Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Tevez has already said he won't be joining Liverpool, it's between United, City and Chelsea at the moment.

I would be happy if the BBC get some live games, as long as Motson doesn't commentate on any of them.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Yes West Ham United, wonder where we'll get the cash from :confused:

Likewise, Tevez himself is reportedly not happy at Old Trafford due to his lack of first team action and seems to be seeking the exit door.

There are certainly no shortage of suitors for the Argentine either, with at least three other Premier League clubs interested in signing him.

One of those is the club where he started his career in England, West Ham United, whilst both Chelsea and Manchester City are also said to be interested.

http://goal.com/en/news/9/england/20...l-move-reports

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Goal.com, probably less reliable than the sun for it's football stories.

I actually think he's going to stay put at the end of all of this.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Yeah but then you said Ronaldo was going to stay as well...

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Best thing with Tevez is "He is off cos he isn't getting enough games" the fact he played more mins than Rooney aside, utter crap. Now it is "He wants to be the biggest earner at OT" again, utter crap. Then he wont sign for Liverpool (he is a UTD fan so expected) and then Santa Cruz signs for City! So he is off to City to fight for a place on the bench with Robinho, Jo, Cruz, Bellamy, Benjani and Vasel?

The papers have managed to create a "Fiction Period" where they just make up tales on a day to day basis till the season starts. None of it is based on fact. Anything that is fact ie Barry n Cruz to City they don't see coming and muppets buy into this lark and think it is fine and PAY to read it!

It amazes me that we are spending £80Mill that we haven't actually got yet. Fave so far is the Torres one. UTD to buy Torres, then he says he is going nowhere and UTD are now loosers cos he wont join. So now the www is full of forums bashing UTD and that we already lost the 2009/2010 season and are running scared. Since when was Football a ruddy Soap Opera?

Is this what it has lowered itself to?

And as Setanta go under Sky and it's "Middle Class, 20 something, bottled beer n BBQ Hollyoaks PS3 crew" can finally take over Sport.

This is the end, my only friend..........................

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I don't think i did, i said that he said he was going to stay and questioned why we should start believing what Madrid were saying, i didn't say i thought he would stay.

I actually think Tevez will probably have a better chance of starting matches at United rather than City and Chelsea and he'll probably realise that. The only thing i think that is stopping him staying at the moment is because he wasn't offered a contract earlier, last season, when he wanted one.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Is he a United fan? Didn't know that thought he was a Boca fan. Sad fact is though, considering I really like the player is that big trouble follows him from club to club. Lol fight for a place with Jo, cruz, Bellamy, Benjani and Vassell, they really have wasted some cash, mind you he probably will have to fight Bellamy at some point.

I'd actually dispute that, agents and chairmen use the media all the time to unsettle players or engineer moves for them.

Yes, it was a sad day when football became a project, full of ponces on the pitch and in the stands

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I think it's just crud, all of it, I think he will be at UTD, none of what is reported is true, and I don't understand how it came to pass that "Making up stories" was acceptable as journalism! It's odd how this has all come about. This all started with Becks n Ronaldinho and has turned into what it is now. We know we are making it up. You know we are making it up. But as long as there are enough morons prepared to pay to read it we will keep doing it.

The way of things I guess.

---------- Post added at 21:51 ---------- Previous post was at 21:50 ----------

He used to train in a UTD shirt when he was at Corinthians (although I have no proof of this)

---------- Post added at 21:52 ---------- Previous post was at 21:51 ----------

Then lets say a "Fiction Period" in general has been created. Either way, I don't see how it benefits the game.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Nothing much benefits the game at the moment or the fans, it just seems to be a cash cow to be milked and milked by those at the top and stuff everyone else, how can it be right that clubs are going to the wall all but over a couple of hundred grand when some players earn over that in a couple of weeks, I might be looking back through rose tinted specs but football was much better years ago, riots aside perhaps.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Your not, and I can't disagree. Football the "Spectacle" wasn't better, it's incredible to watch at times, but Footy as a "Thing" has lost and is continuing to loose something.

---------- Post added at 22:12 ---------- Previous post was at 22:12 ----------

When you loose and ECL final, and could care less, something is wrong.

---------- Post added at 22:14 ---------- Previous post was at 22:12 ----------

When Pool did us at OT, I was devastated, and we still won the Prem, and it still bugs me. And loosing to Barca was "Meh" I could care less. That shouldn't be the case.

---------- Post added at 22:16 ---------- Previous post was at 22:14 ----------

I don't think the ECL is a good competition, I don't think it benefits the Sport and I think it is the starting point of where Footy is going wrong.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

The greedy so and so, or maybe it's his agent.

Tevez is a hard worker, but a bit of a headless chicken, rather we had someone with a bit more class, but who?

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Wouldn't call Tevez a headless chicken that would be Park who runs about with no idea what to do or where to be on the pitch. tevez has more football knowledge than that.

Despite what his agent has said i think it is the agent that wants him to move so he can get more money

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Joorabchian can say what he wants, he is playing Devils Advocate and everyone knows it, he does what is best for him, not Tevez. UTD always said from day one that it will be sorted when the loan period ends, and that was never an issue, they stuck to that and paid up, yet now it's an issue. His reasons for leaving are pathetic in my mind. His time on the pitch is more than compareable to Rooney. He scored less goals and had less assists. All he will be doing now is fighting for a place against Robinho/SantaCruz or Drogba/Anelka and that is without any of the support strikers hitting form, Bellamy/Banjani/Kalu and no other signings, nothing will change for him, aside from no ECL at City and a bigger wage.

As much as I am gutted Ronaldo and Tevez are gone, you have to think that minus those two and with three/four (be suprised if at least three didn't arrive) additions we will be generally stronger and with a lot less baggage.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

As long as they give Donkey until Christmas to prove himself I won't mind. If he's still allergic to scoring by the new year then blow him out. Thing is it'll mean we could end up a striker down for the Champion's league but to be honest that's not a major problem - he's a team liability as is.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I assume you mean Berbatov :D the guy has bags of skill he will a good signing. I don't think UTD in general played that well last season (How Liverpool think they have more chance next season is beyond me) but he got way to much stick for me, his style was fine at Spurs now he is lazy, typical.

Thanks to Tevez and his baby excuses we now need two strikers, Benzema will be a god buy, I think he will be a big player over the next few years. Who else after that, God only knows. Then we have to get a Winger (Valencia I hope) and I think we need a goal scoring midfielder, Wesley Sneijder will be surplus at Madrid now, 25 and a 1 in 4 for club and country.

Torres would be great, but I very much doubt it, although his "I will stay as long as they want me" comment is straight from the Ronaldo handbook "Cryptic None Commital Answers to a Direct Question"

Benzema, Valencia and Sneijder for me. And if Campbell is worth £6Mill then he is good enough to be a fourth Striker (Welbeck n Macheda are too young).

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Yep I meant Donkey Dimitar :D

He was totally ineffective last year, I never rated him at Spurs and couldn't believe we forked out £30m for him.

I'd love to see Benzema at OT but I don't see it happening - Sneijder is good (actually he's awesome - I signed him on FM2009 :D) and I agree about Torres - Liverpool are unlikely to accept offers for him and even if they did, they would never allow him to go to United.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

If Torres were to move, I suspect he'd go abroad. He said he wants to be back at Athletico before the end of his career.

I also thought Berbatov was a complete waste of money for United. He was crap at Spurs, crap at United. He seems like a Robby Keane situation that Liverpool had...just with more money, but not as embarrassing.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

If scoring 46 goals in two seasons is crap for you so be it, but for most people i would say thats a pretty good return. I think he's a good player, of course we paid too much for him, that was down to the greed of Spurs and City trying to hijack the deal last minute. For me he did well for us last season considering he was just chucked in with no pre season and he scored some very important goals for us. I expect him to do very well next season.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Spurs greed lol, if you hadn't tapped him up then you might of been able to negotiate a better deal but then as Madrid found, you pay through the nose when you treat 'lesser' clubs with disrespect and personally I'd rather have Tevez in my corner than Berbatov any day.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

:clap:

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Tapping up? I suppose you have evidence of this?

I'd rather have Berbatov than Tevez when Rooney's in the side, for me Tevez and Rooney are too similar and it's Rooney over Tevez without question.

And i wouldn't call a club that has reached the CL final twice in a row and won 3 league titles in a row a 'lesser' club to a side that has barely scraped through the group stages of the CL in the past few years ;)

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

This may help the financial situation at Liverpool...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8111715.stm

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Hi Russb, does that mean you are a Spurs fan, well l never, That ******* Berba, reminded me of Martin Chivers, who was a lazy player, but he always produced the goods. The big problem that ******* had, was he wanted away once he found out that Fergie wanted him, and l honestly, cannot understand why Fergie bought him, total waste of money, Levy, should have made him sweat in res'.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

You're just like my dad, who is a United fan, although he seems to think more sense about the current situation. You'll defend the players you have to death until the minute they leave the club. I could guarantee you would not be saying the same thing about Berbatov if he had signed to another club and performed exactly the same way as he has for United, for the same amount of money. You'd be going on about how crap he is.

Roony over Tevez? I think you need to rethink that. Roony's workrate is high, but he's not that good compared to Tevez, who can score just as well and frequently given enough starts as Roony.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Not even close. Best player at Man UTD and that includes Ronaldo. If there is a more complete player in Europe, show me. Unless you want to count a short fuse as a minus he has no weakness to his game. Last three months of the season he was the best player in the Prem, and is doing it for England. I wouldn't trade him for Tevez or Ronaldo.

---------- Post added at 18:47 ---------- Previous post was at 18:44 ----------

He was never tapped up. We put in a bid for him and never mentioned his name. The Press just decided it was him and ran with it. Very few players had a fantastic season. Rooney was consistent and excelled in the last three months. Ronaldo after Xmas started playing something like. Only the defence did it game after game. Berbatov just took the brunt of it.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

With good reason. His inability to strike the rear end of a bovine mammal with an African-based stringed instrument (aka couldn't hit a cow's **** with a banjo) played a big part in that. How often did he get the winning goal for us? How often did he do anything to get in the news (other than gently tap a penalty straight to the keeper during a FA Cup semi-final match)?

In fact how often did players not associated with being goal-scorers (ie defenders) get on the score sheet while he was playing?! He had his moments but they few and far between.

I concede it may have been a "1st season" thing which is why I say give him until Christmas.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I wouldn't be going on about how crap he is because i realise that 42 goals in two seasons for a premier league club is a very good return even though he didn't have the best season. I'm not saying he had a great season, but under the circumstances, in my opinion, he had a decent season. He didn't have a pre season with us and was chucked into the squad. He didn't score many but quite a few that he did score were very important goals for us, Boro and Bolton come to mind. I think he'll prove a lot of people wrong next season now he's settled.


Your kidding right? Rooney was our best player in the last couple of months of the season, he's been England's best player the past two years (he was voted their best player by the fans) and has been getting consistantly better over the past few seasons. I just pray Fergie starts playing him upfront and then people will see how much he has come on recently, as he's shown it with England. He was close to winning player of the year at the end of the season and i think that shows people know he's quality.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Oh without a doubt - £30Mill, held to ransom or not, I expected more from him.

UTD fans know how important Rooney is even if everyone else seems to think he is overated.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_r...ester_United_2

A one in three for a kid that has broke his foot twice and only plays 50% of a season as a Striker speaks for itself. As I have already said, if he has a weakness to his game, tell me what it is. And then tell me of a player in Europe that has no weak part to his game and does it better. He's fast. Scores with both feet and head. Can take a freekick. Strong. Covers all the pitch. Can pass with both feet. Can tackle. Almost never gives it away. Scores tap ins and goal of the season contenders. Gets plenty assists. Pops up at full back and center half. Does it at all levels. And will play in any position (Inc the bench) he is asked and never moans about it.

He is the only UTD player we have that all my friends rate, none of them UTD fans, they all detest Ronaldo and are 50/50 with Tevez.

---------- Post added at 19:26 ---------- Previous post was at 19:11 ----------

1 in 2.4 in the Prem and a 1 in 2.9 for ECL.

Career totals - Torres 141 - 327 1 in 2.3 - Rooney 114 - 315 1 in 2.7 so if Rooney is overated then how would you describe Torres?

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Spuds say they have going back over a year before he finally signed, are you still sticking to the United story that it's all based on comments Fergie didn't make to The Sun because if you are why didn't Sir Alex sue like he threatened to.

Do I really have to explain why I typed 'lesser' that way, perhaps "lesser" will clear up any misunderstandings. Oh and in Ronaldo's mind United are obviously a "lesser" club or he would have stayed, personally I hope he comes a right cropper on the pitch and put's Paris Hilton in the family way, with luck she'll take him to the cleaners and wipe the smug look of his face once and for all.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Things go from bad to worse for Newcastle. As well as being relegated to the fizzy pop league they are now the proud owners of the worst away kit in recent memory.

[img]Download Failed (1)[/img]

:sick:

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Could they be getting additional sponsorship from the Green party. There'll be no need for the expense of floodlights when they're wearing that outfit. Do the opposition have to provide their own sunglasses?

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

And Owen's confirmed he's on his way...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ed/8113312.stm

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Arsenal ahd an away one in the 90s that was worse than that one..Was fairly amusing

Although not quite as amusing as when they were sponsored by sega and went to play away in italy where sega has a whole new meaning*


*italian slang for a bout of self love

:D

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Johnson to Liverpool...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ol/8102625.stm

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Heres the shirt i was on about


http://www.myfootballkits.co.uk/arse...y-kit-1991.jpg

The ugly one that is..

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

It doesn't beat this monstrosity....

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2009/06/8.gif

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Russ


Id blanked that from my memory..youve just undone several years of expensive therapy

:)

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Terrible.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

We have been after him for two years now, that has to count for something and he'll be fresh, he has had the best part of three years of

West Ham, Aston Villa, Everton and Fulham are all in the running to sign former Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen after Barcelona confirmed he can leave for the right price (Daily Mirror).

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

that was for historical reasons though. When United were formed as Newton Heath those were the team colours. Same as when Arsenal played in maroon a few years ago because Woolwich Arsenal played in those colours originally.

I wouldn't have minded Jognson signing for us, he's far better than O'Shea and Neville he getting too old

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

There is a hall of shame here. Some absolute horrors. :shocked:

What were they thinking?
http://www.premiershirts.net/weartha.../clydebank.jpg

Complete with vomit stains
http://www.premiershirts.net/weartha...%201991-92.jpg

Wrong, just plain wrong
[img]Download Failed (1)[/img]

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

There's something retro about this one, quite like it :)

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Christ Almighty, I remember that away strip, and the blue one! Memories of Norwich City clearly linger for United! :D

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

What's retro, the kit or the hair!!!!

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Just the kit ;)

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I just realised that if City sign Tevez they can play 11 men upfront next season-Tevez, Santa Cruz, Robinho, Bellamy, Benjani, Bojinov, Jo, Sturridge, Caicedo, Vassell and Ched Evans. Surely they will win something if they do that :)

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Sturridge has gone to Chelsea, and i'm sure Benjani, caicedo and Vassell will be released.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

The wizard signs

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...td/8115828.stm

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

FT USA 2 - 0 Spain

hahahahahahaha

:D :D :D

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Mmm I'd prefer it if he stayed, if he can get fit he is international class

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ty/8118856.stm

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Reports are claiming that Real Madrid striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is set for United as a replacement for the soon-to-depart Carlos Tevez. Great shout, he'll cost half the amount both in fee and wages, and at least he speaks English.

Good business for Man utd if true.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

That seems to be a pretty big if though, he hasn't been the same since he broke his ankle.

We've been linked with him for some time now, from what i saw of him last year he wasn't all that, although 8 goals in 20 matches is better than Tevez did.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

He had an awesome goal scoring record for Ajax (92 games/76 goals)

And his record for the Netherlands isn't too shabby either (23 games/13 goals)

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

His goal ratio is incredible, I know a lot of that was done in Holland (Alfonso Alves) but at least he takes it into International class as well. Might actually get him at a normal price.

Unless Madrid try to recoup £80Mill :erm:

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Ronaldo agrees 6 year deal:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...td/8121951.stm

Which is a joke as no deals are ultimately binding...

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Contracts can be settled with money, as Jenson Button's proved in F1 by buying out his Williams seat from 2003-2005. And apparantly Real Madrid have bags of it to spare. I'd be interested to see what success if any they can manage in the next 2 or 3 years, considering they've basically been off the radar in major competitions. I don't think they'll match Chelsea's success with Abramovich's money spree - 2nd, 1st, 1st in 3 years of Premier League football, FA Cups, League Cups, Champions League quarters, semis, and finals.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

All I care about now is can we get anyone decent without getting taken for a ride? It's going to be a tough ask I think. Be glad if we get one player of note for a "Not" over inflated fee.

I mean it's all paper talk, but when you are seeing Ribéry for £45Million! Gimme a break, most overated player in Europe that bloke. Benzema, £35Million, bags of potential and has yet to show it.

Got my fingers crossed, based on knowing Ronaldo was going, 12months ago, and that Tevez was likely to end in tears, that we already had things moving on at least two players.

And for the love of God, will someone go get Owen, give him a fitness test and then offer him a one year "Pay as you play" the guy is in his prime and is going to end up at Hull.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Allardyce targets Van Nistelrooy

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...rs/8122158.stm

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Steve Bruce wants to make Tottenham striker Darren Bent, 25, his first signing at Sunderland, but is being put off by the £18m price tag that Spurs have put on him.


£18million!?!?!? Seriously? He's not worth half of that imo.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

lol! He's worth 7mil max.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Gannon to Motherwell?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ll/8111043.stm

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

21.45 Speculation is implying that Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will use part of the mammoth fee received for Real Madrid-bound Cristiano Ronaldo to prise Jack Rodwell away from Everton.

He does look a decent prospect but i bet Everton won't let him go on the cheap.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

That 80 million is being paid up front, no stage payments what so ever, cracking bit of business imo

---------- Post added at 06:42 ---------- Previous post was at 06:40 ----------

They are trying to make a profit on him...

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

We (arsenal) are ready to hijack Man Utd bids for Benzema....if the rumours are true.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

USA 1 - 0 Brazil :shocked:

---------- Post added at 20:01 ---------- Previous post was at 19:44 ----------

USA 2 - 0 Brazil :shocked::shocked:http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/.....es/shocked.gif

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

USA 2 - 3 Brazil in the end

1130 BST: Manchester City have made a "stratospheric" offer to Samuel Eto'o according to Barcelona president Joan Laporta. (Catalan radio station iCat FM)

Tevez, Robinho and Eto'o could be the best strike force in the division, lot of ego's for the manager to contend with, don't know if he is up to the job tbh

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

The alternative could be to take time wasting to the limit, a substitution after half hour then two in the second half!
Would look like five-a-side football !
Just out of interest, what the odds for city to finish above united if a tenner was waged now ?

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I'd be careful about taking that bet. Sparky is unproven at controlling egos (Robinho had a strop last season) - and can all these players work together?

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Very true Russ, it was said with tongue in cheek to a big degree ;)
Bet ( lol ) there will be someone who will wager on it.
£10 deposited now in a savings account would not get you much interest, but if pigs do fly and it was waged on the unthinkable ? :D

Bet fred are offering 6/1.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Man City have made £25m bid for Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o


That's looking like another striker to add to the list.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I've heard that Valencia is at Carrington today having a medical, the transfer will go through today or tomorrow.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

That's if he is even manager next season, would it be a huge shock to see him get the flick before a ball has been kicked?

But United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is in danger of missing out on Lyon striker Karim Benzema, who looks set to join Real Madrid in a £28m deal.
Full story: Daily Star

Don't believe this story, Madrid have to by some Spanish players to fulfil election promises, everyone knows that :rolleyes:

---------- Post added at 14:29 ---------- Previous post was at 14:28 ----------

Is he really that good, don't recall him doing anything special at all...

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

The`ve got helicopters and planes now... :nono:

Don`t really think Eto`o is a Mark Hughes type of player, i hope i`m wrong and he plays a blinder but all i can see is grief, ego`s and petulance coming!

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I'm not too sure, he's been one of Wigan's best players recently, i remember him having a good spell at the begining of the season and thats about it. We'll just have to wait and see.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Other news is saying Eto is leaning towards staying at Barca.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8125216.stm


Did he not see how much money Madrid spent on two players within a week of each other?? Oh i forogt, thats okay because he doesn't hate the Spanish, just the English :rolleyes:

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Well he did say foreign owners, not elected Presidents. Massive difference.

He's likely referring to the stinking rich buying up clubs they have absolutely zero connection with, probably know very little about and using them as their own play toys.

Let's face it; probably the main reason Man City were bought is because they have Manchester in their name. The guys who felt like treating themselves one day, think they might be able to create an Inter/Milan, Fenerbache/Galatasaray, etc scenaro.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Sep Blatter loves having a pop at the Prem.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I was picking up more on this -

How can he say that when a Spanish club has just spent over £130m on two players? The top four + city have only signed a couple of players between them since the end of the season and nowhere near that amount of money. Blatter just can't help himself having a pop at English clubs.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Chelsea are poised to complete a hat-trick of signings by landing CSKA Moscow forward Yuri Zhirkov, Manchester City forward Daniel Sturridge and Middlesbrough goalkeeper Ross Turnbull.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Bet the top clubs are quaking in their boots at these signings, forget your Eto'o or Tevez they have signed a couple of spotty adolescences and a scrabble players wet dream.

Former Aston Villa manager David O'Leary says his successor Martin O'Neill has not helped the club progress.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Seriously just go away, wonder who the fans would rather have in charge, chirpy chappy Martin O'Neill or the most annoying man in football, besides Dave you did such a good job you have literally been inundated with offers since leaving/ getting sacked

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Good god, because we did so well with O'Leary as a manager - he managed us to the grand heights of 17th in the table... MO'N has got us into the top 6 for 2 seasons in a row, but we haven't progressed?

O'Leary's a donk, he really is...

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

19.08 Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Antonio Valencia from Wigan Athletic for an undisclosed fee. The winger has signed a four-year contract with the Premier League champions.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Here's the full article on the transfer - http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...408310,00.html

After seeing his stats from last season he actually seems like a decent player, hopefully he fits in well for us.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

He might be one of those that raises his game when playing with better players like Carrick did, as well. Think he'll be another Park rather than another Ronaldo though.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

From what i've seen his game is more similar to Ronaldo's then Park's, he's quick and takes players on rather than a defensive workhorse type of player. I know you can't really go by stats but his were better than Ronaldo's last season apart from goals. Pass completion, dribble completion, cross completion were all higher, seems promising but you can't really tell until he plays.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Thing is no-one can replace Ronnie so anyone else will feel like a step down. But saying that remember Ron was bought as a replacement for Beckham and no-one thought he'd come close.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I think he'll step up his game, he looked class for Wigan......but that is Wigan.


Miralem Pjanic claims Lyon team-mate Karim Benzema is close to completing a £38million move to Manchester United.

That's our (Arsenals) hopes over =(

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I hope that gets better, or he supplies very well

http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pa...7D&newsid=3061

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Not going to say he is a great buy (not after the fact) (although he is) cos that is too easy. All we need is someone that can run the wing and cross really. The team is no longer going to be designed to compensate for Ronaldo and so we are back to strikers scoring, he doesn't (shouldn't) need to score 40.

Not sure about how tricky he is, but he is strong like Ronaldo and with a bit more pace with the looks of him. I like the idea of players that already have Prem experience as well.

---------- Post added at 21:07 ---------- Previous post was at 21:01 ----------

Where did you get that?

---------- Post added at 21:22 ---------- Previous post was at 21:07 ----------

It's funny, just put MUTV on and they are showing him getting his pic taken, after he signed, and it is daylight and Sunny. Hello, press, can't wait to link us with every player under the sun, we get one, and they have no idea it's happened.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...408324,00.html

I'm not 100% sure about him, coming from the french league to the premiership is a big step up, i'm not convinced he will be able to make it. I'd much rather see us trying to get Aguero if we're spending this much money.

That was at Carrington, they only let the club photographer in, no newspapers.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Reports now showing that Benzema has gone to real for 35 million pounds .Taking their spending to apprx 250million including the 80 million that has been PAID today in full for ronaldo.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic has said that AC Milan, Barcelona and Real Madrid have all enquired about the possibility of him leaving Old Trafford but, despite his wife's eagerness to move away from England, he is determined to stay put.
Full story: The Sun

Goes without saying he'd be a massive loss, should she nag him into a move

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Lyon are now saying theyve received and off that is probably not from real and that no deal has been done

French press talking arse as it happens

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Yup, Yahoo are saying Arsenal/Man Utd may have made the bid.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Benzema HAS gone to Real Madrid.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

I now despise Real Madrid with the same level of venom I used to reserve for Arsenal....

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Point being, they didn't know, how bad does that reflect on the constant speculation? You would think that there would be some regulatory system that stops this type of reporting, linking every player with every club isn't news, it's random guessing.

I don't get worked up about players linked in the Press, just the ones I know for fact we are after. And in all honesty, the more we get linked with a player, it always feels less likely we are after him (to me) Wonder if they will be so lame as to bring Huntelaar back into the picture now? It's the easy choice, cos they are running out of names. £80Million and a dwindling list, they may have to start linking Midfielders.

Can't wait till we have finished our business, pre-season in three weeks, with any luck it will sooner rather than later. That's what Blatter will be hoping, cos he is coming off a bigger plank with each cheque Madrid sign.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

With only 1 proven goalscorer in the team now, we need more options and FAST. We're getting beaten to the punch to players and that has to stop. Huntelaar has never really impressed me that much so far (I'm hoping to be proven otherwise if we sign him) so SAF had better get busy.

Re: Football Close Season Thread
 

Real Madrid have gotta have success in the first 2 seasons, and sharpish. Otherwise they'll look even more a failure than Middlesbrough were in the 90s. Remember that cockup?