Schalke have today confirmed that legend Raul will be leaving the club on a free at the end of the season after two years in Germany. He was offered a contract from them but decided it was time to move on.
After an incredible career with Real Madrid, spending sixteen years in the first team, Raul was no longer first choice so decided it was time to leave. He has done brilliantly well with Schalke, scoring 19 goals last season and 20 goals this. According to Opta, during his time in Germany, Raúl has started more matches (95) and played more minutes (8287) than any other Schalke player, which indicates there’s still plenty of life left in him yet.
This morning, the papers have linked him with a move to Qatar, where he would likely receive a £7.5million four-year deal but I would love him to come to United.
Last summer, Ferguson admitted he thought about trying to sign Raul when he left Spain but felt it was unnecessary because we brought in Michael Owen.
“We do prefer to sign young players as a rule but when you get an opportunity to sign experience like that you’ve got to have a look at it,” Ferguson said. “You can make exceptions for certain players, because experience is so valuable. We thought the same when we signed Michael Owen, who has been a terrific professional for us, and bringing in Raúl would have been similar to when we managed to get Henrik Larsson for a short time a few years ago. It was obvious his time at Real Madrid had come to an end, and he certainly wasn’t too old to be effective, as he has been showing in Germany. We spoke to his agent about a possible move but we already had Javier Hernández by then and, with Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen available, we thought we could afford to let the chance pass. If we hadn’t had Michael at the club at the time I might well have signed him.”
Hopefully Michael Owen will leave this summer, Dimitar Berbatov sadly almost certainly will, and there’s every chance Federico Macheda will too, after yet another unnsuccessful loan. Raul has shown in Germany that he’s still got it and the experience he could provide on the training ground would be incredible.
Wayne Rooney would certainly get the nod ahead of him but he could probably still give Danny Welbeck or Chicharito a run for their money. At his age, he obviously wouldn’t be able to play every game, but if he’s banging the goals in still in Germany, there’s no reason why he couldn’t do it here.
When United played Schalke in the Champions League last season, Raul acknowledged the contact between himself and United, despite never speaking to the manager himself, and claimed he liked the idea of playing in England.
“I love the footballing culture there, the respect for the game, the atmosphere, the intensity,” he said. “I’ve been at Old Trafford, Arsenal, at Liverpool watching Fernando Morientes and it’s special. I fancied the idea. I wanted to try something different.”
If Raul wants to end his career in Qatar or USA to bring in the big money, fine, but at 34-years-old, surely we could get a season or two out of him first. He has a job waiting for him at Real Madrid once his playing career is over but it would be incredible to have a legend like him in our shirt before then.
Man Utd News 24/7
A great player no doubt. I wouldn’t bring him in.
Or Forlan. Or Ruud.
I don’t think Fergie will either.
Exactly what I thought when I saw the article before…
Fair play…
Raul > Michael Owen
Come on Sir Alex!
CL here we come!
Incredible player and professional I would never say no to him
At the end he has a football brain to unlock any team in the world and he is still at a good age
I think it would be a brilliant swan song for Giggs and Scholes next year too with Raul and hopefully a Wembley meeting against Barca again.
I’m serious.
19
If we brought in Raul we may as well just not enter the champs league, United have a lesser net spend than Burnley I want to see some real quality added.
We have a great squad now and very good youth we need to add proper players like Rooney / Rio / Vidic etc.
We need to stop being a selling club and challenge in Europe again, the prem is the bread and butter and will fucking love 20 should it happen but what about Europe? Would Barca take Raul on a free? No and they dont even have a striker.
Fergie sign him up! sign him up!
Next season, it is quite possible for our strikers lineup will be left with Rooney, Welbeck & Hernandez. We need 1 more player, who don’t mind sitting on the bench. It is too soon for Will Keane, so I would welcome Raul
Yes Raul could be an option but to be honest for a club like MUFC, its desperate thinking! There’s nothing wrong with the strikers we have in attack at the moment. Yes it does look like Berbatov and Owen will probably leave although I do feel Owen may just get another extension for some reason but we have great young talent coming through and Will Keane looks the business. + there’s Kiko as well. I don’t think we’ll sell the lad.
At the end of the day my opinion simply doesn’t matter. Fergie knows best so let’s see what happens. Its gonna be an interesting summer that’s for sure.
At the end of the day the guys a legend and a proven goal scorer at the highest level, and to get him on a FREE would be a win – win for both parties. At the minute if you take Rooney out of the team our strikers aren’t scoring enough goals, Raul’s class would definatley help out there.
Raul is a talent there’s no doubt about that.I would’ve loved to have Larsson at united far longer than he was.Brilliant goal scorer.The man had integrity and in my eyes this puts him above many.His word was his bond and that is a rare rare quality to have.In this world the only thing that counts is our acts!Talk is cheap.Some great posts yesterday!Its easy to see those that love this club.Staunch is a word that springs to mind.#20 on the way? There’s no doubt about that.
Hernandez scores goals, Berbatov scores goals but neither have played to produce. Give me both above Raul in current form.
I would literally see it as a defeatest attitude should we bring him in, why would shalke let him go on a free?
Looks like our strikers problems are solved,
i also believe that we have already signed Raul and we will announce it once the season is over
###
Sir Alex Ferguson
767 games
won – 497
Lost – 108
winning percentage – 65%.
Over the 25 years, average he has lost 4 games per season..
and i thought Replacing Scholesy was the biggest task of the decade
###
King Eric
cheers buddy , yeah i know and i hope we rip them apart
Alberto Rossi,
na mate i aint flirting with you, its Giggsy12 who is flirting with you, all of a sudden he is fallen in love with your name
Giggs12Gerrard0 is right.
Release Berba and bring in Raul?
I don’t see that happening.
An interesting prospect that i think we’ll miss the boat on..
I’m literally salivating at the new business Fergie will potentially do over the Summer; some of it saddening (saying farewells to Dimitar, who took one look at City… and Owen). We need to challenge again in Europe and there’s no doubt that someone like Raul would be a quality acquisition. But with the performances of our current strikeforce and the emergence of Will Keane, he wouldn’t get much game time.
Roll on 20. Roll on spending spree. Remove clothes. Furiously masturbate. :p
It all depends on what’s the pecking order in fergie’s mind. Right now it’s:
1. Rooney
2. Welbeck
3. Hernandez
4. Berba/Owen
If he wants to keep the same pecking order for the top 3 and get someone in for Berba/Owen, then I’d struggle to think of anybody better than raoul. Legend of the game, and no way he’s past it. Bringing in a young striker for the 4th position is not going to work because young players will always need a run of games to grow into the club, gain confidence and experience. Bringing in a “top name” for 4th slot is senseless because the player will demand game time.
If on the other hand, Fergie has decided that Welbz/Hernandez need more experience and wants someone to partner Rooney regularly, then Raoul is of course the wrong option.
@Giggs12: I get you point around Barca not wanting Raoul, but even if they were destitute man – that guy is a madrid legend and probably wouldn’t give barca the time of day (probably mutual feeling too)…
Sandeep1878
He has always love the albatross. Everybody likes a nice seabird, or not?
San (balls) deep
After initial clashing of the titans and premature talk of boycotts Giggs12 took apprpriate steps to ensure Alberto Rossi felt right at home in RoM.
Raul is STILL doing-the-business. It was a mistake signing MIchael Owen ahead of Raul Gonzalez two years ago but it seems unlikely that his next two years will be as productive as he has been at Schalke. So, signing him now would most likely be a backwards step, taking playing-time away from Chicharito, DannyTheLad, and Will Keane, who certainly has done nothing to suggest that he shouldn’t be given the opportunity to join the strike force.
IF it’s decided that Will Keane needs more time on loan then the player that I think would be a perfect fit at OT would be Diego Forlan – “he made the scousers cry”, he’s very versatile playing in the hole or at the front, he’s left-footed, and he’s got unfinished business at UTD.
He never flies solo hence my slight enhancement to his name and being the greatest celebration of all time in Alberto Rossi
The idea he will come here now is a flight of fantasy.Never going to happen.That ship has sailed.
I will not be surprised if Berba takes a pay-cut and stays at United.
When Fergie offers that to him, best he’s standing on the other side of a plate-glass window, or his hand will traveling south through a Bulgarian upper intestine quicker than you can say “Raul”
Jeet,
Good analysis or view on the 4th striker..
bang on..
Raul can be used as impact sub and in case of injuries to welbz and chciha, he can start the games..
I dont see any negative side if we signed Raul..
He can teach lot of trades to youngsters…
Just look at Scholes and how his comeback has boosted the confidence and performance of our players…
Special players have an aura around them..
Having said all this, If Sir Alex wants him, who the hell i m to oppose..
He can also give good company to De Gea like few English lessons
Interesting. The 4th striker issue is something that Fergie will give a lot of thought into.
Personally, I think we would be just fine keeping Berbatov around and doing more rotating with these 4 strikers. Like we did with Yorke, Cole, Ole and Teddy. But since that won’t happen, I have no idea what the next best thing could be. Do we go for an experienced player to fill the pack and give Danny and Javier some new competition to keep him on their toes? Or do we go for someone expensive like Giggs12 said?
I will say this though. It may not be the best solution in terms of results, but I’d like the 4th striker to be a one of our academy strikers. Whether it’s Kiko or Will Keane.
@Giggs12 I agree with u mate. were Man United! We should be buying only the best players! Players at the top of their game. Spot on about would Barca buy him even though he’s a madrid legend. Even if he wasn’t a madrid legend they’d still not want him. So why should we be any different? Instead of Raul we should actually try get in Huntelaar! He’s been unbelievable this season for them. I know he couldn’t cut it @ Madrid or Milan but he’s doing the job for both club and country at the minute. Hed be worth a gamble in my opinion + he’s in the prime of his career at the moment too. What u think about that lads??
Lol at Giggsy and Rossi
btw,
who is this James1878?
If Zibbie is in the house then he will have to address we two 1878s on name basis
“If we hadn’t had Michael at the club at the time I might well have signed him.”
This makes me kind of bitter we signed owen
Costas,
Will Keane would be a great option..
The lad is in stunning form and has been this whole season…
and i hope we keep talking about Left back and striker signings,
at least that way we can stay away from the trouble of signing a midfielder
@Costas: Spot on regarding Berba. Don’t know what happened between them, man, and if I’m allowed to make a joke without being disrespectful, sometimes I feel one of Fergie’s granddaughters must have fallen for the classy widow’s peak. Or mayonnaise filled gloves. Irresistible Berbarotica doesn’t get you far with a protective grandfather from Govan
Speaking of strikers, Owen isn’t a regret for me. Remember that he did score that goal against the scum.
My biggest regret (and that may be because I recently saw the 05-06 review) would be letting Rossi go. He could still be at this club as one of its main strikers.
@dean: Personally I think Huntelaar is grossly overrated. No workrate, not a consistent finisher. Exaggeration, but he just about misses being the rich man’s Crouch in my book.
@Jeet 46 goals this season in all competitions. Need I say more mate.
@Sandeep
No need to worry mate. Scholesy will stay and we won’t go for a new CM. You heard it here first.
I heard Petrucci signed a new deal. He plays as a CM too doesn’t he?
@Jeet
Lol, you think? I have my suspicions too, but I dare not air them.
Anyway, not making this about Berbatov. I just stated what I would have done. But the issue is done and dusted in my book. He’s leaving. Now it’s all a matter of finding the right guy to complete the pack. If there even is one.
Another scenario could be Fergie keeping the 3 main strikers and using Nani as a striker from time to time.
Berba’s plight is clear.
Having recognised after our losses to Barcelona that the variety of broad-scale changes (to tactics, squad etc) he was planning needed to be expedited, Sir Alex made it very clear that youth would get every chance, and that the older players will be marginalised where possible. Knowing that new young players are usually inconsistent, vital back-up with real quality was essential. Back-up that in all likelihood would get plenty of games.
Danny and Chicharito have coped quite admirably, so Berbatov’s run never materialised.
Just a comment, @Giggs12Gerrard0 you gotta change your nickname soon. How unfortunate! hahahaha
RNicolas
Mate I started these boards on Giggs8Gerrard0, it has become an annual delight and measure of how successful we have been
Notions of straightfoward ‘pecking order’ aren’t always helpful. All that’s concrete is:
1. Rooney.
By which I mean … Welbeck has the physicality allied with agility to trouble the typical PL defender … Hernandez has the pace and instincts to trouble slower defences that play high up the pitch etc.
I actually think if Raul came he could well start a number of games, especially in Europe.
But eh
Issa which midfielder we signing no?
@dean: I don’t think this one season is a true indicator of his capabilities. I’ve seen this guy on and off for the last 3 seasons and mostly he’s been shite. Do you recall his misses against us when we did them nice and proper at OT and San Siro? Of course, we can always agree to disagree
By the way statman Costas – royally lazy request. Any goal per game stats for Raoul and The Hunter (my frigging left nut – he couldn’t hunt a paraplegic fox with a fleet of hounds to help in open country)?
Giggs12 hi mate wouldn’t call Utd a selling club,with Ronnie the club had no choice and Tevez was swayed by huge wages.Raul wouldn’t be considered a major signing as 4th striker.I agree about Berba but that whole situation is just odd,not getting games even when Danny and Hernandez have struggled at times.Have to feel his time is over if Raul is still doing the business and is prepared to become a squad player don’t see to many negatives
Signing Raul will have no effect on any other summer signings Utd might have in mind
raul is a prime case of “Class is permanent”. He’s still got it and has more to offer than owen ever will. He still relishes the battles like a newbie making his debut, he still filled with enthusiasm/Passion and although the energy has lessened, he’s still a brilliant brilliant finisher in and around the box, he doesn’t play as an out and out striker anymore but he’s able to adapt his game due to his resounding technical abilities.
FERGIE would do no wrong in bringing him in, he won’t get in the way of the younger strikers but can pass his wealth of experience onto them. the likes of welbeck, hernandez and even will keane will learn. Bring him in i say.
Jeet 1337=brilliant.lmao
Issa Costas he no longer Stat man
He KebabFather
Exactly my thought Scott.
I think wayne is right on the money at 13:40
are you for real? As good as Raul is/was he is not the player we are looking for.
a CMF under 27 is essential. someone with experience but also with 5 good years left. Could also see a left back being brought in with Fabio headin out on loan,
@jose
Raul would be free. Wouldn’t exactly stop us also buying in the positions you mention.
How do we know Raul is prepared to become a squad player? I am pretty sure he will want to be in with at least a shout of playing. He is not prepared to bench it at Shalke so why would he be fourth choice at United.
Please no no no no no no no no …………………..
Cue the KebabFather Waltz
@Giggs12Gerrard0
Who says he’d be 4th choice? Much as we all love Danny and Chicharito, they could each do with a massive kick up the arse, on recent form.
Kanchelskis
Well if the top goal scorer in the premiership in a title winning season cant do it then that further echoes my concerns with Raul.
“Were manchester united, we should be getting all the big players” – no, you get all the top players when you’re prepared to spend lavishly, Something united will never do. Get used to scrapping at the basement for quality and bringing youth through, maybe the occasional signing of a top player.
I’ll never fully understand Berbatov’s fall from grace, but whatever the situation, Fergie seems to have made his mind up. But the teams against who he scored those goals last season – and conversely the teams against which he did not score – may tell you much of what you need to know about Fergie’s thinking.
Raul has played, and played well, in huge games all his life. Berbatov – markedly – has not.
@ Jeet http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/23164/klaas-jan-huntelaar
Samuel
Spot on with that post, it saddens me as to how true that is. We spent 30 million on Rio over ten years ago in which time money has gone stupid and yet have not paid anything near in comparison.
Berba 30 mil 3 years ago
Rooeny 28 mil 6 years ago
It has become pathetic we are even talking about bringing Raul in, why not save 30 mil on Berba, and bring in Raul as part of the Ronaldo deal for free or maybe a nominal fee off the 80 mil paid.
No value in the market or not a pot to piss in you decide
Giggs12 – as much as the echos of “Sign him up” can be heard literally loudly around the universe, i’d take a goat as a pet if raul even had any interest of joining united.
@Giggs12Gerrard0
Not a pot to piss in, yet over £50m spent last summer?
Should United buy a ‘marquee’ player just to prove to people who apparently can’t add up that we do have money at our disposal?
Giggs12 – as much as the echos of “Sign him up” can be heard literally loudly around the universe, i’d take a goat as a pet if raul even had any interest of joining united….
Spot on @Giggs12. I’m sure he probably wants to enjoy his last few years in football. I can see. Him going to the middle east or even the MLS. I don’t think he’d want to sit on the bench…
Kanchelskis
That is pittance for a club with our return, Liverpool spent 100 million, City 250 million over two years, fuck me Chelsea spent 50 million on one player.
What have we spent year on year since the infamous take over?
@dean / @samuel
He’s only 34. You don’t think he’d fancy the opportunity to win some trophies he’s not won before, and maybe one he has?
Manchester United. A team with aspirations to win the Premier League and UEFA Champions League every season interested in signing a 34 year old Raul?! Yeah that reeks of desperation to me. If he ent good enough to play for Real then why would he be good enough to play for United?
The only benefit would be the experience and advice he could pass on to players like Welbeck, Hernandez, and Macheda. Bluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurgh…!
Giggs12 as Costas has pointed out seems to be a pecking order in regards to Utds strikers,you’d hope if Raul came in and was playing well would get his chances.
To start with at his age for him to sign would probably realize he would start off as 4th striker otherwise wouldn’t sign in the first place
@Giggs12Gerrard0
You’d prefer we spaffed money around on players like Adam, Henderson, Carroll, Torres, Downing, Dzeko, Balotelli would you?
It is only the rise of the greatest club side world football has ever seen that has stopped us winning 3 CLs as well as the embarrassment of PL titles in the era you speak of. No amount of investment could have stopped Barca in those two finals.
When FFP comes along and the Chelseas and Citys of this world can’t proceed with their scattergun approach to shopping, our approach will be vindicated.
Wayne
The top goal scorer last year didnt even make the bench for the final? What pecking order?
Kanchelskis
I never once said I wanted to sign any of them dog shit player, what I am saying is we dont have money we once did. We cant compete with City, Barca, Madrid, and now fucking Malaga and PSG.
2011 net spend 38 mil
2010 net spend 13.5 Mil
2009 Net Spend -64 Mil
2008 Net Spend 33 Mil
2007 Net Spend 26 Million
In five years our net spend year on year would not even buy you one world world class player do you think that is right?
I would love to see Raul at United.
This guy could teach even Rooney a thing or two.
If Berbatov and Owen go, then why not?
As much as I’d love him to. I don’t think Macheda will make it at United. So there’s a space to fill.
Our policy of late has been to buy young players with sell on value (thanks mr Glazer). But with only 3 fairly young striker at the club, I think we would go for experience.
Raul is a model pro and a fine player. Just the type Fergie likes.
Snatch him!This would be a great move for us:
First ,we get a legend for FREE and his still top player.Did you see his voley against Bilbao with left foot?He’s still hot.Second ,it will give us an option when Rooney is injured/rested.Third ,it would not interfere with Welbecks development.SAF always prefered to have 4 strikers,there will be plenty of games for Rooney,Raul,Welbs and Hernandes.People who are oposed to this move forget how great player he is ,I mean he has won 3 CL’s and was until recently Spain’s top scorer.I cant see anything negative about him comming to OT.
Some posters seem to have a problem with defining signings,signing Raul on a free for cover would not be a sign of desperation
Think its been proven spending lavishly achieves nothing but debt and brief hope.By the sounds of it Utd have a lot of lads close to making a impact in the first team,if the right player comes available ok but I don’t think the club should engage in the madness that City,Real and Rent boys bring to the mix
I don’t usually get involved with transfer bullshit. But this is actually sensible
As people have said – you’ve gotta look at it from the player’s point of view. If Berba isn’t happy at being 4th choice, why would Raul? And if you think Fergie will compromise the development of Welbeck and Hernandez for a 34 year old, you’re mistaken.
I can see him either going to the Middle East….or staying in Europe, but at a side where he’ll play more regularly.
It’ll be interesting to see if we do manage to get an experienced player to fill the 4th choice striker slot. I’m struggling to think of players who are
a) Experienced (therefore provide some nous)
b) Good enough for Utd
c) WILLING TO BE 4TH CHOICE
He may well give Macheda another year (I’m assuming Keane will go out on loan). That means Owen may stay as a 5th choice again – coz he seems happy to play that role, unlike most other strikers in Europe.
@Giggs12Gerrard0
So a world-class player, by your definition, can never be brought through an academy, and can never be bought for sums less than £38m?
So the only world-class players currently plying their trade are: Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic, Kaka, Torres, Crespo, Buffon and Aguero.
Funny how, of those players, only ONE plays for either the Spanish, English, German, Italian or European club champions.
Wayne
Sorry mate i completely disagree i dont think its desperation for the club, im posting in desperation from my own opinion.
Raul has been a great player but why would you let a proven, younger, last seasons top goal scorer go and bring Raul in, thats my desperation.
If we keep berba, let Owen go then happy days bring Raul in.
Kanchelskis
Sorry mate I think you are misinterpreting what I am saying. I am saying over a five year period do you think we are competing for the top signatures in Europe when looking at our spending?
Kanchelskis @ 13:59: “I’ll never fully understand Berbatov’s fall from grace, but whatever the situation, Fergie seems to have made his mind up.”
True, that. I’m mystified by Dimmy’s almost-total exclusion, too.
never understood why he wasn’t on the bench for the CL final – and his exclusion from the bench so often this season is also perplexing.
While I’m by-no-means a BerbaFan – I consider myself a BerbaSceptic, as opposed to being a BerbaHater – he does have lots to offer on the pitch – maybe not everything, but lots and his style is also different from the other three strikers so his marginalization is perplexing.
Is this another case of SAF cutting-off-his-nose-to-spite-his-face ? Anyone got a better explanation ?
I would love to see Raul board the plane and go to Qatar. I fail to see or even understand any reasoning behind signing him albeit on a free. Sir Alex will strengthen the midfield this summer, we are well covered up front.
Giggs12 I was referring to a different post mate not yours,the pecking order is Rooney then Danny/Hernandez,Berba doesn’t get a look in the few games he’s played has played well and scored goals but it doesn’t seem to matter
Why would the status quo change if Raul came in,so to sign he’d realize his role
@Giggs12Gerrard0
I’m not misinterpreting. I’m (facetiously) highighlighting the flaws in obsessing over how much you spend on a player. How ‘good’ or ‘world-class’ a player is is only one part of the market forces that determine a transfer fee.
Re your question… I don’t know. We will never fully know how close we’ve come to ‘top European signings’. But look at our squad. It’s one of the best two in the country (the other assembled hastily through oil money handouts), and – as I said – only the best club team of all time has held us back from three European titles in four years. I really don’t know how you can despair all that much at our transfer / squad-building policy.
Yes, a midfielder some time over the last couple of years might have been a good idea. But who would have predicted Fletcher’s illness? Hargreaves’s complete physical failure? Anderson’s injury problems? Imagine those three all fit and ready over the last few years … you can sprinkle a couple of FA cups and probably the league we lost by one point into the mix, if not necessarily the Champions Leagues. Is that really not good enough for you?
We have a squad in which players are – for the vast majority – happy with their roles, prominence and development. That’s more than can be said for any other team in the top half of our league, bar maybe Newcastle. Do not underestimate the capacity of an impulse ‘marquee’ signing undermining that.
Kanchelskis
My original point is that United can not compete financially, you said we spent 50 mil well in actual fact we have not even spent that over a three year period.
I dont think it takes 38 mil for a top class player, and i believe you can bring youth through who are world class but can you tell me the last world class player that we have brought through?
Can you tell me after Rooney who cost 28 mil what world class players we have bought? leading up to 2008 we were at our peak we had a team of world class players blended from home grown talents, experience and top top players. Since then we can be deluded to think we have not gon backwards in our team.
I love our team and back them more than anyone on here when people criticse performances but I am looking at this outside of individual performances.
I would love Raul…he has a tremendous experience and still a winning mentality…he let Real Madrid go because he couldn’t be regular starter, just like our Ginger Ninja decided to retire last season and look how he has come back. I must admit i was sceptical at first but……!
Also there’s Del Piero going for free as well and he’s still doing the business for Juventus…scoring goals and free kicks for fun and in important games too…he might be worth a punt…
Kanchelskis
I am probably steering off my initial posts and theories, i dont like debating finances as I dont pretend to know the full financial situation.
My agument is simply after 2008 we could and should have added, SAF remarkably has continued to defy and produce but in 2009/10/11/12 even though we have been in two finals have we looked like winning it again?
Barca tried to improve by bringing in Ibrahimovic by even selling Eto, it didnt work so they think twice at getting rid and bringing in David Villa.
We have a great squad and apart from Fletch illness we should have accounted for Hargreaves and Ando. Ando has been here four years and Hargreaves never really played after 08 final? So in that time what have we added in midfield? No one we brought Scholes out of retirement and thank the lord he has been as good as ever.
A Scholes screamer and a Rooney brace (One a cracker) would do just nicely on Sunday…..
UNITED
I can just touch/smell number 20
im so glad some of the people on this site are not in charge of our transfers!!
Not meant to piss on an excellent debate on transfers, players needed etc…… Just felt like sharing where my thoughts lay at the moment!
Cedars hi mate if Berba,Owen and Kiko leave Utd will need cover so Raul would be a option
wayne
I see where you’re coming from mate, however if the three you mentioned do all leave then why not go and bring in a young and upcoming striker who would develop and be happy at being number 4…Better still why not being in one of the young guns from the reserves?
Berbatov was always a gamble. FERGIE brought in to complete the jigsaw but it has failed to work and that’s the simple fact which FERGIE clearly agrees with.
However, the bulgarian has had his moments and carved out a decent career here, he’s the talented type to open up massive debates regarding his adaptation to manchester united.
His lovers will weep “Our dear beloved berbatov, thou has been treated unfairly” but a major sceptic of his like me questioned his addition from the start, although he’s very talented but he doesn’t have the belief and charisma to take over the mantle and be dominant at the theatre of dreams like eric cantona and many once and continue to do.
Berba and the french-man have similar playing style but eric had that sparkle, belief(like i’ve said before) and personality to be really fantastic, he was sole minded and had a mission to leave his mark.
In my opinion, i think berbatov questioned himself in terms of 1. living up to the price tag and 2. having the confidence to really jump from spurs to the big stage. He hasn’t failed badly but he hasn’t succeeded entirely either. He’s had great moments that will be stored in the memory but he hasn’t left any mark that will be sung in the terraces for years either and i’m sure when he leaves, he will feel regret but that’s life. He’s done as well as he can.
After saying all that though, i think FERGIE should have given him more games, his exemplary attitude should be commended.
@Giggs12Gerrard0
I agree about the midfield. I think too many risks were taken. Once it became obvious Hargreaves wasn’t going to make it, we should’ve splashed out (though not necessarily over £38m
) on a new midfielder. I am convinced (or maybe I’m just hoping) that Fergie will finally make a big move for the centre of the midfield this summer.
berbatov, uniteds 39th highest scorer of all time.
10th all time top scorer for united in the premier league.
48 goals in 82 (25) in prem.
56 goals in 108 (40) overall.
No doubt he didnt live up to his potential but not bad, not bad at all.
to b honest..i dont want raul to come to our cllub..v need 2 world class midfielders…if v hv to compete in europe again..like it or not..v simply dont stand a chance in europe..v lack technical n tactical ability…long way to go to really challenge in europe i believe
Cedars,never have a problem bringing young lads through already have that in Danny and Hernandez both are still learning be nice to also have a player with experience in all competitions
I have a feeling FERGIE is waiting for the likes of pogba, cleverly, petrucci and many other youths to step into the breach of the midfield. It’s a gamble but FERGIE likes to take risks if he sees talents brimming. Kanchelskis and co hoping for addition to midfield, brace yourselves for another frustrating summer.
Giggs12 – i genuinely don’t know how much FERGIE is given to strengthen the team, cynic in me says the glazers are being stingy fuckers and the 50million spree was used to mask their incompetence but the naive in me says FERGIE is persevering with youth and doesn’t want to splash for the sake of it. Buying won’t conquer Barca, philosophy and approach to europe would but that’s a long way off yet. we’re in transition and therefore should put aside any sense of wanting to go toe to toe with the spaniards. Gotta build this team towards the pinnacle gradually.
39Th goal-scorer of all time? i wonder if FERGIE reads the stats to judge why he should or shouldn’t put him in the team. Clutching at straws if you ask me, i don’t have to post enough about berbatov’s lack of a major impact at united, FERGIE does that by never trusting him in the big games and let’s be honest, he has more often than not flattered to deceive but like i said, he’s fantastically talented but that’s not enough at united.
Kanchelskis
After much debate (excellent i may add) your post at 15.02 was what i was trying to get at.
wayne
Fair point I suppose, just cannot see how much play time such a player would get though
I couldnt even name 39 strikers off the top of my head so that tells you it hasnt worked…….bring in Raul
@Giggs12Gerrard0
Glad we reached a compromise!
Cedars that was the point of my first post if he comes knowing apart from injuries his playing time will be ltd would be a good player to have on the bench with no downside as far as I can see. Much rather Berba stay but just don’t see that happening
If available,Nab him
Raul > Owen
Please dont dare compare them.
Love Raul!
If Michael Owen leaves the club then yeah sure we can get Raul in.
At 34 I believe Raul would accept being a squad player. That’s not the issue for me though. Would he adjust to the English style of play at his age? At least Larsson had spent years in the Scottish League. Raul has never played in England.
@denton
I love how you always explain how you’re a Berbasceptic and how that differentiates you from Berbalovers and Berbahaters.
Anyway, I’d agree with you that Berbatov should have featured more, even if it was just on the bench. As much as some want to disguise it as Berbaloving or Berbaweeping, the simple truth is that the other strikers could have benefited more from his presence. For Danny and Javier it would have been more competition to keep them on their toes. And for Rooney it would have been a chance to catch his breath (i.e. there was no reason for him to play against Bilbao).
Anyway, what’s done is done and hopefully it hasn’t been too costly as far as title #20 is concerned.
Raul is better than welbeck and Hernandez on current form and I wouldn’t advise him to come if he were made 4th choice he is too good for that.
Kanchelskis @ 14:39: “who would have predicted Fletcher’s illness? Hargreaves’s complete physical failure? Anderson’s injury problems? Imagine those three all fit and ready over the last few years … you can sprinkle a couple of FA cups and probably the league we lost by one point into the mix, if not necessarily the Champions Leagues. Is that really not good enough for you?”
Spot on.
Samuel @ 15:19: “I have a feeling FERGIE is waiting for the likes of pogba, cleverly, petrucci and many other youths to step into the breach of the midfield.”
I’d agree – we have no idea of what playerX’s “ceiling” is likely to be. Cases-in-point: DarrenFletcherinho and Jonny Evans. SAF sees these kids develop, monitors their progress, and, most importantly, gets to know them. In that regard, I reckon that Ravel Morrison’s “treachery” (or immaturity !) must have been a real downer for him but, having tried everything else, tough-love was the only recourse.
Jay @ 17:08: “Raul is better than welbeck and Hernandez on current form and I wouldn’t advise him to come if he were made 4th choice he is too good for that.”
The key word is “current” – will he be better than those guys next year or the year after ?
I completely agree with this article. I was thinking the same thing just a couple of days ago. With Owen and Berbatov likely to not be retained and Kiko not having developed as expected, that leaves us with three full-time strikers: Rooney, Welbeck and Chicharito. We definitely need a fourth striker and I think it must be someone with tremendous experience and proven quality: Raul and Ruud fit that description, as do some other strikers around Europe. In the two years that this “experienced” striker would play for United, Will Keane will have developed into something really special. It’s almost certain that WKeane will go on loan next season and I hope it is to a Premier League club with a shortage of strikers so that Will can get anything above 25 games, with at least 10 of them as starts.
I really hope Will Keane makes the grade at United. It would be awesome if our future strike-force was made up two lads who came up through the Academy: Welbeck-WKeane
Saad @ 18:27: “We definitely need a fourth striker”
Think outside the 4-4-2 box.
Assuming that you’re right and that Dimmy, LittleMikey and KikoTheKid all are goners – that leaves TheWayneBoy, DannyTheLad, and Chicharito. All three can play “lead-the-line”/”point of the attack” strikers but Chicharito isn’t suited to playing in the hole so there’s some flexibility in that group.
NOW, getting outside the 4-4-2 box gives other options – SirRyanGiggs, Nani, Ashley Young and even Anderson (!) can play as the withdrawn striker, in the hole, in case of emergencies. Maybe – ??? – this is also relevant in regards to the rumours about Nicolas Gaitan. Maybe SAF is looking to re-organize the way the team attacks.
In addition, of course, Will Keane looks like he has the right stuff and he might benefit more from training with the big boys and playing in the cup competitions rather than playing for one of the perpetual dead-men-walking like Wigan/Bolton/Blackburn – who knows ?
The point I want to make is that UTD’s squad is plenty deep enough to get by with just three “recognized strikers”.
If you’d ask me – and who does ? – I’d probably not be averse to keeping Dimmy around as “insurance” but it seems that SAF doesn’t think like that.
I think all of us are tired of Berbatov being the topic. Whilst there are haters and supporters, I believe the 1 thing all of us agree, is that he should have had more time, even if its only on the bench.
To give Pogba a place on the bench just to pacify him, at the expense of Berbatov, is just wrong, very very wrong. If Pogba does decide to go to Juventus, Berbatov of all people should be the first to give him a punch.
I think if Berbatov was happy not playing much, and took a pay cut they’d bite his hand off for him to stay. But he needs to play, he’s too young to play as little as he is. SAF is ruthless with the team and if he doesn’t think Berbs is brInging anything to the party then he won’t get played. But he is very understanding outside of this, over the years we have let lots of very talented squad players leave because they’re not playing a lot but have got the ability to contribute more elsewhere… P Nev, Butt, Cole, even Sheasy, Wes and Gibbo. I think Berba fits in to that, and that’s why he’s going.
Raul would be perfect if he accepts that he’s there to push the other strikers on, play a few games, come on a sub and so on…. which to be fair is what Micky hss done when he’s fit. Been a model professional and never once complained about being further down the line. Great impact from the bench too.
@Denton
I believe a fourth striker is absolutely necessary not because of the formation we play but simply based on experience. Injuries, drop in form and the inevitable fact that we’ll go deep in all three knock-out competitions means that we’re gonna need four strikers. Three strikers will leave us short-handed.
We want Raul!
Off the Raul topic for a bit, wondering if our other youth players will make the step up; Ollie Norwood,Matty James,Brady,Brown and Wooton?
Regards the Italians, we have a great young bunch coming along nicely – Fornasier & Massaccci apart from Petrucci.
On Raul topic, win-win. If United are indeed after some more Spanish players, then he would be a great assest in that aspect as well.
How good is Porto’s Carrico btw!
Raul is a Manc.