe that with a little bit of luck, we will reach the top 4. Fact is our record with both Rooney and Van Persie in the team stands at 1 loss in 40 games or so. And now with Mata in, Januzaj improving exponentially, Jones ( and Evans )given a more predominant role at the back, Fletcher providing experience and cover, and hopefully Fellaini finding his feet, there is absolutely no reason whatsoever for us not to be in the top 4.

But if we fail to do so, it might prove very risky for us. Do you see Vidal, Gundogan, Mangala and co moving to a team that's not in the champions league, despite significant sums paid? If Chelsea came in for Vidal/ Kroos, Madrid came in for Gundogan, City for Reus and Arsenal for Draxler, do we stand a realistic chance of getting any of them if we don't have champions league football for a season? I doubt it

Spot on Rosie.

If we are to compete seriously with the best in Europe on an ongoing basis we need to find a few great players who will form the basis of the resurgence for years to come. There is no point in overpaying for those who do not fill the bill.

If we have a serious and credible program in place and are prepared to pay the market rate, I am sure we will be able to acquire the 2-3 great players we need whether or not we have Champions League football next year.

Mick1

Agreed mate, this is what I am afraid off.

Regardless of where we finish in the PL this season we'll be in the CL next season because we're going to win the CL this season ;)

We have many more attractions for prospective players, than CL football.

31 Jan 2014 13:29:40
Hi Eds - love the page
Otamendi and Fernando are not in Porto's squad for the coming match. Have ManUtd made a bid for one (Otamendi) or both?

Looks like City are going for Mangala and Fernando, apparently we have gone for Otamendi but nothing of it has made ssn.

Could have done with a central midfielder who can win the ball to feed the fantastic four let's hope the summer

31 Jan 2014 14:03:29
I know it looks unlikely but honestly believe we will make a signing even though Moyes says otherwise but so many times managers say they won't sign then bang maybe it's more hope than anything but just a feeling

31 Jan 2014 13:44:30
Afternoon guys. I really think we are missing out big style if we don't buy a CM. I can't believe that City are after Fernando off Porto, I said all along that this guy is top quality.
He will not cost the earth as his contract is nearly up, and he is exactly what we are lacking in midfield.
Shame that Moyes has put a dampner on things. Will we be able to get 4th spot without addition of CM? Not sure, hope so. But with Fernando in the team, the chances will improve dramatically.

Nomid

He will want big sign on money so it is not that simple.


I think given the fact that we have passed on Matic, who I rate much higher and now Fernando, we must have something in place with players coming in the summer but will never know until then.

At least you don't have to set up a new account for 6 months, there is always a positive, even in the darkest of times.

31 Jan 2014 13:13:47
ed's,

busy day, so thanks for your efforts, but do you think a CM will be brought in today, in particular william carvalho?

cheers.

{Ed007's Note - No.}

31 Jan 2014 13:31:20
With nobody likely to come in, how worried are you all that excluding Mata & Kagawa who are more like no10;s, we are stuck with a central midfield of 2 from Carrick (injured for a month), Cleverly (not good enough), Fletcher (not yet the player he was), Giggs ( should be retired), Jones (not bad but prefer him in defence) and Fellaini (yet to prove himself.)

I can't see that midfield coping for the rest of the season, that coupled with our shakey defence and the frightening fact we are stuck with Evra (love him but past his best) and Buttner (god help us) at left back, means we are relying on RVP, Rooney, Mata, Januzaj to score enough to carry us through.

Im starting to think 5th is our likely finish, and then how many of these players that we hope to sign in the summer will be prepared to give up champions league football.

still Inhope but starting to feel no hope.

We will have to suck it up and move on. Good job the players are not thinking this way or we will be ****ed. I'd settle for a LB. If we can keep RvP, Rooney, Mata & Adnan fit we will be okay. We need Young, Kagawa & Valencia to improve and we need Rafael and Evra to work harder. It's time to stick Fellaini and Jones in midfield and hope they will do well.

31 Jan 2014 13:06:49
I can remember years ago having a heated discussion with someone telling me Frimpong was better than Pogba. Pogba is playing for Juventus and is wanted by the best teams in the world, Frimpong has just signed a permanent deal to join Barnsley.

With a surname like that you'd never be a top player. Sounds more like a Thailand tourist attraction.

Whoever that was, was obviously braindead and blind.

31 Jan 2014 12:43:13
What I'd say we need is a low-cost high-quality CM to do the job for now before coming a top squad player once we sign world class in the summer, and a fairly pricey, class centre back who can play LB as well and can serve the club at the top level for years.

If only such things were available, preferably in a joint deal.

We bought Mata yes but Moyes still hasn't sort the major problems of a CM and a LB hmm let's hope Fellaini cann find his feat asap cause we are still weak in the middle of the park

Vertonghen? can play LB, wonderful CB.

31 Jan 2014 12:38:27
david moyes has told tv to stand down there cameramen at the gates there will be no transfer business today, really gutted with this we so need a central midfielder, no champions league for us next season lads.

Nothing like being a drama king :)

Gcu I've said since mid sept we wouldn't make top 4 and as much as I would like to be wrong I still haven't seen anything to change that opinion.even bringing in mata who I rate highly it doesn't help our weakness in central midfield and this was still evident on tueday night.if the big clubs want to strengthen in jan they go and do it

I don't think he is being dramatic, I think we all know its going to be a huge ask for top 4 without strengthening the middle of the park, I think we have to hope the scouserz get injuries as their squad is thin, don't think everton and spurs will keep us out tho

John

I know you don't believe we will finish top 4. I disagree and only thing that will keep us out is if RVP and Rooney don't come back due to injuries.

Whilst we have our weaknesses in midfield, other teams have their own share of shortcomings. We are plenty good enough for top 4 and would be in there even now had it not been for our injuries.

We better hope I am right and you are wrong:) Exepect things to get nice and tight by the time we play Arsenal.

31 Jan 2014 12:00:13
My mates auntie works at tesco and
he just rang me to say DE GEA was in
last night with MATA and another tall
spanish speaking man who from her
description could well of been JAVI
MARTINEZ.

Being a bit desperate here one thinks

And it's begun.

Yes, because its not unusual for a new signing to just walk through Tesco without being unveiled yet.

LOL. brilliant! What an imagination, they get better and better.
I can just see Javi Martinez saying to De Gea just pull into this Tesco, I need to pick up a pint of milk and a loaf of bread.

De gea was probably showing him the nice doughnuts on offer

He is so smooth as all of this was happening whilst the Bayern coaches were wondering why he has nto comeback from his bathroom break.

31 Jan 2014 11:44:00
While I would love a signing today my head says it will be tough to get any of the really quality players that we need. I'm not interested in covering up our current wounds with plasters (Cabaye/Couentrao) I'd rather we spend money on players that are going to be a part of this Manchester United project that Moyes is building for years to come.

If Vidal/Gundogan/Koke/Reus/Herrera/Shaw/Sandro/Kroos/Martinez etc are only available in the summer then so be it. Moyes does his homework on his players and I admire that, it will hopefully eliminate the chances of signing the Obertans of this world. I don't buy into the whole 'You have to have champions league to sign the top players' narrative.

If building a team that can compete for years and play entertaining football means us being patient and dealing with a tough season then I'm happy to do it and keep supporting the team no matter what.

I do love how everyone is revelling in our failures this year. It will just make that jump back up to the best team in England all the more satisfying. We are not done like Liverpool were. We won't be going through the dry spell Arsenal are going through. We are rebuilding and adapting to recreate another Manchester United dynasty. And I can't wait to be a part of it.

P.S Looking forward to hearing the penguin's cryptic ramblings on why his sources failed him come 11pm!

This was me (Redrosie) btw.

Dear mr no name
Again ngiak has to break his rule to actually bother to reply to someone who throws a punch but hides in anonymity
But kudos to you. It was a very emotional yet agreeable post to ngiak
And despite the obvious attempt to rile ngiak, you have awoken ngiak from the slumber that is the passive nature of the transfer window after the signing of mr Juan mata
Nope. No explanation is forthcoming from ngiak as you clearly do not comprehend where ngiak hears things from
But ngiak is slightly heartened by the fact that, unlike the previous regime,
Quality rather than quantity is the name of the game
And players are out if there is no use for them, no sentimentality involved
Also there seems to be funds to spend, maybe sir alex was saving up for the next regime.
The pieces are falling into place. Albeit a little slowly. Penguins may be patient beings. But don't push it
gan
Ps. Time will tell

Apologies gan/ngiak, I thought I was signed in but perhaps not.

I only speak in jest, I enjoy your posts and when you give your opinions on things I tend to find myself nodding in agreement.

I love the new system, I love the policy of quality rather than quantity, we have a hell of a lot of good players but not enough great players. Sentimentality was one of Sir Alex's very few weaknesses and I like that Moyes doesn't seem to share that particular trait.

Also I understand the information you receive isn't player specific and more about the money so I won't hold you responsible if we don't sign anyone! Have faith Mr Penguin, we will be back on top before long. - One last thing, watch out for Batman. I hear he's not fond of you.

Well said sir
Well said
Ngiak respects you
No where near that rat batman
gan

31 Jan 2014 11:29:54
Fernando's agent would be very
silly if he doesn't speak to DM
before he keeps Citehs bench
warm!!!

31 Jan 2014 11:23:28
Come on Moyes just one more signing, a central midfielder and I will be pretty confident of that 4th spot.
I will be glued to ssn tonight, just hope i'm not dissapointed.
Does anybody have and inside info, rumours?

Dont waste your time and sanity, I watched tv between 8.30 and 11.30 today and they went around all the different training grounds in the PL pretty much except for Uniteds, not even a slight rumour obviously. Nothing will happen I don't think.

I agree with you Brendan but remember the summer transfer?
Nothing happened at Carrington until about 9:30pm which is when the Fellaini rumblings started.
You never know but I've resigned myself to just the one signing in this window.
The worry is. wil it be enough to get us in that top 4, I really don't think it is.

If we can keep Januzaj, Mata, Rooney and RVP fit for 90% of the rest of this campaign then yes we will end up top four. I put a post on yesterday with my predictions for the remaining games, but it went on the 'other posts' page, and I think we will end up with 74 points. That is if we can, as I say, keep our best players playing and get some performances out of Fellaini that we know he is capable of. If I was a gambling man, which I am, I would and have put money on us finishing top four.

31 Jan 2014 10:19:59
Can you see any players coming in/out today? And I think the club would be stupid to let mangala go to city as I think he could go on to be one of the best cb in the world, I also see us going for the cheaper option in cdm because I don't think vidal will be coming now or in the summer so I would like us to sign William carvalho of sporting Lisbon as he reminds me of yaya toure

I don't see us doing anything now until the summer. We'll try and stumble into the top 4 if at all possible and then rebuild in summer.

31 Jan 2014 09:07:11
Please, please, please let the rumours of us trying to sign Andros Townsend be false. He is the most overrated, one dimensional player in the league. All pace and no end product, unless you count whacking the ball miles over the bar an end product. If Moyes signs him I will despair. A pacey attacker from wide would be a great addition but not him. Reus? Yes please. Townsend? I'd rather Andy in his Tactics Truck.

You missed the greedy and selfish part out aswell.

I'm not sure if the interest is true or not, but I would swap him for Nani.

Could not agree more, i'm sure its just a terrible rumour made up by a rag of a paper though.

Whacking the ball miles over the bar huh, he'd fit right in with our penalty takers then. Agreed though not good enough.

I think Townsend is a decent player still young and improving, I would be happy if we signed him.
Had some great performances for England . If that had been a young lad for Germany people would be raving about him.
He was also v good for qpr last year

Really Sydney? I know he is very fast and direct which is handy when counter-attacking but I think he lacks any awareness, vision and crossing ability. He's also greedy and his shots are usually off target though he scores the occasional screamer. This is a player who was loaned out by Spurs something like 13 times before becoming England's next great hope. My opinion is that his pace is his only asset. Not United quality. And not what we need. Instead we need to fill the gaping hole in our midfield. Plus a LB. And a CB. Not Andros Townsend.

DDG1, I am not saying we should sign Townsend ahead of a CM and a LB, but if there could be some sort of swap deal involving Nani, I would do it. That being said the rumour has no legs and I cannot imagine Spurs would take Nani on a permanent move.

DDG,

"I know he is very fast and direct which is handy when counter-attacking but I think he lacks any awareness, vision and crossing ability. He's also greedy and his shots are usually off target though he scores the occasional screamer."

The fact that all of that could describe Nani as well as Townsend, and that Townsend is considerably younger with more time to learn surely shows that we would be better of with Townsend than Nani.

I am not saying by any means we should sign Townsend, and by no means do I think it is true, it stinks of the Daily Mirror having no story on united so picking a random player out of the air, and then people believe it, load of rubbish if you ask me.

31 Jan 2014 08:30:37
Getting Mata was a great coupe for DM but even with him and players coming back from injury I still think we are going to struggle.
At the least we need to get a CM & CB in place before 11pm tonight! (not going to happen)
Evra can still do the job as LB but feel the central mid field is the main problem.
Cleverly would not even make the Villa mid field so how can we expect to get a CL place with him
Carrick does a job in my eyes but is slow
Fletcher is still finding his feet from be out so long and Fellini is are only hope, when he is back and that alone is a massive risk.

It is going to be a long back end of the worst season ever!

31 Jan 2014 07:23:07
Pancho.

The '77 white away kit with the 4 black stripes down it was later copied by adidas in the early '80s and had 3 black stripes, check it out, at the 77 cup final we walked out in the trackie with the 4 black stripes, absolutely loved it at the time thought I was the dogs doodies, anyway I think your confusing the original with the later 80s one pal

No I'm not I had it too as I said. The Adidas One I do remember now it had the stripes on the inside down both sides. The 77 one was down left side at the front and it was three. Have a look at old pictures - google it. When you said 4 I thought I remember it being 3 so I checked it . I found the picture of JG after the said semi final replay in 79. It's clearly 3 stripes. I was also at the game. I also had the track suit.

Also if I remember rightly I could wrong but I am sure the team came out the tunnel with black hooded track suit tops in 77 not the white tops.

Just thinking it's the other way round in a way the original admiral one which I had was 3 stripes but when people have re produced them as retro shirts they got it wrong and put 4 on them for some reason other than bad research.

31 Jan 2014 00:43:07
Just saw the debate about who's the best manager and I wanted to get in on the action.

The reason I would agree with pea shooter about br is because:

The style of football played is fast and attractive football.

The amount of goals Liverpool are scoring 6-0 and 4-0 against spuds and Everton.

People skills and gives the kids a chance and plays them if they are playing well. United have an amazing kid and moyes is on and off playing him?! Why! He's quality.

Tactician he changes formation depending on the game which Martinez failed doing against Liverpool.

Syd they are my reasons although it's very close between who's the best manager because you need a team with the same calibre of players to really compare

RedTwist, bringing kids through is all well and good, but Brenda's hand was forced in that regard, due to the weakness of his squad, especially last season.

Ideally you want to blood them gradually, which, for all we want to see Adnan play every game, is just not going to happen. Managers have to think about the long-term consequences for the players, of playing them too much, too soon.

I studied in Aberdeen many years ago, and some up there still haven't forgiven Fergie for supposedly ruining quite a few young lads by playing them too much.

There's a lot Rodgers has done to make his stock rise and a lot he's done to weaken it. Credit where credits due, he's done fantastically well to clear the dross out of Liverpool, the high earners like Cole and the players he doesn't rate like Carroll. But I don't think we have a clear picture of his style yet. His transfers have been hit and miss and he doesn't help himself by talking pony most of the time but he's a good manger with very good potential. There's a need in football to make a judgement about everything now! There's an old chefs saying, it's not how you start it's how you finish. Will everyone be raving about him at the end of the season if they finish 6th, maybe not.

Even though I don't like the man Mourinho is the best manager out there. There's always a raise in most players games when he's in charge. Can he do it over the space of 6 or 7 years at one club though it begs to be seen. Is he going to be a one club man or is he just like Viagra, extreme short term gain but leaving lasting side effects.

30 Jan 2014 21:59:05
Ed002. with Inter appearing to want a loan deal for Nani, could this deal (if it goes ahead) include Guarin in some way?

{Ed002's Note - He can go - but I don't see him as a MU recruit.}

31 Jan 2014 00:32:14
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeRzOCxvJgU

Cool video if you haven't seen it. Ole wishing Mata luck at United in the tunnel before the game.