Manchester United Rumours Archive November 23 2011

23 Nov 2011 17:14:33
ED002 Madrid are looking for a striker at the moment with that happening Higuan will leave as Benzema is preferred to him which i have no idea why If Higuan was to leave what would be the most likeliest destination for him? Cheers

RED91 {Ed002's Note - Chelsea do have a serious interest in the player and are willing to negotiate inducements which may include a player going the other way if it comes to that. The problem rests very much in whether or not Real Madrid would listen to offers, particularly in January and whether or not they find another striker. In the unlikely event he moves in January the only likely destinations are Juventus and Chelsea.}

'Ed002'

As it currently stands Juventus and Chelsea are the only likely destinations, but at any time another team could make their interest known and could also be a likely destination, could they not? It only takes a couple seconds to send a fax. If Real Madrid accepted an offer by Chelsea, isn't it possible more clubs could make offers?

Sydney! {Ed002's Note - A fax Syd?}

'Ed002'

Haven't last minute deals been completed via the fax machine before? By your reaction I guess it's almost unheard of, almost Jurassic ;)

Sydney! {Ed002's Note - Sure other clubs could bid. I guess perhaps PSG might be interested.}

Could Pastore have any bearing on where Higuain ends up? I imagine the PL will be his preferred destination, but perhaps 120k a week after tax would convince him to join up with his compatriot Pastore?

Sydney!

23 Nov 2011 08:48:31
De Gea, Amos, Fabio, Rafael, Smalling, Jones, Thorpe, Blackett, Fryers, Cleverley, Pogba, Morrison, Tunnicliffe, Cole, Brady, Welbeck, Cofie and Will Keane.
In five years time at least 10 of them will be world class and the others won't be far behind. But as they say all good things come to those who wait.

Shappy

really 10 of them are going to be worldclass i think i must have higher standards.
there aren't that many more than 10 true worldclass players in the world at the moment.
worldclass is really a word that gets used far 2 often
i would say rooney and vidic are our only true world class players at the moment to say 10 of the above will get to the level of them 2 is a bit biased
and whats this crack about barce are you mad they have spent massive amounts of money have got themselves in big debt and have the third highest wage bill of any SPORTS team in the world.
jred

One other thing if we dont buy success tell me who was the last worldclass player to come through our youth set up and how many years ago was it
jred

Scholes and giggs are great examples

10 world class players only? Really shappy? Are you sure you dont want 20 world class players?
How modest of you!
Anyways i ll be sure to pass the request on to santa clause. I should be able to speak to him this evening at a party arranged by the easter bunny and hosted by the tooth fairy!

Scholes is an example of one the most recent worldclass players to come through our youth he broke into the united first team 17 years ago
jred

Cleverley, Pogba & Morrison will be three graduates from our academy who will be world class if they continue to progress the way they are. De Gea, Smalling & Jones will also be world class players albeit not from our academy. Players like Rafael, Fabio, Blackett, Tunnicliffe, Keane & Welbeck can be very good players, but perhaps not world class.

World class is a silly phrase that is based purely on opinion anyway. People will call Nasri world class, yet they wouldn't call Nani world class even though Nani is a much better winger than Nasri. Others believe every Barcelona player is world class, but they are not. It is all opinion. Ferdinand was a world class CB for many years, Smalling has the potential to be even better. So you cannot say ten will be world class, but I would say six have a very good chance at being world class, with one or two others knocking at the door.

Sydney!

"World Class" is used far too frequently. Can we not start a different title "FIFA Ballon d'Or Finalists".

This would then represent those players that actaully make it to the final 3 IN THE WORLD...... as voted by the footballing communitity.

Now out of the 10 players you have listed how many do you think will be "FIFA Ballon d'Or Finalists" ??

Oxred

World class should be defined as a player that is in the top five in the world in his position. And/or would make the World squad of 23.

Vidic is World class, Rooney because of Versatility would be world class and is there four right wingers on this planet who is better than Nani as an out and out winger? Again it's all opinion based therefore not fact.

Ed001, it is not easy to define 'World class' is it?

Sydney! {Ed001's Note - it is difficult to define world class, everyone has their own ideas of what it is. I would never include a player for versatility, only for being amongst the best in his position. Which I am not sure Rooney is personally, best England have? Yes. Best in the world? Well not when you consider a certain player called Messi often plays in the hole, which, for me, is Rooney's best position. I think the only way world class will ever get a set definition is if FM set a definition for it in their game! I guarantee their definition would soon become accepted.}

'Ed001'

I meant Rooney could be classed as world class based on versatility because as a striker he would make the top five (thereabouts) and in the hole could also make the top five (thereabouts). But it is all opinion based and players have dips don't they? When Rooney was playing in the hole at the start of the season and was on fire, Fowler said he was the best player on the planet, yet he hits a slump and people are calling him overrated. Torres was probably the best out and out striker in the world at 25, but at 26 & 27 he is not even in the top 20. Form really does mess with the definition IMO.

Sydney! {Ed001's Note - Fowler is not a scout though, his opinion is biased considering he knows the Rooneys. I think the truth is somewhere inbetween, on form he is great, but he relies on the team around him playing well to play well himself far too much for me. He still has a long way to go to reach the level of a Scholes, for instance. But yeah, MOTD fever and form affects people's definitions. That is why Modric's rep has suffered, he is not a MOTD player unlike so many others. Far too many players can be awful for 89min but score a screamer from 25 yards that gets seen on MOTD and people rave about them.}

'Ed001'

But you always need a team playing well around you, don't you? Messi is awful for Argentina compared to his beloved Barcelona because there is no Iniesta or Xavi in his team. I think Rooney is certainly a world class player and so is Vidic. Evra, Giggs & Ferdinand have been world class, can you go from being a world class player to no longer being a world class player? Or once world class do you keep that status of being a world class player? It's all opinion mate, it's a grey area. Even Pele & Maradona have said Messi & Ronaldo need to do it on an international level to be known as world class. It's a tough one Ed.

Sydney! {Ed001's Note - it's almost impossible, I agree there are those players who are fading, those coming up and those who only seem to play well because of the team around them. You couldn't even say world class is a player who would walk into any team in the world, because you could change the formation to fit different players into a team!}

'Ed001'

Exactly, it is a hard one to judge and much of it is based on biased opinions from biased fans. This is why this site will always keep ticking over, simply because no discussion comes to an agreement of both sides, it's opinion based and most opinions are biased.

Sydney! {Ed001's Note - it also doesn't help judgements when most people watch the match and their eyes automatically follow the ball. You miss a huge proportion of a player's time on the pitch that way. That is why scouts are a special breed, they will go to a game and come away not even knowing the result in many cases! Their only thought is for the player they are there to watch.}

World class players? I doubt many of them will be. Injuries can change people and the step up is way different. Toni Silva is a fantastic talent in the liverpool ranks but being realistic, I don't think he can make the step up and will probably end up at a championship team. The only Liverpool player I see who could potentially get through is probably Raheem Sterling. You need to be more realistic. They may be "good" at reserve level but are any of the players you mentioned a step above everyone else? Doubtful.

3 0r 4 will be very good, world class ? who knows, halfof those mentioned will not be at utd in 5 years time
johndenton

People use the word 'World Class' far too often. There are probably 5-10 'World class players' out there at the moment, there are hundred of 'amazing players' and hundereds of 'very good players'. Messi, Ronaldo, Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Van Persie are all world class. United currenty have 1 'World Class' player Vidic. Rooney would be there but doesn't always perform as well as he should thats why I wouldn't put him as 'World Class' even though he is my 'Favourite Player'

United Till I Die 1987

I'd say Smalling and Jones will become top players. Pogba Tunnicliffe and Morrison may become top players, but we'll have to wait and see how they play against other EPL teams. I'd say we'd be lucky to have 3 or 4 of the whole list make it in our 1st team. Pogba and co look great against kids and reserves. However, they are all potential and nothing proved yet. I can't see Pogba, Morrison or Tunnicliffe etc hitting the heights Goetze has , by next year when they are 19 like he is.
Mik

I would say a world class player is a player you base your team solely around. Messi, Ronaldo, Xavi, Iniesta and Silva are the best players in the world imo. In order aswell.