The Independent claims Fergie won’t be retiring yet.
EPL Index has the stats comparing this season with last.
The Telegraph talks about Paul Scholes playing on.
ManUtd.com has some news on our pre-season.
Dirty Tackle has the latest Dimitar Berbatov is… The Continental.
ESPN reports on Eden Hazard’s claims that he’ll be playing in blue next season.
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Suprise, Suprise Hazard doesn’t want to play for us. Same shit different toilet.
We need to be brave, and play Cleverely, Carrick, Jones, Anderson as the main miedfelders next season. I hope Scholes stays, but he must be used sparringly coz he will not go on forever.
Hazard is another mercenary! Will be treated like Adeabayor and all the other mercenaries that have been destroyed by City.
M’Vila to Arsenal for 22m euro.
but there’s no value of course.
I couldn’t care less about Hazard. I may be alone here, but I’d rather us get good players to fit into our team than mercenary superstar players that are as much of a distraction as they are match winners.
Just watching the season review from 92/93, can’t believe how young Giggsy was then. We missed out on Shearer that year and a lot of goals, didn’t hurt us too much did it!
Fuck I dig Ashley Young! What a player he is and what a signing by Fergie. He’s been great for us this season, has scored some vital goals too and I back the lad to have a massive impact for United over the next couple of years. Gwan lad!!!
@Shebangsthedrums : You are definitely not “alone here” with that sentiment
I wouldn’t say that we have to buy Hazard no matter what, but we have to strenghten our first XI.
no squadplayers.
Early CL exit, poor displays in EL showed that we lack damn quality in midfield to compete in europe.
That wasn’t a fucking coincidence.
Jaou Moutinho – you know it makes sense Fergie. Sign him up!!!
Apart from the usual hatred towards united that makes the dailyfail instruct their football writers to produce negative articles about united, i’ve yet to see any confirmation that pogba has definitely left, certainly not from united. He may well do but he’s taking a huge risk moving to italy. I still hold out hope that he will sign eventually because he has the complete all around game to be a part of the solution to United’s midfield, but he could leave and we move on.
The Telegraph says we’re known as nomoney.com
@Zelh: I would be happy if we got the following in order of priority:
1. Strong defensive/box-to-box midfielder – e.g. Martinez, Fellaini
2. Attacking midfielder – e.g. Kagawa (not impresses by Gaitan)
3. Left back – haven’t seen any that impress me AND are available. Baines would be fantastic. Why Fabio is going on loan is an utter mystery to me.
4. Striker – Ditto. Don’t see the any of the usual names like Cavani, Higuain, Llorente happening. Would much rather prefer Berba to stay and get way more chances than what he got this year.
Something tells me we are going to get 2, 3 and a winger.
I totally agree with your point, as I am sure, do most on here about needing top quality, and being proactive about it. But if reports are to be believed, we offered EH 130k/week. Shitty outed us by 30k – 160/week. What do you think would have happened if we matched that? That’s right – shitty would have upped their offer. That’s an unsustainable position for us to be in. So no, we make solid competitive offers – and if the player wants to join shitty after that, so be it. We need to conduct our business with even greater secrecy and cast the scouting net even wider. But no, we can’t get into a bidding war with the sheikh. That would be a waste of time.
alright rommers!
Any takers for Marounne Felliani could be just what we need in Midfield. I mean if he sorts out his barnet of course that fucking thing has birds flying in and out of it!
any else notice that fucking alcoholic wino twat stoney faced cunt Kelly Dogleash with his plastic Jacket at the cup final on Saturday what a KNACKER! youd think some one could point out to him to that he should wear a suit on Cup final day? Fucking strawy haired Scarecrow alco!
Fergie said about a week ago that we had struck a deal with the boys agent and it was up to Pogba to decide. To me that only means one thing. If a deal is struck with a players agent, that should be the end of it really. The player should sign. But when Fergie said the player has to decide where he wants to go and it was up to him, in my opinion he’s off no question about that. What’s the lad waiting for?? Something is def not right and to be honest I wouldn’t be surprised if he chose to leave United. Its taking too long. Piss take…
We have some outstanding talents in the reserves, they’ve made real impacts at that level. united can’t battle with city financially, time to give youth more of a chance. Enough with the cup games, play them amongst senior first team players and watch them blossom, let them be filled with confidence.
Pogba must ask Macheda about Italy!
Missing out on Hazard would be a blow, that kid can play, I would rather he played for us than against us, we need world class signings purely and simply because our midfield take away Carrick is shocking, I suppose we will have to wait the window out, But knowing our transfer strategy since Ronaldo went it will be unproven talent at stupid prices, I just hope said players become the supermen we are told they’ll become….
Thanks to the Glazers shackling the club in the debt cuffs we can’t compete in the market at the top end for both fees and wages, it does sicken me that we don’t get the best players and that we lose out to other teams who are inferior in stature to our club, I’d love to see United buy a player from Real or Barca that was genuine world class rather than us sell them players or be beaten by them in so called bidding wars….
I think a frustrating summer awaits…..
United can’t battle with most of the PL financially
beat me to it Jeet on Fellani! i think he is exactly what we need imo
When we are known as notalent.com then I will worry. Ridicule is part of the course for a successful club going through a difficult patch . The detractors love nothing more than the misfortune ( in their eyes) of the the club they can’t admire only envy and hate.
Alll so busy with their city love in , but is more to do with celebrating united being toppled ( in their opinions and deluded dreams) than wishing city good luck.
Once other teams besides arsenal start to have their transfer targets and players aggressively lured away , their tone may change.
What is this nonsense concerning Scholes?
“But manager Ferguson is desperate to convince the 37-year-old he can play beyond his current terms and stay until at least the end of the 2012-13 campaign – just like team-mate Ryan Giggs.”
Desperate to convince? Pathetic. Instead of looking ahead, he is “desperate” to keep a 37-year-old going for another full season. Some plan. Tells you volumes about the state the club is in.
Not everyone that chooses not to join us is a mercenary you know… Like it or not, we are going to have to work bloody hard to sign some of the better players out there. Our needs are quite clear, but I wouldn’t bet against us going into the season with the same set of midfielders as we have now with the addition of Kagawa.
Im glad some see 500m leaving the club as a bad patch!!!
Gaz – I’ve been banging on about Fellaini for some time now…don;t know if he can hack it in CL, but the boy’s a proper fighter, with just the right amount of nastiness in him.
Why would Fellaini come to United if he can play week in and out @ Everton? Its a no brainer really. Let’s be honest, the lad wouldn’t play every week here there’s no doubt about it. He’s at the stage in his career where all he wants is first team football and he’s getting it there @ Everton. The same can be said of Tim Cahill and Clint Dempsey…top players playing at alright clubs for one reason only – first team football.
Jeet- spot on re bidding war. One positive is, any player. Both united and city wish to sign that has the choice of red or blue and chides red, will do so in order to play for us not just the mine as they will alway offer more. Stick to traditions and core values else you lose yourself .
Gaz- morning. The look on KKK, stevie G and the gypsies face at final whistle… The gift that keeps on giving .
Pogba to Juve could be done soon, they have been officially crowned champions and are looking to rebuild the squad as well by adding a few young players. As for Utd, it seems that once again we’ll have to be patient with the transfers, knowing very well that SAF will only buy players at reasonable prices, even if they are worth more, and as such we must know the bitters will be lurking behind to snatch up the best ones once they are available on the market, even if eventually these players will only be benchwarmers there, or go on golf tours
It’s fine if scholes or Giggs want their new deal signed, just as long as they do not start games for united. They both have experience clearly but their impact has diminished and now it seems the team has to carry them through matches. The younger players at the club and any other addition FERGIE is willing to make need to step up their standards and imbed their quality on the team. Giggs and scholes should only have rare appearances, more of legends exhibition than united relying heavily on them. We need to move on.
Evening reds around the world,
heard Petro Dollar cunts are offering a quarter million bonus if they win the league by beating us!!
Money!!
they are fucking up big time!!
Roll on next season..
So City continue to scout our targets and counter offer? We need to scout on Mars otherwise down here, Vierra will be follows Ferguson like a lapdog!!
If we’d had money SAM, Giggs and Scholes would’ve been let out to grass, as good as they’ve been.
We don’t need a Fellaini – another squad player. We need a fucking world beater and that’s a fact! Some1 who can play and deserve to play in the team every fucking week. A world class player who can add that something we are lacking at the minute. Eg a yaya, a silva, a schweinsteiger, a kaka or a Wesley etc Its about time we get a marquee signing lads! Its been too long. Its all very well for SAF to say we don’t buy world class players, we develop them BUT now is the time to get that fucking cheque book out Fergie and go for it! ‘Just do it’!!!!
Sadly Fellaini would improve our team
Fellaini is good for everton’s style of play. They do knock the ball long and with his height and physic, they’re able to use his strength to their advantage but he has never convinced me with his ability on the ball, his passing range or technical ability. i’m not sure he’ll thrive under the intense gaze of oldtrafford but he’s a good player as he showed against united a week ago, his height and strength are his main attributes but probably not one to improve united further.
@Red Billy
That was fucking quality and the Buck Toothed grand wizard shouting “one” at the linesman what the fuck was that!! hilarious!
As fellani with Fletch still out i think its what we need a battler in the middle of the park a box to box player i think he would play more games then you think, with Clevz and Andos injuries. i would add Kagawa and a striker with Vida back and an extra year for De Gea, Jones etc.. we will be back stronger! remember a lot of our best Signings have been players within our own league
Bruce,Pallister,Cantona,Wazza,Yorkie,Cole,Irwin,Sheringham,Robbo, granted there have been a few outside the league but i would be sure our best have been from within the premier league/first division!
Sam, sadly Fellaini would improve the current United side, that’s a sign of where we are now.
http://www.epltalk.com/manchester-united-home-shirt-for-2012-13-season-new-leaked-photo-39563
i quite like the look of our new kit for next season. thought??
mattbw7 – you need cheering up, I fear it’s not likely for your disillusionment appears complete.
I hope that you have every reason to feel good about United as soon as possible.
In the meantime:
Always look on the blight side of life
Always look on the blight side of life
Some things in life are bad, they can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse
When you’re chewing on life’s gristle, just grumble jeer or whistle
This will help you always feel the best
Always look on the blight side of life
Always look on the shite side of life
If life seems jolly rotten, there’s something you’ve forgotten
And that’s to moan and groan and whine and whinge
When you’re feeling in the dumps, don’t be silly, chumps
Just curse our blips and bellyache, that’s the thing
So, always look on the shite side til death
Carry on until you draw your terminal breath
Oh I think QPR will get a result on Sunday Albert and we’ll be champions but that won’t detract from the financial rape of the club. well it might for a bit, but not a lot.
Mattbw7 – i guess people want a midfielders that can stamp their authority on the pitch and that may be a reason why they take keen interest in the belgian. Fellaini won’t be physically bullied, he won’t be aerially dominated either but he hasn’t got that creative stardust, that playmaking skills and spark that united require. He’s simply not convincing with the ball for me, he won’t improve on what we already have but a good player that’s fully built for the rigors of premier league tempo football but just not in United’s system or what is needed to climb up the ladder.
In my humble opinion, seeing as my four targets for the close season were:
1. Javi Martinez
2. Eden Hazard
3. Edison Cavani
4. Gregory Van der Wiel…..
Losing out on Hazard (and especially to the scum) is a bit of a hefty blow already!
I am no looking forward to another summer of exciting rumours and underwhelming reality.
that cheered me up pav, jeez what a laugh!
mattbw7 – would you prefer it if QPR didn’t get a result on Sunday?
Lol. Talk of QPR pulling anything off on Sunday is laughable. I’d say there’s more of a chance of us both winning and us making up the goal difference.
Bring in Shinji Kagawa and Tioté
We need a general in midfield. I miss you Roy keane
Look at who Wigan have beaten recently , United , Arsenal Liverpool ,hammered Newcastle and there is not one so called star in there team .What makes a team of nobodies out play all these big team by the way they have out played teams with skill and freedom in there football . I think because they are young and hungrier than the rest .Martinez is a great young Manager . When Sir Alex retires I hope the job is given to Martinez because if he can do that with Wigan can you Imagine what he could do at United , because I think Sunderland and Stoke have a higher net spend over the last five year than United that’s fucking scarey . Good luck on Sunday you never know its a funny old game
Pogba has gone, done, no surprise, enjoy the fascism sunshine, but we must be concerned, having matched the Juve offer, that he looked elsewhere and saw brighter optimism.
Kagawa is 100% coming in, done, good signing.
Hazard can feast on the delights of Shekh’s crusty balloon knot, he will not be coming, I’m none too bothered.
TC, get fit for next year kid.
Fellaini is not what we need in my opinion, not by a long shot.
Fucks sake.
Fergie has lost it – keeping giggs and scholes another year – total legends – only keeps transition going into it’s 4th season
I just can’t see SAF really wanting Hazard same type as Clevs – and I know I want Clevs in my team. given Clevs stays fit all of next season, he will be ace. This years problem has been Ando and Fletcher and in all honesty, how can people blame SAF for not having midfielders, when 2 starters have been out close to all of the season. I agree we need to strengthen in the middle of the park and I have been calling for it, but lets not blame SAF, his plan was wrecked from the get.go.
Like some people say, we need the box-2-box. Carrick and Scholes are sitters – we need more movement – I would want a Ramirez type of player -and SAF will find his man without a bidding war with City.
I actually agree we need a true left winger, havent seen Gaitan at all, would love Bale, I really would – he would be outstanding in United. Van Velzen is a bit young, but my – what a prospect (maybe we just wait for him).
SAF’s pickle is our youth, they are 2 years to young and he cannot go out a bring in a lot of players, because when the youth come back in a years time from loans, they will be ready to play (Keane, Petrucci, Cofie, Tunni, Fryers and Pogba) – talk about the spine of a winning team.
People just need to chill, so much doom and gloom – United will be fine. We have SAF and Gill, best tandem in the world – kid-u-not.
United remain successful because we are always in transition.
reason – the power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgments by a process of logic
prejudice – preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience
judgmental – having or displaying an excessively critical point of view
- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
albatross – a lovely seabird with beautiful plumage
Tonybee Watson — handsome bastard with a 10″ willy (he’s a fisherman!)
http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/cga0316l.jpg
Folks, I think we need to make a distinction. IMO (and I think many on here would agree with me), we need two players in midfield.
1. More attacking oriented player, who would have a free role in the final third. Someone like Silva. Key skills – technique, passing, dribbling, vision. And energy. Not necessarily tackling, out of the world strength. Names which have been spoken of here like Kaka, Kagawa, Hazard all fit the bill. I believe most people mean this type of player when they talk of “creative midfielders”, “stardust”, etc. To an extent Cleverly might fill this role, but he’s probably too inexperienced to take on the mantle fulltime, and personally, I’m not yet convinced he’s on the same level as some of the “stardust” names being mentioned. Just as I’m not convinced of his defensive abilities.
2. More defensive oriented midfielder to fill the gap left by Fletch. Box to box midfielder, but primary responsibilities are defensive in nature. Skills required – tough tackling, extremely high energy. Strong on the ball – not bullied easily. Decent attacking talent, decent shooting, decent passing – particularly short passing. Mind you – decent will do, doesn’t need to be world class. Few players in this category are mentioned by football fans as “stardust”. Alonso, Busquets, Carrick, Fletcher are seldom mentioned as “stardust”. Shweinsteiger is the only “stardust”, “worldclass complete midfielder” I can think of in this category. Very few others – and most of them are not available. In any case, saying that we need somebody like “Kaka, Wesley, Yaya or Schweinsteiger” is wrong – because the first 2 are very different players from the second two.
It is for the second role that I mention Fellaini. For all the talk of technique and skills, most solid European teams still have 1 of these players – Khedira, Busquets and so on. United had Keane to give Scholes company. Milan had Gattuso. Thinking that we don’t need such a player, or thinking that having Kagawa and Hazard is better than, say Kagawa and Fellaini, is what I call the “Makelele Fallacy”. I don’t think that M’Villa is much better than Fellaini – at least he’s hardly “stardust” or “world class”.
Lastly, United has always been about the team being greater than the sum of the parts. Like I said, I don’t know if Fellaini will cut it in Europe, but we could do a damned sight worse, if you ask me.
@ClaytonBlackmoresTan: Pogba has been mysteriously silent, but if he goes, a large part of the deal will be due to Raiola, despite the announcement of a deal being settled with the agent. Raiola was the agent, and continues to be a long time friend of Nedved – now Director of Football (or equivalent) with Juve.
Would give me immense joy if we hammer them in the CL.
Is it true Dempsey is on SAF’s radar?
I’ve heard null about that, Void.
Perhaps you can fill us in?
Whispers in the dark, nothing more.
Who gives a FUCK about Pogba? Seriously whats he done? We lost Hughesy, Ince, Kanchelskis, Ronnie, Becks etc. Why is anyone even bothered? Mail reporting Hazard s wage demands stalled City deal. Ha. Its becoming a fucking joke and I am getting very dissolusioned with Football in the main.
As regards transfers I won’t believe a word till players are signed , sealed and delivered.
mattbw – Good god mate you are a barrel of laughs. You used to be a top poster on here. Cheer up man.
So Fellaini has a good game against United and suddenly we NEED him?
Voice of reason – Oh Fergie has lost it. Yes never heard that one before. He has forgotton more about football than you will ever learn.
Albert Ross says:
mattbw7 – would you prefer it if QPR didn’t get a result on Sunday?
You really are not worth the bother are you, if you can’t be arsed to read my earlier post on that very topic then you can’t be trusted to discuss the implications of the debt or Fergusons complicity in it, what’s the point, you only see it as an attack on everything Ferguson has done, something which I’m able to separate. When you’ve grown up enough come back and we’ll have a decent conversation about it
James Lawton: Time for Alex Ferguson to walk away from Manchester United?
No chance, but this will be his toughest test.
http://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/james-lawton-time-for-alex-ferguson-to-walk-away-from-manchester-united-no-chance-but-this-will-be-his-toughest-test-3102694.html
Well done James, you had me piqued for a second there.
the independent claiming fergie wont retire yet?!?!? Well no shit sherlock when has fergie ever run away from a challenge
would mind seeing dempsey at united think hes a class act, although dont think it will happen hes 28 or 29 i think & similar to berba & we all know what happened there
Kagawa coming in doesn’t surprise me in the least, we are currently unique in our fan base in asia and the money it brings in so signing the best young asian player out there makes sense if we want to keep our advantage in that market
also saw some fans on here the past few days claiming pogba is off to juve, have united confirmed this?? untill they do i believe nothing from the fucking bullshitting press
I’m sick of hearing this crap about we are alot better than we were last year as we have more points…the difference is we won the league last year and also are away record was awful..5 wins I think away from home….we need quality players in @ least 3….who should we get rid of…..mmm to b honest I wouldn’t get rid of any1….may e park who I love and Owen for obvious reasons to free up squad space…the 1 thing I’m worried about is with berbarov leavin is fergie gona bring in a replacement…he seems to have a thing for Owen who has hardly kicked a ball in 2 years…wouldn’t be surprised if we bring no strikers in, a decent centre midfielder who fergie will prob push out wide and play him out of position..and 1 or 2 young players…I just hope it’s a good transfer window with quality players comin in and the bulk of the squad stayin together aswell
mattbw7
i will grow up immediately, if you wish. My question was actually a gentle continuance of your debate. That you are so vexed by it says nothing about me.
Never mind anyway about anything from my childhood. I have grown up.
Initiate a decent conversation, let’s talk.
Hi King Eric, Well I’ve not changed, it’s pretty clear the 500m leached out of the club is of little concern to quite a few of our fans, this time bomb is ticking and unless the Glazers sell it will only ratchet up.
Just think 500m spent on either players, stadium or Carrington………..
@ albert ross wow been thinking about that song alot recently
‘Life’s a piece of shit, when you look at it,
just remember to laugh & dance & sing’
mattbw – It will certainly make for an interesting summer as Fergie HAS to bring in a bit of quality pal.
Jeet- I agree with you but at the same time wonder why its okay to pay £19million for 19 year old Jonesy on whatever wage a week and not okay to just say to Pogba fine, here’s your dollar.
Raiola is a class A cunt though and the Juve link is definitely there for all to see and the cash he’ll make off the back of it is also a fucking joke so you’re totally right with your appraisal.
I also realise we’ve got Petrucci, Tunni, Cole et al but it concerns me that we let him go- even though we’ve missed bigger fish in the past, this rankles with me regarding the principal and the message it sends out.
To be honest, if anyone has seen Mats Daehli in our youth team then the blow of other departures is lessened- the boy is like a mini Ginger Prince, he’s fantastic. I hope he gets the game time because apparently one of Pogba’s gripes was lack of game time, as Giles Oakley pointed out on RoM; there has been a slow integration of the youth lately when the first team hasn’t performed. SAF must know what he’s doing and I’m hoping for a lot more creativity next season.
Its ridiculous with this points total we may well not win the league, ludicrous. The fact that the Gaffer has stayed next to and almost beat (still might) Citeh this year is honestly- Cunting astonishing. If he is given the right tools and believes in the kids then next year could be an absolute joy.
We lick our wounds and come back stronger, its what we do.
CBT – Hello mate. Matts Dahli is quality pal and like you say a little gem of a footballer. Fuck it. I would take a year or two of fuck all if it means giving these kids a chance.
Its odd. The season started off so well. We had pace, interchanging positions, one and two touch football with Clevs in the side linking up with Danny etc. Since Norwich at home it just seemed to revert to type again. The slow, predictable, pedestrian football.
To say Utd can’t compete with most of the PL financially is just a stupid statement
Ther’s only 2 teams the Utd won’t compete with because the owners are prepared to lose millions every year that’s Cheldea and City in fact there’s only 4 teams in Europe that Utd won’t compete with add Barca and Real apart from that Utd compete with everyone
As far as i know Utd keep the wage bill at 50% of revenue which seems more than reasonable to me and the only 2 teams that pay higher wages again are Chelsea and City,the fucking nonsense written on the blog,i don’t see any problem with Utd not competing with crazy.
I’d like to point out for the 100th time Utd spent 50mill last summer and was also in for WS and Nasri so were prepared to spend close to a 100mill how is that not competing
I’m quite sure the Euro crisis will catch up with the Spanish clubs and the fair play rules will catch up with City and Chelsea who lost 175mill and 67mill last year respectively
Please if you want to go negative please just stop talking shit and have facts to back up what is being said
King Eric, for that to happen I reckon funds will need to be raised, I can’t see any money coming from Florida, now who’s a saleable asset!
mattbw – Rooney pal. I just have a feeling his greed will wnat to see him move to City.
Will get slagged for that Rooney comment and I like the lad, just do not trust him. He has looked disinterested of late.
Yes Matthew, we’re skipping down the street, and singing songs at the thought of being in huge debt! 500 million taken out of the club is what every United fan wanted to happen!
@King Eric: How are you, pal? We’ve been through the Fellaini discussion earlier, havent we? Don’t think we NEED him, but he could do a job in filling the Fletcher shaped hole in opur squad, dont you think?
Ahh well, if we can get someone like Schweinsteiger, then hell – no, but I think there’s a bigger chance of QPR beating shitty this weekend than The Beast turning it on in a United shirt.
Out of interest, who would you have in the squad as a MidfieldMonster? I know you rate Tunni – is he going to be ready this coming season? Or it’s going to take another year?
City will bid for one if not both of RVP and Rooney.
Norm187 – did you notice that I flipped the song to promote negativity in troubled times?
Always look on the shite/blight not bright/right side of life.
To each his own, I guess. Some seem to boom only doom and gloom.
Others only see the glitter, and miss the truth.
I think it’s best to fall somewhere in between.
WillieRedNut says:
Yes Matthew, we’re skipping down the street, and singing songs at the thought of being in huge debt! 500 million taken out of the club is what every United fan wanted to happen!
Yes you might try reading what I actually posted.
I preferred this blog during the early years of the Ottomans, posters like Mehmed the 2nd and Suleiman the Magnificent were just awesome
United can and do compete in every way with the Premier League teams, including financially.
In fact, it is city, chelsea and even QPR who cannot compete financially.
They require a massive cash injection in order to compete.
Someone with a billion to throw into their pot.
We are so fucking competitive that taking hundreds of millions out doesn’t stop us competing.
I did read it. And responded. “It’s pretty clear the 500m leeched out of the club is of little concern to quite a few of our fans”
so we might not win a trophy this season, 5th time in 25 years, fucking spoilt. if it was up to the fans on here we would have had snijder and his been shit this season and that would have somehow been fergies fault too or probably berbas fault. fucking get behind the team, we pushed the most expensive squad in the world this far with all our injuries and lack of talent, this is city at thier peak, they will hit rock bottom soon, just like chelsea have, utd have a very young team, still learning and the many injuries we suffered, which cannot be forseen.
support your team no matter what.
King Eric,
Easy Geez, I read you loud and clear- its such a fucking difficult scenario as we’re still in for the title but even our most ardent and rose-tinted will concede that we’ve looked jaded as fuck. The start of the season was all zipping passing and one-touch and now this.
The stick has started from oppo fans to me already but its nothing I haven’t seen a thousand times before. I remember the days of being a cup team. I remember losing at home to Palace and THAT banner which makes me know for a fact we’re a million miles away from that shite state of affairs.
As I said to my mate who was on the verge of JT blubber-fest after the council house debacle: We’ll be cheering again soon enough, I have no doubt. We need a kick in the teeth to build again. do you think Chrissy Smalls will get done like that again? No chance. Jonesy will have grown so much this season. I fucking love Dave in the sticks, he is absolute class and when he lerns that if he isn’t going to catch the ball from a cross then he should stay on his line, we’ll be more than fine, he’s a superb keeper.
Re Wazza- I know what you mean- if that was your namesake he’d be taking the game by the scruff and saying “fucking take zat”, at the same time- if the Roo was the head against City, then the body of our team starved him of oxygen so much that I’m not surprised he looked like a mardy git. Couple that with the fact that if he was to go- he could be replaced.
Ahhh, so many questions, with the answers laying with the man who comes from the banks of the Clyde- I’m certain he’ll not disappoint.
At least that CUNT John Terry won’t ever get to play in a CL winning team. Cold comfort, to the point of sheltering underneath a tissue in a snow-storm, but right now, i’ll take it.
From the banks of the River Irrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrwell….
To be perfectly honest the most laughable comment I read on here is ‘Fergie has lost it and should go’
Can’t we spare the great man the decency of walking away on his own terms?
I never said I knew more than fergie – he is nearly 71 – there are those on here who think he can go forever – he can’t and should nt – I for one am eternally grateful but he should not rage at the dying of the light but accept it and tell others to do the same – we need fresh ideas and thinking now – we have been poor in relative terms for 3 years – only a relative decline in prem league has masked it – fergie s age is showing in many ways – he does not need to prove anything else – let a new man freshen things
WillieRedNut says:
I did read it. And responded. “It’s pretty clear the 500m leeched out of the club is of little concern to quite a few of our fans”
Yes and you responded with “500 million taken out of the club is what every United fan wanted to happen!” note the word every thereby putting a completely misleading slant on what I said.
CedarsDevil says:
To be perfectly honest the most laughable comment I read on here is ‘Fergie has lost it and should go’
Can’t we spare the great man the decency of walking away on his own terms?
Hello Cedars from a football perspective you have my vote, however that’s not to say he shouldn’t be questioned about other aspects of what has gone on at the club in recent years that will in the eyes of many (not all Williered) fans taint his legacy.
I know what you’re trying infer? No slant on anything.
@ Jeet
very insightful comments and i totally agree on what you have said, if Berba moves on which looks likely we will need another striker and i still think we need a Left Back to cover and add pressure to Evra on his position!
@Voice of reason
If Fergie even had the slightest inkling that his impaired mental faculties were in any way getting in the way of success at Manchester United Football Club, he’d be the first to say he should be out of the door, and he would leave. You really think he’s too self-obsessed to leave when the time is right? You think he’d see us suffer as he goes senile, all in the name of pride?
Do me a favour.
This is the current debt of Real and Barca
Their reputation off the pitch also suffered a hit recently in the media when it was “revealed” that these great teams were built on a mountain of debt (€590 million at Real Madrid and €578 million at Barcelona), raising questions as to whether this was, to coin a phrase, “financial fair play.”
I seriously doubt that there is anyone on RoM who believes that people live forever.
Using the fact that all people die to end a manager’s reign is unreasonable.
Hardly the voice of reason.
WillieRedNut says:
I know what you’re trying infer? No slant on anything.
Seeing as I’ve been entirely open to the point of upsetting a few on here, what was I alluding to?
People degenerate, let’s change the Manager.
Now, you’re being a fool Matt? Tainted in what aspect? I asked you last week, to provide any evidence of Fergie’s wrong doing. If Sir Alex has profited from any of United’s transfers, it would taint his legacy. Don’t try to be smart. Last time I checked, that’s a crime? Was he interviewed by the police?
Matt
Perhaps that is where you and I would have to disagree mate…….To me its not just about the football as far as Sir Alex is concerned but everything else he has done to the club and what he has stood up for over the years.
I may be blinded by my love for him but I do not believe for one minute that he has done anything wrong, despite some allegations as such with regards to certain transfers etc. Had those stories had any credibility than I am sure the United ‘loving’ press would have had a field day with it.
Is he beyond criticism with regards to team selections or wrong tactics at times? Certainly not but that is where it stops as far as I am concerned. Until such time that there is concrete evidence of wrong doings than my position will never change
Just on FFP Wayne, I think we’ll find out in the summer if City give a fuck about it, there’s talk of tieing UEFA’s lawyers in knots over it, finding alternative ways to pay players away from the club ie sponsors, though that’s hardly new as Newcastle Brown Ale paid the majority of Shearers wages at NUFC though not for this reason. Citys last wage bill as around 120% of turnover and that’s before you factor transfer fees in, it will be an interesting few months.
Hes a stubborn old bugger who has said many times he does not want to retire – his criteria is physical health as he puts it
Tell me one man who is sharper at 70 than at
65 – he may believe he is sharp but the errors have been creeping in for a while in selections and subs – the everton and city fiascos being fresh – he does not have to be senile to begin to be slowing down markedly
Down the King! Kill the King! Off with his head! Off with our Head!
… ever the voice of treason.
@Voice of reason
“Tell me one man who is sharper at 70 than at 65″
1. Show me one man who is sharper at 65 than at 60. Should he have left at 60?
2. Show me one man who is more experienced at 65 than at 70.
City wasn’t a fiasco. We lost an away game to the incumbent champions by a single goal. Fiasco?
Everton was a fiasco. But was Ferguson to blame as much as the defenders who completely switched off for the last 10 minutes?
Pre season in Norway sounds great. Hopefully the team won’t travel a lot this summer. I know it does wonders commercially if we travel to the States or Asia, but it also fucks up our pre season training.
Everton dominated from 70 mins and no subs were made which was astonishing when Paul scholes had run out of gas
Th
City was lost before kick off when the team was picked every red I know knows this because they felt it themselves at about 7pm when they saw the line up
Costas
Brilliant news indeed mate…….Hope we get to play with Molde and have a close look at our future manager!
70 is very different to 60. – ask ant 70 year old
WillieRedNut so you don’t think he has something to answer for over the coolmore affair and you’re entirely happy with the Bebe transfer fee and what went on, nothing seems a bit dodgy, nothing at all, I did post a link to various news papers informing you of the police in portugal investigating, now allthough they said there no plans to interview anyone at UTD at this stage (AT THIS STAGE) are you not in the least uncomfortable that out of the 7m fee less than 4m went to the club, either the agent stiffed us and for such we should fuck him off, or people at UTD know more than has been released.
I’ll give you a different view City legally gave Nasris agent a 2 mill commission as a percentage of his transfer fee it’s much less than what happened with Bebe, so why don’t the club or the agent make a statement, either way it’s 3mill and for what?
@Voice of reason
Yeh, let’s go to City (W17D1 in last 18 at home at the time) and play expansively, shall we? With two 30+ midfielders up against Yaya Toure. Great plan.
Nugget.
Btw we are the incumbent champions until Sunday at least yet we picked a team like we were scared
Here is your answer lads a quote from Fergie
“We will try and look at younger players with the potential to develop at the club. That is what we are good at.
@Cedars
And maybe convince him to return from next season as Fergie’s assistant.
Better than playing 4 30 plus midfielders including one who had lost 9 of his last 11 starts – if you can defend that selection it shows how blinded you are
mattbw7 hi mate no one is happy with the debt but the clubs who outspend Utd do it by going into debt year after year as i posted above Real and Barca have a mountain of debt as do Chelsea and City.I was under the impression Utds debt was coming down and my point has always been anyone paying 2bill unless mega rich will have to go into debt also
Haven’t kept up on City trying to fight the fair play rules just read last week any team showing losses of 38mill a year in consecutive years won’t be allowed to compete in Europe. Which would obviously rule out City and Chelsea,Roman loses millions every year
With revised life expectancies, and lifelong dietary improvements, most men are as competent at 70 as they were at 60, especially if they have remained in a competitive environment.
Plus, they have 10 years experience as a wise man added to their armoury.
Very, very valuable.
It is accurate to say that the large majority of top businessmen that are still highly active at work at the age of 60, will not retire or lose faculty before reaching 80. The large majority.
Those that do weaken, usually fall quickly, for pride has been crucial to their success.
Gone to pasture as quick as a flash, no long public decline destroying a life’s work.
The moment that decides Sir Alex’s departure is not likely to come on the field.
One sad day, he will be unable to grasp a situation, and will feel indecisive.
The next day he will speak to Cathy, and then Sir Bobby.
I see no reason to believe that will happen in this decade.
Jeez, Dazbomber – I was hoping we had enough of those? Here’s to hoping…
Can the current squad win the European cup no is the answer, without investment in world class players we will just be a team in a domestic struggle for honours, oh wait there the reserves and youth teams will ride to the rescue not, we have been lucky this season to stay in touch at the top, one thing that proves this team ill equipped to win big is the fact it throws away an 8 point lead, I remember the board telling Rooney of world class arrivals in October ’10, two years later both he and us fans await that to become fact, unless big names arrive then how do we compete take our midfield, I know some people here cant knock a player, but honestly Cleverley, Anderson are not what I think good enough, and it’s time to let Giggs and Scholes retire and not play mind games with them to prolong careers that no longer shine as once did, it’s time to man up my fellow United fans and be honest only the best will do now, otherwise other clubs will buy them and we will forever be hoping for a miracle and how often do they happen, why shouldn’t United be a team of Jedi’s rather than expectant Padewan…..
Matt – I said the whole coolmore mafia business was handled badly? And I include Fergie in that. That’s still a long way from profiting the clubs money. One thing you have to ask yourself, why wasn’t this an issue before the bustup over the horse? I’d question their motives. Just for the record though, if Fergie was ever found to be taking money that rightly his, it would without doubt taint his legacy. I can’t be more clear than that. As for the Bebe BS? Lets wait and see what comes of it. I’ll admit it was a strange transfer. As far as i know, the police haven’t contacted United yet.
How many billioniares out there? Why isnt there any intrested in buying the greatest, most popular (globally), most succesfull (in EPL), most profitable, most gloumourous club in the whole world. If I was a billionaire I would look nowhere else….. but then …. beggars would ride.
This is part of an article getting back to my point that the gravy days for Real and Barca might becoming to a end
Much of this debt has been made possible by the cosy relationships the clubs enjoy with their respective local banking communities. Barcelona’s credit line runs through Catalan banks, while Real’s comes via the Castilian financial industry with which their current president, construction magnate Florentino Perez, has strong links. In better economic times, loans made to pay transfer fees and footballers’ salaries may have raised eyebrows, but with Spain’s banking system facing $240bn of so-called ‘problematic exposure’ to the property and construction industries and the country’s looming debt crisis regarded by many as the next big tsunami to hit world markets, fans of Barcelona and Real Madrid may be well-advised to presently relish what could come to be seen as a golden, pre-austerity era.
Here you go Willie
http://twitpic.com/99dqwj/full
When Fergie addressed the crowd on Sunday, I was a little nervous. Because thats how I think he’ll eventually announce his retirement.
No warning this time.
“It’s been great but I’m going. This is the new manager”.
The time is obviously very close.
We all know he can’t go on for ever.
Let’s just pray United make the right appointment when the time comes.
We all know what happened the last time a great United manager retired.
The hazard comments are a lie. Just YESTERDAY he said both red and blue fit him more. It was a quote fabricated by the Mirror.
zhukov43 – you remember the board telling Rooney of world class arrivals in October ’10?
I certainly don’t.
Playing mind games with Giggs and Scholes to prolong careers?
You watch too many movies. Have you seen “Men Who Stare At Goats” recently?
Cleverley and Anderson not good enough? Do you mean they have too many injuries?
I don’t think their ability is in question. It is Anderson’s injury-littered inconsistencies that concern, not his ability. In Cleverley’s case, it is absurd to ignore his obvious quality, nurtured so well at United. Every step up that he has taken, from kid to loan to First team has pleased and thrilled us.
Who are the Jedi’s again? Is that Basketball?
bayoRed would need to be a multi billionaire and then some will cost 2bill just to buy the club which more than likely mean oil money
Hi Wayne
No one can be sure if UTDs debt is coming down, the club said it had paid down the PIK debt but that in itself was strange as there was no benefit to early settlement such as it was structured and as Uniteds parent company is registered in Denver the Glazers are under no obligation to inform. We still see north of 40 mill leaving the club every year in interest and one off fees and all the while the debt doesn’t reduce, of course just a typical business strategy as has oft been said but at some point that debt has to be repaid and as for the IPO funny how that rears it’s head at ST renewal time.
My old man is a very fit 73 year old but openly admits he could not do the job he did anymore – now he is no fergie but he’s a smart fella – I just think decline has set in and it can only get worse – no one wants a cloughie style end – now we are not going to end up like forest but I don’t see a champions league win (though u can get lucky) and the transition to a new team is a long way off – we have far too few players in their peak age of top class – 24-30 – maybe 4? I dont think he can achieve what he wants quickly and age will overtake him – better to focus on his successor
BayoRed- United is not for sale, they can not afford to sell it we are their income their meal ticket it’s like renting out a house there is an income every month.
With regard to loaning out players, I think Tom is an example of the benefits of that.
Here I quote a Sunderland fan, viewing this weekend’s return of their loans from United.
“Any visit of Manchester United these days inevitably brings to mind the returns of our former loan stars Danny Welbeck and Johnny Evans. Both were great for us and not only have they retained affection for us, but Sunderland fans still think a great deal of them. How great would it have been if we’d been able to get them two? Not that it was ever going to happen.”
“To me, the two are a perfect illustration of how well the loan system can ideally work. Too often, loans are seen as something of a patchwork manoeuvre, a make-do or mend effort. But in both their cases, it proved to be a win-win-win deal.”
“Sunderland got two great players put at their disposal, the players themselves got the first-team match appearance necessary for them to fulfil their potential and Man United had players returned to them who were far better footballers than the ones they originally lent out.”
I fucking hate that blue scum. Type in council house Manchester in google maps, see what comes up
haha
Dazbomber i can’t find how much the Glaziers are taking out the club each year could you send me the meal ticket link.thanks mate
Everything is for sale if someone offered 2bill Glaziers would sell
Voice of reason – then your dad is a good example here.
He openly admits he could not do the job he did anymore.
Now he is no Fergie but he’s a smart fella you say, as is Fergie.
Fergie will also openly admit when he cannot do the job anymore.
Matt – I’ m aware of the Bebe investigation.
PeteyRedRed – fuck me,must be a United fan who set up the grid ref. Pity its not the co ordinates for a sunshine bomb hahahaha
The way Manchester Utd is run our billionare sugar daddy would get at least some returns on his investment … rather than Shitty where its all invest, invest, invest in bench warmers and golf players! I would buy utd any day. Might not even win the league this season!
But damn these ABU why didnt they buy Blackburn or Pompey why did it have to be Shitty!!!! Oh why!! This was always about hurting us, hope the oil dries up!
Redbilly- seems even the good blokes google are reds
Albert Ross, you seem like you want a squad littered with the aged, unfit and the just not good enough, time for change it’s very good if done well, United have to buy the best like I say, lets have a team of marauding Jedi who take the risks going forward and attain legendary status, and when in your opinion will United win the European cup again, 3 times is just not good enough is it, I want United to not sit back and play with fear, that is so anti the philosophy of our great club…. And the board sure did make such assurances to Rooney….
Council House, Manchester- ha ha ha ha!!! Just did it, brilliant.
What’s a dipper’s favourite Stones song? Take a guess…
Give it a week, Wee Wes rumours will be in full swing again
Like i said..Eriksen is a player for us, tjat is for sure…maybe more then Hazard….Dutch players play good in every league.
WillieRedNut says:
Matt – I’ m aware of the Bebe investigation.
And you have no misgivings over the money?
Albert – he can still do a job – after all he has a lot if help – but can he do the job as well as he used to? Who will tell him – phelan? Martin ferguson? A lot of people’s jobs are tied to fergies – he openly admits at the time of the glazer takeover that walking away was never an option due to his loyalty to his staff ? My point is go before decline becomes obvious rather than wait til it does – let’s face it for all the talk and no distractions the league has been thrown away and we threatened nothing in the cups
And Martinez…
SAF
”Players are being offered stupid money, the type of sums that are hard to turn down.
“We can make a player a very good offer, but unless he wants to come to United for football reasons he is not going to say no to stupid money from somewhere else.”
Is this about Hazard???
Wayne- last year there were offers of over a billion they did not sell
bayoRed the Arabs have a fountain of oil money,what they’ve spent on City is pocket change to them.If you had a big ego and wanted to make a splash which team would you pick to go head to head with,the biggest team in the world right.Just makes City’s profile that much bigger
zhukov43
Where did I say anything like that? You have no idea what I want.
You said we are using mind-games on our players, I laughed that off.
You called Cleverley and Anderson not good enough, I disagree.
Tom shows great talent and potential. Anderson’s concerns are with injury and consistency.
There is no confirmation that the board told Rooney of world class arrivals in October ’10.
Try find some corroboration for that. Not speculation.
When was that said BayoRed?
Voice of reason are you buying that reason as to why he didn’t oppose the Glazers?
Peteyredred_ At least the search engine is accurate mate. The pearl of Ashton New Rd.
wayne says:
bayoRed the Arabs have a fountain of oil money,what they’ve spent on City is pocket change to them.
Spot on, City was bought from the profits made when they invested in Barclays in the banking crisis (Barclays never went to the govt for funds) and sold their interest making around £600 million, small beer.
Wayne- Every possibility City was purchased because of residing in the same city as United.
I think it’s one of a number of reasons but I do believe him hence I worry that it’s. a reason to keep going – let’s face it a new man will bring his own staff – I have never liked the fact his brother is chief scout for exactly this reason -,as well as patchy results over last few years if truth be told.
Jeet
I cannot figure it out! Do tell
Matt – Not yet. Has this investigation been concluded?
Albert Ross
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/may/05/manchester-united-spending-power
seems to speak volumes for me…
Ha ha, did the council house search! Funny as fuck
Jeet- ?
Dazbomber the clubs worth 2bill,forbes just rated them at $2.3bill if your house is worth 100k and someone offered 50k would you sell it?
Yes mate the club is in debt but the value has tripled under the Glaziers and sponsership has gone through the roof,if the Glaziers were bleeding the club dry this wouldn’t be happening.
Everyone gets on the Glaziers back for using Utd as a cash cow and refusing Sir Alex transfer funds just never seen any facts on either
Well, it should actually be a nightmare song for them, but I was just listening to 19th Nervous Breakdown
Sorry – bad joke, I know – Samuel might have to say something about that …
Jeet
Ha ha, not sure if I laughed more at the choice of song which is very appropriate or our ever nervous Sammy Sam Samuel questioning the humor!!
Voice of reason
In all likelihood, Sir Alex is more able to do the job now than he has ever been.
Reinventing himself and the team has never been an issue.
You say “Who will tell him” implying that he will be stumbling blindly.
That is unreasonable. He will know long before that.
Your point that SAF should “go before decline becomes obvious rather than wait til it does”
is completely irrational, and only has emotional value.
5 or even 10 years after SAF has gone other Premiership Clubs will still try to get him.
His value at 80 will be more than the value of 90% of First division managers in the world.
He’s not sitting on a piece of cardboard staring down a steep hill. Neither are we.
WillieRedNut says:
Matt – Not yet. Has this investigation been concluded?
I wasn’t asking just whether the investigation had been concluded, you can be evasive if you want, so I’ll spell it out again, we “paid” 7mill for Bebe, the selling club say they received circa 4mill so even if the commissions paid where legal (and that has to be established and why there is an investigation) are you entirely happy that a payment of 40% of the fee was made for a player that no one at UTD had scouted, you don’t see anything untoward in it and aren’t worried we continue to use this agent, I guess I have my answer, unless of course you care to elaborate.
Just seen Hazard in my local chippy. He was ordering red snapper so I think he’s gonna sign for us….. Scratch that, it’s not him, it was my Uncle Alan.. Uncanny resemblance.
If Sir Alex told me that birds actually shag bees I would believe him
John Terry’s favourite: As tears go by
Roman A: I can’t get no satisfaction
Tevez: Turd on the run
Fergie: Time is on my side
Love how EVEN our own fans are questioning Fergie’s mental health etc. Been down that path FAR too many times to even doubt him. He is still in great shape mentally and physically.
Clayton Blackmores Tan – Top post. Spot on.
Jeet – Hello pal. Scweinsteiger will NEVER leave Munich mate.
For some reason every time Hazard is mentioned my mind goes back to the movie Dukes of Hazard….
Them babes in their skimpy shorts were to die for
Oh christ the Bebe deal has been talked about to death . I myself said summat was amiss but why are we even talking about it now, 2 years on. Water under the bridge. Fuck all investigations will be done. I don’t think for one minute we even paid 7 million for him. I do not believe a word the fucking press say. Full of shit. Simple as.
Mike
Your uncle is Alan Shearer? Bloody hell, what a nightmare of a life you’ve had mate
The accounts say we did King Eric, anyhoo nice to know you’re ok with circa 3mill leaving the club for a fucking tramp.
Cedars – Ha. Boss Hogg was quality. Loved the Dukes of Hazard.
Eden Hazard is another cunt pimping himself to anyone that will listen. Some on here are desperate for BIG names but what can you do if they are greedy bastards? Match City’s wages? Never gonna happen, nor should it. Fuck these rentboy cunts. Like Kings said to me yesterday no doubt “Sneijder the fat cunt will be whoring himself for a move to United this summer”. Fuck em all.
Gonna be a looooong summer on here . As long as TheFly is here with his sound hundred per cent reliable information we wi be fine!
matt – Where did I say I was OK with it? Show me . I said myself a year or so ago the deal was dodgy. What the fuck can I do about it? Or you? Don’t fund the Glazers then fella. Oh but you do so stop moaning.
@mattbw7 says:
“3mill leaving the club for a fucking tramp.”
_________________________________________________________________________
You stay classy, sunshine.
Fraud goes undetected, until it’s detected. Then it’s usually obvious.
With the world’s media glaring in at the Bebe deal, and law-enforcement agencies, and every ABU crying foul, you’d think that there would have found something illegal if it was there.
Also, if Sir Alex wanted to use the a deal as a cover, why highlight that deal by not watching him play?Why use a homeless kid that would grab the world’s attention, when there are other deals that wouldn’t be in the spotlight?
It’s a load of bollocks.
King Eric
Its obvious you know fuck all mate…….Some of RoM’s finest have Fergie figured out on every level…Tactics, team selection, transfers etc, makes us mere mortals appear daft as fuck….
Thank the heavens those stupid cunts have no say at what goes on at our club!
King Eric, I was there before the Glazers and I’ll be there after but go ahead with that argument if you want, I’m ready to engage. As for Bebe I’m glad you think passage of time is reason enough to not re-visit the issue!!! We still own him you know that don’t you?
Cedars – Ha. I know mate its pathetic. There are issues that need dealing with in certain areas but none of us on here could do a better job although you would think some can. Its the same every fucking summer isn’t it pal!
Matt – As you are intent on thinking Fergie has done something untoward, why should I bother? If the club, or Fergie have something to answer for, I’m sure the appropriate people will want a word.
if the cunt wants to play just for the money, let him be…. lets see how much he plays for the cocksuckers… but i would hav loved him at united… but then i would hav loved ronny to stay… i would hav loved becks to say…. shot happens…. i still believe city will fuck up… just cuz they r city n we r united…
Why am I unable to post??? I swear I’m no troll!
I give up!
matt – I haven’t got the time to get into a discussion with you. All I am saying is you do nowt but moan about the Glazers yet spend hundreds a year. If you don’t like it don’t renew thats all I am saying. Where has all this come from? You seemed fine with everything 12 months ago. Disappear for a year then come back arguing with everyone.
Just one question i have to leave but if Real and Barca are reaching debts of 600mill,City and Chelsea god knows what their at why does everyone bang on about Utds debt,at this point in time probably the least of all 4,just never understood that
matt – Again where did I say I was fine with it? I just said there is fuck all we can do about it is there.
Yes thanks Eric, instead of inventing a history for myself try answering the points.
Willie, haven’t you got an opinion?
@PetyRed
by Pat McGatt. Published Tue 08 May 2012 14:45 on click=manchester.com
King Eric you said it was 2 years ago so we should just forget about it.
matt – Answer what fucking points? I have said the deal was dodgy, thats all we can assume. What is there to answer pal? God this is hard work. Why don’t you answer my point. If you are THAT unhappy with the Club why fork out? Oh and I wasn’t “inventing” a history. Saying used to like your posts then last week you come on looking for an argument with any cunt.
Ha. Christ. I did not say we should forget about it. I said what CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?
@wayne
Cos there’s no evidence of repayment of those debts impeding transfer activity at those clubs.
For me, I’m willing to give the club one more chance to prove that our spending power isn’t limited. Crazy as it may sound, having Fletch and Anderson fit all season (let alone Cleverley) would clearly have seen us over the line in the league, and taken us much further in Europe and probably the FA Cup. Then there wouldn’t be as much brow-beating.
But we can no longer afford to gamble on the fitness of those two, especially with the rise of City. If money is not spend on the CM area this summer, then something is wrong.
link to that story just refusing to come on. Scott must be censoring.
Willie has no opinion, he’s just a robot
King Eric
Brace yourself for a LONG summer mate…….Every fucking know it all dick will show up with a wish list!!
The reason people bang on about UTDs debts is because the exist only to service the cost of the Glazers buying the club, while the debt accumulated by those other clubs has at least gone on either the team or infrastructure.
Can you imagine where we’d be if that 500m had been spent on the team, the stadium or Carrington, not that I’m advocating debt as Gill said “debt is the road to ruin”
Eden Hazard’s nickname is ‘the iron man’ for he has played 100 matches in a row (either starting or as a sub) for Lille, so it’s really sad to (probably) miss out on such a talent.
Kagawa would be a real asset though as I saw him play on many occasions for Borussia Dortmund and he is fast, skilful and clever.
Matt – An opinion on what? Surely we have to wait for any investigation to finish, before making any conclusions? We don’t know whats happened to that money. You’re very eager to jump the gun, which makes me suspicious of your intentions.
King Eric says:
Oh christ the Bebe deal has been talked about to death . I myself said summat was amiss but why are we even talking about it now, 2 years on. Water under the bridge. Fuck all investigations will be done. I don’t think for one minute we even paid 7 million for him. I do not believe a word the fucking press say. Full of shit. Simple as.
So you what you meant was the opposite of what you wrote and as for my posts from a year ago, you must have me mistaken for another.
Willie
Remember that time we swam the Caspian Sea together? Them Beluga caviar dishes were out of this world
matt – Right I am off as gotta go get the young un but all I am saying is there is nowt we can do about it is there. Or what do you suggest? No haven’t got you confused for someone else at all.
WillieRedNut says:
Matt – An opinion on what? Surely we have to wait for any investigation to finish, before making any conclusions? We don’t know whats happened to that money. You’re very eager to jump the gun, which makes me suspicious of your intentions.
I didn’t say a conclusion I asked for your opinion, the president of the selling club says in print he only received circa 4mill of the money, United say (and it’s the accounts) we paid 7mill, all to the agent and you have no opinion on it at all?
Why have I mistaken you for another? Why would I say I enjoyed your posts? To massage your ego or simply because I made it up and don’t even remember you? Neither pal.
matt – Maybe there are more pressing issues than a couple of million on Bebe , thats why nobody is that concerned about talking about it. Like winning our title back, getting a midfielder, replacing Berbatov. They are more pressing to me. Laters.
Does the panel think inlight of some strange performances in Europe and some lack luster performance’s in the league namely Blackburn at home and Wigan away that the players have got wind that Sir Alex may be going at the end of the season because some thing doesn’t add up.
mattbw7 yes mate but both clubs owe 600mill don’t they have interest to pay on those loans? and what has Real got out of all the overspending how many trohies have been won over the last 7 yrs?
Matt you only take the one negative side like most Anti’s you never talk about increased revenue and value of the club,what was Utds sponsership deals when the Glaziers took over?now it’s over a 100mill a year and is this 500mill a accurate figure?.
What honestly really drives me batty anyone buying Utd would more than likely go into debt so where’s the difference? just new owners no one would have a clue about.You have a solution to remove the Glaziers and guarantee the club will be debt free i’m all ears mate
King Eric says:
Why have I mistaken you for another? Why would I say I enjoyed your posts? To massage your ego or simply because I made it up and don’t even remember you? Neither pal.
Because my posts have been both abrasive and upbeat depending on the subject etc, so you would’ve read similar stuff from me before, that’s all.
For all my griping today, I’m still positive about Sunday, why not be?
Cedars heard yesterday by 2020 will have Robot hookers,talk about sloppy seconds
@Dazbomber
There’s no logic in that. There are lacklustre performances in every season. We’re gonna finish with a points total that would win us the league in the vast majority of PL seasons. I doubt you were speculating about Fergie’s future every time we won the league with fewer points than we’ll have come 5pm Sunday.
While our CM area clearly needs work, City’s strength has really skewed a lot of people’s opinions about our performances this season.
That was my opinion. Not interested in what any president has to say. You started off with the coolmore mafia issue, then moved on to the Bebe transfer. You’ve got an agenda. What is it Matt?
wayne
As long as they are properly oiled I do not give a fuck!!
mattbw7
If money needed to be laundered, why chose the homeless boy to do it?
High profile story, world-wide. A player that even non-football families read about, remember, want to follow and hear more about. Why not choose a run-of-the-mill deal?
Yes Wayne the 500 mill is accurate, that much is published fact, what is alarming that while revenues and operating profits have grown, once the interest payments and charges are factored in we lose money every year.
So the biggest club in the world (by revenue) isn’t in profit, there are two solutions, one is a sugar daddy, unlikely. The other is eventual administration, which if handled properly would see the club survive.
matt – Fair enough. Leave it there pal. MUST go now. Funnily enough I am not positive about Sunday. City will bang in 4 or 5 against those. Only saving grace is they NEED ONE point to stay up. Park the bus Sparky!
Albert Ross says:
mattbw7
If money needed to be laundered, why chose the homeless boy to do it?
High profile story, world-wide. A player that even non-football families read about, remember, want to follow and hear more about. Why not choose a run-of-the-mill deal?
I didn’t say money had been laundered, is not enough that 3 million was paid as commission on a transfer totalling 7 million and the bloke will never be United standard if he played till the 200th anniversary of the club and we haven’t got him off the books yet.
zhukov43 – sorry so long to reply. That article does nothing for me, sorry mate.
It is a contrived scenario which relies on numerous suppositions, melded to suit a story-line.
This’ll make you laugh, United got Rovers relegated, well sort of, it seems beating us at OT saved Keanes job when some at the club wanted him out and the owners were not convinced of the need to invest in the playing staff for the same reason. Pity really as we got a 7000 allocation for the away game.
mattbw7
So are you not alleging impropriety by Sir Alex, merely poor judgement of the player?
matt administration? the clubs value keeps going up every year and it doesn’t lose money every year that’s just not true mate.Last time i saw anything on the debt its was around 350mill and the clubs value is 2bill administration just doesn’t come into the equation.You didn’t answer my question on Real and Barca don’t those clubs have to service the 600mill debt as well,don’t see doom and gloom and admininistration talks about those clubs,what’s the difference?
Wouldn’t mind seeing the link to the 500mill if it was published and you have it.thanks
Blame CQ for Bebe’s purchase.
Bebe was a charity case! To him in person and to Portuguese Football. No other way Glazers were going to sanction our noble cause. We got 80mil from a Portuguese player, we got nani ando, give back!
it’s difficult to comment on Barca and Real as I don’t their position but taking your word for it, whether RM have won trophies or not isn’t the point, they’ve spent that money on the club, the same with Barca, the difference is clear, our debt exist purely to allow the Glazers to own us, we get no benefit from it, it’s only SAFs genius that’s kept us competitive, now imagine if we’d accumulated that debt as a result of team or stadium improvements, some Arsenal fans complain about their lack of trophies in recent years, yet it’s clear their debt was incurred by the building of the Emirates and as such it’s moving the club forward, their debt is being paid down ours is being serviced as for the 2 billion valuation can you point me in that direction or link it up cheers.
Albert Ross says:
mattbw7
So are you not alleging impropriety by Sir Alex, merely poor judgement of the player?
Well how he could make a judgement on a player he didn’t see play………… and there is either impropriety or stupidity over the missing 3 million, no?
mattbw7
Which one is it, to your mind?
We don’t need Hazard, he’s a cunt, once he said at french TV he wanted to go to spurs and now Chelshit or shitty !!!!!!Just another mercenary player !!!! We’ll never die !!!!!
matt this is 2012 list
Forbes rich list
•1. Manchester United – $2.235bn (£1.396bn)
•2. Real Madrid – $1.877bn (£1.17bn)
•3. Barcelona – $1.307bn (£816m)
•4. Arsenal – $1.292bn (£807m)
•5. Bayern Munich – $1.235bn (£770m)
•6. AC Milan – $989m (£615m)
•7. Chelsea – $761m (£473m)
•8. Liverpool – $619m (£385m)
•9. Juventus – $591m (£367m)
•10. Schalke 04 – $587m (£365m)
•11. Tottenham Hotspur
Impropriety, I don’t for one minute think United are that stupid, either the 3 mill was payment for services rendered on other deals or forthcoming deals (a sweetener) or a nice little carve up, either way United just need to tell us the price they negotiated with the club, the amount they handed over and the reason for the difference if there’s nothing untoward, why not do it.
cheers wayne so we’re worth £1.4 billion give or take with around what 400 mill of debt, the Glazers bought us for what £750 mill so if they’re just rapacious business men, why not sell and cream a tidy profit, I’ve no doubt Uniteds value has increased in the last 7 years however it’s one thing to see that valuation and another to achieve that at sale, interesting none the less though.
Another point it raises with me, if I accept the £1.4 billion and as I don’t have evidence to the contrary isn’t odd that we’re still paying relatively high interest rates, surely the LTV ratio would mean you could refinance the debt with lower interest payments.
matt my posts at 14.06 and 14.39 are taken from recent articles about both clubs
matt you keep going on about the Glaziers but i’ll get back to my point most buyers will end up having debt to pay,City and Chelsea just lose millions every year and really mate don’t see your point on Barca or Real bottomline both clubs owe 600mill to the banks which still has to be paid of and interest added so how are either in a better position than Utd?
Agree with LUHG. Hazard hasn’t a scooby doo what club he wants to sign for. Kagawa looks a better bet.
matt no mate i’m sure it was 750mill dollars so you’d have to use the 2.3 bill,value of the club has almost tripled since Glaziers took over,think the pound valuation was 550mill,just saying admin is not even in the equation.
mattbw7
There are hundreds of far more pertinent questions that the owners don’t have to answer.
How is any of the Bebe financial issue relevant to us?
Does it matter whether Jack or Jill got the cash, as long as there’s no impropriety?
Why do we have to know who got what amount for what service?
It’s about as relevant as which stationer is supplying pencils to Old Trafford.
If United are going to flex their financial muscles and make a statement in the transfer market then
the Glazers need to list the club on the stock market, that way the debt will be cleared and we can start spending serious money on quality players SAF has been crying out for.
I done a link to this website that gives an interesting statistical insight to how United have performed
this season against last. You can also compare ours against city’s stats. What i can say is that they are very close.
http://www.eplindex.com/14318/how-does-your-team-compare-last-season-opta-stats.html
Albert Ross says:
United remain successful because we are always in transition.
reason – the power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgments by a process of logic
prejudice – preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience
judgmental – having or displaying an excessively critical point of view
- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
albatross – a lovely seabird with beautiful plumage…..
but wanders across the oceans all on his own and is a clumsy fucker on land….
Albert Ross says:
Tonybee Watson — handsome bastard with a 10″ willy (he’s a fisherman!)
got asked once to give a bird 10″ and to make her bleed………sigh……..
had to fuck her 3 times and punch her on the fucking nose….
I’m sure Hazzard will be wearing blue next season but will he make that much difference?
There’s only two players on the planet that could dramatically improve that team and Hazzard isn’t one of them.
Albert Ross says:
mattbw7
There are hundreds of far more pertinent questions that the owners don’t have to answer.
How is any of the Bebe financial issue relevant to us?
Does it matter whether Jack or Jill got the cash, as long as there’s no impropriety?
Why do we have to know who got what amount for what service?
It’s about as relevant as which stationer is supplying pencils to Old Trafford.
You’re kidding right?
mattbw7 – Is it important who gets the pencil money, as long as there’s no impropriety?
I don’t care who got the pencil money. I don’t care who got the Bebe money.
I’m not kidding.
TonyBee – when does she get the balance of the 10 inches?
Well shouldn’t you. if pencil seller says it’s 40p and you getting charged 70p for no good reason, why wouldn’t you just pay the 40p. you’d gladly hand over the 70p? Or put it another way your analogy doesn’t work as agents fees are not a part of stationary supplies, now shall we discuss how the selling club was asking for and got circa 4mill, United paid out 7mill and you think that doesn’t point to something being amiss, as you say why pick on this to do a dirty deed which leads to, why don’t the selling club, the buying club and the agent make statements about it. The reason I’m curious is because it points to something that I’m not sure is in the best interests of the club and that is something it’s employees from Gill to Ferguson to the cleaner have a contractual obligation for.
mattbw7
Using your numbers and assumptions on who got what, there is 3 million unaccounted for.
So what?
If it bought hot-dogs, or wallpaper, or was lost, the reason doesn’t affect us.
As long as nothing illegal or just plain crooked is happening.
Unless you think that there is impropriety, which you don’t.
There is no need for joint statements, or any statement. How is it relevant? It’s not.
I red that Barca is selling half of squad…only seven players are not for sale. Maybe there is our chance to buy some good playes.
We said money cant buy success…but it looks like Citeh bought it….jerks!
Not sure if these stats are included above but in todays Guardian it states since 2008 Shitty have spent £80m on central midfielders and UTD have spent fuck all!!
Doesnt that just some up the financial constraints we are working in with the fucking Glazers taking out over £500m from the club to pay off the debt! I am losing patience with SAF and Gill constantly saying there is no problem with the Glazers financial model – if so how is it on net transfer spend we have spent less than Stoke, Villa and Sunderland over the last 5 years. I want honesty from the management team about our situation then I can accept that we are looking to recruit from Crewe rather than Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Paris St Germain!!
It is becoming clear that asking Giggsy to play on until he is 40 and bringing the Ginger Ninja out of retirement (and possibly extending his contract for a further year) is really a sticking plaster job esentially exploiting the fans loyalty to cover up that we cannot compete in the transfer market with other top PL clubs, never mind Europes elite. That may well be true but we are the fucking richest club in the world (according to Forbes) which ought to give us some leverage.
I have 2 further concerns about the finanacial situation and the succession plan for a new manager.
1) SAF has said he will stay for a further 2/3 years – will world class players sign for us knowing the current manager may be gone 2 years into their contract
2) How can we attract a world class manager when there are such financial limits on our transfer budget
As a mate of mine said today lets just recruit David Moyes as we are turning into the new Everton! Or will the Venkys buy us now that Blackburn have been relegated!
But Albert, I do.
Who said 7mill was paid for someone?
Uniteds accounts.
I thought Lindegaard was 6 mill.
Mabey we could get Torres of Chelsea , would b a good buy for us with berba going..
Re: Stats, its obvious why we’re behind on GD even though we played better than last year – Ando and Tom needed to be fit all season and they weren’t. If we had them available both would’ve had opportunity to play 40+ games like Jones. Fergie knew about Fletcher’s condition so he was relying on Ando and Tom to shore up midfield. His game plan was sound imo. Would we be starting a 70+ year old midfield partnership if we had two young skillful alternatives on the bench? Who do you think took apart Arsenal? The fact Scholes made more appearances than either player SINCE christmas says it all really. Sods Law.
If we were miles behind City fair enough, but to run them this close while missing 3 first team midfielders is hard to take. They wouldn’t be joint top if Yaya alone was missing for most of their season, never mind another two starters.
But QPR could yet make a mockery of their arrogance. Heres hoping we beat Sunderland and Sparky works his magic – Im not exactly a Barton admirer but thank fuck he’s starting for them, Cissie too. They are fighting for survival and a draw would do them nicely even if Bolton beat Stoke.
Portuguese police to question Manchester United over Bébé transfer
Police in Portugal are planning to question Manchester United about the club’s €9m (£7.2m) signing of the striker Bébé from the Portuguese club Vitória Guimarães, as part of their criminal investigation into the deal.
The judicial police national unit for combating corruption, part of the Justice Ministry based in Lisbon, is investigating the 11 August, 2010 transfer, by which United paid that fee for a player whose only competitive experience was a single season in the Portuguese third division.
Bébé’s agent, appointed days before he moved to United, was Jorge Mendes, also agent to Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani and Anderson, who moved from Portuguese clubs to Old Trafford in previous seasons. Of the €9m United paid to Vitória for Bébé, Mendes was paid 40%, €3.6m (£2.89m). It was reported in Vitória’s subsequent general meeting that Mendes’s €3.6m comprised a 10% agent’s commission, €900,000, and the further €2.7m because Mendes had also just acquired 30% of Bébé’s “economic rights”, part-ownership of the player.
Sir Alex Ferguson said at the time that Bébé was the only player he had signed in his long managerial career without having watched him at all first, even on video. United said Bébé had been recommended by Carlos Queiroz, coach of the Portugal national team, formerly Ferguson’s assistant at Old Trafford.
On 10 April, the police anti-corruption unit in Lisbon wrote to Bébé’s former agent, Gonçalo Reis, asking him to attend at their headquarters and as a witness to provide his account of what happened in the deal. The letter informed Reis that a processo-crime – literally, criminal proceedings – “relate to the transfer of the professional football player Tiago Manuel Dias Correia (known as ‘Bébé’) from Vit. Guimarães to Manchester United (England).”
The police unit declined to officially confirm to the Guardian the scope of their inquiries or what precise aspects of the transfer they are investigating. Reis has complained formally to the Portuguese Football Federation that Mendes improperly poached Bébé from him before very quickly sealing the United move, in breach of Fifa’s regulations governing the conduct of agents.
Reis told the Guardian that on 23 April he was interviewed for around three hours by a police inspector, José Cunha Ribeiro, at the anti-corruption unit’s offices. Reis said the police asked him in detail about every aspect of the transfer, and told him they plan to ask United for their version of the deal. Subsequently Reis emailed several documents to the inspector, including his contract to represent Bébé.
A spokesman for United said: “Clearly if the police ask us for information, we will co-operate with them. Nobody is suggesting that we have done anything wrong.”
Mendes and his agency Gestifute did not respond to the Guardian’s questions about the police investigation. They have previously denied poaching Bébé from Reis. In his complaint to the PFF, Reis claims he had an exclusive contract to represent Bébé as the player’s agent for two years from 25 August 2009. Bébé, who had a poor, deprived childhood, his parents having abandoned him, was still living in a care home when he played for Estrela da Amadora, in Portugal’s semi-professional third division, in 2009-10.
He played one full season as a striker for Estrela, then after they failed to pay him because the club was in financial difficulties, Reis negotiated the termination of the player’s contract and Bébé became a free agent. He moved to Vitória, a first division club, in June 2010, with Reis brokering the terms of the contract. For a time Bébé lived in Reis’s house as he came to terms with making his way into professional football. He played in just six pre-season friendlies for Vitória when a story appeared in Marca, the Spanish football newspaper, that Real Madrid, managed by José Mourinho, a client of Mendes, were suddenly interested in signing him. United have always said they then moved rapidly to sign him, on the recommendation of Queiroz, who is also represented by Mendes.
According to Reis’s official complaint, on 9 August, 2010 he received a letter from Bébé, dated 5 August, in which Bébé sacked Reis as his agent. Two days later, on 11 August, Bébé was transferred to United, who paid €9m to Guimarães for him, and gave the player a three-year full professional contract on wages Reis believes are €63,000 a month, net of tax. It emerged subsequently that Mendes had become the agent and owner of 30% of Bébé’s economic rights, too, and made €3.6m from the United deal.
From the Guardian
Bébé started only three matches for Manchester United and is currently on loan at Besiktas.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s transfer policy at Manchester United is attracting increased scrutiny from fans for its glaring contrast with huge-spending rivals Manchester City, and the signing of Bébé, for €9m (£7.2m) in August 2010 becomes no less curious with the passage of time. Now the deal, in which Bébé’s just-appointed agent, Jorge Mendes, was paid €3.6m (£2.89m) from the €9m fee, is subject to a criminal investigation in Portugal by the judicial police’s national unit for combating corruption.
The Lisbon-based anti-corruption unit wrote last month to Bébé’s former agent, Gonçalo Reis, who has now formally complained to Fifa that Mendes improperly poached Bébé from him just before Mendes concluded the lucrative deal with United. The police asked Reis to recount as a witness his relationship with Bébé and all that happened just before Bébé terminated his contract with him and signed up with Mendes. The police letter to Reis, from the inspector, José Cunha Ribeiro, leading the investigation, informed Reis that a processo-crime – criminal proceedings – “relate to the transfer of the professional football player Tiago Manuel Dias Correia (known as ‘Bébé’) from Vit. Guimarães to Manchester United (England)”.
Reis told the Guardian that when he presented himself at the anti-corruption unit’s headquarters on 23 April, he was interviewed for around three hours about every aspect of his dealings with Bébé and how his contract with the player was terminated.
Reis said Inspector Ribeiro told him the police are planning to question United about their version of the deal.
A spokesman for United said: “Clearly if the police ask us for information, we will co-operate with them. Nobody is suggesting that we have done anything wrong.”
The police unit declined to officially confirm to the Guardian the scope of their inquiries or what precise aspects of the transfer they are investigating.
The season before the Bébé signing, 2009-10, United had lost out, by one point, to Chelsea for the Premier League title, and were eliminated by Bayern Munich in the European Champions League quarter-finals. To then strengthen his squad, Ferguson signed just three young players that summer: the promising Mexican centre-forward, Javier Hernández, elegant defender Chris Smalling – and Bébé. Also a forward, Bébé’s only competitive football had been the single 2009-10 season in the Portuguese third division. When United paid that fee for him, he had signed for Vitória, a Portuguese first division club, for whom he had played six pre-season friendlies.
Ferguson had for some time complained that the transfer market was over-priced and there were no United-quality players available at the right value. He and United’s chief executive, David Gill, have always denied United’s modesty in the transfer market, despite the club’s massive income, £286m in 2009-10, was due to the debts loaded on to the club by the Glazer family’s 2005 takeover, which have since cost United £500m in interest, fees and finance charges.
That same summer, 2010, City, backed by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan of Abu Dhabi, bought Yaya Touré, who in City’s crucial 1-0 derby victory on 30 April this season, dominated the 37-year-old returnee from retirement, Paul Scholes, in midfield. City also spent lavishly on recruiting David Silva, James Milner, Mario Balotelli and Jérôme Boateng, who left after a season for Bayern Munich (at a profit to City). The combined outlay on those five players was £110m.
United have always said they moved rapidly to conclude the deal to sign Bébé, and that he was the only player Ferguson has signed in his epic managerial career whom he had not watched at all before. United said the manager signed Bébé following a recommendation by Carlos Queiroz, Ferguson’s former assistant, then the coach of Portugal’s national team. Queiroz’s agent, too, was Mendes. Bébé had moved to Mendes’s company, Gestifute, only days before Mendes concluded the lucrative move to United.
Reis represented Bébé when he played for Estrela da Amadora in the semi-professional Portuguese third division, while Bébé was still living in a care home. In June 2010, Reis brokered the deal for Bébé to move to Vitória. He had played only pre-season friendlies when Marca, the Spanish football newspaper, splashed with the news that Real Madrid, where another Mendes client, José Mourinho, had become manager, were keen on Bébé. United signed the player for €9m on 11 August, two days after Reis received a letter dated 5 August from Bébé, sacking Reis as his agent. It was later reported at Vitória’s general meeting that Mendes had been paid 10% agent’s commission, and had also bought, presumably very shortly before, 30% of the player’s “economic rights” for an undisclosed amount, which earned him a further €2.7m when United signed Bébé.
Reis’s complaint, sent to Fifa this week, asks that Mendes be sanctioned for representing Bébé in the move to United, while the player had an existing contract for Reis to represent him. Reis refers to Fifa’s code governing the conduct of licensed football agents, which prohibits agents from contacting players who have existing agreements with other agents, and from “any action that could entice clients away from other parties”.
Reis argues in his complaint that a €9m transfer “is not likely to be negotiated and finalised overnight” and that “evidence shows that transfers of this nature and financial significance are the result of intense negotiations … sometimes taking several weeks to be successfully concluded. Consequently one can conclude on the balance of probabilities that the transfer took at least several days to be prepared before it was finally announced.”
Reis asked Fifa to rule in the case because Bébé’s move was an international transfer between a Portuguese club, Vitória, and United, and he calls for Mendes’s agent’s licence to be withdrawn, “or other appropriate sanction”.
United said at the time, and maintain, that the decision to sign Bébé was made, and the deal concluded, very quickly, and that it did not take weeks to agree. Mendes’s agency, Gestifute, based in Porto, did not respond to detailed questions from the Guardian about the police investigation or Reis’s complaint. The agency has previously denied poaching Bébé from Reis or breaching Fifa’s agents’ regulations.
Mendes himself had a meteoric rise in the football agency business to the point where he represented Mourinho and most of the best Portuguese players who attracted profitable moves abroad. He previously sealed the deals for United to sign the prodigy Cristiano Ronaldo from Sporting Lisbon in August 2003 for £12m, then in July 2007, in the early years of the Glazers’ ownership, Nani, for £25.5m, also from Sporting Lisbon, and Brazil’s Anderson, from Porto, for £27m.
Ferguson noticeably restrained his spending since the £71m spent in that summer of 2007, and continued to complain about inflation in the transfer market, despite United making a £68m profit when they sold Ronaldo to Real Madrid for £80m in July 2009. Nevertheless, Ferguson found €9m to sign Bébé in a deal with the same agent, for a player with barely any professional experience. Bébé then started just three cup matches for United last season, before being loaned to the Turkish side Besiktas last summer, where he has been out injured.
As dusk beckons for Ferguson’s great tenure, Bébé is a signing which continues to stand out like a beacon