01 Apr 2013 14:50:46
Now it's past 12pm and April fools is out the way I have some interesting news. One of my friends grew up with wes brown and Darren fletcher and knows a lot of the united guys. He was telling me last night that Rooney has said he won't be signing another contract with united (not sure of the reason) and Rooney thinks united will sell him this summer as they would get more money for him! - this would make the most business sense! However my friend did also say that things can change within a split second and perhaps Rooney/united could change their minds.
Also one of the united guys was talking to Ronaldo after the resent Real Madrid game and Ronaldo said he would love to come back to united but we don't want him! - I would think this is not we don't want him, but in terms of business it wouldn't be cost effective buying a 28 year old for 80+ million when we could buy 2/3 potential young world class stars.
Take from this information what you will but I thought I would pass it on as I am a big fan of this site and love reading all of the gossip!
MS
You should check the Spanish press and interviews and you will see that Ronaldo constantly makes ref to actually coming back. Further more its common knowledge that we are able to fund a move for Ronnie back and it depends more on SAF. He's the one not sure he should return. If we get Mourhino then all day long Ronnie will be back.
Grew up with Wes Brown and Darren Fletcher? I thought Fletch was from Scotland and Wes a Manc?
Bon
Fletcher was with since his early teens, so he may be correct.
Nat
I don't think we'll sell Rooney, just can't see it. Where would he go?
We saw today how much we miss Rooney, dropping deep and creating play. Really missed his composure and experience up top against chelski.
Ozwald
The problem with that would be that one world class player in, one world class player out. Manchester United don't sell world class players to fund moves for others. Funds will be raised by selling dead weight like Lindegaard, Nani & Anderson. We will see where we are at and what we can manage. Would give anything for this as it would be unrivaled:
____________De Gea
Rafael____Vidic____Evans_____Evra
______Strootman__Carrick
_____Rooney__Kagawa__Ronaldo
______________RVP
If this only meant that we could sign Ronaldo & Strootman I'd be very happy. I actually think Amos / Johnstone would be good back up keepers, its about time another keepers of ours broke through like Foster did. We would also see more youngsters given chances as the squad would be a little smaller and they would have more room for those like Powell, Januzaj etc. I'd be very happy with just those two signings.
Ronaldo for £60 million part funded by Cheverolet, Nike and ourselves. And Strootman for £16 million. We would already have Zaha amonst our ranks to replace Nani. {Ed004's Note - Personally if we were signing Ronaldo and playing Rooney out right I would sell Rooney to raise funds. Surely by selling Rooney you'd be able to afford one of Gotze, Rodriguez or Isco who are better suited to playing out wide and quicker so will be able to break at speed. May also mean enough to get a right back who can defend. So 4 in's and 4 outs, Evra, Anderson, Nani and Lindengaard and Baines, Strootman, Gotze/Rodriguez/Isco (in that order) and Ronaldo. Also would we be left too short in midfield with Strootman, Carrick, Cleverley and Giggs the only main experienced central midfielders? Suppose Jones and Kagawa/Gotze/Rooney can do a job there}
We'd have Strootman, Carrick, Cleverly, Giggs & Powell for the CM birth, but I still think Rooney will play there a lot next season. I think what I am saying is plausible were as signing Baines, Gotze and Ronaldo in the same season as well as selling Rooney is pure fantasy. {Ed004's Note - Yeah I know it is pure fantasy but I'm way too optimistic I just can't see Rooney being played wide right I reckon Valencia, Zaha, Young, Rafael and Welbeck would all do a better job there tbh}
He'd be more of an inside forward though and its not like Rooney, Kagawa, Ronaldo or RVP would stick to their positions. we never play with a rigid formation unless one foot Valencia plays. {Ed004's Note - I still think Rooney should be sold, and I reckon there is a possibility he will be and therefore a signing would be needed to replace him. Great thing about Gotze is, if teams crowd the Utd midfield both Gotze and Kagawa can drop in to make up the numbers and just push Ronaldo further forward and look to get him in over the top as teams who crowd the midfield will look to hold a high line usually}
Don't get me wrong I'd much rather have Gotze than Rooney. Front 4 of Ronaldo, RVP, Gotze and Kagawa would be perfect. Don't think that we would get Lewandowski as well though. {Ed004's Note - No leave him for next summer haha. Though I reckon that attack would be the best in Europe and it would see us get the best out of both RVP and Kagawa}
It would, we really do need Kagawa in the hole. Whatever anyone says Rooney is become less and less important. People say we missed him today, true, but I don't think we'd miss him if we signed world class replacements. {Ed004's Note - If we replaced Rooney's goals and assists he wouldn't be missed and that wouldn't be hard to do as none of the wingers are pulling their weight and Kagawa will contribute a good amount imo}
Kagawa will get 15 goals next season I think, he has been injured as well this season and is still in our top 5 scorers. ! To save money could you see us promoting Amos to our number 2? {Ed004's Note - Yes I think Amos would be good enough to be number 2. De Gea hasn't had any/many injuries since he has been here}
I don't think he could be any less convincing than Lindegaard as a number 2. Fabio will provide more cover at full back allowing Jones to hopefully focus more on CB and DM.
Ed004 while agreeing that its not too difficult to replace rooneys goals and assists I think we will need to replace the drive he brings to the side because as today showed when we are flat no one else seems capable of grabbing the game and injecting some urgency into our side, but if we can find someone to give us that then I, m all for selling rooney
Onecut {Ed004's Note - I reckon Gotze would bring that drive. Watch him for Dortmund he puts in some effort for the team}
Am I the only one that really rates PJ as a midfielder. His passing was excellent today (as good as Cleverleys), made some great interceptions and was a big threat driving forward. People jump on the "Jones should not play in midfield" band wagon but IMO its based on a few poor performances last season while he was learning the ropes. Really impressed with him today, Cleverley was awful again. I'm not against selling Rooney as long as we sign a top forward player like Lewandowski, Goetze or Rodriguez (and Ronnie obviously ;) ). I've a feeling we may come in for Ronnie as soon as a price is agreed by another club that is below the termination clause. We could just be seeing how low a transfer fee we might get for him and I think he would choose us over whichever other club has a bid accepted.
Dan
Does anyone actually watch german football and has seen goetze play except from a small 5 minute video on youtube {Ed004's Note - I watch Dortmund on a frequent basis}
I've seen about 8 or 9 matches this season. They are not the same without Kagawas movement but Goetze is a special, special player. Him, Fischer and Halilovic are the most promising talents in Europe at the moment IMO.
Dan
Is Goetze really that good then? Is he getting his place for Germany now? {Ed004's Note - Yes he is starting a lot for Germany ATM and is impressing on the international stage and netted a few goals they are playing him in the false 9 role though with Ozil, Muller and Reus behind him}
Great thread chaps.
I watch a lot of football, I'm talking from the grass roots under 16s I coach now right across Europe and occasionally South America.
Kagawa was my 'choice' signing before last summer and I have a habit of spotting the next signing for United before it happens.
The problem is with Goetze is that we just do not need him. It sounds a bold thing to say but with Rooney still in our ranks and I hope he stays we just do not need a player of Goetzes nature. What United need now is a world class winger and a CDM! Strootman will fill the latter of these requirements but I still cannot work out who will fill the winger slot. Valencia or Nani will leave, possibly both this summer and that creates a bigger void. I think our biggest problem is mis-understanding of our best formation and that is where Rooney is becoming lost. I think Cleverley is potentially world class, I think he would not be out of place in a Barcelona shirt but he too is running the slight risk now of losing position because of our unsettled shape. We have a great squad, arguably the best squad we have had but its time to decide what our best shape is adjust our squad to maximise that.
Summer signings will be:
Lewandowski,
Strootman,
CB,
Winger (Ronaldo should be amazing)
PJ {Ed004's Note - Gotze has played on the right wing for Dortmund at times this season and not looked out of place so you could play him there Kagawa out left and Rooney central but I'm not sure that gets the best out of all players as I don't think Rooney is technically good enough or has the speed to make up for it tbh}
Ideally I'd be happy with just Ronaldo & Strootman (& new Left Back).
____________De Gea
Rafael____Evans___Vidic____Evra
_____Strootman___Carrick
__Kagawa____Rooney____Ronaldo
_____________RVP
I normally always include Lewandowski, however I have finally reached a conclusion that it would be better to wait a year if possible and get him on a free. RVP simply doesn't want to be rotated and I don't want him played anywhere than up top - and I certainly don't want us to revert to a 4-4-2. So for now, we don't need Lewandowski, it just over complicates things. I also really want Amos to get a chance in Cup games.
I would say yes to Baines to replace Evra, but I have a feeling that we will wait another year so we can get Willems who I believe Buttner was a stop gap for.
And also PJ, why do you think we WILL get a CB? I still can't see it, very much doubt that we will let Rio go. we tend not to sell first team players of which he still is very much one. I'd be happy for him to stay as long as he knows he is 3rd or 4th choice behind Vidic, Evans & Smalling.
Rio has been our best defender this season why would he be 3rd choice? Smalling is a calamity on the ball at the moment, he needs to improve his composure on the ball before he can fill Rios boots.
Dan
Fresh! I would swap Rooney and Kagawa round in that formation. Kagawa is better than Rooney at 10.
Dan
PJ I think Cleverley could be a good squad player but what tells you he will be world class? He s the modern day Nicky Butt.
Dan
. funniest thing I've heard in my life 'Cleverly wouldn't look out of place in a Barca shirt'. even though Cleverly ain't having a great season my gran wouldn't look out of place in a Barca shirt. the problem United have is r midfield is weak as piss, midfield is where u win games & ours ain't good enough, been the case 4 years, when we play a half decent team we get found out in midfield, mainly centre mid, Carrick has done ok this season but who has played decent in there with him, & when u have the pathetic wingers we have it makes r midfield vulnerable. it ain't rocket science, sort it Fergie or we'll never win the European cup again.