Manchester United Transfer Rumours/Discussion 2007

S.M.B.

With all the talk of full backs at the moment (Neville getting on, signing Bale), I was wondering what was going on with the 2 Brazilian full back twins United were linked with recently. Seen this on bbc.co.uk today.

With regards to the two Brazilian full-back twins Man Utd have apparently signed have you seen them play? If so are they good players and is the deal definitely done?
Paul Hughes

An interesting question which ties in with the article above.

I've been watching them in the South American Under-17 Championships, which Brazil won on Sunday. Rafael plays at right-back, Fabio, the captain, is left-back, though he's right footed.

They're both very impressive, especially Fabio, who was the second top scorer in the competition. They remind me of the Argentine Sorin in terms of the variety of their attacking game - they can hit the bye-line, they have poise on the ball, can cut inside and exchange passes and they are both terrific attacking headers of the ball.

As I understand it, United have to wait until they're 18. Usually in this situation I'm sceptical about the players moving so early. With this one I can see the logic. Neither of them are fantastic defensively, and if they stay in Brazil, given the attacking importance of full-backs, they might be allowed to stay that way.

Perhaps United feel that if they get them over early they can develop this side of their game. The downside of course is that it's a gamble, and if it doesn't come off then the twins have far more to lose than United.

evad_lhorg

those kind of signings always take ages to properly com through as work permits nearly always fail it seems

yabadabado

United target Huntelaar

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premiership/manchester_united/article1588629.ece

has anyone seen much of him i have been watching him a bit good goalscorer and dutch footballers usually settle well in england, i reckon he is lacking a bit of pace.

besty

Uh Oh, looks like Vidic just dislocated his shoulder against Blackburn. Not the news I wanted at this stage of the season!

Chucky the tree

Its all gone a bit tits up in a very short space of time.

yabadabado

scholes great finish .back in it

PHB

Vidic out is a huge huge huge blow

Brown or Heizne in the center against Roma? Tough choices

Mushy

*Leeds fan threading dangerous waters:p*

Did Ferdinand do anything after the match regarding that woman he smashed the ball into? It was an hilarious moment to see, but couldnt see where the ball ended up till much later

PHB

United concedded once, and it was O'Shea or Browns fault, so I'd say he had a pretty good game.

Little-Devil

PHB wrote:

United concedded once, and it was O'Shea or Browns fault, so I'd say he had a pretty good game.

I think it was O'shea's fault, brown wasn't expecting the ball to come accross. O'shea was one on one defending and Carrick was covering.

I thought it looked as if it was going to be one of those days. The only bad thing was Vidic injury which looks serious and is a big blow, but where well covered there for the end of the season.

Nalz

Heinze played very very few games at CB for United so prob be Brown against Roma with O Shea at RB

homerjay2005

well, another 3 points closer to the league, but im still nervous, injuries are now very frequent and it could cost us. thank f**k we have an excellent squad, something that everybody thought we didnt have at the start of the season. to be without neville, evra, silvestre, fletcher, saha and then vidic yesterday, 1-0 down and not playing well, yet still winning 4-1, was an incredible display in the second half.

hopefully saha and evra will travel to roma.anybody reckon that heinze will play center half with rio? fergie seems very reluctant to play him in there.

if not, it could be a back 4 of o shea-browne-rio-heinze, but i would rather see browne-rio-heinze-evra. im not convinced with browne in the center.

i can see solskjaer playing a vital role in the coming weeks, he is the best finisher in the club. he just doesnt miss chances, where as rooney cant seem to get consistent in front of goal.

cournioni

I reckon SAF thinks that Heinze is too small to play centre half. He has a great spring to him though. But playing Heinze and Evra in the same defence would be very much a no no for SAF.

I think he will go for the same defence that we ended up with yesterday.

The only player I am really worried about is Rooney, his confidence is rock bottom at the moment and I could see him getting frustrated on Wednesday and getting himself into trouble. Scholes, Ronaldo, and Giggs will be key for us going forward on Wednesday night.

PHB

I don't think Heinze will play at CB, despite Fergie's pleas. He doesn't seem to like him there.

If thats the chance,
the back 4 will be O'Shea-Rio-Brown-Heinze

Now the problem is where's the cover?
I think if any defender can be recalled they should be. That said, Evra looks like he could be back.
If he is back, I think Heinze would defo go to CB.
It would be
Brown-Rio-Heinze-Evra
which isn't a bad back 4 at all.

Saha is going to be back, if not for the first Roma game, then for Portsmouth. He is going to be a huge return. Without him, our play overall hasn't be as good, with less holding up. Rooney has suffered from this, as he has had to do Saha's job to an extent. Saha back is a massive boost.
I only hope it's all in time for the Roma game, I think our squad is looking thin against Roma.

LegacyUser

I am very worried about the future with Vidic out injured. I have a feeling this month it could all go drastically pair shaped. It really pisses me off that we are only 6 points ahead of Chelsea. I feel we should be more but missed opportunities cost us. And Chelsea are going to keep on winning, I even think they will nick 1 - 0 off us when we play. I hope I'm wrong but Vidic is such a monster of a player. One of my favourites in the team.

sofireland

All being well it shouldn't matter by the time we play them in the second last game of the season.
They pulled out a massive result yesterday. but so did we.

6 Points ahead, same games played with an arguably easier run in. We just have to keep winning!

bucks73

Yeah I think we have enough quality to win the games necessary to win the league and Chelsea definitely have the tougher run in.

Not too bothered about europe TBH...obviously I want to see them do well but not at the expense of the league. Without Vidic I dont think they will have enough anyway to win it out.

Raskolnikov

PORNAPSTER wrote:

The only player I am really worried about is Rooney, his confidence is rock bottom at the moment and I could see him getting frustrated on Wednesday and getting himself into trouble.

I don't agree. Frankly, his finishing for a striker isn't great, I don't think it ever will be top-class. However, I have come to the conclusion though that that's not his strength. I think he's best playing off the main striker and picking up the ball from deep. The problem is that United have creative players all over the park. Ronaldo, Rooney, Giggs, Scholes, etc, are all good in their own right, there's no goal poacher though. I think Fergie made a huge blunder letting Ruud go, if he was here, he'd be the league top scorer, not doubt. Saha on the otherhand is decent but he only ever seems to be fit for 1/2 a season.

herbieflowers

Saha and Fletcher included in the squad, good to see them back, we need as many fit players as possible, striking options don't look so bad now with Solskjaer back...

S.M.B.

Raskolnikov wrote:

I think Fergie made a huge blunder letting Ruud go, if he was here, he'd be the league top scorer, not doubt. Saha on the otherhand is decent but he only ever seems to be fit for 1/2 a season.

Sure Ruud was there last season playing in pretty much the same team (excluding Carrick) as this years, and even though he scored a bag-full of goals United now look like twice the team they were compared to last year. Ferguson deserves a lot of praise for making the decision to get rid of our top scorer in the hope of improving the overall team performance. How many roastings would Ronnie of got this season from Ruud for taking his shots from outside the box. It'd be nice to have a poacher but one who contributes a lot more to overall play than Van Nistelroy ever could.

Mitch Connor

S.M.B. wrote:

Sure Ruud was there last season playing in pretty much the same team (excluding Carrick) as this years, and even though he scored a bag-full of goals United now look like twice the team they were compared to last year. Ferguson deserves a lot of praise for making the decision to get rid of our top scorer in the hope of improving the overall team performance. How many roastings would Ronnie of got this season from Ruud for taking his shots from outside the box. It'd be nice to have a poacher but one who contributes a lot more to overall play than Van Nistelroy ever could.

i think the last line is unfair on Ruud, from his first season, up to the begining of his second last season with us, he was one of the best strikers in Europe - his hold up and link up play was easily the best in the world and he contributed a lot to the team, he was amazing. However, when he picked up the injury during the summer of 2004 and played through it, his game kinda fell away as he wasn't fit, we then lost him for a few months - brought him back too early against Milan, and he was never the same player again. If Ruud had maintained his form from his first few seasons at United, he would still be a United player, and we'd be a better team for it - but that didn't happen. Ruud is a shadow of the player he once was imo, and while he can still finish, as he has shown at Madrid, his all round game just generally isn't there.

Fergie made the right call in letting him go imo, as we are a better and more attacking team without him now (and team spirit is better according to a number of players) but i do hope fergie signs another striker in the summer, as although i do like Saha, he just isn't on the level we need from our first choice striker - he simply isn't in the same league as the likes of Eto'o and Villa, we need someone like those two, or someone with the potential to be like them.

PHB

Ruud wasn't as good after his injury, so while he still scored a ****load of goals, his play as a front man just wasn't suited to Uniteds game. I don't think its that is all round play isn't there, I just think the way United play now, isn't suited to him. Blistering pace on the counter isn't his game really.
Fergie made the right call in letting him go, but that isn't to dominish Ruud.

I think we can buy two top class players this summer.
Hargreaves is going to be one.
The other is the question. It'll either be a winger or a striker, and I'd prefer a winger. I'd rather give Rossi a chance and buy somebody like Nani for the wings, than keep Richardson as fourth choice, and buy Villa or someone.
Although, if Eto does become availible, it's too good an offer to turn down.

Summer Leavings:

Smith - 5-7 million
Richardson - 2-4 million
Slyvestre - 3-4 million
Maybe Heinze, although I hope not. If he does go, I'd say we're looking 6-9 million

herbieflowers

I don't think Eto'o or Villa would want to come to England tbh, Hargreaves seems a cert but I think Fergie will go for Huntelaar or a prolific striker from a league outside of the top few, another Solskjaer-like unknown poacher...

gracehopper

herbieflowers wrote:

I don't think Eto'o or Villa would want to come to England tbh, Hargreaves seems a cert but I think Fergie will go for Huntelaar or a prolific striker from a league outside of the top few, another Solskjaer-like unknown poacher...

Hargreaves would be good but at what price? Bayern are going to milk us for him and the way the team are playin at the moment he wouldnt get a game. Carrick and Scholes have been playin some great stuff lately.

Still cannot believe liverpool got mascherano, im sick about that. He'd be perfect for United. Gamst from blackburn would also be a useful signing for us aswell.

Is huntelaar the real deal? havent seen much of him to be honest.

I'm delighted with the United squad this year, theres great belief in the team now and a real meanness in the attacking play. They look ready to win trophies. Lets hope they do

PHB

Huntelaar might be another Ruud, might be another Kezman, not sure to be honest.

I think we are weak in central midfield, wings, and up front.
I'd rather reinforce the wings and give Rossi his chance.
Otherwise we will have another striker, but if any two of Giggs/Park/Ronnie get injured at the same time, we're in trouble, especially with Giggs getting another year older

herbieflowers

Yeah but my point was I don't think, for some reason, Fergie wil spend in excess on 10m on a striker if he is to buy one, it won't be a huge superstar in the Villa or Eto'o mould...someone unnown but with a pedigree, although yeah it would be nice to see Rossi get a chance

As for wingers I'd like to see Nani at Man U...

herbieflowers

I watched Hargreaves last night and I must say he completely shocked me. Here was a guy, tenacious, tigrish, leading the sie in the San Siro, taking the game by the scruff of the neck, winnig tackles, setting up attacks...I'm convinced (finally!) that he could really add anopther dimension to our midfield

marius

gracehopper wrote:

Gamst from blackburn would also be a useful signing for us aswell.

Agree totally with this. I think he is a fantastic player, already settled in England and I think he would show his class even more in a team like United - he is the player i'd most like to see come to United.

Mitch Connor

marius wrote:

Agree totally with this. I think he is a fantastic player, already settled in England and I think he would show his class even more in a team like United - he is the player i'd most like to see come to United.

i would love to see it too - but i doubt it will happen. I have not seen any interest being shown in him since he signed for blackburn, and even if we did want him, we'd end up paying way over the odds like we did with Carrick.

If we did get him it would also stop his nasty habbit of scoring against us.

Aldini98

Hope Man U dont buy Huntaalar, hes class.

Raskolnikov

herbieflowers wrote:

I watched Hargreaves last night and I must say he completely shocked me. Here was a guy, tenacious, tigrish, leading the sie in the San Siro, taking the game by the scruff of the neck, winnig tackles, setting up attacks...I'm convinced (finally!) that he could really add anopther dimension to our midfield

I have to agree, he didn't look one bit out of place against Milan last night.

adox

Raskolnikov wrote:

I have to agree, he didn't look one bit out of place against Milan last night.

Whats the big surprise?Hes been performing at that level for the last few months.Its obvious hes the player that United need,and lets face it,who cares what "we" pay for him?It isnt our money.

Carrick for all the good he has done this season is just too much of a passanger.Scholes and Hargreaves would be infintely better.

Little-Devil

I agree i think Hargreaves will prove to be a great signing and will doubt improve the team and squad all round. I've always thought he was a decent player, after all he plays for bayern who a BIG european team I think he showed cased his talents durning the world cup.

I would like to see us sign a another striker, i'm still not convienced that Saha is the answer. I dont think we have any chance of signing Eto'o or Villa simply cause its to much money. I think Torres£25million and your Huntelaar £15million are more realistic targets. I would also like to see us sign a another winger, we need a replacement for giggs and next season is going to be a big one as i think liverpool have a great squad.

I agree with PHB about the possible players leaving. I think you could add Fletcher and Richardson to that list and O'shea.

I thought ronaldo was fantastic tonight. I always give out about him here, but i think himself and scholes have been brilliant this season. I know Ronney scored tonight but im still disappointed with him this season, i think the rest in the summer and few new players and hopefully play in his correct position next season we will see him a better season i hope.

SteM

herbieflowers wrote:

I watched Hargreaves last night and I must say he completely shocked me. Here was a guy, tenacious, tigrish, leading the sie in the San Siro, taking the game by the scruff of the neck, winnig tackles, setting up attacks...I'm convinced (finally!) that he could really add anopther dimension to our midfield

Yeah, he did everythng that United's midfield couldn't do last night. He'd make a big difference at Old Trafford IMO.

cournioni

Three signings that would make me a very happy United supporter.

Hargrieves
Quaresma
Huntelaar

astrofool

O'Shea won't be sold, he's fulfilling the same role as Phil Neville once did in being a versatile player, he get's a hell of alot of game time doing that as well.

Nalz

How long is Evra and Silvestre out?

PHB

Evra is meant to be back against Portsmouth, but info is dodgy. Silvestre is out for a couple more weeks.

Nunu

PHB wrote:

Evra is meant to be back against Portsmouth, but info is dodgy. Silvestre is out for a couple more weeks.

Are you sure about that?
I thought he was out for the season

PHB

I heard he might back it back for the last week or two, either way, he won't be playing for United again this season, maybe never

Nunu

Silvestre is out for a couple more weeks.

PHB wrote:

I heard he might back it back for the last week or two, either way, he won't be playing for United again this season, maybe never

Well, that clears that up

A 'couple of weeks' would be April 19th - that would make him available for the last 5 League games and any subsequent cup games. So, how do you deduce that 'either way he won't be playing for United again this season'?

Anyway, I'm almost positive he had surgery on his dislocated shoulder which will keep him out for a good few weeks yet.

sprinkles

we can but hope

PHB

I meant that even if he gets back from injury, he won't get his game, and will probably be sold.

irishpartyboy

i reckon he is lacking a bit of pace.

well he definitely lacks pace in Pro Evo 6 :mad:

but in real life he does look a good prospect, although hopefully he's not too big for his boots, we've a good dressing room at the moment don't need any unsettling influences.

BFassassin

I would like to see a good young striker (ie Torres) a young attacking midfielder that can fill in for Scholes if he is tired/injured (ie Van dar Vaart) and a winger. I would love to see Lennon in a United shirt but i know he will be too expensive.

homerjay2005

id say huntelaar, hargreaves and then either bale/nani are the 3 main targets. personlly ill be happy with hargreves, huntelaar and nani (aint seen him play but i work with a lad from lisbon who reckon he is top quality and can play left or right). however, the last few seasons have shown us that nothing is easy with uniteds tansfers and i wouldnt be surprised if only hargreaves and a striker like defoe (or somebody like lita/bent) were approached.

anyway, its pompy today, evra, fletceher and saha, along with smith and richardson could all start or at least play a good part in the game. the likes of giggs and scholes(though he will miss tuesday) will need a rest as will rooney who described that game on wed as one of the hardest he has ever played in. this is the team i would go with, but i can see heinze dropped for evra with the back 4 pretty much the same then as the last night. rumours now that park may also be out for the rest of the season, which is another blow as he has hit 5 league goals in his last 4 games at old trafford. neville to be back for the next league game, maybe even cup semi.

van der sar
browne - ferdinand - heinze - evra
fletcher - scholes - carrick - Ronaldo
saha rooney

kuz, o shea, ole, giggs, richardson/smith

Little-Devil

What a brutal performance against portsmouth. SAF in the papers this morning moaning about spurs playing so early after there UEFA cup game. The fool needs to worry about his own team. I've always said that Richardson and Fletcher are worthless and within one hour they were both taken off. Every season he makes stupid mistakes and today was another starting with those to muppetts, a joke of squad compared to Liverpool, Chelsea. I dont ever remember Richardson playing 90minutes for Manu apart from in the cups or reserves.

Michael Carrick was found out today in my opinion, he was useless today, so slugish when he had the ball. he far to slow to past and tackle, he never kept up with the paste, always out of position.

I wont be bothered if we lose the league to chelsea cause i never expected Manu win the league this season.

I hope we lose on tuesday cause where not good enough to win the final and id rather not sit through the embarrassment of chelsea or liverpool stuffing us.

LegacyUser

Little-Devil wrote:

I hope we lose on tuesday cause where not good enough to win the final and id rather not sit through the embarrassment of chelsea or liverpool stuffing us.

Oh for ****s sake, your embarrassing yourself. Those two teams will never STUFF man utd. Ever. Always close encounters. Man Utd were unlucky. On another day, they would have won 3 or 4 - 1. Just chill out. It's not that bad.

PHB

No no no, cheesedude don't be silly. United are ****ign awful, so awful in fact, that the results against Liverpool and Chelsea this year are infact a big lie, we in reality lost 7-0 each time, right?

Little-Devil

PHB, name the last time Manu played well in the champions league and dominated a game? Personally we have been lucky this season so far. We have easy enough teams who we should blow away but we struggle BIG time.
Richardson and Fletcher are worthless, today proved it big time. The result against liverpool was luck, we lost to arsenal and were unlucky do so, we played well against chelsea. you need to wake up, i hate that about Manu supporters, its people like you give us a bad name down in the pub, cause you defend your team no matter and are blinded by pass glory the club has had.

I'm having a rant this evening, but i had €20 on portsmouth to win, so not all bad.