Manchester United Rumours Archive March 25 2012

25 Mar 2012 23:44:59
If, as many seem to think, Javi Martinez is going to join City as they will throw money at him, which they will i'm sure...how do you feel about Axel Witsel? Now, many people on here will know him for that horror tackle that has been voted the worst tackle ever which broke the guys leg in two places. But he is actually a very good player.

He holds the ball well, passes it well and breaks up the play very well. Benfica are said to be looking for £20 million for him, thats not too bad a fee. We could even do a double deal and get Gaitan, although i'd rather pursue other avenues. Gaitan would be my last choice.

In all honesty, i doubt we will sign anyone over £25 million, that would rule out a number of targets. Witsel would be a decent option to pursue as would other targets in Portugal such as Jamie Rodriguez.

RedDevil19

Axel witsel is an attacking mf while martinez is a defensive one

Hell no. Witsel is an extraordinaey good central or defensive midfielder. Not an offensive one. I'd say we should go for him.

I was thinkin that...?

If Martinez does not come in then my next choice for that position would be M'Vila. His club have already said he will be sold this summer after keeping him last year and we hve shown interest in the past.

Oxred {Ed002's Note - Inter Milan, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus have all shown a determined interest in M'Vila and perhaps PSG will become interested as well.}

Axel Witsel is more defensive than he is attacking, but in all honesty he can do it all. He can support, sit or play box to box. The ideal alternative to Javi Martinez.

M'Vila would also be good buy but he has not been impressive for Rennes this season at all.

RedDevil19

Witsel would be one of my top targets, I think he'd add that little aggression we've been missing since Keane left too.

Shappy

M'Vila was asked last year to stay for one more season and then he would be let go (i think, ed's maybe able to confirm). If this is true then he may not have been as committed this year as in the last couple... I still think that he would be a quality signing. (martinez is still my 1st choice for that position though).

Ed002... if all the teams that you have listed as showing interest were to bid where would you see him going?

If it were to city or Madrid then this would free Martinez, or Sahin ?

Oxred {Ed002's Note - I really can't answer such questions. It would just be opinion on my behalf.}

It would be such a stupid idea to join City. He wouldn't play hardly any matches. But money talks these days

Above poster he would likely play ahead of de jong and barry
and midfield trio of silva-toure-martines would be scary for us to play against

No probs ed002.. thanks for the reply..

I agree I think Martinez would get in the city 11 and 2 of toure, silva & nasri would sit in front of him.... that would make them very strong in there....

Oxred

25 Mar 2012 23:01:49
I was actually at the cologne v Dortmund game tonight kagawa was very impressive though it did take him the first 15 mins to find his touch and passing but the player that impressed me the most Ilkay gundogan to be honest thus was the first time I've seen him and looked like he could do a job for us in midfield he sat infront of the back four kept the ball moving looked skilful and linked up with forward play. Does anyone know much about him ?

We were linked with Gundogan abit ago when he played for FC Nuremburg, always been a good player and was brought in to replace Sahin this summer, Dortmund are not in a possition where they need to sell players so it would be hard to get him.

L.A.7

25 Mar 2012 21:52:31
according to James Ducker of the Times United have NO interest in Gaitan and the Benfica player we want is Javi Garcia. Times is usually more reliable than some newspapers. {Ed002's Note - Manchester United and Barcelona both showed interest in the winger but PSG or Napoli may still be the first to eventually put an offer on the table for Gaitan. Asking price is and will be an issue. My understanding is that Manchester United and PSG did speak with Benfica in January but no bid was made. I understand that it remains the case that no firm bid has been made but Benfica are aware of sustained interest. Manchester United, Arsenal, AC Milan and Bayern Munich have certainly been looking at Javi Garcia but I suspected there may well be a push from Manchester City to take Garcia as a replacement for Nigel De Jong. However, Garcia has signed a new contract at Benfica making a move less likely and I suspect Manchester City turning their attentions to Martinez.}

I hope that there is no interest in Javi Garcia, he'd offer us nothing really. He's a battler but can't really pick a pass or anything.

RedDevil19

25 Mar 2012 17:53:21
I can't help thinking that we need another right back besides clyne? ATM we have fabio(not very reliable and is a left back), rafael(gets sent off too much),smalling(much better as a cb), jones(operates best as a holding mid) and valencia(great winger, but not defensive enough to play him LB). Clyne may be good but would it not be a big ask to make him our #1 right back? I think we could maybe have one of AC's many full backs/wing backs. Maybe Taiwo when he comes back from loan, antonini, zambrotta(cheap because he's old) or gattuso(ditto). Please give me feedback because, as wise as I may seem, I am just an 11 year old boy.
Nov00

When was the last time Rafael got sent off? And how many times has he been sent off? Clyne wouldn't be first choice anyway.

Percy

If we over compensate in the RB position it would only restrict the development of younger players (eg clyne if he is signed).

I understand your reservations but I only expect to see 1 RB signed in the summer.

TM

Fabio and Rafeal improve every single time they step out on the pitch and they have adapted their game considerably since they first joined and will continue to be moulded into United players- they have a fantastic future ahead of them. Fitness permitting, they will I'm sure be first choice R&LB for years to come.

APC

Finally! someone who sees sense, APC, you're dead right.

Percy

For an 11 year old you've got knowledge, but why do I get the feeling that you've been playing FIFA? haha.

I mean, Taiwo is very, very good on that game but he's very poor in real life and is strugglin' to make an impact on loan at QPR.

Regardless of that, for someone of a young age you do seem to have reasonably extensive knowledge of players and where they play best...

When you think about it though, Rafael is a top RB and when he can't play you've got Clyne potentially, Fabio, Smalling, Jones, Toni and at a push Cleverley who can all play that role comfortably.

The same applies to LB, we've got Evra, Fabio, Zeki, Blackett then the likes of Evans, Rafael and Giggs can play LB if needed too.

So, although we may not have the best wing backs and full backs in the world we're certainly stocked with capable full backs, we have other areas to focus on, such as CM, A forward and possibly another winger.

The Moon.

You do seem to be struggling with your lefts and your rights, that much is clear.
Fabio and Rafael are top players, who, as someone already mentioned, improve each game. Rafael would play more if he wasn't so injury prone but that's just a consequence of how he plays.....i.e. full on.
Taiwo looks average at very best at QPR.
With the coverage we already have at RB, Smalling, Jones, Toni V at a push and isn't that young City lad we bought a CB/RB/DM? Vermill-something, it seems a little excessive to spend at RB when there are other more important areas, i.e. midfield steel, to address.
People are just pulling names out of thin air, thinking they're being "off the wall".....Gattusso? Really? at RB?
Come on. I'm half thinking you're a Bitter WUM making suggestions like those.

25 Mar 2012 10:04:22
Heard we have signed lucas evangelista from desportivo.Anyone with imformation about his fellow two,bruno gomes and aguilar who all joined in the trainning last week?

I think someone else posted about him, but we have no idea what position he plays or how old he is...

Daniel

17 years old - defensive midfielder.

Ive heard he's 17 and either a defensive or attacking midfield player.Also 6ft 5in, 13.5 st , can do100 mtrs in 10.6secs, tremendous shot in either foot but his main strengths are his passing,dribbling,tackling and also great with his head at set pieces.I'm really looking forward to seeing him play.