Manchester United Banter Archive January 07 2014

07 Jan 2014 23:34:03
Keg the red no chance of us signing anyone at the moment. No Everton player would switch sides right now. We will sign no one this window. Giggs and vidic will be offered new deals, as will young and Valencia, as moyes loves both.
Heard today on tony pulis said that Zaha turned down the chance to go back to palace, dosent want to return to london.

08 Jan 2014 08:29:58
baines to fisnih his career, probbaly around 35 mill. Most expensive LB at the age of 30.

07 Jan 2014 23:15:19
can I just point out one thing. The game was fairly stale for an hour. Neither keeper making a save of note. Then Sunderland bring on one attacking player who is pacey, direct, and dangerous. (Adam Johnson). We respond by putting on Fletcher and Chicharito with 4 mins left.
What goes through Moyes mind is beyond me now. I saw the lineup v swansea and thought it was weaker with tonights game in mind but this was just as bad. We could have used Kagawa and to better effect Zaha but DM continues to play Cleverley and Giggs.

Cant see us beating Swansea on sat and then Moyes will park the bus to avoid getting walloped by Chelsea.

07 Jan 2014 23:05:06
Why aren't we looking at Hughes from Derby? I watched him against Chelsea on Sunday and he looked like a young player who could fit right in at United! I believe Liverpool have first refusal on him but we should do what we can to sign a young talented midfielder!

07 Jan 2014 22:26:22
Not sure if this can be posted Ed? But anyway, Sir Bobby's reaction is telling.

vine.co/v/h3uh7A0vjY5

07 Jan 2014 22:03:03
Does anyone think that reverse psychology is now affecting the refs? Are they now making up for all the errors they are reputed to have made in our favour in the past? Or do they feel, with Fergie not there to harass and complain about them, they can now get a bit of their own back - and enjoy it. With the hated monster lying wounded isn't there a tendency for all those who cowered in fear to then show their bravery by adding their weight to the attack?

Well, all you haters and deriders out there, consider the axiom "the misfortune of others is the consolation of fools".

I am the happiest fool in the world!

07 Jan 2014 22:01:49
If he can't get the players to perform then surely it's time running out. He inherited a title winning squad and one that would of beaten Real Madrid last year. Pep is doing it at Bayern Tito did it at Barca and so on and so on. Were a massive club with worldwide appeal and I'm sorry but for me Moyes looks like he is running out of ideas. Yes there's some dead wood but if his fiery Scottish attitude can't get a squad of 11 fired up then we have some serious problems matey! And it will run deeper than quote £200 million over 18 months. Remember the end of the season and Fergies speech at the lifting of the prem? What was it he said to the players about " not letting the club and shirt down? " well I'm not sure what is going on at Manchester United maybe too much change too soon I.E the back room staff moving on when Fergie recommended they stay on. The transfers that were rumoured to be set up, I appreciate Moyes is his own man and I will back him until the board decide otherwise but my oh my we are a mess. The clues is the club name " united " and I'm sad to say that we couldn't be further from that monicker. Let's hope for some good news this month but I'm expecting the usual excuses. We signed a few quality lads in January. Vidic, Evra, Saha etc so please there is value out there but we have to pay the piper if we want that sweet tune echoing around OT once again.

07 Jan 2014 21:52:01
2 1 down with the home leg to come! Book your Wembley train tickets now.

I know this season is not what you've been used to but a trip to Wembley and maybe a champions league place in a season of transition, for those of you with long memories things have been worse.

Whether its Moyes in charge or not Cleverly Welbeck Rio Nanni Young won't be UTD players next season.

Cheer up some times you have to have a bad year to really appreciate the good ones

Welbeck definitely will, hopefully Cleverly won't if we do some sensible business.

Made me smile mate. Still the home leg to come? Oh yeah. invincible at OT aren't we?
Moyes should look at Arsenal and how not buying players has affected them. Finally Arsene buys some quality and hey Presto!
It's a time to try to keep good humour but it's getting tougher every week. Hope you win the league mate. Arsene does things properly, City and Chelsea do anything but!

Arsenal have only spent big money on Ozil. The rest of their squad is either home grown or cheaper replacements for outgoing players e.g. Cazorla and Podolski with impending RVP cash.

Ben, I said quality, not expensive. Compare Corzola with Fellaini? I doubt Moyes is as good a judge as Wenger and it's a bit of a worry to see 27 mill spent on a very average player.
I would agree that if everyone was fit, we'd be doing better, but we have no real backups of quality.

Still. the Arsenal model would mean signing youngsters, securing 4th, sell Rooney, sign more youngsters, secure 4th, sell Adnan, sign more youngsters, secure 4th, wake up and spend some cash, be good again.

I'd just spend now personally but I get your point.

08 Jan 2014 09:01:32
Ben80,

I agree they haven't won anything, But they play some of the best football here around, A good footballing brain would love watching them.

07 Jan 2014 21:46:43
Did anyone see Sir Bobby and Sir Alex's reaction at the end? Bobby said something to SAF and then shook his head. He might just be disappointed at the defeat, but it looked ominous for some reason. Something is going to happen soon, whether it be a signing or a sacking I can't be sure.

Totally agree m8 he looked proper gutted

I couldn't stop watching it. The man looked utterly broken.

07 Jan 2014 21:43:48
It is a 2 leg game and we shouldn't forget that, however, we are Manchester United and that was seriously embarrassing.
Seriously can anyone tell me that is a team organised and motivated by a Manchester United standard manager? Januzaj apart, who showed some class, we don't work together as a team, we didn't work to break, we just lost
, there was no team spirit and that is the managers responsibility. My wife sat there tonight and said I know you told me Moyes was terrible in summer, I didn't believe it but now I can see it myself.
Tonight we were beaten by a team bottom of the league and you know what was telling? it was the fact you couldn't tell the difference between the two teams.
Will the Glazers stop being indecisive and sack this clown who is dragging our great club down.
Moyes must go and go now, tomorrow morning.

The sad thing redman is its not a shock anymore that were losing were half expecting it.cleverley tonight might as well not been on the pitch, giggs was also a waste of a place on the pitch.carrick looked slow and old, danny was supposed to be our striker but played so deep at times.thank god for a little ray of sunshine in adnan.confidence comes from the top and in my opinion either that isn't filtering down or moyes has lost the players, there's no team spirit its gone.tonight we hit rock bottom the premier leagues worst club beat last years champions and they were woefull.i can't see the yanks giving moyes a shedload of money unless he's staying next season, the next few weeks are going to be interesting

Although to be fair to Sunderland they're a mid table form side under Poyet and are only bottom due to an error on management recruitment. Sound familiar. ?

John
If they give him more time it could do untold damage
SAF wrote in his book "only through success can a manager become he manager of his own destiny"
They chose Moyes who had had no success at a time when other managers had CV's with notable success. That has caught up with Moyes.
It may be a 2 leg game but look at the reaction of SAF and Sir Bobby, we were not in the game. It has to be dealt with, they cannot hide, the second leg is to come but top four, seriously? It is a self induced mess but if SAF wants to protect himself he has to prompt action right now

Redman I sat in the stands on sunday totally bored we were awful and so predictable, that's not man utd.i don't care what the moyes lovers say. as you mention this season could knock us back so much it will take years to recover.i hate the glazers with a passion but I can't believe they are now not doubting there appointment.moyes is probably a good man and a football fanatic but as I've said from day 1 this job is just too big for him and I honestly cannot see him being here next season.even if we manage to get past sunderland I dread to think of a trip to wembley against the bluenoses.any decent player who has watched any of our games in recent weeks would surely be put off by what they have seen.

After watching us this season I would rather we played some of the u21, s at least they would play with a bit of pride and passion.something that is sadly missing from the 1st team at the moment

I said from day one that moyes will be a disaster. What is the point of keeping him till the summer before sacking him? If I was the owners, I would get rid now. Give him no money to waste.
Find a temporary manager then get a proper man in in the summer. Unfortunately, Mourinho gone, pep gone, ancelotti gone. But I think klopp and ogs will make a fantastic team.
It is like a dark cloud hanging over our club. For God's sake, put the man out of his misery and sack him now.

07 Jan 2014 21:42:32
Is Carrick the the slowest moving object in the world?. I mean. the moment he has the ball, the opposition gets enough time to Regroup.
Cleverly Mate. You are genius.

07 Jan 2014 21:40:11
Moyes get your cheque book out. Cleverly utter tripe. Evra rubbish and our back up strikers are woeful. Oh and add in a winger and a centre back. Cheers

It's not his cheque book it's the owners which has been the problem all along in terms of buying top players in needed areas.

07 Jan 2014 21:30:58
If you want a goal, why not take off a defender rather than your main attacking winger christ sake!

07 Jan 2014 21:12:03
Why is Moyes not changing it?! Madness.

07 Jan 2014 20:45:52
Daaaaammmmmmmmm. they scored. Common guys not another one.No hard fought draw. complete dominance in the second half.

At last we have found the new djemba djemba, take a bow Tom Cleverley.I said from day one he was useless but was shot down in flames.He ain't even championship fodder & also smalling summed up why he' another cart horse in one minute.Laughable the pair of em

Another frustrating performance from us. Other than Januajz where is our attacking threat coming from. Although I have to say, that was one of the softest penalties I have ever seen. If that had been given at the end for us. There would have been a national scandal. Probably why Mariner didn't send Rafael off.

Can we steal a win from somewhere, please.

07 Jan 2014 20:43:43
I know we all heard in the last 24 hours that supposedly Moyes has £200m over the next 18months to spend. I would be really hesitant to give moyes that amount of money, he's already wasted £27.5m on fellaini. I think either sack moyes soon or in the summer to be replaced with a competent manager like klopp who with half that amount of money would transform our side. Yes our team is in decline but its the same team that won the league by 11 points last season. We would of all said were aving a bad season if we were 3rd or 4th, but not after 20 games 11 pts of the top having lost 6 homes games this season. I really hope moyes isn't given that amount of money and if he is hopefully he isn't the one who chooses the players because our team is poor but not that poor.

The guy played what 3 games then done his wrist in and out for anther 6 weeks. He might not be worth 27.5 mill but he is not some monkey. Belgien international and first choice ahead many players like Van Ginkel, De Bruyne, Dafour, etc etc.

Yea let's give the money to someone who'll spend it wisely, like buying nani, Anderson, Valencia, young, kagawa, smelling, buttner, bebe, carrick etc

Porsche don't put Carrick in that list. You do not play central midfield for more than 75% of games for multiple title winning sides of you are no good.

What do you think Ed?

{Ed004's Note - Im getting to the stage were I dunno if Moyes is right for the job so I don't know how he could be given that much money. Imagine someone like Klopp with that money he could bring in world class players and find hidden gems at the same time after a few years you'd have a squad brimming with talent and playing fast attacking football}

Ed4. I wouldn't give moyes a penny. Get rid of him now before its too late.
Klopp will be immense.

07 Jan 2014 20:12:01
If cleverly is going to play every game and we sign no one this window then he must bring Powell back and give him a few games. Cleverly is utter crap.

And evra, well we all know the story there.

I agree on cleverly. I don't know if I am being over critical because of the fact that I don't rate Welbeck, have we had a worse striker lead the line at United in the last 20 years?

Genuine question and not being funny because I can't remember of anyone worse.

Oh boy Sunderland just scored. Interesting second half

I agree about Cleverley, I just don't understand what some people see in him. If he didn't play for United he would be nowhere near the England team. Having said that I actually feel a bit sorry for him. He works hard and is commited, and is just trying to be the best player he can. Unfortunately he just lacks the ability to have any significant impact at the top level.

There is zero creativity. Our team cannot do one touch passes. Every time we get the ball, the player in possession takes three touches.
They are all so scared of receiving the ball. Not one cross has found our man. Quite often, we are very static in their penalty area.
So another unwanted record is decending upon us, we haven't lost three on the trot since 2001. Moyes is certainly breaking all the records!

C'mon lads we need a an effort in the last 15 minutes.

Nomid

I agree they all muck around on the ball and take way too many touches. Janusaj just missed a sitter.

Alan Smith was pretty crap to be fair

07 Jan 2014 21:45:57
NomidField.

You don't say Zero Creativity. Zero is the point where things Begins. we are way lower than that.
Slowest walking Midfield.

Can someone tell me why giggs has just played 90 minutes?

Because we have Swansea this weekend in the league and need some fresh players and can not afford to drop any points. I am going to put a Sizable bet on us winning, hope the bookies slash the odds on us given our form.

I am going to start praying we get RVP, Rooney, Jones fit for Chelsea on the 19th.

Alan smith at least knew he was average, the problem with Welbeck is he thinks he is class.

07 Jan 2014 19:09:13
Not massively excited by the line up 2nite but hope we can win.

Do really think it will be a tough game though

{Ed004's Note - Yeah feeling the same don't see why he can't take a chance and play Zaha for Giggs}

If it is a 4231, I am quite happy with the line up and think we are better off playing one striker if Rooney and RVP are not available.

I agree. although I am happy to see Rafael back, hope it's not been rushed though. Tonight would have been the perfect opportunity to play a rotating attacking three of Januzaj, Kagawa and Zaha behind Welbeck. Hopefully it's a 4-3-3 tonight though, Carrick holding with Giggs and Cleverley pushing forward.

Play Zaha for Giggs and let Januzaj play no10 all of a sudden we look exciting and dangerous arrrggghhhhh

So frustrating the last time Giggs started he was woeful and had to be taken off at half time is Moyes trying to show everyone how sh1t the squad is so he doesn't get much flack.

I know exactly Ed. Only thing I can possibly think of is the rumours of Zaha and Moyes daughter are true because not 1 of our wingers other than maybe Januzaj deserves to go unchallenged.

How on earth Valencia deserves his place practically every game baffles me

Cause he is a work horse exactly the type of player Moyes loves.

Because Valencia is way better than Zaha. Honestly no have no idea what you guys have seen in Zaha that I have missed.

Its like the other lad Will hughes at Derby, watched him against Chelsea and he was so outclassed and could not believe all the hype around him.

He has pace power directness and an ability to put fear into defences what exactly can you not see and what other United player can offer us that?

I honestly don't know how Zaha can be slated tbh because we haven't seen him. He hasn't started a competetive game all season. What has valencia done last season and this to deserve his place? Not a lot is the answer

At the minute, he's like Nani though, Devil. All the ingredients are there, but still lacking in intelligence and decision-making, from what I've seen of him.

Moyes knows he can rely on Valencia, and he obviously hasn't reached that stage with Zaha yet.

He's still young though, with plenty of time.

I hope he puts him on so we can all then agree on his attributes:)

I hope so too GCU.

Stevie

Completely agree but the kid deserves a chance at least one good for a young lad and who knows confidence is everything for a kid and should he get a chance he could be could be unplayable.

07 Jan 2014 18:37:15
Does anyone / eds know if Vidic has an automatic 1 year trigger on his current deal that ends in the summer? If so I presume it would be activated, then the player would be sold?

{Ed004's Note - He doesn't}

07 Jan 2014 17:55:53
Does anyone else think a new decent RB should be higher priority than a CB?

A RB would fill in for Rafael when injured and allow Smalling and Jones to play in the center and improve their development.

Varela was bought for this purpose.

In the longer-term, I agree, mate.

But if it's down to one or the other right now, it has to be a left back.

I don't think Fabio (unfortunately) or Buttner, are capable of taking over from Evra, and Pat's ever-increasing mistakes mean we need someone top-notch in, pretty sharpish.

JaMax like your thinking nice to hear someone come up with a freak approach to our problems instead of constantly repeating the same old aurguements

Nomidfield

Varela was purchased for the future as a 20 year old he was not expected to get much first team, he is not ready to fight for the rb slot in the first team and has already stated he wants to a loan move for first team football.

StevieK

Why can only one of the two be purchased? I agree we need a lb but both could options could be explored especially with the stated budget Moyes has at his disposal.

07 Jan 2014 17:13:42
As yet I have no idea who will be bought over the next two transfer windows, but its a fair bet that Jorge Mendez will be heavily involved both with outgoing transfers and recruitment, especially as his daughter is now working at Old Trafford.
Raffa

07 Jan 2014 16:31:19
All over the news that Vidic's agent has said he will not be extending his contract even though we have offered him a contract extension. I would be very surprised if it is not a typical misquote, but if true not great news.

A few years ago I would have agreed but I think now is the time for him to go. We need a top quality, athletic CB to play alongside Jones in my eyes. Vidic is past his best as is Rio and personally I would let both leave in the summer as long as a real top quality CB is brought in. I don't think Vidic would want to play second fiddle to anyone and he would hinder Jones/Smalling/Keane in my eyes if he stayed. The guy has been immense for us and I don't want him to spoil the great work he has done by staying too long.

This club needs to move on and needs to start moving players who are coming to the end of their careers on.

We need to start focusing on the future and with all due respect Vidic Rio Giggs Evra and to some extent Carrick need to be replaced and not have another 40 yr old trying to compete in the most physical league in Europe.

All great servants but time waits for no man. The sooner we start rebuilding the better.

I would have to with you Brendon81. The injuries have taken their tole on him. An athletic CB is definately what we need. A Lb and two CMs and a top winger too wouldn't go a miss. We live in hope

Vidic is a true United great, however, we do need to move on and I do not think he is up to the rigours of the Premier League now. I would love to be proven wrong and he gets over his injury concerns as we need leaders like him, but realistically he needs to move to a slower league such as Serie A.

What we do need to replace him with though is a leader.

Assuming DDG in nets, Rafael and one of either Jones/Evans/Smalling and a new left back we need a solid and vocal experienced centre half to lead the defensive line.

Personally I think its brilliant news. Don't get me wrong, I love Vidic - one of my favourite players and has been consistently one of our best performers over the last few years. But his body is letting him down and he, like Evra, has lost his pace. He has started 13 games this season, losing 5. That's 5 of our 6 defeats. It's time for Jones to learn his trade there, even if he makes mistake.

There are few elements to think about and it is not always about is he still the best.

1. Is he still good enough to give us 20 to 25 games a year given the volume of fixtures we have.
2. With rio retiring we suddenly look very thin in that area.
3. Even if he was planning on leaving, I can't understand why he would come out and make it public and how does that affect morale.
4. He is our Captain and leader on the pitch and given the departure of Rio and Evra, can we afford to have that many all leaving at once.

I am still inclined/hope to believe it is a misquote.

I think a little piece of me will die when Vida moves on, even though I think it's probably for the best now.

Unbelievable player and a great servant for the club. A legend. But he's a shadow of the player we had. Has to be offloaded.

'brilliant news' - bit harsh maybe, Fresh?

Shahram

I see your heart aching for Vida ;-) . See what I go through when you talk crap about Wazza :p

Vidic has been a great servant, I think we are trying to extend his deal, but may be he wants to have his last hurrah somewhere else.

Deeps.

Vidic has been no doubt my favourite United player the past few years, before his injury he was the best centre back in the world and it will be a sad day the day he leaves us.

But at the end of the day it would be beneficial towards us as we can finally let Jones start more regularly at the back and it would also allow us to bring in a much more technical and faster CB.

Deeps

If he wants to go then he can go. I still think he is plenty good for a large portion of games. Whilst he does not have the pace of Smalling or Jones, he has many other attributes they don't.

Honestly, it is not a Rooney thing. I think any player who does not want to play for us should be shown the door. We are miles bigger than any single player.

I hope we never have to do what liverpool have done in the case of Suarez, kind of joke if you ask me.

07 Jan 2014 16:02:24
Some Bosnian Jounalist laming we have bid for Pjanic, make what you want out of it. He is quite small and in the herrera mold but great technically.

""Pjanic has an offer from Man United, " he wrote on Twitter, before posting when asked if Pjanic would make the move: "Yes he is [happy at Roma], but he would be much more happier at Old Trafford."

Before this is over we will be linked to everyman and his dog. I hope we get one signing fairly soon and then at least we don't suffer like we did in the summer.

Funny you should post that cause another story doing the rounds is that Roma have won the race to sign Cagliaris Nainggolan a Belgian Midfield player.

So if ya put two and two together you could come up with him going to be sold?

We already got the dog when we bought Fellaini. Now way out of leftfield something I got to thinking of ( me thinking dangerous I know)Benteke normally a player I'd not consider bit moody and quick to spit the dummy, maybe him and Rooney can play pass the dummy.

A few on here wanted him last year and in truth he did look sharp and dangerous in the few AV games I saw. Now this year he's playing or not playing atrociously and looks disinterested. I could be wrong ( often am ) but I think he expected a big team to come knocking in the summer and that not happening has knocked his ego. Confidence is huge to some strikers maybe just maybe he might be a good player here this summer. The way he's playing atm we may get him free with a £40 shop at Tescos.

07 Jan 2014 11:48:07
Been reading the posts by Ken and StevieK below from their sons and I have to say that both are a credit to our great club. They have not been corrupted by other fans or the media and they tell it how THEY see it. Us older fans could learn a lot from these younger guys. We've all got far too bitter and twisted by the glory we have had recently and the demand for more of it, and forgotten what it is all about and why most of us became supporters of Manchester United in the first place.

This, in my eyes, is THE greatest club in the world and the history of it is unequaled. It was a huge part of the reason I chose United as a child rather than follow my dad and support City. Yes we have been hugely succesful of late, and it has been amazing, but we have to earn that success, it isn't our god given right.

Reading some posts on here this season has been shocking at times. People attacking everything from the manager, to players, to the owners, to SAF and everything in between. Yes SAF should have done more to sort the CM long ago but for what he did for our club surely we can forgive that? Moyes has come in to do the job now and he needs time to make it his team, he can't be judged after a summer transfer window, where we had a very inexperienced Ed Woodward trying to do the deals, and half a season where injuries have ravaged our first team, and we have been left light in CM by not being sorted in the past.

The owners haven't really had to shell out hugely so far either, as SAF was here and was bringing in trophies, but now we will see if they are serious about keeping us at the top of the game. If they don't put the money in then they will sell up and go as, in their interests, they need us to be succesful to keep making money so they don't really have a choice now.

Whether you wanted Moyes or not, he is here and he is manager of Manchester United, he needs our support, as do the players. He wasnt my choice when SAF retired but as soon as he was appointed that became irrelevant. For me, he has 2 seasons to build a team and have us challenging again, if he still isn't close then obviously he must go, but he will have my support until he has been given a real chance to sort our first 11 and get them playing as he wants.

I still see us in fourth spot come May, but if not then so be it for this season, its not ideal but I expected a bumpy ride once SAF retired so i'm not hugely surprised. I am a fan for life, and so I am willing and have time to give the manager a couple of seasons to sort his team, and put right problems which should have been sorted long before he took the job.

Just my views as always guys, I do expect the usual Moyes/Glazer haters to come on and have a go but, I think, we all need to look at the reasons we became United supporters, and get back to that inner child. When you look at the terrible things that have happened to our great club in the past, you realise that things really aren't that bad. We will be back but manager swapping, bitching, moaning, arguing and abusing fellow United supporters for their views won't help that happen any quicker. let's stick together and get behind the boys again starting tonight, we are getting enough sh*t from every other angle at the minute without attacking each other.

Thank your sons, Ken and StevieK, they have helped me, if no-one else, realise that I had forgotten why I became a United fan as a 4 year old boy. I just loved kicking a ball about, wearing my United kit and watching my heroes doing the same. It didn't matter if we won, drew or lost, I just loved every minute.

Nice post!

Excellent post Brendan.

Top quality post and couldn't agree more.

You'd honestly guess from some posts on here that people within our club are failing purposefully. They're not. Whatever you think of our players, manager, staff and owners you can guarantee that they are all working their behinds off trying to improve things. I was far from delighted with Moyes' appointment but what does make me proud is that we are clearly looking at a long term solution, no quick fixes (yes I know, its been anything but!).

Moyes may fail in the end but he's far from been given a fair crack yet and rest assured he will be. Personally i'm desperate for him to succeed and prove people wrong but only time (and investment) will tell.

Quality post, mate.

Remember at that age, when Utd was the be all and end all.

Before real-life rudely interrupted us :)

Unfortunately, for some supposed grown-ups on here, it seems that Utd is still the most important thing in the world.

They need to get out more. Get laid or something.

Spot on HoneyBadger, we want United to be succesful so why would anyone want Moyes to fail? Makes no sense to me but obviously not that way for others.

I remember those times very well Stevie, growing up gets right in the way and messes everything up unfortunately. We can live through our own kids now though eh :-)

07 Jan 2014 10:52:49
Ed002, do you know if RM have been actively trying to sign a LB in recent days? Thanks

{Ed002's Note - In recent day? No idea.}

07 Jan 2014 12:47:39
If you are on about Martinez Syd then this has just come to light mate, make of it what you want though.

EVERTON hope to sign Dundee United starlet Andrew Robertson this month after Roberto Martinez made his move for the highly-rated full-back.

The Goodison Park gaffer took in United's 2-2 draw with Hibs on Sunday and made
contact with the player's representative and now hopes to conclude a deal for around £750,000.

Martinez is also willing to loan the teenager back to the Taysiders for the second half of the season before he joins the Merseysiders at the start of the next campaign.

Tannadice chairman Stephen Thompson is currently on holiday in America and no deal can be finalised until he returns from his break in the States.

But Martinez spoke with United officials in Thompson's absence and a deal now looks to be on the cards for the player who has enjoyed a meteoric rise.

Everton could be set to lose England international left-back Leighton Baines and Robertson is seen as a potential long-term successor at the Toffees.

personally think Bainesee is staying myself fella but who knows, if you guys come in with a decent bid then he may go, we were after 20 million so that means you will probably bid 25 million lol.

Good luck

I think/hope syd meant Real Madrid. I don't believe we will bid for Baines given the state of relationships between the clubs and don't see us doing business with Everton for quite some time, which is best for all parties concerned. No one needs the hassle.

I am totally against shelling out that sort of money for a guy who is going to be 30 next year and then what.

Degsy, I did in fact mean Real Madrid, but thanks for the reply anyhow.

Ed002, the reason I ask is if Real Madrid do start to make movements, it could be an indication that Coentrao is available. Thanks.

Believe it not degsy the world does not revolve around Everton, syd was obviously on about real madrid (RM)

Lol Contreao 12m, Baines 16m, the moment u realize u have written out an entire pointless post and totally got it wrong, PRICELESS!

07 Jan 2014 18:12:00
CTR I didn't say the world revolved around my club, seriously why the attitude, was I not polite and never knocked you at all, you wonder why some fans give clubs a bad name, come down from your high horse mate

07 Jan 2014 10:29:13
a friend of mine who is a mancity fan wrote this:
This is one of those times where
the modern media really fails us
as football fans in explaining
exactly what has happened at
Manchester United. I often
complain that they focus too
much on irrelevance and not
enough on the actual business of
football behind the scenes and
this is an example of where it
could have helped.
I'm not sure what anybody else
was expecting here but Man
United are right about where I
thought they would be. I think
they'll finish higher than this but
their form is somewhat
predictable.
United as a Club has completely
fell apart and it is the job of David
Moyes to rebuild it. It has fell
apart because the Club in the
modern era was built entirely to
Ferguson's exacting standards
and methods. Every single person
in every department of the Club
knew what they were doing
every day and what the ultimate
point was.
Clubs falling apart after the
movement of a Czar isn't new.
United fell apart after Busby left,
Liverpool got worse the more
contrived the boot room system
became. It's natural.
I think United fans should
remember the words of
Ferguson before he left. He's a
proper football man, as is David
Moyes, and they both know the
scale of the task Moyes has
undertaken and the time it will
take to bear fruit. United can
either studiously water their
crops over time to create a vast
sustainable empire once again
that will provide riches for
generations or they can dump
nuclear waste on their land and
grow tomacco.
For me, the real test of the
Glazers as owners starts today.
You can talk about money and
whatever but to most people it's
an irrelevance, United have been
ultra successful and the manager
has been given what he wanted.
So far so good for the Glazers.
The test starts right now because
we discover whether they are
the seasoned and patient
businessmen that the Edwards
family were or just another
kneejerk bunch of persons who are
sacking managers on ridiculous
timescales.
I think Moyes has certainly made
mistakes, or rather a single
mistake. I think he tried to
transition too quickly from
Ferguson's staff to his own staff
in the first team which created
unneccesary pressure on himself.
This can be forgiven however as
I see what he was trying to
accomplish. He knew that this
would be a difficult period of
transition and he wants to snap
it as quickly as possible rather
than do it piece by piece.
Managers often do lack patience
in transition, AVB had the same
problem at Chelsea. Funnily,
Ferguson did the same mistake
when he first joined too.
I see people who have called
Moyes unambitious because he
has said that United played well
when they didn't. This is a man
who had a job for life in a stable
Premier League team where he
was beloved and he decided to
pack that in and move to the
most famous Club in the world
and succeed the best ever
manager in the game, to take on
a rebuilding job the like of which
has never been done in the
modern era of football.
Unambitious? Do me a favour.
You see, Manchester United was
a club built in Ferguson's own
image and everybody took their
lead from him. He was an
imposing figure yet if you meet
him he had this working class
charm that made you want to
fight for him. David Moyes is a
similar figure but doesn't yet
covet the same respect and
loyalty from everybody at
Manchester United. There's no
possible way that he could, that
anybody could, most of the
people at United were directly
employed by Ferguson or
employed whilst he was the
manager. In time, Moyes will have
the same respect bestowed on
him, that's all that it needs at the
minute, just some time for him to
get his feet under the table.
Some fans believe that David
Moyes isn't the man for United. I
challenge the idea that they even
understand what United is as a
Club. David Moyes is pretty much
the prototypical Manchester
United manager, if you had to
walk away and design a man
who would manage them, it is
him. He's fierce, he's tactically
well versed, he has a
superhuman work ethic, he
believes in youth promotion, he
plays with wingers, he inspires
loyalty and fight from everybody
around him. Those who don't
see this have never been to
Everton away under his tenure
there. Moyes managed to turn
that place into a lion's den in
how ferocious the atmosphere
was and how the team played,
and make no mistake this
developed under him and will
wane without him, managers
have a major effect on
atmospheres as any United fan
will tell you (or City fan for that
matter), he will do the same to
Old Trafford given time.
So I suppose the problem here is
that fans have underestimated
the mammoth of a task that
Moyes has to accomplish and
pundits have over-simplified it. It
will take Moyes several years to
get United built in his own image
and it will be better off for it
rather than start some
roundabout of managerial
changes. And I warn United fans,
I'm a fan of a Club that has had
probably 30 managers in the
past 30 years. Once you start
down this path of swapping in
and out managers, you can never
come back from it.
One last thing to note. I find it
interesting how many people
when this was announced said
things like "Moyes will need a
transition time" but have now
decided that he should be gone
in January. Transition time is a
term used to denote the time it
takes to sweep away the
mentality of the old regime and
bring in your own mentality.
Essentially, how long it takes to
forget the old manager and buy
into the thoughts of the new
even if it conflicts with what the
old manager would say. For a
manager who casts the shadow
of Ferguson, this will take 3 or 4
years, not 3 or 4 months. Bobby
Charlton, Alex Ferguson and
others at United understand this
so appointed a manager who
can rebuild United and have the
wide shoulders it requires to
bear the load of expectation
from the fans and media. They
think they found their right man
in David Moyes and all piss taking
aside, so do I. I hope that they
both fight his corner in the
boardroom and I'm sure they
will. These people understand
United as a Club, understand
what makes it successful and
understand what makes it
special.
Moyes will be fine if the fans just
shut up and let him do his job.
Now, back to pissing taking.

This is an excellent summary.

Whether or not Moyes has the ability to rebuild the club in his own image and be successful at it remains to be seen. Given the current disarray I would have to agree it's going to be a 3-5 year job.

Taking the longer term view, even if Moyes is up to the task, there is still the question as to whether the Glazers will be willing or able to pony up the cash - especially if the revenues associated with Champions League participation dries up. How much has it cost to rebuild City? 600m? Given where we are now, with very few young top class players to build the club around, Moyes will need serious funds. If we are not in Europe next season, he will also need a high degree of confidence and persuasive powers to sell the project to prospective signings.

Finally, while Stanod makes a great case for patience, based on the first 6 months of Moyes' tenure, witnessing his apparent missteps, lack of signings in the summer, embattled media persona, negative body language and general mixed messages etc there is the impression that this is a man without a plan.

@peashooter

United has over 80mil cash in the bank and is expected to generate another 80mil by the end of the season, EVEN IF WE FINISH OUTSIDE OF THE TOP 4.

It will only make players harder to get in the summer. I think that a hint of desperation is actually needed at United to pay up for the targets. I don't think any of our targets will be moving in January, perhaps someone like Vidal, but other than that I think waiting for the summer would be a far better option.

Even if we are out of the top 4 I think we will find better players than we will right now.

Loved reading this, almost felt the need to print off a few copies to save myself a lot of time down the pub haha.

Quality, thanks for sharing

Me too Oz.

Isn't it ridiculous that it usually takes fans from other clubs, to bring a sense of realistic perspective about our current situation?

And I mean those fans that aren't bent double, laughing at us as we hysterically self-implode.

Moyes, tactically astute? Are you kidding? His tactics have been non existent.
I can understand why the likes of city arsenal Chelsea and Liverpool want him at our club, because he's useless and we'll win nothing with him here.
Watch us tonight and take the blinkers off and see how far we've sunk since he's been here.

Nice, considered, thoughtful, measured response as usual, Nomidfield.

You never disappoint me :)

07 Jan 2014 09:36:41
Getting bored of all the doom and gloomers on here. Yes we are playing poor but Moyes has been left with a poor starting 11 and squad. Why do you think SAF said at his final match " Get behind the new manager ", he knew we were poor and would struggle. Do you think they would have employed him if he was a bad manager. I think Moyes should be commended for wanting to do it his way with his staff. The same for Fellaini, he has been injured, give the lad a chance, again, do you think Moyes would have bought him if he was crap. I supported the team through the 80's which was hell, especially with the scousers dominant. We can't win everything all the time. We have to except that the team needs a big overhaul but it has to be done right and if it is we will be back winning the league. For those who want a new manager after a few months " Get a Grip " or go and support Chelsea. We have to wait for Moyes to establish his way of playing with his squad. If he then fails then the criticism will be justified until then support the lads and Moyes. I think he will succeed and I hope all you whingers will come back on here and apologise. I remember being in the Stretford End and some fans singing " Fergie Out "!!!!!

No one will support Chelsea just because you said so.

People are free to express their opinion. Getting behind the manager won't make United play better or make Moyes a World class manager.

I for one, won't accept that this squad is not good enough to win the games we lost at home, if you think that is normal, its your opinion.

I don't want DM be to sacked during the season, but if he fails the top 5, I don't see any reason to keep him here. I said before and will say it again, if turns out to be the answer I'll eat my words ans assume that I doubted him.

Now, you guys need to stop saying 'go support city or whatever' just because people have different thoughts about the POOR manager.

Why don't you go and support chelsea

I was there in the eighties in fact the late sixties and all of the seventies as well and I remember some being angry with SAF because we had got used to losing however most didn't want him out including me because we knew he had pedigree plus great experience and had won things
Moyes doesn't have it yet you think I should follow someone else because I don't believe in Moyes? I support the club the players and the team not the manager and won't be brow beaten by anyone to doing that.

When I said go and support chelsea I was making the point that other clubs changr their manager too often and it doesn't work. Sticking with a manager lime we did with SAF could work if we give him the chance and let him sort his own squad out which may take time. We can't expect. A miracle transition. I difnt mean go and support chelsea literally! John Denton. Grea comeback. obviously typed from your armchair where you probably done all your supporting from! The thing is whether you like it or not and despite what some of you believe a lot of the players are not good enough and that is not moyes fault

{Ed002's Note - You don't think Chelsea has been successful in the past 10 or 15 years?}

Captain clueless I've been match going for 42 years I've been through the dross and the average and the great and now the average.ive been all over europe following utd, I've been in situations most people wouldn't want to be in at a football match, I've even shed blood for the team, nearly died of hyperthermia in the late 70, s when I hitched hiked from manchester to arsenal away and got dropped off and stuck in the wilds of derbyshire with nearly 2ft of snow.i spend a fortune still and have 2 season tickets and was dragged out of the reach of my bluenose dad as a 12 year old after I used to sit with jackie blanchflower(rip) in his pub in millbrook on a saturday afternoon and he used to tell me all about the club and his days playing for the greatest team in the world.call me what ever you want but armchair fan I certainly am not :)

07 Jan 2014 01:44:59
Confirmed: Manchester United have had bid accepted for the transfer or Yohan Cabaye!

Oh rubbish I've just woke up again haha whaaaaaaayy!

You two should get a room:)