Manchester United Football Club

the reason there's no english players in there is because england, in line with a team that hasn't won a major trophy, or even been in a final for about 40 years, don't produce a massive quantity of great playewrs. Unfortunatly the media don't realise this and anyone that is half decent as a teenager(*cough* michael owen *cough*) get pumped up to be the next pele. There are no english world class strikers right now, end of story, so of course a team looking for a world class striker (and i fail to see how a price tag of 25 million suggests they aren't) wouldn't be looking at an english player.

I think these players you mentioned more than illustrate my point, at least with Veron we thought we knew what we where getting but even spending 26 million on an established amazing talent does not guarantee success. Forlan and Kleberson where almost as highly rated as rooney (especially kleberson on he back of world cup 2002 success, bearing more than a little relation to rooney on the back of euro 2004 success) and yet they have failed to deliver, however they did not cost as much as 2 world class players.

we are getting screwed royally here.

the reason there's no english players in there is because england, in line with a team that hasn't won a major trophy, or even been in a final for about 40 years, don't produce a massive quantity of great players.

Holland and Spain dont win much either, even Italy has suffered a lack of success for over 20 years, but none of this would matter to Fergie and he's the one who picks the targets. The only reason Rooney being English matters is that he knows the Premiership already, unlike Veron, Forlan and Kleberson, though Kleberson now he is over his injuries is showing signs of the form that prompted Utd top buy him in the first place.

There are no english world class strikers right now, end of story, so of course a team looking for a world class striker (and i fail to see how a price tag of 25 million suggests they aren't) wouldn't be looking at an english player.

If Brazil suddenly had an 18 year old kid, called Wayno Roonerio who scored more than a goal per game at the Copa and outshone all his more established team mates then i would expect any big European clubs looking for strikers to be interested.

we are getting screwed royally here.

Having seen the break down of the deal (£10m now, £10m next year, the rest dependant on success) I think we have done well. Rooney is sponsored by Nike who will want to cash in on his rising status. Nike pay Utd £30m a year for the privilage of supplying our shirts. Their will be a lot of grey suited guys sitting around tables licking their lips at the potential money to be made here. David Gill was Utds financial director before becoming chairman and im sure he would not have given the green light for this deal unless he was sure the Plc would get their moneys worth.

i'm not a man utd fan at all, but having seen most of your games this season, i really don't understand why fergie didn't go for another midfielder. you've got the wings position sorted out, i.e. ronaldo and giggs, but scholes and keane are getting on a bit, and you've lost butt. now your left with kleberson and djemba dejmba in the centre, who are not wc players, your team lacks a midfield engine.

ps forza newcastle!

Originally Posted by Stezagud

Saviola has become surplus to requirements at Barca and if they dont rate him then why should Fergie want him??

The former president gave Saviola and Kluivert long term contracts that Barca simply cannot pay. Kluivert gained his unpopularity when refusing to take a paycut - other players accepted. Barca has/is simply being run by fools (and instead of being selfcritical they blame others for all their misery. Lol.)

Well, Barca signed new players to force Saviola out. They didn't want to sell him, they just wanted someone else to pay his wages for a while..
I doubt Fergie (and most other big clubs) would go for Saviola as long as Barca has an option of taking him back after a year...

well it's been done now. I don't think this is a good idea, his talent is being seriously, seriously over-hyped. I just hope someone in Man Us midfield can out-preform expectations (kleberson maybe could come good) to try and fill the gaping holes there.

i'm not a man utd fan at all, but having seen most of your games this season, i really don't understand why fergie didn't go for another midfielder.

That was what concerned me too. Utd will be in desperate need of a defensive midfielder when Keane leaves and at the moment none of the players already there seem capable of stepping up to his level, though a few have potential.
Utd have had trouble breaking down the smaller teams for a while and its all because when teams come to Old Trafford they string 5 across midfield and try and hit on the break. When Keane was at his best it didnt matter how many they had in midfield because he would still dominate them but now he needs another defensive player to help do the running. 2 defensive players central means the creativity has to come down the wings and it often ends up wasted.
To counter this Fergie had been trying to find a player to play behind Ruud, a striker who helps the midfield. Scholes does it well enough but now Rooney can do it and Scholes can drop in to central midfield where his ability to find time and space should make Utds passing more fluent. It might be enough for now but it doesnt fix the problem of how to replace Keane.

well it's been done now. I don't think this is a good idea, his talent is being seriously, seriously over-hyped. I just hope someone in Man Us midfield can out-preform expectations (kleberson maybe could come good) to try and fill the gaping holes there.

And his debut will be against Liverpool he is as likely to get sent off as he is to score

Originally Posted by Stezagud

And his debut will be against Liverpool he is as likely to get sent off as he is to score

likely to get hattrick then to be sent off

http://crocodyle.homeip.net/john/stuff/keown.jpg

Chelski

_________________RvN________________________
_____________Rooney/Smith/Saha_______________
_____Giggs____Scholes____Keane____Ronaldo_____
____O'Shea___Heinze___Ferdinand___G. Neville____
________________Howard______________________

Looks about right, though Silvestre and Heinze will probably be the left back and left centre back (im not sure which way round yet )

Rooney will maybe be used like Ronaldo was last year, a few games to start wit and gradually more and more as the season progresses

Originally Posted by argo

_________________RvN________________________
_____________Rooney/Smith/Saha_______________
_____Giggs____Scholes____Keane____Ronaldo_____
____O'Shea___Heinze___Ferdinand___G. Neville____
________________Howard______________________

Main subs: Ph. Neville, Bellion, Djemba 2x, Kleberson, Ole, Brown, Silvestre, Miller, Ricardo and many other young brilliants.

Glory glory...

Originally Posted by Stezagud

Looks about right, though Silvestre and Heinze will probably be the left back and left centre back (im not sure which way round yet )

Last season I heard that Silvestre wanted to play only as centre-back, but IMO he's just TOO LEFT-FOOTED to play at center.
with Heinze's arrival, Sir Alex will have more options on our defense. all in all, Ferdinand is a "must". Look, how many times we conceeded goals from header and set-pieces (apparently England too).

Originally Posted by Stezagud

Rooney will maybe be used like Ronaldo was last year, a few games to start wit and gradually more and more as the season progresses

Typically Fergie, he placed players into several different positions.
Only RvN, Ferdinand and Howard are still in their original position.

can't wait to see United's main squad.
my prediction, as usual, boxing-day will be our turning point to catch Arsenal and Chelski.

Main subs: Ph. Neville, Bellion, Djemba 2x, Kleberson, Ole, Brown, Silvestre, Miller, Ricardo and many other young brilliants.

Unfortunately i doubt Ole will be on the subs bench for a very long time

Last season I heard that Silvestre wanted to play only as centre-back, but IMO he's just TOO LEFT-FOOTED to play at center.
with Heinze's arrival, Sir Alex will have more options on our defense. all in all, Ferdinand is a "must". Look, how many times we conceeded goals from header and set-pieces (apparently England too).

True, hopefully Silvestre will learn to be happy with left back, though he did play well their with Rio last season before the ban...oh well, Fergie knows best

can't wait to see United's main squad.
my prediction, as usual, boxing-day will be our turning point to catch Arsenal and Chelski.

We'll have to turn it around before then, they're 7 points clear already Rio, Ruud and Rooney are back for the liverpool game so hopefully the team will take shape in the games after that

so far, United's defense is quite strong. The problem we have right now is "goal scoring".