The old Man Utd Thread

[phresh]

God no, the one thing Johnson does more consistently than attack is mess up at the back. The problem with bringing in another right back, especially if Brown is fit is that it will mean Rafael playing less games than last season and it would be madness to do that. Also, O'Shea playing at RB would open up the options for Fabio to play when required. If there was an outstanding RB out there who was considerably better (if older) or considerably more promising (if younger) that what we already have then I would go for it but there blatantly isn't.

[ckny]

I wasn't asking for statistics, but what you gave. They're fair points to a degree. But Arsenal, or Roma aren't 'best' teams status and I'm sorry, but as I said to everyone in here before the Inter game neither are Inter.

Ok, so to satisfy you Ronaldo has to have been outstanding against Liverpool and Barcelona? Who else would you class as a top team that we've played?

Please tell me how he has intricacy or awareness. He does not play any kind of defence splitting passes, or even looks for them. He has speed, power, and a shot. His Skills have become redundant, nowadays he does 6 step overs and passes it backwards if he can't find half a yard for a shot. You're doing Becks a diservice an' all, by overlooking all the work he does off the ball, something Ronaldo doesn't understand in English or Portuguese.

One of Ronaldo's best traits is his ability to break at speed. So many times we'd pick up the ball at the back, feed it to Ronaldo and he'd play a long cross field ball to the left flank. Intricacy to me means a deftness of touch, control in close quarters and the ability to bamboozle defenders, all of which he does so so well. Finally don't get me wrong, I love David Beckham and think he should be in England's first XI. For me though the work Ronaldo does is more important. Beckham's a wide man and too many times he is forced to dictate the play from the middle where he's not as effective.

Finally, The Times seems to think we're going to snap up Eto'o. Amazing if true.

[DC Lemon]

His valuation also fails to take into account that the marketability of that ugly git is nothing like that of Ronaldo's, which is one of the main reasons his transfer fee was so high.

Being ugly also has its benefits. I wouldn't dare man-mark him for 90 minutes.

[Liamness]

Get him, Rooney and Tevez as a front three, it'll be the ugliest attack in Europe.

[DC Lemon]

Get him, Rooney and Tevez as a front three, it'll be the ugliest attack in Europe.

For an ugly bloke, Rooney sure is enjoying an impressive run as FIFA posterboy. Ronaldo only got one year on PES before being replaced by Messi. Conclusive proof that Rooney is five times as pretty.

[FATEone]

Ronaldo is not exactly a looker!!

I'd get stuck up him.

[FATEone]

Ok, so to satisfy you Ronaldo has to have been outstanding against Liverpool and Barcelona? Who else would you class as a top team that we've played?

One of Ronaldo's best traits is his ability to break at speed. So many times we'd pick up the ball at the back, feed it to Ronaldo and he'd play a long cross field ball to the left flank. Intricacy to me means a deftness of touch, control in close quarters and the ability to bamboozle defenders, all of which he does so so well. Finally don't get me wrong, I love David Beckham and think he should be in England's first XI. For me though the work Ronaldo does is more important. Beckham's a wide man and too many times he is forced to dictate the play from the middle where he's not as effective.

Finally, The Times seems to think we're going to snap up Eto'o. Amazing if true.

Well yes. He did nothing against Chelsea, AC Milan, Liverpool, Barca, and he's never done it for Portugal, when it really matters in the really big must win games.

I've been wanting to see Becks in the middle for about 3 years now! It's blatantly his best position these days and he can control games from there as good as, if not better than, Alonso. Ronaldo's touch isn't anything special, trust me, you only have to watch La Liga to see that.

[FATEone]

Being ugly also has its benefits. I wouldn't dare man-mark him for 90 minutes.

quality.

[phresh]

Well yes. He did nothing against Chelsea, AC Milan, Liverpool, Barca, and he's never done it for Portugal, when it really matters in the really big must win games.

I've been wanting to see Becks in the middle for about 3 years now! It's blatantly his best position these days and he can control games from there as good as, if not better than, Alonso. Ronaldo's touch isn't anything special, trust me, you only have to watch La Liga to see that.

What was that goal agasint Porto then? That was a pretty big must win game.

People always used to say that Ronaldo never turned up in the big games, now they say he never turns up in the big games against big teams.

Goalposts. Shifting.

[FATEone]

What was that goal agasint Porto then? That was a pretty big must win game.

People always used to say that Ronaldo never turned up in the big games, now they say he never turns up in the big games against big teams.

Goalposts. Shifting.

No-ones shifting anything. I support Porto, but guess what, they're shit! When you're talkin about the best teams they don't compare. The Big Games signify the ones where your oposition is good enough to be on a par with or better than you. The ones where you're looking for your best players to be at their best and do something special.

[fatbob]

Being ugly also has its benefits. I wouldn't dare man-mark him for 90 minutes.

Can we sign the lion?

He must be at his peak by now.

[phresh]

No-ones shifting anything. I support Porto, but guess what, they're shit! When you're talkin about the best teams they don't compare. The Big Games signify the ones where your oposition is good enough to be on a par with or better than you. The ones where you're looking for your best players to be at their best and do something special.

That is almost completely wrong in my opinion. Your definition of 'big game' seems to based entirely around how big the opposing club is. I think that it varies with the ebb and flow of the season and competition. For example the home win to Villa was probably one of our biggest games of the season, a 3rd loss on the trot could have cost us the league. Likewise the second game against Porto was a big game as we were poor in the first leg, they had away goal advantage and had never been breaten at home by a PL club. You're right they aren't a big team, but that was a big game.

[FATEone]

That is almost completely wrong in my opinion. Your definition of 'big game' seems to based entirely around how big the opposing club is. I think that it varies with the ebb and flow of the season and competition. For example the home win to Villa was probably one of our biggest games of the season, a 3rd loss on the trot could have cost us the league. Likewise the second game against Porto was a big game as we were poor in the first leg, they had away goal advantage and had never been breaten at home by a PL club. You're right they aren't a big team, but that was a big game.

No it's an important game. It's not my definition it's pretty much universally accepted by fans everywhere I'd say. I understand what your sayin it's important/must-win, but Big Games means something else, Big Games means the whole world will tune in to see it, because the two teams on display are so good.

[phresh]

We're really just talking semantics now so not much point arguing about it.

How long do we think it will be before we actually sign someone then? Valencia could be sorted out this week if reports are accurate and I expect (hope) we'll get some interviews with SAF regarding the Ronaldo transfer soon.

[fatbob]

Knowing United, not for a while, other than Valencia which looks like next week or the week after.

Depends when Real wire us the money I guess. As usual we don't seem to be super quick in closing our deals like the Spanish clubs, who seem to identify and the close in on their targets en masse through fair or foul means.

I'd like most of the deal(s) to be done asap personally, another summer of bullshit and then deadline day shinanagins would be pretty annoying for everyone. I don't think Fergie is back from holiday untill next week at the earliest though.

[Dotterel]

I don't think being on the cover of FIFA signifies attractiveness. I see Ronaldinho 4 times.

[Mr Do 71]

SIR ALEX FERGUSON is planning an audacious raid on Liverpool for Kop striking hero Fernando Torres.

Armed with the £80 million windfall from Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Real Madrid, the Manchester United boss is determined to make his own impact in a transfer market which is becoming bloated with money from the big clubs.

Liverpool hitman Torres is the shock target, as Sir Alex knows that a bid of around £40m would have to be seriously considered by United’s title rivals who have severe cash problems.

If Ferguson could pull off the coup, it would be a slap in the face for Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez, who was involved in a war of words with the Scot during the second half of the season.

[Chooch]

As mush as I'd love that there is not a chance!

[BigShimmeryWall]

NOTW

MANCHESTER UNITED are keeping an eye on Barcelona's Victor Valdes after his contract talks broke down.

The Catalan keeper's deal runs out at the end of next season - and he wants parity with the Spanish club's top out-field stars.

United have tracked Valdes all season but expected his contract to be settled after his end-of-season heroics in the Champions League. But Barca have been stunned by the 27-year-old's £7.6million pay demands.

President Joan Laporta said: "We have a wage structure and we are not planning to change it.

"We were surprised to hear what the player wanted. I'd like to think he is aware of what his agent has asked for."

United had turned their attentions to Villarreal keeper Diego Lopez but could now refocus on the Barca man.

I bloody hope not, we don't want to strengthen Barca even more!

[Guest]

Where do these stories (the Torres one) come from? It's so obviously complete bullshit. Why do they even bother printing them?

[Liamness]

Got to print something. Pretty funny, maybe they're trying to be comedians.

[Ryan]

Probably some Everton fans having a laugh.

See: Sunderland fan making fake bid for Newcastle.

[fatbob]

We had our chance to sign Torres unfortunately and didn't do anything about it.

This is the stupidest rumour in a long time, Torres will probably go at some time, but no way to us, Barca in a few years will be my guess, especially if Liverpool don't win the league before then.

[Chooch]

I'm not sure he will. Torres gives the impression he is very loyal and never really says anything that would raise a few eyebrows by the Liverpool management.

[fatbob]

Without wanting to go back into old debates too much, he did leave his boyhood club in search of success, so loyalty has nothing to do with it. Hes a great player, could be the best player in the world, but if for example Liverpool struggle for whatever reason in the next few years hes harldy going to throw away a chance should someone like Barca come knocking.

Two years is a very short time to expect a player to devote himself to a club for life.

Liverpool seem to be turning a corner though with him and Gerrard, so I don't expect him to leave anywhere anytime soon.

I guess at least he is Real-proof eh?

[dogsout]

I've been wanting to see Becks in the middle for about 3 years now! It's blatantly his best position these days and he can control games from there as good as, if not better than, Alonso.

You got carried away here, I feel, because that bit is LOL. No way. He's a fantastic passer of the ball and can spray it about, sure, but he doesn't have the legs or the brain to run a game like Alonso can. Not even close. I don't say that lightly because Beckham's a very cultured and intelligent footballer but he's not a CM, and he's certainly no Alonso. Alonso, as you know, consistently dominates and controls the midfield. Did you see us out-pass the pass-masters from Ashburton Grove home (for the vast, vast majority of the game) and away (until they went down to 10 and went berserk) this season? He's done it in pretty much every game this season. Just constantly controlled the flow of the game. I know Beckham did well there for England the other day but it was only Andorra.

Apologies for going off topic there.

[phresh]

Maybe 8 years ago Beckham could have done it but even then you lose out on his best ability which is to beat pretty much any defender with a cross. Never before have I seen a 'winger' with so little pace that can beat pretty much any defender without having to go past them.

Alonso plays in a position that didn't even exist in Beckham's prime so it's pretty difficult to compare. Even comparing Scholes to Alonso is pretty pointless as again the positions they played in their prime are quite different despite being more similar players.

[DC Lemon]

That Torres story has to be the most ridiculous I've ever read. A £40m bid for Liverpool's star player from a manager who refused on principle to allow one of his rejects to go to Anfield? You shouldn't be allowed to fill your pages with shit like that. It's insulting to Sir Alex, it's insulting to Torres and it's insulting to everyone who has paid for that paper this morning.

[fatbob]

It was the Express mind...

[barkbat]

It makes you think though... at what price would Liverpool willingly sell Torres to Man U. I know, I know but... there is an amount of money that would make it happen. There just is. I'm wondering, if there was a serious bid at the £100m mark, I bet it would happen.