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This from Football365.com
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FERGIE TO SELL STAR TURN
Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to sell one of his big-name players to help finance a £40m transfer splurge this summer, according to the Daily Express. With the club only likely to provide £15m in funds, he will have to find money from sales to fund a shopping spree. Favourite for the exit door is clearly Ryan Giggs, who has been continually linked with a move to Inter Milan.
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Opinions?
If there's *any* truth in this, then...
Who will he spend £40m on? Will it be one or two big-name stars? Or has he finally learned that big spending on big stars doesn't bring success?
Given two seasons of being flops (relatively speaking, by United's standards), can they justify - to the fans and shareholders - spending multi-millions on just a couple of players?
What would the fans prefer? Do they expect big-name stars now, who - as we've seen - may have a negative effect, rather than a positive one? Or would they rather the Arsenal-style route of buying quality players at comparative bargain prices, and turn them into big names? (Rio Ferdinand - £30m; Pascal Cygan - £2.5m; no discernable difference in ability, and some would say Cygan is actually a better defender.)
Or should Fergie be allowed to buy players at all? Has he lost the plot? Should someone else make the decisions? Should Fergie make way for new blood where some have said it's most needed?
-----
FERGIE TO SELL STAR TURN
Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to sell one of his big-name players to help finance a £40m transfer splurge this summer, according to the Daily Express. With the club only likely to provide £15m in funds, he will have to find money from sales to fund a shopping spree. Favourite for the exit door is clearly Ryan Giggs, who has been continually linked with a move to Inter Milan.
-----
Opinions?
If there's *any* truth in this, then...
Who will he spend £40m on? Will it be one or two big-name stars? Or has he finally learned that big spending on big stars doesn't bring success?
Given two seasons of being flops (relatively speaking, by United's standards), can they justify - to the fans and shareholders - spending multi-millions on just a couple of players?
What would the fans prefer? Do they expect big-name stars now, who - as we've seen - may have a negative effect, rather than a positive one? Or would they rather the Arsenal-style route of buying quality players at comparative bargain prices, and turn them into big names? (Rio Ferdinand - £30m; Pascal Cygan - £2.5m; no discernable difference in ability, and some would say Cygan is actually a better defender.)
Or should Fergie be allowed to buy players at all? Has he lost the plot? Should someone else make the decisions? Should Fergie make way for new blood where some have said it's most needed?
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I'm not a Kewell fan, to be honest.
But then, I said the same thing when he was linked with Yorke, and he did alright =)
But then, I said the same thing when he was linked with Yorke, and he did alright =)
Fergie is being linked with Kewell again today. Kewell is stalling on signing a new contract and Leeds will have to flog him or risk losing him for nothing like Bowyer.
Personally I hope Fergie sells some dead wood and brings in some fresh young faces.
I like the way Arsenal have done business in looking for decent talent at decent prices and turning them into a championship winning team, however I like even more what United done several seasons ago in nuturing home grown talent into championship winning team.
I think it would be wise to sell Giggsy, I know he has been an asset to Man Utd over the last 10 years, but he just isn't up to it anymore, I would also sell Gary Neville and maybe even one more 'big name' player. I know people will say 'we need them' but we dont really because they simply arent performing, we have sold big players before and become better and we can do it again.
As replacements? - who knows, Fergie and board will have look at it strong and hard and think who they can bring in as adequate replacement (if they do bring in anyone at all that is)
I think Escude/Mexes are players who Fergie would like to bring in and I would certainly like him to look at Ronaldinho/Shevchenko - whether thats feasible is another story.
But whoever they buy - the tactics have to right in order for a team to be successful and thats something Fergie needs to sort out, playing players in the wrong positions is not helping the team, morale or the results.
I like the way Arsenal have done business in looking for decent talent at decent prices and turning them into a championship winning team, however I like even more what United done several seasons ago in nuturing home grown talent into championship winning team.
I think it would be wise to sell Giggsy, I know he has been an asset to Man Utd over the last 10 years, but he just isn't up to it anymore, I would also sell Gary Neville and maybe even one more 'big name' player. I know people will say 'we need them' but we dont really because they simply arent performing, we have sold big players before and become better and we can do it again.
As replacements? - who knows, Fergie and board will have look at it strong and hard and think who they can bring in as adequate replacement (if they do bring in anyone at all that is)
I think Escude/Mexes are players who Fergie would like to bring in and I would certainly like him to look at Ronaldinho/Shevchenko - whether thats feasible is another story.
But whoever they buy - the tactics have to right in order for a team to be successful and thats something Fergie needs to sort out, playing players in the wrong positions is not helping the team, morale or the results.
I've heard some rumours that we are interested in both Djibrill Cissé and Phillippe Mexés of Auxerre. I've been watching both players play recently on Eurosport, and I have to say that I'd love to see a double-deal like this complete!
Cissé already announced in January that he wanted to be in the Premiership next season, so I can't see him staying in France much longer - especially after his reaction to being subbed against Liverpool, quite recently.
But Arsenal have also been linked with Cissé. And if any Premiership team is bound to go for him, then it's them. Liverpool have also been linked with his signature once-or-twice; likewise with Mexés.
But as for departures... I don't really have a clue.
Fergie knows what the likes of Beckham, Keane, Giggs and Scholes - alone - mean to the club, and that he'll need the ALL if he wants to try and turn-things-around. But we definitley need a new striker, as this 4-4-1-1 thing isn't working in the league. And with the No.9 shirt still vacant, nobody would HAVE to leave, immediatly...
But I have to wonder what exactly has been going through Ole Solskjaer's head this season, and what he'll feel like if we DO end up trophy-less, again, no matter how much he loves the club...
And will Sir Alex pursue his apparent interest in Sunderland's want-away youngster David Bellion? Who knows...
But seriously, after the nothing-ness of January, I bet the only thing Alex Ferguson has on his Summer shopping-list is more chewing gum!!
Cissé already announced in January that he wanted to be in the Premiership next season, so I can't see him staying in France much longer - especially after his reaction to being subbed against Liverpool, quite recently.
But Arsenal have also been linked with Cissé. And if any Premiership team is bound to go for him, then it's them. Liverpool have also been linked with his signature once-or-twice; likewise with Mexés.
But as for departures... I don't really have a clue.
Fergie knows what the likes of Beckham, Keane, Giggs and Scholes - alone - mean to the club, and that he'll need the ALL if he wants to try and turn-things-around. But we definitley need a new striker, as this 4-4-1-1 thing isn't working in the league. And with the No.9 shirt still vacant, nobody would HAVE to leave, immediatly...
But I have to wonder what exactly has been going through Ole Solskjaer's head this season, and what he'll feel like if we DO end up trophy-less, again, no matter how much he loves the club...
And will Sir Alex pursue his apparent interest in Sunderland's want-away youngster David Bellion? Who knows...
But seriously, after the nothing-ness of January, I bet the only thing Alex Ferguson has on his Summer shopping-list is more chewing gum!!
In all honesty as a United fan, I don't believe Fergie has any real eye for potential. We've had a host of players through the youth scheme who have formed the foundations for our successes, but only a very small proportion of our transfers have been good buys. For every Eric Cantona we've bought, there's a Massimo Taibi or a Jesper Blomqvist. For every Jaap Stam, or Roy Keane, there's a David May, Ronny Johnsen, Karel Poborsky or Jordi Cruyff.
Too many of Fergie's purchases have been big spends. Any Cole, Keane, Veron, Stam, Ferdinand - all have been record transfers of one type or another.
Admittedly most of the big purchases have been good players, but it's questionable whether they've all been worth the money. I have to admit, I believe Arsene Wenger to be far better in the transfer market.
Too many of Fergie's purchases have been big spends. Any Cole, Keane, Veron, Stam, Ferdinand - all have been record transfers of one type or another.
Admittedly most of the big purchases have been good players, but it's questionable whether they've all been worth the money. I have to admit, I believe Arsene Wenger to be far better in the transfer market.
They should come up to Scotland and have a look at some of the extensive skimmed over talent in the SPL.
Many of the clubs have international class players, and specifically Dundee's Nacho Novo, Beto Carranza, Gavin Rae, Zura Khizanishvili (remember the name, 20 year old Georgian defender, will be huge in a few years!! ;)........
Many of the clubs have international class players, and specifically Dundee's Nacho Novo, Beto Carranza, Gavin Rae, Zura Khizanishvili (remember the name, 20 year old Georgian defender, will be huge in a few years!! ;)........
If we can only buy one player this summer i hope it's Ronaldinho. We also need another striker so hopefully someone like Kluivert or Cisse will come to the theatre of dreams.
This from Football365.com
-----
FERGIE TO SELL STAR TURN
Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to sell one of his big-name players to help finance a £40m transfer splurge this summer, according to the Daily Express. With the club only likely to provide £15m in funds, he will have to find money from sales to fund a shopping spree. Favourite for the exit door is clearly Ryan Giggs, who has been continually linked with a move to Inter Milan.
-----
Opinions?
If there's *any* truth in this, then...
Who will he spend £40m on? Will it be one or two big-name stars? Or has he finally learned that big spending on big stars doesn't bring success?
Given two seasons of being flops (relatively speaking, by United's standards), can they justify - to the fans and shareholders - spending multi-millions on just a couple of players?
What would the fans prefer? Do they expect big-name stars now, who - as we've seen - may have a negative effect, rather than a positive one? Or would they rather the Arsenal-style route of buying quality players at comparative bargain prices, and turn them into big names? (Rio Ferdinand - £30m; Pascal Cygan - £2.5m; no discernable difference in ability, and some would say Cygan is actually a better defender.)
Or should Fergie be allowed to buy players at all? Has he lost the plot? Should someone else make the decisions? Should Fergie make way for new blood where some have said it's most needed?
-----
FERGIE TO SELL STAR TURN
Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to sell one of his big-name players to help finance a £40m transfer splurge this summer, according to the Daily Express. With the club only likely to provide £15m in funds, he will have to find money from sales to fund a shopping spree. Favourite for the exit door is clearly Ryan Giggs, who has been continually linked with a move to Inter Milan.
-----
Opinions?
If there's *any* truth in this, then...
Who will he spend £40m on? Will it be one or two big-name stars? Or has he finally learned that big spending on big stars doesn't bring success?
Given two seasons of being flops (relatively speaking, by United's standards), can they justify - to the fans and shareholders - spending multi-millions on just a couple of players?
What would the fans prefer? Do they expect big-name stars now, who - as we've seen - may have a negative effect, rather than a positive one? Or would they rather the Arsenal-style route of buying quality players at comparative bargain prices, and turn them into big names? (Rio Ferdinand - £30m; Pascal Cygan - £2.5m; no discernable difference in ability, and some would say Cygan is actually a better defender.)
Or should Fergie be allowed to buy players at all? Has he lost the plot? Should someone else make the decisions? Should Fergie make way for new blood where some have said it's most needed?
Page: