Manchester United Rumours Archive May 08 2012

08 May 2012 23:39:27
What does everyone think of the job Unai Emery has done at Valencia? Not a name that's mentioned often, but I think he's done a brilliant job considering they had to sell Villa, Silva and Mata, as well as having next to nothing to spend. Plays good football, tactically very strong, outspoken on the touchline and has guided Valencia to 3rd(?) this season. I believe he's going to Spartak Moscow next season. I'm not saying he should replace Fergie, and I know the size of the job is only really suited to a top level manager, but he's certainly one to consider.

G.A.G.U.S

He could be an option but i can't see past Bert Van Marjiwk, Laurent Blanc or Joachim Loew to be honest with maybe a gamble on a younger coach like Brendan Rodgers or Ole Gunner Solskjear.

Shappy

08 May 2012 21:50:14
You know what guys dont £isten to what City could be saying about Hazard wanting a lot of money and so they have lined up Belhanda as a replacement,thats just a gimmick...,i am made to understand that Hazard may have made an unexpected choice beyond money but the love to play for a bigger club with more game time,Hazard is rumoured to have chosen Man Utd over City so thats why they are blubbing like soap foam....

Where have u heard this from?

I just cant see this as being the case unfortunatley

jimminycricket

Hasn't Hazard stated that he will be wearing blue next season. It'll be City or Chelsea! {Ed002's Note - Or Everton.}

Voices in your head or credible source?

It wouldn't surprise me, i think that he would want to come somewhere where game time is guaranteed. Furthermore i still think history counts for a lot, i'm sure he'd love to get the number 7 shirt.

RedDevil19

Just a thought lads he was quoted as saying he will definitely be wearing blue. but is it just another guessing game as our away kit is blue

Whitey

City remain massive favourites for Hazard's signature
20 Rising

08 May 2012 20:08:36
I understand there are rumours that the Glazers may have sold or have agreed to sell some of their US malls. Unknown why or what they are going to use the money for.

Red Man

A slap up binge at Mrs Miggins Pie Shop?

Bob

Alot of there US malls are empty and have been up for sale for a while with no buyers due to the poor economy!

Im an American United fan and have been a dedicated devil for over 30 years! Many of the Malls are closed with the purchase price having been reduced a couple times to tempt buyers. The only help for United fans if they put the club up for sale or the bonds go on the Asia Market.

08 May 2012 19:52:26
Just an interesting stat here to share. Rooney has scored over 30 goals this season, but only has 4 assits. I personally think that his passing has let him down a bit this season. So for those thinking that Rooney's best position is deep, this stat would show otherwise. I'm looking forward to seeing a proper attacking midfielder playing off one of the worlds best strikers (Rooney).

RedDevil19 {Ed007's Note - The way the team was set out he didn't have many options to set up goals for others. The assists stat is very misleading IMO and is just another stat wheeled out in the Americanisation of football, like now telling us the metres a player has covered on the park, who really cares? The assist stat depends on too many factors to give any accuracy. If you have a quality crosser of the ball and a CF who is quality in the air then the assists number goes up, as will the strikers goals. You put the best crosser of the ball in the world hitting crosses into a 5ft 6 striker then the assist stat would drop drastically as would the goals being scored from crossed balls.}

Good point Ed also with that assist stat a player could destroy a whole defence cut them wide open lay a ball off to another less talented player who gives a simple pass to the eventual goalscorer....who gets the assist ? the not so talented guy who gives the final pass where as no stat shows the brilliance of the REAL creator.

Devil Dust. {Ed007's Note - Exactly DD mate. It is a pointless stat and proves nothing.}

Rooney's passing has been poor this season. The odd 'Hollywood' pass pleases those watching highlights, but he gives the ball away making simple passes far too much.
That being said we are a shadow of a team without him.
Dingle.

He has 9 assists 8 in the league actually...

Ed007 although you do bring up an interesting point about americanisation and pointless facts I do have to agree with you. I study performance analysis at university and there can be up to 20% in performance change with the use of these statistics. {Ed007's Note - I take it you mean you disagree with me? I can not argue with you but can I ask how you know there is a 20% performance change? 20% of exactly what? If a striker scores one goal (or has an assist) then gets two in the next game, then his performance has risen by 100% surely? How can you have a 20% increase in your ability to cross a ball, it is either a good cross or a bad cross. I have been watching football for over 30 years, no number crunching is going to tell me if someone is a good player or not. It's all far too FM and just like politicians, figures can be manipulated to suit what you want to portray. How many times do you watch a match and the team with the less possession wins? It's football, it's a simple game about ability and tactics, people (TV???) are trying to complicate things by trying to turn every match into a NFL game with list of boring, mindnumbing and pointless facts.}

I think Rooney has flattered to deceive when played in the hole. He is world class player don't get me wrong but he is much better played up top. Plus the whole team need to accomodate him in the hole where as playing a Kagawa or traditional AM it would cover the midfield more.

Ajp

Think we get more shots on goal when Rooney is dropping off and setting attacks in motion.
I think Rooney is probably our best distributor, behind Scholesy obvioulsy, the more he is on the ball the better in my opinion.
He has been a bit off it at times lately, but usually he his spot on with his passing.
Prefer him up front myself, but he brings considrably more creativity to our midfield than most of our other MF's.

Ajp..im not sure Kagawa would cover the midfield more than Rooney, given how much ground Rooney covers in a match, the hardest working player we have. But maybe Rooney would benefit from having some quality behind him.

Bob

Bob I think everyone will agree with me when I say are team should be built around Rooney. Now I am one of those who feels huge money has to be spent to improve our team. Now I undecided on what team we should play Rooney in. If we are to play him as the lone striker then I would go for
...................Martinez .
...........kagawa.........ozil
Valencia........................Nani or Rodriguez
....................Rooney
Now all money would be spent on getting those 3 midfielders and if Nani was sold to get Rodriguez. Selling Evra would cover the cost of a left back like Izaguirre and selling Anderson and Berbatov would cover the cost of kagawa and more.
Now if we were playing Rooney in the hole then
.............Eriksen. Martinez
Valencia.........Rooney....Nani or Rodriguez
.....................Higuian
Now I personally do not know which one I would prefer. I am slightly favouring the second one...
The red Manc

08 May 2012 17:58:30
With the Europa league final tomorrow night, you can expect a host of clubs to be linked with the players from the winning side. Before that all starts I'd just like to say that I think Utd could do alot worse than sign Oscar De Marcos - I've watched him alot this season and think he would be a great addition!

Hobbes

We ve been linked with him in one ofthe papers mate.they reckon he is our real target not munian or martinez.i know were your at mate if you had of left this to tomorrow night one of the edds would have jumped on your back about having motd fever.

The only replacement for fletcher if required would be a great success in EPL

Shhhhhhhhh .... City might hear you !

08 May 2012 16:54:43
Warning for Eden Hazard as Manchester City move for £7m Younes Belhanda.

Manchester City have identified the Montpellier midfielder Younes Belhanda as a back-up target, with their pursuit of Eden Hazard, one of the Continent's brightest talents, proving more difficult than the club had first anticipated.

08 May 2012 15:39:48
I would like to see the following arrive in the summer.
Llorente, M'Vila, Kagawa, Vertongen, Clyne.

08 May 2012 14:16:24
Hi EDs do u think that we will get Hunterlaar and Hazard in the transfer market. thanks kaylem1300 {Ed002's Note - No.}

08 May 2012 11:23:22
Is Pogba really off to Juve? Can any of the eds confirm? I for one will be sad to see him go.

Devil for Life {Ed002's Note - He has certainly been advised to sign for Juve. I am not so sure that anything has been finalised just yet though.}

He has agreed to join Juventus. He will be off 100%, you can take that to the bank! Shame, but no player is bigger than the club especially a 18/19 yo who's come on as a sub once or twice.

United Till I Die 1987

I am heartily sick of this young unproven kid thinking he can ride roughshod over the club. If he thinks so little of United that he is prepared to drage this wretched saga on and on, then I say good riddance, however good he may be (or thinks he may be). There are plenty of talented players out there. Let him go and rot on the Juve bench.
Mike B.

Thanks ed002 and Kagawa, has he signed? looks to be a quality little player :)

Devil for Life {Ed002's Note - No.}

08 May 2012 13:03:07
Just seen this on the arsenal page, does this meen we could maybe try for Sanchez?

"Story running on Tribal football,

Any thoughts ed's ?Barcelona chiefs have made just SEVEN of their first team squad untouchable for the summer market.

Sport says Barca are prepared to shake-up their roster to help fund major signings for next season.

Victor Valdes, Carles Puyol, Gerard Piqué, Sergio Busquets, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and Leo Messi are those off limits for interested clubs. However, interestingly, Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez can be prised away for the right price, along with Dani Alves, Pedro Rodriguez, Ibrahim Afellay, Adriano Correia and Seydou Keita.

Young Barca B graduates Martin Montoya, Oier, Jonathan Dos Santos, Marc Bartra and Marc Muniesa are also being made available as new coach Tito Vilanova doesn't want to work with a blown out squad."

Quite subjective though....and any club would of course have to spend £30m+ to get either

Gav

Go for Fabregas!

I would imagine that Keita, Abidal, Sanchez, Pedro, Thiago and possibly Alves are available. But certainly not Fabregas. I would say that if one of Pedro and Sanchez leaves it will be to fund a move for Bale who i think will be there next big signing. Nevertheless, Pedro or Sanchez would be excellent signings for us.

RedDevil19

It raises an interesting question. If you could hand pick any one player at Barcelona, other than the aforementioned 7, who would it be?

TK-Red

I'd for Alexis Sanchez, but i am assuming that David Villa would be available, so he'd be on the list as well possibly depending on his recovery from injury.

RedDevil19

I'd go for Dani Alves if we could get him for a decent price. We need a RB and Alves (along with Lahm) is the best around.

Barca are getting rid of players as they are looking at bale, lloriente and couple of other spanish players, and that is reason behind clearout as they need money in before they can spend due to uefa financial rules coming in as for the players
d alves is being touted by his agents around the top clubs.
Fabregas has been a big disappointment at barca, and reason why he missed a few important games at end of season.
Sanchez same as fabregas.
Keita is squad player but wanted in italy and loserfool.
As for the other younger players its pretty much like we do with our youths, not quiet good enough for them but will make money.
Also dont be surprised if david villa is available.

sd

08 May 2012 12:46:54
my personal opinion not speculating or anything. just what i think. SAF usually does most of his business b4 pre-season and normally b4 major tournaments.

i think we will see maybe 5 signings,

LB - boy from celtic, izaguire (i think)
Maybe a RB Clyne
Maybe a CB not sure? he may wait a season on this one though.
if he signs RB then CB will wait,
I do see Jones maybe getting loaned out for a season. he seems to have lost his way towards end of season, injuries may have taken there toll. after a fantastic start. Still a young lad and maybe regular 1st team football could benefit us both
2 x CM - Kawaga seems to be hinting at a move to united. but i really do think hazard will be united bound. SAF has scouted him for a number of years now, i see hazard as more of a off the striker player.
If we get hazard i dont think we will get a striker which i think we need.
With Fletcher hopefully coming back, i think we will only sign another midfielder if pogba goes. Hence why i stated 2 CM.

Wasn't Hazard quoted as saying he will be wearing blue next season, definitely blue.
Don't get your hopes up mate, reckon we'll miss out on him.

Can't help thinking that Jones lost his way because he was being played at RB most of the second half of the season, when he played. And he was getting turned inside out a lot of the time too. Not good at RB, very good at CB/DM..We'll get the best out of him when we play him in his strongest position.

Bob

Hazard was mis-quoted i seen the tv clip and he stated he likes both colours and didnt give any indication to who he was going to play for.

You have to remember with Jones, he is only 20 and he did not really have a break from the U21 championship along with cleverley and smalling. I know welbeck has done well but you have to say all 3 of the others have struggled for fitness with little injuries. Maybe more chance of a rest this summer (unlikely to feature much at Euro 2012) could do him good for next season

We've got a load of lads going to the Olympics too haven't we?
Could do without that.

Bob

08 May 2012 09:05:12
What about Vertonghen ?

Pros:
1. 25 yr old entering into his prime
2. Tough-tackler yet good disciplinary record
3. Good Passer
4. Has been AJAX's captain last season and is a born leader.......something that we need in the midfield.
5. Reported to cost around 12-15 million
6. Would definitely choose us over Spurs/Arsenal

MUMBAI_BOY""
dear mr mumbai boy
ngiak has been a keen follower of the dutch league as well
vertonghen is a fantastic player and leader
he brings the ball forward skilfully and is fast
will be exactly the type of player to fill the gap left by rio and vidic
ngiak does not forsee them both contributing much beyond this season
gan

Strange how big Jan is a defender though isn't it?

One other point of interest also is that van der vaart ha tweeted (verified account) & has commented how vertonghan will be joining spurs even van persie who was encouraging the player to join arsenal has now stopped

'no name'

He can play as a DM and CB.

'Gan'

You do not see Vidic contributing much past this season? Bit dramatic isn't it?

Sydney!

He is a CLASS CB IMO been to ajax 7 times this year and the guy is a legend.

great defender and scores a few too, great left foot would fit utd perfect.


said all along vertongen and eriksen perfect for utd hope to see it (25m euros wood get both none of this eriksen is 34m nonsense either)


ms85

Vertonghen will probably end in London, whether it be Arsenal or Tottenham. He would be great for United, but I don't really see it happening as we haven't shown any interest. Again, it would be wonderful if SAF brought him but I haven't heard any links between him and United, just press speculation

In fairness, when do actual links become proper interest and culminate in the player coming in? The fact that he has not been linked makes his arrival more likely in my opinion.

RedDevil19

Sydney!

Although I agree it is a bit dramatic and that Vidic will be back next season, you would have to say Vertonghen would be a fantastic signing. The Vidic/Juve rumours seem to keep cropping up and he is 30 years old. If you'll allow me to play devils advocate, would it be a bad move to bring in the Belgian for £7million and bring in £15-20million for Vidic? That would leave us Jones, Smalling, Vertonghen, Evans and possibly Rio to play CB with some excess cash to spend in other areas.

TK-Red

We should FIGHT for him he poss is the best value in the market for his price atm! he wont sign a contract and is gonna go so i hope fergie does put a bid in for the bloke. our defence does need a leader (vida is getting on now) and he is defo the guy

ms85

TK, I agree he is a great player, but we wouldn't get £15m-£20m for a 31 year old Vidic that has just had a bad injury. Juventus wouldn't pay half that amount. I would be devastated if we sold him for £10m and Juventus got four world-class years out of him. Vertonghen can play LB, DM and CM so I would buy him and keep Vidic. I would release Ferdinand who would free up an extra £6m in wages.

Sydney!

Agree with Freeing up Ferdy as he is just taking wages now. 6 Million a year, That could buy us a cisse in 2 years :P Dont see Ferdinanad figuring much more next season, Lost pace, concentration and others will develope. Would love a cb partnership of Vertonghen and Smalling, Both good on the ball and both exceptional when it comes to bringing the ball forward.

08 May 2012 06:25:56
Well, Hazard is off to City. Interviewed today and said he'll be wearing blue next year. Not surprising really. It's become common practice for United to miss out on real talent and settle for cheap mediocrity! The team played valiantly this year despite being far behind City in terms of talent. This summer will be extremely telling. If United move for world class players, then SAF is aware of the problem. If United move for decent players for cheap prices (Siggurdson) then we know that SAF is the only man on the planet unaware of the problems at the club. I've tried to be patient, but this is getting to be comical. The man is a legend, but is he really this delusional? Why are city ahead of us? Bc they bought better players! Not better values!

We can't compete with City becaus eof the levels of debt thsi club has. Therefore City no they can out bid us for any player. They can afford to pay higher wages than us because they do not have our debt burden. Instead of complaining live with it.

Source?

I tend to disagree with all this hazard talk,he might look a great player, but he stated his preference was for spain,now why didnt madrid or barcelona go in for him if he is so good,why didn't chelsea,bayern go in for him or the milan clubs,maybe because these clubs all have pedigree and know what to look for when they buy a player,city have previous of buying the latest biggest name out there,i honestly believe fergie knows what he is doing and never really wanted him in the first place,joeyored

Say wot you like no name but your wrong! U make out as if we are 15 points behind them, remember were behind on goal difference!! Ask yourself where we wud b if we didn't have all those injuries? At one point we had about 9 players out injured. Oh and one last point, how can you say we don't go for world class players? Just cos city beat us to them doesn't mean we don't go for them

Big Mac

13 out injured Big Mac lad. Also debt or no debt we cannot compete with City. Lets not pretend we would have signed Hazard without the debt, we wouldn't have. We wouldn't have been able to compete with City even if we were a PLC still. No one can compete with City if the player only cares about dosh. Unless Barcelona or RM come in for him he was always going to go to whoever paid him the most.

Sydney!

No Name,

I watched the Lille v Caen game last night and saw the Hazard interview on Canal + at the end. I actually have it recorded on my Dstv HD decoder (I am in South Africa). He NEVER said he's going to City. When he was asked if he prefers red or blue, he said he likes them both, that they are both nice colours and that they both suit him. He also said that blue is the colour of the stands (because he was in the stands at the Etihad stadium) and red is the colour of the shirt (because Man Utd is his favourite team)... Manchester United have a 50% chance of signing him. If Sir Alex is keen on him, we'll get him. Make no mistake about that.

James

Sydney

I was actually gonna put ask Sydney for the exact amount of injuries lol i knew you wud pop up. Absolutely agree with you on the transfer front, nobody can compete with them, billionaire owner or not we still wudnt spend £200million on players.

Big Mac

Just a small note. IF Hazard said he would be playing in blue next season, that doesn't actually confirm who he will be playing for. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't uniteds 3rd kit a Blue one?!?

Unitedboy

He didn't say that at all. He said he didn't know if he would be wearing red or blue!

Y do people make stuff up. Where in that interview does he say 'I'm playing for city' I agree with James he likes both teams as stated in his interview so obviously he is undecided at the mo. it will be a killer blow if he chose city, but if saf is serious about changing this drab of a team then players like hazard, kagawa, Martinez etc

Abs

No reason for us to spend 100 mill or so.....We have alot of up and coming stars in our squad. I think if we found a new box to box, that would cover for the rest...And i think that Vidic injury is the reason why we havnt won the league this year...next year he will be back and we will be as good as we where last season and that didnt turn out bad? Maybe besides the CL final.

Without the debt United, would have more money than they would know what to do with. An incredibly well run business with managable overheads and an absolutely enourmous turnover...we'd be literally rolling in it if it weren't for the Glazers.

That aside, is missing out on Hazard really the end of the world for some "fans"? That's it is it? Hazard's been bought by City, sod it, we may as well give them next years title now, eh? FFS, get a bloody grip.
Call yourself supporters?
I'm not going to waste my time writing the reasons why it's a disgrace you call yourselves that.
If the only thing that matters to you in football is how much money we spend then you're missing the point.
How much money did Bilbao spend to put together that team that tore us apart? How much money did we spend to put together that team that got taken apart by Bilbao?
OK. Real Madrid have spent enormous amounts of money chasing the title and it's taken them years to win it, failing in CL for a few years.

Yes, our squad needs some refreshing, but to pin all your hopes on us outspending a club that has no equal (financially) is just plain stupid. Sorry.
There are plenty of options for us in the transfer market this year, with or without a huge pot of gold. Transfer window isn't even open yet and some of you are hoisting the white flag already.
Shameful.

Who grew up watching United in the 70's and 80's? I'd like to know what generation of fans you're all from.

Bob

Red and blue also includes arsenal and chelsea. Arsenal home kit red away blue

It was in the mirror - this poster didn't make it up.

Joe

08 May 2012 00:19:39
Am I the only one who would love to see Evra played on the left wing and play Rafael (Not his natural position) there or bring in someone like a Marcelo or even Baines for that position. (Someone who'll attack and defend).

JOE

I think you are the only one. Evra is far too slow to be a winger and he cannot cross or square a ball. He is better than anyone at getting from his box to the oppo box, but in either box he is useless.

Sydney!

Not for me...poor final ball and faff's around too much with the ball...surely it would be a step backwards to but a LB in his 30's on on the wing?

Gav

He did start as a winger back in France, so it would have been good to see him have a crack a few years back. Perhaps not now though, although he'd do a damn sight better job than Park does on the right.

Wouldn't mind seeing Fabio (or Rafael for that matter on the right) given a run out on the left though.

Bob