Manchester United Transfer Rumours/Discussion 2006 :)

The Muppet

Chucky the tree wrote:

When United were playing against Benfica last year and the team played **** does that mean that united players are all a bunch of bottlers aswell?

Temprement and the ability to cope with pressure is a must in top class players, He didn't appear to have those attributes. United have wasted enought money on foreign players who flopped in the premiership veron, djemba x2 , forlan, klerberson, Fergie has takena lot of flack for poor purchases. There is no guarantee that these "world class players" will be able to do it in the premiership which is a totally different style of football to what they are used to. In Carrick they have purchased a player with a proven premiership pedigree, Fergie knows what he has purchased and there is very little risk involved.

Keyzer

zabbo wrote:

Aye he was brutal in the final, didn't even get a kick of the ball

lol

randomname

Looks like senna deal is closer.
http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=407532&CPID=23&clid=449&lid=2&title=Villarreal+accepting+Senna+fate

Sizzler

http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=407493&CPID=8&clid=1&lid=2&title=Pique+deal+all+but+done



Thought he had a chance of making the 1st team this season.

But good experience for him none the less..

PHB

He had no chance of making the first team this year,
Rio - Vidic - Brown - Slyvestre are just the natural CB's.
Don't forget about Heinze aswell.

Very far down the pecking order unfortunatly.

randomname

I think he is a very good prospect for the future a year away playing first team football will get him valuable experience. To be honest he never had a chance playing first team football with utd this season unless most of our defenders got injured.

sprinkles

Aquos76 wrote:

A few pics of Carrick's press conference


Is it just me or does anybody else think he looks a bit pissed off.

Biggest move of his life and all everyone can talk about is how he's not worth the money and he'll never live up to keanes number. That would put a downer on it imo.

LegacyUser

Yeah that's true actually sprinkles!

Lads, this Senna guy, who the **** is he and is he any good at all?

herbieflowers

He's a Brazilian who plays for Spain, does the dirty stuff in the middle of the pitch (breaking up play etc.), 30 years old, integral part of Villareal's side last season, has a good free-kick if I remember correctly, should be a quality addition to the squad.

wheres me jumpa

Gravesen looks like he will be available after his punch up with Robinho. Could be an option too.

Hobart

The Muppet wrote:

My bad , but you got the point he buckled when the pressure was on.

Lol tbh.

Anyhow, is there not an element of Manu punching below their weight or scrapping the bottom of the barrel, with al this talk of Senna and Gravesen? Surely these guys are well past their best.

I understand the pressure that Chelsea bring to the transfer market, but does anybody else feel that SAF has missed the boat in the transfer deals?

wheres me jumpa

Shredding his legacy at every turn

Sir Alex Ferguson's brilliance famously knocked Liverpool off their perch.
Now his incompetence is doing the same to Manchester United. How did it come
to this, wonders Rob Smyth

Monday July 31, 2006
Guardian Unlimited


It was John Cleese, in Clockwise, who said: "I can take the despair. It's
the hope I can't stand." Manchester United fans would beg to differ.
Usually, the best thing about pre-season is the hope: reality's incisors
have yet to pierce the gums of optimism, and fans can live off the balmy,
often barmy belief that this is their year. For supporters of most of the
other 91 English clubs, that's the mood right now. For United fans? Forget
it. After three seasons of papering over the cracks, it seems most United
fans are awaiting the moment that the fault lines tracing a veiny path
across Old Trafford are exposed.

Almost everything about the club reeks of disarray. Owned by the Glazers,
who push buttons from a remote hideaway like Dr Evil; run by a manager who
shreds his legacy at every turn; almost exclusively represented by the
inadequate (Darren Fletcher and Kieran Richardson) and the odious (Rio
Ferdinand); unable to close a deal for West Brom's reserve keeper, never
mind the new Roy Keane. The signing of Michael Carrick, a Pirlo when a
Gattuso was needed, is a band aid for a bullet wound, and a ludicrously
expensive one at that.
If anything, it's a surprise that United have bought anyone at all. This
summer, they have been like a pathetic drunk lumbering across a dancefloor
at 1.45am, trying to get off with everything that moves. No matter how many
people they move in for - and if reports are to be believed, United have
made offers for dozens of players - nobody wants to go near them. And the
one person who surely would, Damien Duff, was allowed to slip into the arms
of Newcastle for less than United paid for Patrice Evra. You couldn't make
it up. You don't have to.

United finished second last season, but that said more about the deficiency
of the Premiership than their own. Arsenal will not have a four-month blind
spot this season, while all evidence suggests that Liverpool's gradient will
continue on its upward trajectory. With Tottenham getting stronger, even
with the loss of Carrick, it is entirely conceivable that, if they start
slowly, United could finish fifth; in today's environment, that would be
disastrous.

The problems are so obvious, so fundamental, as to be beggar belief that
they have not been addressed. Just as the glory years of 1992 to 2001 will
only fully be appreciated in 20 years' time, so will Ferguson's subsequent
failure. It is particularly bewildering that a man who once exerted such an
unyielding grip on every single aspect of the club that he had to be
virtually coerced into delegating has let things slip to this extent. Take
the Cristiano Ronaldo situation: Ferguson said recently that he had not even
spoken to Ronaldo since the World Cup, a staggering dereliction of duty that
is in total contrast to the us-against-the-world protection that he gave to
David Beckham - and for which, for a time, he was so thrillingly rewarded -
in 1998.

Once upon a time Ferguson could play 'who blinks first' with fate and win
every time, his iron will shaping his destiny exactly as he wanted. Now he
is reduced to uttering garbage like "it's like having a new signing" of Paul
Scholes, Ole Solskjaer, Gabriel Heinze and Alan Smith, the irrational
if-I-say-it-enough-it-might-happen gibberish you'd associate with a serial
loser like Kevin Keegan. These days, the man they call The Hairdryer is full
of nothing but hot air.

Ferguson's squad, once so taut, is a baggy mess of has-beens, never-will-bes
and Liam Miller. The simple repetition of 4-4-2, of Giggs, Scholes, Keane,
Beckham, Cole and Yorke, has given way to myriad tactical and personnel
changes, to a ruinous obsession with utility players and tinkering. It's a
truly appalling fact that, with Ruud van Nistelrooy gone, none of United's
outfield players have played in only one position at the club. A nadir was
reached in the FA Cup game at Wolves last season, when nearly £60m of
defensive and attacking talent (Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney) was used in the
centre of midfield.

It is an increasingly inescapable conclusion that, unwittingly or otherwise,
Ferguson is winding down, a prizefighter who no longer has the stomach or
the wit for an admittedly enormous challenge which, once upon a time, he
would have fervently inhaled. Like he did with Liverpool. Ferguson's almost
maniacal yearning to "knock Liverpool off their [oops] perch" was arguably
the single most important factor in United's 1990s renaissance. It makes it
all the more vicious an irony that, 10 years later, he should knock United
off the perch he had made for them through increasingly rank mismanagement.

Indeed, it must irk him beyond belief that United are making exactly the
same mistakes that Liverpool did: lack of pheromones in the transfer market;
laughable, fall-back signings at suspicious and ridiculous prices; deluded
ramblings ("we are as good as Chelsea, no question") - and, worst of all, a
dressing-room where playing the field seems as important as playing the
game. Liverpool's Spice Boys were bad, but they have nothing on Merk Berks
like Ferdinand, Richardson and Wes Brown.

Ferguson has taken this end-of-an-empire template and, incredibly, managed
to develop it: he's added a sprawling, outsized squad chock-full of
obscenely well-paid deadwood; insultingly obvious spin that a two-year-old
could see through (the Van Nistelrooy saga); economy with the truth
(Ferguson ridiculed a journalist for saying that Paul Scholes had been
scouting for United; a few days later Scholes confirmed the story); a
coaching set-up that had Wayne Rooney playing wide for a season and turned
Ronaldo from the world's most thrilling off-the-wall talent into a
run-of-the-mill winger.

Ferguson, an essentially honourable man, is partly suffering because of the
impossibly high standards he set, and he carries the fatigued
incomprehension of a man who is out of time. When he cites his favourite
United team it is not the Treble-winners of 1999, but the Double-winners of
1994: Schmeichel, Bruce, Pallister, Ince, Keane, Hughes, Cantona, Robson - a
team that dripped masculinity, who bonded over blockbusting Saturday-night
sessions, who embodied the old-school values to which Ferguson can relate.
Real men. The gentrification generation - sarong-wearing, pink
champagne-swigging metrosexuals - are entirely beyond his comprehension. He
could handle one, David Beckham, for a time before eventually giving up on
him. Now he has a pack of them, for whom the hairdryer means only one thing
- a trip to Toni & Guy. It is a different world. Ferguson probably doesn't
even know what 'merk' means.

Everywhere, principles are being sacrificed. In years gone by Ferdinand -
who for all his irrefutable ability is the type of character whose presence
in a United shirt symbolises everything that has gone wrong with the club -
would've been out the door faster than Paul Ince could say 'big-time
Charlie', but now Ferguson can't afford to lose his only world-class
defender. In years gone by he wouldn't have considered signing someone like
Patrick Vieira, on grounds of age or character, but now he is left looking
for someone, anyone, to appease the fans. In years gone by he would never
have given a game to someone like John O'Shea, whose sole use is to put the
podge in a hodgepodge midfield. In years gone by, he would never have
sanctioned the mediocre football that, except for a few giddy weeks in the
spring of 2003, United have played ever since Carlos Queiroz arrived in 2002
masquerading gobbledygook as continental sophistication.

And the thing is, it is only going to get worse: Liverpool, Arsenal and
Tottenham have all made shrewd, cheap signings and are on an upward
trajectory. United are going the other way: they are hugely dependent on
Ferdinand and Rooney, but no amount of Carling Cup medals is going to sate
their ambition. Then there is the Glazer factor, the full, inevitable horror
of which is only just beginning to emerge. United fans think this season is
going to be bad. It hasn't even started.

Sums it up nicely for me.

Necronomicon

I love the way people assume that Arsenal are going to be title challengers again while United are going to fade away into nothingness. Neither side has made huge changes to their respective squads so far this summer, why is every ABU so confident that Arsenal will close the double-figures gap that seperated them last season?

mike65

Me runs over to 606 to see what the chavs and oiks are saying at that!

Mike.

SteM

wheres me jumpa wrote:

Sums it up nicely for me.

You don't think it's a bit over the top?

Nalz

SteM wrote:

You don't think it's a bit over the top?

Its a little over the top, and I agree with the comment made by Necromomicon about Arsenal. They have a small squad, losing Cambell,Pires and Bergkamp are blows as they were key squad players last year. Rosiksy (sp?) is a good signing, however their squad is limited and they have 4 players that will miss the first few games through injury. Talks of Reyes leaving...and if Henry gets injured wtf will happen then?

good keeper in VDS with another backup one to follow, dont understand that move but anyways...

United have decent players to play in the back and good cover -

Vidic,Rio,Brown,Silvestre,Neville,Heinze,Evra,O Shea,Bardsley,Evans.

Midfield is alot stronger than last yea, again with good cover (especially if Senna arrives)

Senna,Carrick,Scholes,Giggs,Fletcher,Park,O Shea,Ronaldo,Richardson, Smith, Miller, Gibson, Jones.

Up front, slightly lacking but still decent

Saha, Ole Gunnar, Rossi, Rooney, Smith, Dong ( when he eventually can play).

lets just see how the season pans out eh?

Draupnir

Trilla wrote:

good keeper in VDS with another backup one to follow, dont understand that move but anyways..

It makes perfect sense if you use your brain.

Kuczcsak is 25, Van Der Sar is at least 32 as far as I know with looking it up.

Foster looks the part but when was the last time United produced a top class goalie from the youth system?

Ferguson is building a young side, Kuczcsak is a very good keeper from what I've seen and an international.

PHB

Kuczcsak is a decent keeper who is willing to play 2nd fiddle to VDS for a year or two, and then compete for the chance after he retires.

Howard and Foster are in the same position, but in order for them to have any chance of reaching the heights of VDS, they need match practice, Foster especially.

If we want any chance of not having to spend bhig big money on a goalie after VDS is gone, these three keepers are our best shot at doing it, and two of them need a chance to shine, and it'll only cost 4 million.

Personally I like the idea of 3 out of 22 of the top flight goalies are Man Utd keepers.

yop

I;m sure if you go back that Smyth has wrote the same article for the past X amount of seasons just to edit it to suit the time, time will tell.

evad_lhorg

Van der sar is 36 not 32

herbieflowers

Didn't see much of Kuszczak last season, I'm just going on that incredible "save of the season" he made - phwoar!

Ruskie4Rent

wheres me jumpa wrote:

Sums it up nicely for me.

There is no emoticon i can use to describe what i thought of that article. Mix these::rolleyes: :mad: :eek: and you'd be close.
As much as i think that there are problems at ManU, I really think it's stupid to state a terminal decline untill it actually happens. The Glazers, Carrick being too expensive, No new striker and ronnie wanting to leave has annoyed me this summer. But it doesn't mean that i'm not excited to see some of the younger players come through this season, along with seeing carrick (who despite the price ,will still improve the team) aswell as smith, heinze and scholes returning(ole might be finished i think).
My heart still tells me they can win a closely fought season, but my head can't see past chelsea's new galacicos although i still think we'll be second.

Gangsta

yay second

The_B_Man

first is the worst, second is the best, third is the one with the hairy chest!

there ya go, concrete evidence UTD will finish 2nd!

Nalz

Draupnir wrote:

It makes perfect sense if you use your brain.

:eek: use your brain? what sort of comment is that!You wrong on 2 accounts there. VDS is pushing 36 (granted you said around but its nearly 4 years out) and Foster was purchased for 1m 18 months ago from stoke (get your facts right my friend before you make those comments)...not a product of youth system. He should fantastic performances for Watford. Even so, your point is stupid as whats stopping United producing a decent keeper? They all start somewhere. You want to give them 2 players, one on loan and a cash deal of 2m sterling + for a keeper that let in a goal from his opposing number's kick out while playing for Poland? a keeper that wasnt first choice for part of West broms season last year. I think Foster is better Gk anyway.

Oh Tim Howard is an international keeper too...not old especially in terms of keepers, doesnt make him that great a keeper. still good enough to be Uniteds reserve GK

Nalz

Pique (DC) gone on season long loan to Real Zaragota
Luke Steele (GK) gone to Coventry on loan for season

Fuzzy_Dunlop

Carrick is injured, SSN say he'll be out for three weeks http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/5249526.stm

Nalz

costly trophy United won... with the possible squad minus Scholes, Rooney, Carrick, Rio and Sheasy for the first league game

homerjay2005

what is it with united players and pre season injury, we have been totally haunted over the past 2 years with this.gutted for carrick, looks like now his first ompetitive game for united could be the arsenal or spurs games. i think fergie will defo step up interest in senna now this week,also, alot of media and i stress its media talk, in a possible tevez deal. just saw it on ss news, linked to the star and sunday mail, personally i dont think there is any foundation in it. i think it will stay at carrick and senna, leaving 10 million or so for january depending on how things are going then.

PHB

Yeh so far, this pre-season has been highly encouraging in terms of preformances, but in terms of injuries and suspensions, for crying out loud

As for the suspensions, Mellor and Gerrard were sent off in the Amsterdam tourney last time they played in it, Mellor with a straight red, and nothing was done about it, so maybe we'll get the same treatment. If not...

Scholes - 3 games
Carrick - 3 weeks (which is about 3 games)
Rooney - 3 games
O'Shea + Ferdinand - Unknown
Jones - Unknown

If we get those suspensions, I think we are in a wee bit of trouble, thank god we have weak opposition in the first 3 games.

Headshot

I think we need a striker

I think Sir Alex should let Rossi go on loan

and bring in A top quality striker like TORRES

saw in the newspapers today alot about Teves being linked with united

Attractive Nun

If Tevez and Senna were both to come to United, that would be a decent summer's work IMO. I doubt Tevez though really, but Senna has to be a priority now with these injuries.

herbieflowers

Tevez is class, dogged and gritty...maybe Heinze could do some convincing! Weren't Chelski sniffing around a while back? I wouldn't hold my breath though, can't saee it happening for some reason.

wheres me jumpa

Tevez didnt really blow me away in the WC. For the huge sums of money been mentioned I was expecting a lot more. After Veron I would be worried about splashing huge amounts of money on a South American.

Anyway I cant see us having much money left should Senna arrive.

tdv

I read today that Corinthinans where set to let him leave for 15 million, I dont know how much truth there was behind it, but 15 mill would be a bargain. And he will leave Brazil so why not to United although Chelsea seem to be intrested in him to, prehaps Heinze could convince him

Nalz

I cant see Tevez joining Man Utd, he did have a below par WC but he would be decent addition. Just get this Senna in, and the GK cas Steele, Howard and Foster are all gone on loan .

Lets all pray that we get through the first few games in premiership and the back five of VDS, Rio, Vidic, Neville and Beans Means Heinze are all fit!

Necronomicon

Well if you can draw a silver lining from these injuries/suspensions (and I guess I'm clutching at straws) is that it might force the hand of SAF to strengthen the squad a bit more than he planned. He seemed to be more content than everyone else with the players he had.

andrewie

Trilla wrote:

Steele, Howard and Foster are all gone on loan .

Foster hasn't gone on loan yet and Fergie has said he won't go unless they sign Kuszczak.

Bryan Robson said today that they will decide on Kuszczak's future this week.

Nalz

andrewie wrote:

Foster hasn't gone on loan yet and Fergie has said he won't go unless they sign Kuszczak.

Bryan Robson said today that they will decide on Kuszczak's future this week.

i was wondering that alright, but according to skysportsnews' right hand side info bar, he's gone on loan to watford for season...just saw it there now. hope they're wrong andrewie

Bounty Hunter

Someoptions maybeopening up in Uniteds sectret search to replace RVN

1) Teves (according to skysports.com)...Argentina international Carlos Tevez could leave Corinthians, according to the Brazilian club's chief investor Kia Joorabchian

2)Zlatan Ibrahimavic (according to skysports.com)...Zlatan Ibrahimovic has underlined his desire to leave Juventus by refusing to travel with the Italian side for a pre-season friendly fixture.

3) Obafemi Martins... handed in a transfer request after Crespo's arrival, has bags of pace (RVN's mobility was questioned) and is only 21

4)Fernando Torres... is being widely tipped to play out his remaining 1yr contract at altletico before moving on a free transfer to a bigger club

The Muppet

Bounty Hunter wrote:

4)Fernando Torres... is being widely tipped to play out his remaining 1yr contract at altletico before moving on a free transfer to a bigger club

Has he not got two years left on his contract?


Can Athletico afford to allow him to go on a bosman in one/two years time? I still feel something may happen on that front.

AthAnRi

Bounty Hunter wrote:

2)Zlatan Ibrahimavic (according to skysports.com)...Zlatan Ibrahimovic has underlined his desire to leave Juventus by refusing to travel with the Italian side for a pre-season friendly fixture.

3) Obafemi Martins... handed in a transfer request after Crespo's arrival, has bags of pace (RVN's mobility was questioned) and is only 21

21 going on 32. And please God no to Ibrahimivic. He's way to lazy and never produces in the important matches.. Torres and Tevez I would be happier with.

gracehopper

AthAnRi wrote:

21 going on 32. And please God no to Ibrahimivic. He's way to lazy and never produces in the important matches.. Torres and Tevez I would be happier with.

agreed.
ibrahimovic is a lazy git. We'd be selling one lazy git and replacing him with another. I think if Smith can get fit again he could be a good partner for Rooney up front, while he's not as prolific as RVN i think he'd give it his all and teams would be in for a rough ride playing against United. I'd expect him to scores 15 or so goals in the league.

On the amsterdam tournament:
I thought United's young lads we're excellent over the weekend, They were very professional and they showed a great deal of hunger. Simpson, Martin and Evans all look like good prospects. Giggsy was class in both games.

The Rooney sending off was a joke and it will be ridiculous if he gets banned for that. Scholesy would have deserved his sending off in a competitive game but again i think the ref's should be using some kind of discretion, maybe have a word with the manager to take him off, all the same a pro like scholes should be able to control himself at this stage of his career.
I wonder will McClaren ask him back to the england setup?? I mean england would have nothing to lose, he couldnt do any worse than lampard or Gerrard did in the WC.
Porto were very poor at the back and Ajax provided a better challenge for us. Heitinga and Sneijder are 2 quality young players for Ajax and i expect them to be the next big Ajax exports.

Sizzler

gracehopper wrote:

agreed.
ibrahimovic is a lazy git. We'd be selling one lazy git and replacing him with another. I think if Smith can get fit again he could be a good partner for Rooney up front, while he's not as prolific as RVN i think he'd give it his all and teams would be in for a rough ride playing against United. I'd expect him to scores 15 or so goals in the league.

On the amsterdam tournament:
I thought United's young lads we're excellent over the weekend, They were very professional and they showed a great deal of hunger. Simpson, Martin and Evans all look like good prospects. Giggsy was class in both games.

The Rooney sending off was a joke and it will be ridiculous if he gets banned for that. Scholesy would have deserved his sending off in a competitive game but again i think the ref's should be using some kind of discretion, maybe have a word with the manager to take him off, all the same a pro like scholes should be able to control himself at this stage of his career.
I wonder will McClaren ask him back to the england setup?? I mean england would have nothing to lose, he couldnt do any worse than lampard or Gerrard did in the WC.
Porto were very poor at the back and Ajax provided a better challenge for us. Heitinga and Sneijder are 2 quality young players for Ajax and i expect them to be the next big Ajax exports.

Ask a silly question but why didnt we have to play Inter?
I missed the Porto game, how did Carrick do?

Looks like Senna will be at Utd by friday, a bit of steel in the MF area, he will prob get sent off on his debut if his comments about his playing style are anything to go by

gracehopper

Sizzler wrote:

Ask a silly question but why didnt we have to play Inter?
I missed the Porto game, how did Carrick do?

Looks like Senna will be at Utd by friday, a bit of steel in the MF area, he will prob get sent off on his debut if his comments about his playing style are anything to go by

I'm not sure why they didnt play inter, I suppose 3 games in 3 days would be a bit much. The squad seemed to diminish with each game over the weekend so i'm glad they didnt face inter on the sunday.

Carrick done OK,
He hit a couple of good passes but in general he was quiet enough. It's his first game in 5 weeks so we couldnt expect him to be at the top of his game. one thing that was already convincing and fairly obvious from the start of the match was that his team mates weren't afraid to pass to him and he wasnt afraid to receive the ball under pressure. That in itself is quite different to the likes of fletcher or o shea where you see other United players being a bit hesitant to give them the ball under pressure.

I was fairly impressed with Senna last season in the 2 games against Villareal. He'll be a good player to get at around 3-4 million. I think he's a better option than paying 20-25 million for Diarra.

herbieflowers

I'd be very happy with Senna, he has CL experience with a hard-working side so hopefully that ethic will transfer when he signs.

evad_lhorg

id rather riquelme though.

Tevez or Torres would be great. really wouldnt want to see Martins or Ibrahimovic. the latter is the most overrated striker in the world by a mile. and Martins, yea hes got speed that is unmatchable but he isnt the best finisher and not very consistant

sonofsam

evad_lhorg wrote:

Martins, yea hes got speed that is unmatchable but he isnt the best finisher and not very consistant

Bit like Bellion then.....:D

jobonar

herbieflowers wrote:

I'd be very happy with Senna, he has CL experience with a hard-working side so hopefully that ethic will transfer when he signs.

i hope your right.

i dont know much about Senna but his signing goes against fegie's plans of building a team for the future so he must really have limited options.

herbieflowers

Senna will hopefully settle the midfield a bit, bring some unspectacular consistency - which, from the last few seasons, has been needed badly. As for Riquelme - stop harping on about him! He won't be signing!