Karim Benzema

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I've changed my stance slightly regarding him... he is probably one of the handful of players that could bring that X factor that Ronaldo had. The only question is the price, but bar Hargreaves (who, without injury problems, is still a quality player), Fergie has usually gotten them right with his big signings. The only question is, do we leave Berbatov on the bench or put Rooney on the left?

...............Benzema...............
Rooney.....Berbatov......Valencia/Park

I was looking forward to seeing Berbatov playing in front of Rooney next season, but if Benzema comes then no doubt he would be our first choice #9.
Not for Benzema, Eto'o, Torres, Tevez or all the tea in China would I want to see Rooney banished to the left wing next season. It would be a big mistake.
 
I agree, regardless of who we sign I don't want to see Rooney sacrificed out on the left wing. He's too honest of a player for his own good at times and spends too much of this time in the defensive third.

Thats said, I wouldn't mind Benzema, all be it I've only seen him 4 or 5 times. He did stand out and look to have something about him.
 
Exclusive: Lyon President Aulas: We Want To Build Around Karim Benzema

Olympique Lyonnais president Jean-Michel Aulas has confirmed the club’s intention to bolster their attacking options next season; however, he has indicated that it is his desire to keep hold of star man Karim Benzema, who has been linked to numerous European heavyweights in the recent past.

When quizzed by Goal.com about Lyon’s intentions for the transfer window, Aulas revealed that forwards will be sought by the Rhone Valley club. “For the moment, we want to recruit mainly in attack,” he affirmed, before going on to state that this does not necessarily mean that Benzema will leave the club.

“Karim has long expressed his desire to remain with Olympique Lyonnais. The club wants him to stay and restructure around him. Now it’s true that the transfer market is very surprising and the news from Real [Madrid], Chelsea and Manchester United makes me very perplexed. No-one is intransferable, but knowing Karim, if he did leave, it would be to Real Madrid.

“For the moment, we are not talking about transferring Karim.”

Aulas then talked of players who could arrive at the Stade Gerland, describing Real Madrid’s Royston Drenthe and Arjen Robben as “interesting” players. In addition, he confirmed that moves are being made with regard to Porto’s Lisandro Lopez, who is reportedly close to signing for les Gones.

“We have been in contact with his agents and he is a player we like. We are in a relationship, that’s true, but nothing is finalised,” he said.

Inter’s Patrick Vieira is also on OL’s radar and was described by Aulas as “a great player”, the president affirming that contact had been made with the France captain, although the Lyon boss warned that nothing is “concrete” in that regard.

On the subject of Inter, Aulas rejected speculation regarding a possible move to Milan for midfield creator Ederson, who has been the subject of a significant amount of speculation of late.

Robin Bairner, Goal.com
 
I agree, regardless of who we sign I don't want to see Rooney sacrificed out on the left wing. He's too honest of a player for his own good at times and spends too much of this time in the defensive third.

I agree, that's probably the biggest thing I would want out of this transfer window, for Rooney to be set free in his best position, and not wasted so frequently on the left.

Which is why for me, I'd want us to sign two wingers is possible, as I'm unsure about Nani's ability to step up to the mark, and I just don't think Park brings enough to the party in attack.
 
I do not think that Rooney will be sacrificed on the wing. i think that Fergie is planning to play Rooney and Berbatov together the same way Rooney and Heskey play for England.

However during the game Rooney might interchange positions with both Berbatov and one of the wingers - probably the most offensive.

Let's not forget that although Berbatov was heavily criticised he still managed to track back than Ronaldo. Hopefully whoever will be playing on the right wing instead of Ronaldo will help JOS or whoever is right back much more than Ronaldo did last season...
 
Exclusive: Lyon President Aulas: We Want To Build Around Karim Benzema

Olympique Lyonnais president Jean-Michel Aulas has confirmed the club’s intention to bolster their attacking options next season; however, he has indicated that it is his desire to keep hold of star man Karim Benzema, who has been linked to numerous European heavyweights in the recent past.

When quizzed by Goal.com about Lyon’s intentions for the transfer window, Aulas revealed that forwards will be sought by the Rhone Valley club. “For the moment, we want to recruit mainly in attack,” he affirmed, before going on to state that this does not necessarily mean that Benzema will leave the club.

“Karim has long expressed his desire to remain with Olympique Lyonnais. The club wants him to stay and restructure around him. Now it’s true that the transfer market is very surprising and the news from Real [Madrid], Chelsea and Manchester United makes me very perplexed. No-one is intransferable, but knowing Karim, if he did leave, it would be to Real Madrid.

“For the moment, we are not talking about transferring Karim.”

Aulas then talked of players who could arrive at the Stade Gerland, describing Real Madrid’s Royston Drenthe and Arjen Robben as “interesting” players. In addition, he confirmed that moves are being made with regard to Porto’s Lisandro Lopez, who is reportedly close to signing for les Gones.

“We have been in contact with his agents and he is a player we like. We are in a relationship, that’s true, but nothing is finalised,” he said.

Inter’s Patrick Vieira is also on OL’s radar and was described by Aulas as “a great player”, the president affirming that contact had been made with the France captain, although the Lyon boss warned that nothing is “concrete” in that regard.

On the subject of Inter, Aulas rejected speculation regarding a possible move to Milan for midfield creator Ederson, who has been the subject of a significant amount of speculation of late.

Robin Bairner, Goal.com

Let them have him. At his age in a club like Madrid, he will be just another player ruined by them

I don't want him. He'd be a hit and then would want to move to Madrid.
 
My impression is that Aulas knows that Madrid are throwing silly money and he is desperately trying to be one of the "recepients"...
 
fecking Madrid!

Everyone wants to play for them.

Hate Madrid.

more fools them. Madrid are going to have so many big egos at the club in the next few years they will probably just implode, ruining a few careers in the process.

i would rather we sign a "good" player that loves united heart and soul, than a superstar with a big ego who disrupts the dressing room and talks about madrid.
 
more fools them. Madrid are going to have so many big egos at the club in the next few years they will probably just implode, ruining a few careers in the process.

i would rather we sign a "good" player that loves united heart and soul, than a superstar with a big ego who disrupts the dressing room and talks about madrid.

Hear hear.

Here here.

This.

Seconded.
 
more fools them. Madrid are going to have so many big egos at the club in the next few years they will probably just implode, ruining a few careers in the process.

i would rather we sign a "good" player that loves united heart and soul, than a superstar with a big ego who disrupts the dressing room and talks about madrid.

Most of them come loving the club and then with time, things change
 
I think we have a clear run on this one (meaning Madrid agreeing leaving us to battle Chelsea, Barca etc.. on our own without interfering).


if we got him, this would be my formation:



--------------------Benzema------------------------
------------------------------Rooney---------------

----LW--------------------------------------------Valencia

------------------Berbs----------------------------------


------------------------------Carrick-------------------




Berbs would play the Iniesta Role of AM with the ball stuck to his foot. He already floats around that area any way.
 
more fools them. Madrid are going to have so many big egos at the club in the next few years they will probably just implode, ruining a few careers in the process.

i would rather we sign a "good" player that loves united heart and soul, than a superstar with a big ego who disrupts the dressing room and talks about madrid.

Agreed.
 
I think we have a clear run on this one (meaning Madrid agreeing leaving us to battle Chelsea, Barca etc.. on our own without interfering).


if we got him, this would be my formation:



--------------------Benzema------------------------
------------------------------Rooney---------------

----LW--------------------------------------------Valencia

------------------Berbs----------------------------------


------------------------------Carrick-------------------







Berbs would play the Iniesta Role of AM with the ball stuck to his foot.

Iniesta's very quick, I doubt Berbatov would do good there, let's play all of our players in their position, that would be nice.
 
I think we have a clear run on this one (meaning Madrid agreeing leaving us to battle Chelsea, Barca etc.. on our own without interfering).


if we got him, this would be my formation:



--------------------Benzema------------------------
------------------------------Rooney---------------

----LW--------------------------------------------Valencia

------------------Berbs----------------------------------


------------------------------Carrick-------------------




Berbs would play the Iniesta Role of AM with the ball stuck to his foot. He already floats around that area any way.

FFs Berbatov and Carrick in central midfield?:wenger:

Valencia wouldn't be first choice too.
 
Manchester United is window shopping.

We are asking about a number of possible players in order to see what sort of price and pressure is going to be needed to get them. Then we'll take the best available for price, like with Berbatov last season.

Just because the club is asking about a player doesn't mean that player is coming to us.

All we can learn from the papers right now is which players are being considered by the club, and the club wouldn't be doing their job if they didn't at least ask about all these players before going after the player they really want.
 
fecking Madrid!

Everyone wants to play for them.

Hate Madrid.


Kind of odd then, if that were true why is it that Milan have been more successful in UCL terms?
Barcelona play better football
Utd are also, I would argue, better supported.

There's more to success than assembling as many of the world's best players
 
if we got him, this would be my formation:



--------------------Benzema------------------------
------------------------------Rooney---------------

----LW--------------------------------------------Valencia

------------------Berbs----------------------------------


------------------------------Carrick-------------------




Berbs would play the Iniesta Role of AM with the ball stuck to his foot. He already floats around that area any way.

Swap Nani for Carrick and then we're talking :drool:
 
Pretty sure Fergie already has his shortlist prepared. And he is not one to settle with second or third choices, especially this summer as we've got a big void to fill.

He was a long time admirer of Carrick, Hargreaves and Berbatov, and he got them all. They were not 'out of the blue' signings, he pursued them relentlessly. We were linked with Senna, Santa Cruz, Quagliarella, and some other names but they were all smokescreens. This time he is biding his time and enjoying his holiday, but i've no doubt he will get his man again.
 
I think we have a clear run on this one (meaning Madrid agreeing leaving us to battle Chelsea, Barca etc.. on our own without interfering).


if we got him, this would be my formation:



--------------------Benzema------------------------
------------------------------Rooney---------------

----LW--------------------------------------------Valencia

------------------Berbs----------------------------------


------------------------------Carrick-------------------




Berbs would play the Iniesta Role of AM with the ball stuck to his foot. He already floats around that area any way.

Berbatov playing the Inista role!!!

Right.
 
I would rather Berbs play in midfield than shove Rooney out wide. if Benzema came he would be 1st choice, no doubt.

If we played the formation you've suggested then it wouldn't matter how amazing Benzema is as a forward because we'd never have the ball.
 
If we played the formation you've suggested then it wouldn't matter how amazing Benzema is as a forward because we'd never have the ball.

well then Berbs would have to get used to the bench until, one of Rooney or Benzema got injured.
 
I think we have a clear run on this one (meaning Madrid agreeing leaving us to battle Chelsea, Barca etc.. on our own without interfering).


if we got him, this would be my formation:



--------------------Benzema------------------------
------------------------------Rooney---------------

----LW--------------------------------------------Valencia

------------------Berbs----------------------------------


------------------------------Carrick-------------------




Berbs would play the Iniesta Role of AM with the ball stuck to his foot. He already floats around that area any way.

Iniesta's never played in a midfield two.
 
crazy formation anyway. its a 4-2-4 at best, at worst.....4-1-5?
 
Iniesta's never played in a midfield two.

He played it regularly 2 seasons ago when they went through an injury crisis. It's also where he made his name.

Yu can find him in any of the front six positions during a season.
 
Benzema as a lone striker isn't the best way to get the best out of him.



He's brilliant when he drops deep and plays a free role.



Anyway this tactic is unplayable.
 
The Sun is reporting those same "tsunami" quotes too:

United drive us round the Benz
Karim_Benzema_827578a.jpg

LYON say they are powerless to stop Manchester United target Karim Benzema leaving.

The French side are desperate to keep hold of their star striker.

But United will have money to burn when Cristiano Ronaldo joins Real Madrid and Alex Ferguson is ready to swoop.

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has revealed megabucks Manchester City and Chelsea could rival United for Benzema.

He said: "Karim has said that he wants to stay another year at Lyon.

"But I think that Kaka or Ronaldo maybe imagined remaining with their respective clubs.

"There is a tsunami called Real Madrid which provokes reactions at Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United.

"So it is very complicated to say that he is non-transferable. Today, it's obvious we want to keep him.

"There is more chance he'll be at Lyon next season than that he won't be.

"I won't hide from you the fact that he has been approached. For the moment, I managed to convince them not to go further."
 
if we get this guy it will be a major coup, i read somewhere fergie gave him a utd shirt after the champ league game when he scored against us, that's weird. Is that true??

seriously this guy wil score goals and he and rooney up top would be great. I think we will oNly get him if tevez leaves though, which looks more and more likely.

I aint gonna rule out him moving to madrid either, aulas already talking about huntelaar robben and drenthe, a swap deal potentially. This aulas is clever remember when he shafted us for essien and diarra. He always seems to get what he wants.

If madrid get villa then we have every chance of benzema if he wants to join us.
 
He played it regularly 2 seasons ago when they went through an injury crisis. It's also where he made his name.

Yu can find him in any of the front six positions during a season.

He used to play as DM too until his real talents were realised.

One of the most complete players out there, could play in most positions. Hell, he was even played at left back before under Rijkaard.
 
Most of them come loving the club and then with time, things change

Yep. Even if we signed a good player now, if he spent 3 years at the club and became a great player its still likely that if Madrid came in for him he'd be on his bike. That is, unless the player was English... But an English player makes the whole becoming great part unlikely.
 
Yep. Even if we signed a good player now, if he spent 3 years at the club and became a great player its still likely that if Madrid came in for him he'd be on his bike. That is, unless the player was English... But an English player makes the whole becoming great part unlikely.

If he stays for 6 seasons like Ronaldo did and we make a 60m profit out of it again, I don't see a problem.
 
I'm confused. Why does everyone want to play for Real Madrid? We hardly ever see players saying "I want to play for Barcelona", despite the fact that they just did the Treble, beating probably the second best team in the world in the final, and destroying their "rivals" who everyone wants to go to in the League.

Nutters.
 
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