Manchester United Rumours Archive November 15 2012

15 Nov 2012 17:31:19
Just wondering if the south stand were to be built up in the near future do people think it would be identical to the sir alex stand? it seems that the south stand is slightly more slanted so maybe for this to happen some of it would need tearing down to be designed differently, what are peoples thoughts please?

It would have to be different as it would have to accomodate an underground train line / also cant see it happenning for a bit as all the houses at the back of the stadium have to be bought to allow building to commence which is not straightforward .also the cost would probably be 100/150 million, so unless like sydney said they can get someone like nike to sponsor the stand cant see it happenning for a long time

I'd love for it to happen, I think the SAF Stand looks amazing.

A.R

I really want this to happen as well. It is what would concrete our position as the worlds biggest sports club. We need a stadium as big as or bigger than the San Siro, Bernabeau, Camp Nou (85,000 or over). Its not like we couldn't fill it.

Dan

Do you not think if they extended the stadium, they would not increase ticket prices... Yes more seats mean more income but in the short term they would increase ticket prices even more to clear the costing of it quicker. And would probably keep the prices to the increased price once broke even, would personally not want this to happen

RedKnight

16 Nov 2012 13:04:00
They will not be extending the stadium for a while. In order to go up even one tier would cost millions never mind the two twiers to reach the SAF. United would have to buy all the house on Matt busby way as well as all the house on that little estate next to the stadium.

On top of the cost to buy, bulldoze and prep the land before even laying a brick will be astronomical. Especially as the owners of these houses could practically ask for what they want. I work for a compnay who did the same when the SAF was brought up to its level and received triple the value. The only other way is for the council to place a compulsary purchase order which unless they want ridiulous amounts of bad press they definately will not do.

Then there is the issue of the train line. A tunnel will have to be built over the line which would be a pain to get planning persmission for considering all the train line is the area will be getting beefed up when the planned upgrades of Picadiily, Victoria and Oxford road go ahead in accordance with the high speed rail from London.

So your talking tens if not hundreds of millions before a brick is laid. I am a construction quantity surveyor and I know people who worked on the quadrant upgrades. They cost tens of millions. An off the cuff estimate to buy houses, bull doze, train station adn stand your looking closer if not over £500 million.

Never going the happen

RedJ7

16 Nov 2012 16:20:57
Houses are already being bought up and knocked down. Stadium tunnels over railway is not unknown, quite common on the continent (I work on the Crossrail project in London and if we can build a tunnel under London we can build one under OT).

It will happen in next 5-10 years, if current growth is sustained (on and off pitch). We could fill 90k at the right price for most games.

If completed to match SAF stand it would be the best stadium in the world.

Current main stand is 60's/70's? Ripe for a full development, not just an extension. But agree it will be very pricey. I'd recon on £100-200m tops, considering the Shard, the largest skyscraper in Europe (more restrictive, built on a railway station, not just a line, massivly more intrusive and difficult to construct) can be done for £1bn

Would love to see the expansion of the south stand and the remaining corners......there are obstacles but nothing that are insurmountable.......as far as I'm aware I think plans were in places to coincide with the World Cup bid.....with lucrative sponsorship deals in the offing I think the process will happen sooner rather than lately......here's hoping

15 Nov 2012 15:37:32
I know first we should take care of our midfield but two players I would love to see at United are Isco and Tello. Isco can be bought for cheap due to Malaga's financial condition and Tello as he is having contract problems at Barca.
IMO they are better bets than Munian and James Rodriguez who would cost a fortune to buy ( to be fair I'm frustrated with Portugese clubs who just ask for ridiculous money for their players and if they dont work well in England then they dont have any sell on value as well ). Isco and Tello are much better than our current wide attacking options and can play through the centre as well. We need some Spanish flair in our team and these two can be excellent additions. But this is just my point of view.

SHAITAN

Barcelona players always want to go back to barcelona. And i fear tello is not any different.

Mick

Tello is overrated.

Yes a guy who is getting first team action in a Barca team and proving himself is definitely overrated.

SHAITAN

The reason Portugese clubs are to ridiculous with prcing of players is because of the Ronaldo deal. They witnessed a player being sold for near enough 8 times the figure they sold him for, and as such fear big teams will continue to gazump potentially world class players at low prices and sell on at a massive profit.

Agreed, tello, well over-rated!

isco - quality!

15 Nov 2012 12:08:55
A few media sources in Italy reporting that SAF wants Erik Lamela of Roma possibly this January. Not sure if Lamela has played in any European competition this year with Roma.
Do you think there is any genuine interest there ed/anyone?
Heard of him a few times and I think he's an attacking midfielder who was potentially going to replace sneijder at Inter a year or so ago.

Supasub {Ed002's Note - I would not hold your breath for a January move. He has horribly complex ownership issues and would need a work permit - that will perhaps not be as easy to get as some imagine. Another English club were interested but stepped away because of these complexities. If he was a target for the summer it would make more sense.}

14 Nov 2012 20:17:03
Hello Ed, I know there is interest in Wilfred Zaha, and I know he is from Ivory Coast, but how come he has been registered as an English player? If we managed to get him would he get the decision for what nation he would play for? Because I believe that would effect us if we went for him due to the African cup of nations.

Cheers in advance.

-JakeW {Ed002's Note - Him moving to Manchester United or not is nothing to do with his national choice. I would not worry about it.}

Ed I think you got that the wrong way round. He was saying that his choice would affect our interest in him as if he was an Ivory Coast player he would have the African Cup of Nations.

Welsh Dragon {Ed002's Note - I answered the question.}

I don't think the national team decision is an issue. I would say that Zaha has made his decision, otherwise he would've declined the call up to the latest England squad.

TK-Red