Manchester United Banter Archive August 06 2012

06 Aug 2012 22:46:31
Keep calm and plod on, wether we get moura, van persie, witsel etc or not were still the best and look at the squad we had last season, missing vidic, fletcher and co. We lost on goal difference, thats all.... We are united!

06 Aug 2012 22:20:51
Why do people keep saying we will sign Van Persie and Lucas Moura?
Sir Alex said we will sign 1 maybe 2 players in the rest of the transfer window and 1 of these spots he said we will sign a left back.
Imo its Van Persie OR Lucas Moura and i'd prefer Lucas Moura.
Andy H

06 Aug 2012 21:48:58
"The transfer window is over for us," ... "The club did a good job. All the news from England [about Cole] are just rumours."


-Carlo ancelotti

this was his statement when he was linked with ashley cole

-------------------------------------------------------------
all this PSG bid for moura is BS . he is definately united bound

Was he maybe trying to throw the press off and keep a move for moura quite
jred

Jred

In fairness, if Fergie said that, you would instantly assume he meant no more signings.

G.A.G.U.S

Gagus
i sure would, im just trying to think of n explanation
jred

Past experience says he isn't coming. Know nothing about him as dont watch South American football so not bothered. A defensive midfielder is more of a priority.

Norn Iron

06 Aug 2012 19:42:25
If we are looking in Spain it will be for Bilbao players. Munian will come if we miss Moura and then next season it will be Martinez and Llorente. Fergie was well impressed we what he saw of the three of them, but Bilbao wont sell all three in one go (we couldnt afford it either). We will flog Hernandez next season, probably go on loan at Xmas and I think it will be Carrick playing second fiddle to Javi Martinez next season. Unstoppable.

06 Aug 2012 19:17:42
Lucas Moura will sign for PSG. Sometimes you don't bargain so much. This leaves Utd.with Scholes as first midfield option. Sad.

Moura was not going to be Scholes replacement and PSG have offered 15 million more, that is crazy and I'm glad we didn't pay that much. That is crazy money.

CRMike

Lucas Moura was never going to play in the Scholes role. Scholes was first choice whether Lucas arrived or not. -KG

Ah so the money we were going to spend we won't go for our next option with? You are forgetting Carrick, Cleverley, Anderson and Powell mate. Moura wasn't going to be replacing scholes was he. Also, it's not off at all, just people making more stuff up.

Scouse on a wind up?

GDS

GDS

Firstly, if we don't get Moura (which i think we still will) we will get someone.
Secondly, Moura is not a replacement for Scholes.
Thirdly, you're forgetting Kagawa, Cleverly, Anderson, Giggs, all attack minded midfielders.
Finally, you worry about where your team is going to finish cause you don't sound like a United fan.
Mitch.

06 Aug 2012 18:25:56
just to add a bit of fuel to the fire ive just looked on wagner ribeiro twitter and he had a good weekend at the PSG v Barce game at the weekend , must just be a coincidence
jred

Thanks for breaking the news....


he isn't just Lucas' agent... or did you need me to break the news for you?

fearny

Might have a good midweek at Utd - Barca....then Moura will join Barca haha.

Jono

He has denied there is any deal agreed with PSG and he said he was at the game purely to watch football.

But we all know agents talk bobbins.

Sydney!

Agents go to lots of games and i'm sure he has other clients.
He is after a PSG move just to line his own pockets.

Reports in Brazil suggest that Ribeiro does not want to do anymore talking to United.

Seems we are still having issues regarding agents and keeping them happy.

According to Moratti our offer was as high as PSG's, but still no go. Has to be agent fees doesn't it?

Sydney!

Syd
morrati has confirmed it
jred

Jred, Moratti has confirmed what?

Sydney!

We would never have gone up to that sum," Moratti said on Italian TV. "In any case, there are no regrets that we didn't finish off the move, as the cost was already pretty high a few days ago.
"The 45 million that PSG offered is completely illogical and for us it would have been very out of key with our approach.
"PSG are starting a new era, so they are completely reconstructing the squad. At least I can relish the fact I'm saving money."
jred

I think it may be more to do with psg offering 45 mil
jred

Jred, is it possible this was a ploy to make United think they have competition for Lucas really interest in him seems to be dropping by the day. May just be looking to squeeze a few million more out of us whether he is worth it or not you'll never know could be amazing. Why can't we find another unknown like Ronaldo for 12m does he have to be the next big thing to be the next big thing lol. I'm sure when we signed Ronaldo everyone knew he would be the most expensive signing ever. Just my thoughts...eds any unknowns ready to be discovered

Darren-Bermuda

06 Aug 2012 16:47:21
moura look set to be a PSG player i must admit over priced if you ask me would much prefer van persie and moutinho


UNITEDFORLIFE75

Thats ironic!moura was the best footballing prospect ever last week when yous taught yous were signin him.now it looks like he is going to psg and he is over rated and over priced

eire red

Eire red, you are mistaken, the best footballing prospect ever is Jordan Henderson.

Sydney!

Overpriced like, downing Henderson Adam Johnson borini CARROLL and many more.

Caolán.

06 Aug 2012 16:11:11
anyone else noticed that when sky sports say united are favourites to land a player that player then either stays or signs for another team?

maybe it's something to do with ?

JK92

Sky were not the first to report either the Moura or RVP to United story mate.

Sydney!

Ed how come you didn't show the SB?
thanks.
JK92 {Ed002's Note - I don't understand, sorry.}

I know that syd, what i mean is though, i think they say united (and maybe other teams, but i don't pay attention to other teams) are favourites to sign a player then that player ends up at a different club, eg, nasri, hazard, benzema.

i think it's all to do with their betting.
all about money to them.

JK92

I put and it wasn't shown, is this because your not allowed to have betting companies names on here?

JK92

Its because they only appear to mention all these links to make people bet with them
Why on earth would the Eds put that sh1t on here when its only done to rip people off

Pardoe

06 Aug 2012 15:24:32
Mancini has admitted defeat in signing Van Persie, So that puts United in pole position to sign him. Could this be the reason Fergie stayed back? To finalise the deal.
I would rather spend the 20 million on someone who is not so injury prone, Has one good season where he has stayed free from injury and fair play to him grabbed alot of goals. But what if he gets a bad injured? Would hate to see it but i fear its just our luck.
If the lad stays fit he will get goals but would 20 million not be better added to the Moura pot and buy a new LB with the rest rather then an injury-prone, aging (yet still quality) Striker?
IMO yes. Im not slating the lad i just think , long term, It would be best to invest in someone else.
James.

06 Aug 2012 15:19:14
Sun dreamteam pin 122797 pass 01803

*sighs*

G.A.G.U.S

No harm in joining 2 gagus. It was created for the lads at work, but no one joined haha

JaZz

06 Aug 2012 13:53:19
This is so frustrating for the second season running united look to have spent the whole summer on one target and it's all came to nothing

I don't understand ? if we spent it on one target why have we signed 6players in that time? and this window isn't closed yet

6 players? Name them please?

6 players?????
Im struggling with that one, ive counted two.

Simmo

I get five...Jones, De Gea, Young, Kagawa and Powell. That's last year and this year (so far). I assume that's what was meant.

Andy

Young
de gea
jones
vermiji
kagawa
powell

De Gea, Young, Jones, Powell, Kagawa.

Not quite 6, but it will be soon ;)

GDS

I mean't veseli not vermiji

Scholes? Moss?

Sydney!

Ah yes and Vermijl, good shout no name!

GDS

Goss

Gav

One target.
A. we've signed Kagawa and Powell
B. we've also got RVP and isco coming through even without moura.
nov00

06 Aug 2012 13:11:07
More good news in addition to vida returning fletcher is back training with Scotland and according to the Scottish manager he even played 45 mins in a practice match.

Good luck fletch !!

06 Aug 2012 12:30:19
Hey guys just wondering if Cleverley and Giggs will come straight back into the team like De Gea for the Barca game or rest? Also Ed002 you do a great job keep it up :) (I am under the impression that 002 is a lady if not sorry mate keep up the good work)

Darren-Bermuda

Of course she is a lady, did you not see the hissy fit she had yesterday ;)

Sorry Ed002 only joking, keep up the good work also!

GDS

Please treat our favourite Ed with respect otherwise he/she will move from this minor page

Puzzled

Puzzled, can you imagine the Liverpool page without Ed002. You would be signing Cavani, Ramires, Torres and all sorts. Suarez, Agger, Skrtel, etc would all be staying. It would be rife on that page if the editor never kept a lid on reality.

Sydney!

Hey guys love the back and forth was hoping someone might actually answer my question though. Although I agree Liverpool is average they are the new Everton midtable ambition but with a sprinkle of history dust on top lol.

Thanks,

Darren-Bermuda

06 Aug 2012 12:51:14
what is the latest on welbeck's contract? Will he sign?

06 Aug 2012 12:45:21
Watching the game yesterday and being so dissapointed with Nani... He had the chance to stake a claim whilst Valencia was in at right back plus with all these rumours about wingers like Isco and Lucas Moura. If he wanted to desperatly stay like he keeps suggesting he would have tried more to impress yesterday.

Just wondered if a bid did come from Real Madrid. What would everyone's opinion be on a cash+player deal. Maybe around £23-£25 million and someone like Khedira or Sahin.

P.S I would bite their hand off for a deal like that, especially as we are relatively strong in the area we would be loosing him from

fearny

Yeah anyone would bite on a deal like that, Sahin and Khedira are both worth at least 15m each meaning your rating nani at 40m. For me he's only worth 25m by it's self.

Red Joe

I think most of us would but deals like that just dont seem to happen. I cant think of many cash+player deals that have happened between sides like that.

parks.

I'd take £15m + Sahin or Khedira + £8m. We could use the money to bring in Isco and finally gt the cm we've been needing for the past 2 years!

T0MB0Z

06 Aug 2012 12:11:51
Great news. the scotland manager said fletcher played a behind closed doors match last week and that he will do a bit of training with the squad.
Read the full story on the sky sports website.

Ozzy

It was a 45 minute match... The majority of the players in the squad that didn't feature on the tour played in it. Ashley young told MUTV about the match in an interview showed before yesterdays match.

Good news, but still a very long way to go for our Midfield general

fearny

06 Aug 2012 11:51:51
all this news about Lucas Moura going to PSG is BS! apparently he has been told that Manchester is a boring city? definately not the case, plus he stayed here for a few days last week, and is staying here atm. He is staying at the Marriott worlsey park, and I spoke to him as I use the gym at that hotel, I asked him about manchester united, he simply smiled and gestured that he'd like a move, IMO I think we will get our main target, but I am still unsure as to whether we will get RVP, Fergie never spends big n players over 25, and i'm not sure he'll start now.

Jake F

I do not think this move has anything to do with Moura. He will go wherever his agent tells him to go (within reason of course). Doubt he could force him to go to Anzhi. If PSG, United, RM, Inter etc give his agent what he wants then they will have a very good chance in signing him.

Sydney!

Considering what we spent on bernatov at his age the RVP deal doesn't sound too unrealistic

JaZz

Jake F is not telling lies either. I read about Moura smiling to fans yesterday on some Brazilian site.

G.A.G.U.S

06 Aug 2012 11:29:28
i really hope we sign RVP i think him rooney and kagawa will have a great understanding with each other and we would score for fun.
IF RVP was to join i think this should be the line up:

4231

----------degea---------
rafael--ferdy-vidic---evra
------clever--carrick-----
LuisNani--rooney--kagawa
--------VanPersie--------

[nani/valencia]

and with the likes of:.... to choose from i think we will have the best squad in the league.
valencia/nani
welbeck
hernandez
young
powell
anderson
scholes
smalling
jones
lindegaard

banter please ed {Ed004's Note - I still think we need a mid and left back. Maybe Izaguirre or Baines and Sahin or Moutinho or even Witsel or Dembele if he is as good as I am hearing}

06 Aug 2012 11:16:15
Darren fletcher to meet up and train with Scottish squad this week great news hopefully the boys on the mend

06 Aug 2012 10:27:52
I dont understand people that are opposed to the signing of Robin Van Persie.

We lost the league on goal difference.

We only beat teams by 1 or 2.

If RVP scored a quarter of his arsenal goals for us last year we would of won the league.

Cban

Who will be the penalty taker? Rooney of course. There goes RVP's goals cut to 15/20.

Sydney!

Your logic is wrong mate if rvp had scored then maybe welbeck wouldn't have scored as many or hernandez.

1redarmy

I don't think people are necessarily opposed to signing RVP. I think people are worried that by spending 20mill on him then we are less likely to sign a CM, where most of us feel we need strengthen immediately. I would be happy to see him at United as he can show Danny "Bambi on Ice" Welbeck how to control and finish.

Gar

York, Cole and Solkjaer all scored goals in the same team

06 Aug 2012 09:48:17
Isco anyone ? 20 year old midfielder with Malaga.

Pip

06 Aug 2012 09:18:57
Is the Evening News more reliable than the national press? I always thought that it was and they're now reporting that Lucas is almost done and that United are ahead of the pack for Van Persie. I know I shouldn't but I'm starting to get a bit excited.

Matt

The Evening News used to be pretty acurate in the days when David Meek had a great relationship with the manager, however since the paper turned into the Manchester City Evening News and a blue supporter Stuart Mathieson became the United correspondent they are just as bad as the rest of the press as everything is now speculation.

06 Aug 2012 09:03:50
In CM we have scholes giggs anderson carrick, clevs, jones powell maybe flech and maybe a youngster will get a chance this season.

It looks like we have enough numbers but the real question is have we got enough talent and quality in there.
For me the cm area dictates the team its one of the most important areas, and over the last few years i think its been one of our weak spots.
lucas would be great so would RVP but a top CM would improve us as a team far more.
jred

Cleverley will improve us a lot, but wouldn't mind someone like Witsel/Dembele beside him.

Sydney!

But will we see one? I don't think so.

Also I feel we have been missing a Kagawa type more as he means Rooney doesn't have to be so far back which= Goals.

1redarmy

Syd
but will clevs improve us enough, would witsel dembele be anything more than squad players at madrid , barce city munich, would the rest of our CM.
jred

RM are very interested in Witsel and according to more less reliable sources they want Dembele too. IMO Cleverley, Dembele & Kagawa as a midfield three would be very good. They all know how to keep the ball and are all very energetic. Cleverley will keep getting better and better and needs games.

Sydney!

Jred

IMO we need 2CMers. I really do not rate Ando and unfortunately Fletch looks likely to never reach his heights again (even if these recent 'rumours' are he has returned to training).

We have an ancient Scholes and Giggs, Carrick who is 30+ and not exactly made of the material to be taking games and dictating them who need replacing and with our only other first team (ish) CMers being Clevs and Powell its not exactly the most experienced bunch. We have let the CM fall further and further into a old and new situation that the signings will now be seen as blocking the younger ones like Petrucci, Tunners etc rather than replacing our old guard and improving the team.

With Pogba gone he was the most equipped to walk into our 1st team squad and had it not been down to his contract we would be looking at him to be a contender this year. That boat has sailed and we are now back a year with Tunners and Petrucci next in line. I would give both of these a prem loan if possible or top end Championship as they are likely 1 maybe 2 years away. So any CMers brought in would replace Scholes, Giggs, Ando and eventually Carrick and allow the younger ones to come off their loans and integrate straight into the first team.

I have hoped all summer for 2 CMers and still allow space for a Fletcher return if possible. With Park gone that was 1 who covered in CM, Fletch out the game for a while yet, Ando hopefully gone, we would have Giggs and Scholes used a similar amount as 1 player, Carrick, Clevs +2 new CMers as regulars.

With injuries and formation changes Powell would still see a good amount of game time and we would not have to rely on Scholes to haul us through games anymore, for as great as he has been its frankly getting embarrassing.

My feeling now though, as we are only 3 weeks from the end of the window I can see SAF goin with what he has for his last season and leaving the CM reshuffle for the next manager next summer. Should make for an interesting watch again this season :-(.

Jono

That is the problem jred, we have enough numbers but is the quality there? It has been clear for 2-3 years that a quality CM has been missing from our midfield. There are plenty of candidates with the likes of Martinez, Sahin, M'Vila etc who would improve most sides immediately. Players like Dembele would be good squad signings but we need someone who is goign to walk into our first 11 and make it stronger.

Another point though is that perhaps we are just going to rely on the youngsters. If the ones we have live up to there potential in 2-3 years time we will be talking about central midfield being our strongest area with Cleverley, Petrucci, Powell, Kagawa, Tunnicliffe and hopefully Lingard. for now though I still think we need that 1 player.

Rjmanutd

Jono, but signing two CM'rs may be okay for next season, but what happens a year later when Petrucci, Tunners & Powell are all ready and Mats Daehli is pushing for a spot? There is no space for them just one year into the future? I believe one midfielder is plenty, but we are all forgetting that the manager knows what he is doing and if he wants a midfielder then he will bring one in.

I think the manager is hoping Scholes & Giggs will help bridge the gap until Petrucci, Tunners, Powell & Cleverley are all ready next season. According to Ed002 we are very interested in Witsel and Dembele so I think that type of midfielder is being targeted.

Sydney!

Rj, completely agree and I think Sahin, Witsel or Khedira ticks all the boxes for me. I wouldn't be too disheartened with Dembele either as he is well underrated.

Sydney!

Jono
i agree i would of liked to have seen 2 cm one for the squad and a real quality one that could of been rotated with clevs and carrick , modric would of been a good but but price seems an issue.
rjmanutd
i think we could buy 2 cm and not stop the progress of tunners etc as giggs and scholes etc will soon be retired.

i have said all year martinez would of been my first choice , i think not only is he a very good player he is also exactly what we need and could of made a massive difference to the team as he is exactly what we are missing in my opinion.
4,2,3,1
------------carrick----martinez---
tony--------------kagawa---------nani

------------------rooney
i thinks gives us a bit of everything both attacking and defensivly,
bilbao president and munich president have indicated he could be available for 40mil euro , is he worth that as a player im not sure but to United I think a player like him and what he could bring to the team could be worth 40 mill, if you know what i mean.

syd
yer cleverly dembele and kagawa would be a good midfield, but to be fair my question was will clevs improve us enough, would witsel dembele be anything more than squad players at madrid , barce, city , munich , would the rest of our CM?
jred {Ed004's Note - I honestly think Sahin is good enough to bring the standard of our midfield up to the next stage}

Edd he looked good before he went to RM.
I also think when a player doesn't make it at Madrid you have to take it with a pinch of salt very difficult team to do well at for a number of reasons
jred {Ed004's Note - So do I. He was brilliant for Dortmund and I am pretty sure he got player of the season in the Bundesliga as well as scoring quite a few remarkable free kicks and that is what we are lacking. It's unusual, last season we are crying out for a freekick taker and now we may have 3 left footed ones, Baines, Sahin and RVP}

Jred, that remains to be seen, but we will never know unless he is given the opportunity. After all that is what Manchester United is all about, promoting youth. We put faith in Scholes, Beckham and Neville and that paid off.

Sydney!

It's very presumptuous to think that our youth prospects will be ready to compete against the world's best midfields in one year. One or two may become first choice, a couple more squad players but the truth is that at the moment we have no guarantees that they will solve our problems. If the do make the grade it will be a gradual progression over a number of years.

In the meantime, our core of experienced midfielders are Carrick, Scholes, Giggs and Anderson, with Cleverly as a young player starting to make the place in the squad his. Next year two of these players may be, and should be, retired. One new experienced, top quality cm is an absolute necessity, two is probably the more accurate number because Anderson, when fit, isn't good enough.

Danny Pughnited

Agreed Danny

I would be delighted to see Anderson leave this Summer, maybe as a player exchange for a CM.

Gar

Sydney I wouldn't be disheartened with Dembele signing as I know he is a good player but he is not that world class midfielder we have needed. However, I doubt we are signing a CM now. The only deals I can see happening are Moura and an outside chance of RVP. That would give us plenty of firepower but the problem will still be that presence in the middle of the park.

Rjmanutd

Danny, no one is saying the youth will be ready to take on Barcelona in a year's time, but the fact remains that Powell, Petrucci & Tunners will be in and around the squad pushing for a start by 2013/14. Then there is Daehli & Lingard slightly further behind that. How will Powell, Petrucci & Tunnicliffe feel trying to get ahead of Cleverley, Carrick and two new CM'rs. I think one midfielder is plenty. I wouldn't have signed any midfielder had Pogba stayed. I think a player with a bit of steel that can also keep the ball well will be signed. I am not convinced we need two midfielders this summer, perhaps one this summer and re-evaluate next summer.

Sydney!

Syd!

I agree we could then put the buffers on the youngsters as I said we have let the sittuation get like this having not acted over the last 2 years. Problem with the theory is Scholes and Giggs were clearly showing signs of age and in Giggsy's case a distinct lack of ability to play at the top level in CM last season never mind this or next season. I believe we can still use the exp they bring but we should have CMers at the club that can start games like City away and can match up to them not still playing Giggs and Scholes for another year to allow for youngsters that may or may not make it.

Pogba was as near as we could have had as a guarentee of a youngster who would make it and although both Petrucci and Tunners are looking good we cannot afford to try and change to a high pressing team game with a CM consisting of 2 37+ year olds.

If say Tunners and Petrucci move into the 1st team fully next summer and Giggs and Scholes move on out we would still have Carrick, Clevs, Tunners, Petrucci, Powell, + 2 signings from this year. That would allow the moving on of Carrick a further year after without the loss of everyone at once and integrating the younger ones. That is obviously IF all the younger ones realise their potential and make it at our level.

Just to clear up as it may seem as though I am saying add 2 CMers to what we have but I am meaning with the loss of Fletch and getting rid of Ando we get 2 in of top quality and improve the team whilst still allowing for the return of Fletch if it does happen.

Ideally:

Ando out

Cabaye and Witsel in.

Plus 1 in numbers but 2 in overall and a massive increase in ability.

If you get what I mean.

Jono

Gar, I would be very happy with Anderson and Witsel changing places.

Witsel & Cleverley
Carrick & Scholes
Tunners & Powell

Sydney!

I don't really like the way people use the question ''would he get into this squad or this squad?'' as it is an unrealistic reflection in my opinion. Just because a player wouldn't walk into the starting 11 at Real Madrid doesn't mean he's not exactly what WE need to partner and bring the best out of Cleverley (for example).

APC

Jono, good points, but with Scholes and Giggs at the club til next summer, couldn't we buy just one midfielder this summer and re-evaluate next summer after we have seen how the youth have developed?

I think Ando in exchange for Witsel would be plenty. Then perhaps another midfielder next summer if we need one.

Sydney! {Ed004's Note - I have never seen Witsel play but is he anywhere near as good as Martinez and is he good on the ball}

Syd
so do you think clev will improve us enough next season.

do you think witsel dembele would be anything more than squad players at madrid , barce,city, munich, would the rest of our CM
JRED

Jred, IMO yes Cleverley will improve us a lot. His energy, passing, ball retention and vision is exactly what we need. Witsel would be first choice for RM ahead of Khedira IMO. Khedira would play ahead of Dembele IMO.

But just because a player cannot get into the RM starting XI means nothing. Sneijder flopped at RM and he is one of your best players. IMO it's about getting a top partnership in midfield, finding the right partnership is better than having two top players that cannot play well together.

Sydney!

Ed004, I believe Witsel will excel at RM or United. He has got everything. At 23 people are starting to see his true qualities. 23 seems to be a very good age for players. Many players start to show their true qualities around that age.

Sydney! {Ed004's Note - But what are his true qualities?}

APC
its just an in theory conversation between football fans., just banter.

i suppose you could put it an other way , is our midfield as good as madrid barce munich city, but then you would have to take in to account the job that was expected of the midfield in relation to the defense and attack and how the team was set out to play.
So it might just be better to say which is the best team .

but at the end of the day its just football fans having banter about football

on a different note you make a good point about getting a player to get the best out of clevs who do you think that player should be.
also do you think clevs is at the level of the top players on the world is he good enough to hold is own against the best in the world
jred

Ed004, tackling, interception, strength on the ball. Plenty of energy. Decent shot. Probably better than Martinez overall. But Garcia is probably the closest player to Martinez who plays alongside Witsel.

Sydney! {Ed004's Note - What is he like on the ball. Is his passing top quality}

Syd
some good points pal but my own thoughts are , yes clevs will improve us but NO i dot think he will improve us enough if we dont buy a CM i dont think a fully fit clevs will be enough to take on the very best in europe, hope im wrong but he still hasnt had a full season at the very top level or much international experience so for me i dont think his quite at that level yet.
also to be honest im not a massive fan of witsel , his not a bad player but i think theres better out there
jred

Some good points by all the people above but back to my OP have we got enough talent and quality in midfield.
if we dont sign a CM do people think we will be good enough to win the champions league for example.
jred

Syd, as I have said before I would be happy with one cm this year and a new left back. But longterm, the sooner Anderson is sold and someone else brought in the better. Carrick isn't getting any younger either and when the likes of Powell are ready to challenge for a starting birth, he will most likely be past it. At that point I think that having a core of Cleverly and two other experienced players is essential. The important thing to remember is that all successful teams have competition for places. We compete in at least 4 competitions every year, so 6 players (3 young, 3 experienced) competing for 2 spots is the minimum we should have. If the young lads are good enough then they will be able to get games, if they are not then at least we will have enough quality in there.

Players like Tunners and Petrucci need to have a loan spell at a PL club to gain experience and prove themselves before they are play in the United first team. Powell is different because he looks like a genuine star and he needs at least one year with the team before any loan. But we quality players in the centre of the park right now and have done for the last three years.

Danny Pughnited

Im not a massive fan of witsel his not a bad player but from what ive seen his not that great on the ball ,garcia moutinho are better players for me to name a few.
in fact given his EPL experience i would maybe even take fellaini over him
jred

Sometimes you don't have to be good to win the UCL, Liverpool 2005, Chelsea 2012.

Sydney!

Most of the time you do, anytime we have won the UCL i have been confident that we deserved it.
if we are going to be considered one of the very best teams in europe i think we need to improve the CM area , hope fergy pulls something out the bag
jred

Jred

I think without a CMer at all we won't win the Prem never mind compete in Europe. If we signed nobody in CM our best CM 2 would still be Scholes and Carrick. Swansea ran them ragged at OT last year. We need quality, fit and younger players to compete thats why getting rid of an injury prone Ando for a fit anyone is a step in the right direction then add another top player to ease the transition.

Fellaini is a good shout I do like him but I personally think that while Witsel has less physical attributes he is better with the ball. And if possession is the way we are looking to go Witsel should be top of the list.

For me personally:

1. Witsel 2. Garcia 3. Fellaini.

For the more creative CMer:

1. Cabaye 2. Sneijder 3. Sahin.

Oh and Clevs will improve us but not take us to the next level IMO. I also don't think he will ever reach anywhere near Scholes level. Will be very interesting how the new manager will see the future for all our younger players.

Jono

Jred, I agree midfield is important and we do need a midfielder this summer. Don't you think the more the fans and the media criticise the midfield the more the manager will be stubborn and continue to improve every other area, but the midfield?

I think the club are concentrating on the more urgent signings right now, perhaps the LB and midfield option will be sorted on deadline day? Perhaps something has been agreed in principle with Everton for Fellaini & Baines ;)

Sydney!

Jono, I think you will be pleasantly surprised with Cleverley next season. He needs a bit of luck with injuries, but he can get close to Scholes' level.

Sydney!

Syd

I'd like to see that exchange myself. I think Witsel can only improve in the EPL.

Gar

Syd
i think fergy would be more bothered about what the team needs than what the fans or media think.
also i think our most urgent signings right now are lb and midfield.
jred

Jono
all though we have continued to be successful over the last few years i think our style and standard off play has dropped and this has a lot to do with the CM area.

i think clevs will be a good player but worldclass im not so sure about.
jred

Jred, I couldn't agree more, yet the manager is hunting Moura and RVP instead of going for a LB and midfield. The two areas where the club keeps getting slammed by the media and fans. It's odd I am sure you would agree mate?

Sydney!

I wouldnt be that surprised if we never bought rvp or lucas and bought a lb and cm

time will tell
jred

06 Aug 2012 07:51:01
Anybody else think If we did sign van Persie and moura! It could mean rooney is deployed in midfield! They toyed with the idea last season and he didn't do terrible I think this may be saf plan! Turn Rooney into the next scholes! As much am I think Rooney is a brilliant forward and support striker I don't think he has really found his one true position maybe midfield could be that?

No, he didn't do very well there and Cleverley will play that role in rotation with Scholes. Rooney or Kagawa will play in the hole or to the left of the hole. During the match they will be all over the place anyway so it wouldn't really matter. People also need to remember it's not about having a top quality XI, it's about having a top quality 18. If we want to challenge on all fronts we will need to have more quality that we can fit into the first XI.

Sydney!

Just ... no...

Gar

Or we could keep him scoring 30 goals a season?

I used to like the idea of Rooney being a CM but i think we should wait until he reaches his 30s and the goals dont flow as much.

1redarmy

06 Aug 2012 02:33:01
Hi guys I believe that one day cristiano Ronaldo will wear the red of Manchester united once more I really do.
Caolán.

He did say when he is older he wants to come back home! Would be nice when he is around 30 years of age, he would make such an impact even at that age!

-JakeW

I don't, I would love it if he did but he wont. Apparently he has said he wants the MLS later in his career which leaves no time for us mate.

He wont become a coach either so you can rule that one out.

1redarmy