Bebe | 2010/11 Performances

Status
Not open for further replies.
Sultan said:
Can anyone come to sensible conclusion why SAF commented he had never seen the player before he signed? This from a mananger who probably controls the colour of toilet paper at Old Trafford.
Click to expand...

This was one of the puzzling things for me as well. Fergie has said that the scout in Portugal had glowing reports and they had to move quickly but surely we could have waited until SAF actually saw him play.

One can only assume then that other clubs were starting to express and interest.
 
Sultan said:
I heard somewhere (could be SAF) his best position is in the middle. However, I don't think it's fair or right because a substantial fee was paid he gets quick tracked to the first team. I still insist there are better players at United to warrant a chance before Bebe. If SAF or the coaches think he has a chance to make it here then do it in games where it's not likely to hurt the club.
Click to expand...

Out of interest, which reserve/academy player would you play on the wing ahead of him?
 
Sultan said:
Can anyone come to sensible conclusion why SAF commented he had never seen the player before he signed? This from a mananger who probably controls the colour of toilet paper at Old Trafford.
Click to expand...
Maybe when he says that he never saw the player he means he never saw him play "live". No reason why he couldn't have watched a recording of him playing if he had wanted to. Unfortunately, with it being pre-season, he wasn't playing any competitive matches so he couldn't arrange a quick trip to watch him either.

There did seem to be a few clubs about to strike as we bought him so maybe the purchase had to be completed quickly. We have scouts watching players all the time but they tend to take time with their assessments and move in at the best time for all parties. They only move quickly when other clubs start to take more than a passing interest in our targets.
 
decorativeed said:
The combined fee was to have been £16.3m (BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Man Utd | Man Utd sign up Tosic and Ljajic). When we did not sign Ljajic, the reports were that he was to have cost £10m (BBC Sport - Football - Manchester United explain Ljajic transfer withdrawal). That means Tosic cost the rest - £6.3m
Click to expand...

Thanks.

Its strange how we decided not to sign Llajic, because we didnt think he had the potential, but signed a player we'd never seen for almost the same amount of money. One who has far, far less pedigree.
 
Donut said:
It's a big jump from being homeless to playing for Manchester United.
Click to expand...

Not a good enough reason to persevere with someone so obviously out of his depth.

Am I alone in not giving a fiddler's feck about the "homeless" bit? He is not good enough to play for us. He never will be. What are we waiting for... it's never happening.
 
Spoony Youngblood said:
Must admit, strangest signing ever.
Click to expand...

Aye, it is curious, but at the time SAF did say it would be years before he was a player ... maybe games like today are all part of building him up, he will have a diffferent programme to any other player because of the unique circumstances.
 
B Cantona said:
When asked at a press conference on Wednesday what were his best attributes, Bebe replied: "I am fast, I kick well and I score a lot of goals."[/I]

I think it was a horrible mistake to say that in public, and I also think it was a horrible mistake signing the player having seen him a few times now
Click to expand...
Horrible mistake why?

He is fast, he does kick well and he's got 2 goals for us already, despite having little experience or playing time.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
He signed him on the recommendation of our scouts but our scouts don't pick teams. Fergie does. After watching players in training. Which is when he will have "seen something on the training pitch".
Click to expand...

You haven't got a clue what he's seen on the training field though, you're just using patchy unprovable rhetoric to justify his selection thus far

It could just as easily be he's spent a lot of money on a player, his reputation while not at stake of course could take a knock having admitted he'd not seen him play, and the circumstances of his arrival; there is clear incentive to play him regardless of how he may or may not be in training. Something you won't accept and are trying to quell folk from believing despite no evidence to the contrary, certainly not on match performance
 
MacMUFC said:
Thanks.

Its strange how we decided not to sign Llajic, because we didnt think he had the potential, but signed a player we'd never seen for almost the same amount of money. One who has far, far less pedigree.
Click to expand...

I refuse to believe that is the real truth behind that. everyone and his dog round eruope was banging on about this kid, and his performances at fiorentina this season have shown he had top quality, especially for his age.

Perhaps a work permit, agent payment, something dodgy...but i cannot for one minute believe it is because we didn't rate him (even if that's what phelan said).
 
MacMUFC said:
Thanks.

Its strange how we decided not to sign Llajic, because we didnt think he had the potential, but signed a player we'd never seen for almost the same amount of money. One who has far, far less pedigree.
Click to expand...

It is, totally bizarre - as was all of the Tosic/Ljajic affair. Phelan said we pulled out because of work permit issues, but we went to huge effort and spent much time sorting out Dong's permit, so I can't see that being the real reason.

I've got plenty of patience with Bebe though. Not expecting anything of him this season. Not much at all next. It'll be a couple of years till we see whether or not he's any good for us or not.
 
moses said:
Aye, it is curious, but at the time SAF did say it would be years before he was a player ... maybe games like today are all part of building him up, he will have a diffferent programme to any other player because of the unique circumstances.
Click to expand...

Yes...but Fergie didn't see Bebe player prior to signing him. Whether he's a uncut diamond's besides the point, Moshe. I still don't get that Ljajic saga and all. Looks like we missed out a good player.
 
Red Defence said:
Horrible mistake why?

He is fast, he does kick well and he's got 2 goals for us already, despite having little experience or playing time.
Click to expand...

The bit you highlighted regarded his public comment he'd not seen him play. That was a mistake, and proves even the biggest and best still make them

I think it was a mistake to buy him because I don't think he's a player. I think we're wasting our time with him
 
Spoony Youngblood said:
Yes...but Fergie didn't see Bebe player prior to signing him. Whether he's a uncut diamond's besides the point, Moshe. I still don't get that Ljajic saga and all. Looks like we missed out a good player.
Click to expand...

Yep I agree totally, I'm just looking for some sense.
 
moses said:
Aye, it is curious, but at the time SAF did say it would be years before he was a player ... maybe games like today are all part of building him up, he will have a diffferent programme to any other player because of the unique circumstances.
Click to expand...

Having said that Fergie must be picking him on merit I'd have to admit we're not exactly spoilt for choice on the wings. With no Park, no Valencia and Giggs restricted to a game a week, there's very few options on the flanks. I wonder if there was ever any intention to start him in important cup games this early in his career?
 
moses said:
Aye, it is curious, but at the time SAF did say it would be years before he was a player ...
Click to expand...

Did he actually say that? What I remember is SAF said he was on a different program in terms of getting his fitness levels up. But surely he's got have built that up by now. SAF also said he had good ability.

We must have seen some sort of football ability in him to actually sign him. I've as yet not seen anything in that respect yet on the pitch. A spark of some kind that signals that there is some talent to work with. Infact he seems to lack a lot of the basics that I'm not so sure you can teach someone who is already 20.

Anyway here is the clip about him that you may have been referring to.

 
fadas said:
Have you seen any of this talent in Bebe? You're the only one that has.
Click to expand...
I do seem to be but nevertheless thank you for that.

Tell you what Fadas.....I'll have a bet with you that Bebe is playing regularly in our first team (more than 50% matches) in 3 years time.

As an extra bet.....he'll also be scoring more than 12 goals a season.

Name your price.
 
He's 21, not 26 or 27. He cost around £7million, not 27 or 37million. The fact that we're still debating whether more experienced players like Evans, Gibson et al are good enough for United or not tells me that Bebé is due a little patience.
 
Ole's_toe_poke said:
Did he actually say that? What I remember is SAF said he was on a different program in terms of getting his fitness levels up. But surely he's got have built that up by now. SAF also said he had good ability.

We must have seen some sort of football ability in him to actually sign him. I've as yet not seen anything in that respect yet on the pitch. A spark of some kind that signals that there is some talent to work with. Infact he seems to lack a lot of the basics that I'm not so sure you can teach someone who is already 20.

Anyway here is the clip about him that you may have been referring to.

Click to expand...


Could, and I agree with you, I'm just thinking if they do see something and they think it will take time, then the lad has time in his favour, even if he does take a couple of seasons.
 
B Cantona said:
It's not obvious to me why we spent £7million or whatever on him without the manager seeing him play, or why he's at a club like this at all to be honest
Click to expand...

I have to agree with Brad on this.

If he is behind other footballers of his age in terms of development then why sign him? Why bother? Is he that special that we have to have him and help him develop? I personally haven't seen anything to suggest this.

I seriously hope SAF sees something in training that we don't, but the fact that he actually admitted that he hadn't seen him play suggests that even he didn't know what kind of player he'd signed.
 
B Cantona said:
It's not obvious to me why we spent £7million or whatever on him without the manager seeing him play, or why he's at a club like this at all to be honest
Click to expand...

It's not obvious either way because we don't see enough of him, but yep on performances alone I have seen very little.
 
decorativeed said:
I don't think that is true. Mats Moller Daehli and Gyliano van Velzen both had "nominal" fees paid for them, possibly others. Also, we are known to agree deals earlier but only make them official after 1st July. Perhaps the fees paid out for the likes of Vermijl are also included in that figure?

Also, the £7.4 that was widely quoted was correct at the time as being the cost in sterling at the exchange rate at the time for €9m.
Click to expand...

You may be correct but with so much cloak and dagger secrecy it is hard to be definite. What is a "nominal" fee?...one penny or £100,000 pounds?
What is clear though is we paid a huge fee for an obscure player of questionable talent nobody at United had ever seen play or heard of just 2 weeks after one of the most powerful agents in football got involved. On the strength of what? Whispers of Real Madrid being interested?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.