Best Scenario?

[Gazza]

I was thinking: following Fergie's decision to stay, will the board give him the same amount of money they would have given the new one? I doubt it. What does this mean for the summer? I personally would like to see two centre-backs and a striker but now I am not sure that is going to happen. In any case, what would be your 'perfect summer'? Mine would looks something like this:

Transfers <IN>
Hofland (or Mexes/Samuel etc.)
Tudor
*one out of:
-Cisse
-Ashton
-Christie.

Transfers <OUT>
Yorkie
Fortune
May
+fringe players

... which would bring our summer signing to about 20 million or so, not bad considering how little we have spent over the past three years (we have not spent big since the treble year if you have a look at the records) and especially if we win the league and the CL this season.

I said two centre-backs because atm Johnsen really does not look like he can fully get over his injuries. Hopefully Ronny will earn himself a new contract, and I sincerly believe he will play a big part at United, but the fact of the matter is United need for strength in the defence. Larry isn't getting any younger but then with every year he gets older the more wiser he gets, so he can stay where he is for the meantime.

We need another striker as when (and I say 'when') Yorkie leaves we will be left with just 3 strikers - not enough to challenge for three trophies. Ashton and Christie are young and dynamic and Christie already seems to have an understanding of the Premiership - if Derby go down we should keep an eye out for the lad. Cisse just looks like a France regular in a few seasons, but it is the price that worries me. Tempted to put Di Canio in the 'maybe' list also, considering how well Teddy did when he came - so age isn't a problem.

Opinions?

 

[MW16]

Originally posted by Gazza:
<strong>
Transfers &lt;IN&gt;
Hofland (or Mexes/Samuel etc.)
Tudor
*one out of:
-Cisse
-Ashton
-Christie.

Transfers &lt;OUT&gt;
Yorkie
Fortune
May
+fringe players

... which would bring our summer signing to about 20 million or so, not bad considering how little we have spent over the past three years (we have not spent big since the treble year if you have a look at the records</strong><hr></blockquote>

Well as a rough guess, Hofland would be around 12-15 million, Tudor would be around 15-18 million and around 10 million for one of the others you mention thats minimun.
With May going probably on a free, Yorke for a maximun of 6 million and I doubt Fortune will leave but if he does then around 2 million, which means we'll have spent a lot more than 20 million, and we have'nt spent big since the treble season? We spent 50 million in the summer plus Diego Forlan you numpty

 

[MW16]

Anyway Ill do my little prediction

Transfer In:
Di Canio - Yorke will be gone and Fergies staying on so it seems likely (around 2-3 million)

Big Signing - choose from Vieira, Ronaldo , Lizarazu, Nesta, Hofland, Figo, Rivaldo, Ayala, Zanetti, Gomes etc
Some of them realistic most of them are'nt but Id have said the same about Veron this time last year.

PLAYERS OUT:
Blanc - retiring(?) if not then good because he's mint.
May - Free transfer
Yorke - to Villa (we hope) around 5/6 million
Irwin - time to move on
Fortune or Chadwick - whoever performs better from now til May will stay but there surely can't be enough games for them both next season. around 1/2 million.

 

[MauritianRed]

I don't think Fortune will be sold. Apparently he has been doing very well in the Reserve team.

BTW what's happening with Chadders?

 

[Penny]

Gazza get my vote for a more "realistic" summer signings possible ... but my opinion is :

- Can't be having 2 CB at a go ... no not this off-season for sure else that would means shutting up the door for the likes of Brown & O'Shea ... which is not a good thing to do really ... thinking that they are from our prized youth system .. I personally would hate to see that happen - even though the "dream" of creating a super "dream team" could sometimes hit my mind too but I don think that will be the scenario... Contrarily ... I would think we will have another RB or LB instead to beef up the strenght as well as competition there ...

- My potential striker candidates are :
Philips
Kanoute
Cisse
Christie
Viduka

Any of above ... I will be fine ... Ashton - I am worry that he's still not up to the level for top EPL or CL challenge yet ..
3 years could mean building up another potential CL challenger for Fergie ... so I wouldn't think he will go for an old man in PDC insteasd ...

- NO MORE big names to the team pls ... I would like to have all those MW16 you mentioned really .. but I think that would upset the current team instead ... no point really ... that's an absolute NO NO ...

 

[mu77]

MU spent 35m this season (not including rvn) , which i still can't believe. so they've put up some cash (50m +/- in two years).

if LB stays i think saf/board will try to go after mexes , i'd like to see tudor brought in and w. sonck. if LB retires then MU will need to go after a more expir. cb like nesta - with money owed from stam MU could recoup some in terms of lower trans. fee. (anyone know how much lazio owes MU - i know they have 75/80 m long term debts)

 

[mathiaslg]

Players Who are/should be leaving:

Blanc: Since he says he will retire, and hasn't said anything to prove otherwise.
May: Should move on
Irwin: Fine service, should move on or retire
Fortune: 25, and still in the reserves
Yorke: Get as much cash for him as we can
Fringe Players in General: If Fergie doesn't think Chadwick, Djordjic, etc...will make it, try to get some money for them, we have Timm, Fletcher and co...coming up.

Players who United should go after:
Tudor: Would love to see a big, powerful CB at United. Doubt Juve will sell, but might as well see.
Nesta: If Lazio are willing to sell, and not at some crazy price, I say give it a go.
Christie: Intersting player, fast and has an eye for goal. Derby seem to be going down, and there aren't many other strikers out there with his quality that are available.
Hugo Viana: Sign him up this summer, and let him stay at Sporting for a couple more years to develop. Pure class DM, and I do mean pure class. Keane has got some good years left in him, but United should attempt to plan a replacement now. Besides, he will be cheaper now than later.
Mexes: Much like Blanc. Classy CB, good with the ball and reads the game well. Still young though.
Cisse: Expensive as hell, but classy as hell too. Better than Christie, but his price tag will more than show it.
Frechaut: Portuguese RB/DM. I like his style, and with Gary playing well at CB, a quality utility player who could be a major asset. He has excellent technique, and is fast and powerful as well. I think he would fit in well with United's passing style.

 

[mu77]

tudor could move into dm position as well. how about beattie. would soton make him avil? he's scored v. epl's best sides this yr. chrisy does turn up in the box , maybe a young OGS. i think that QF too young to give up on , but mdf is crowded. doubt we'll see may youngsters trotted out this yr.

 

[Gazza]

Originally posted by mu77:
<strong>MU spent 35m this season (not including rvn) , which i still can't believe. so they've put up some cash (50m +/- in two years).
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Yes, but if you listen to me, add up the sales and you see a much smaller figure - Stam and Cole have both gone, as have Greening and Wilson etc.
BTW, 40 odd million in two seasons is not bad going for a club this size. <img src="graemlins/annoyed.gif" border="0" alt="[Annoyed]" />

 

[Gazza]

Originally posted by mathiaslg:
<strong>Players Who are/should be leaving:

Blanc: Since he says he will retire, and hasn't said anything to prove otherwise.
May: Should move on
Irwin: Fine service, should move on or retire
Fortune: 25, and still in the reserves
Yorke: Get as much cash for him as we can
Fringe Players in General: If Fergie doesn't think Chadwick, Djordjic, etc...will make it, try to get some money for them, we have Timm, Fletcher and co...coming up.

Players who United should go after:
Tudor: Would love to see a big, powerful CB at United. Doubt Juve will sell, but might as well see.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

I agree on your points about Tudor and selling the fringe players. Djordjic hasn't developed as much as was expected, it seems, and imo he could be on his way out. What I want to know is where the hell has Chadders gone?
Tudor would be excellent imo, tho to be honest I haven't heard Fergie has even contacted Juve.

 

[Gazza]

Originally posted by Penny:
<strong>
- My potential striker candidates are :
Philips
Kanoute
Cisse
Christie
Viduka
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Phillips has not done enough for me this season. He had two good seasons and all of a sudden he deserves to be playing in the champions' league. He has to be more consistent and finish those half-chances the same way quality strikers do. Saying that, he packs a mean shot from outside the area, while obviously he must have been doing something right to be top scorer in the Premiership not so long ago.
Same goes for Kanoute in some respects. Good striker, very classy, but again, I have serious doubts over his ability to do it at a big club like United. Phillips and Kanoute would cost more than they're worth.

Viduka isn't going to happen. Leeds wouldn't let him go easily, especially to us - but they do need the money so you never know. Looks like Real are willing to throw 20 million at him, and he is in no way worth that much money. Big striker tho with excellent ability in the air.

Cisse or Christie would get my vote. Both are young and definately up to the task. I am starting to side with Crhistie tho, as he has Premiership experiance and can speak the lingo. He is also a boyhood red which can only help. Both have pace and power with an excellent attitude and temperament. Cisse would be a bit more costly, but either would do fine.

 

[MW16]

Originally posted by Penny:
<strong>- NO MORE big names to the team pls ... I would like to have all those MW16 you mentioned really .. but I think that would upset the current team instead ... no point really ... that's an absolute NO NO ...</strong><hr></blockquote>

If you read my post I said one of them players, not all of them, with the likely one being Vieira

 

[lchk]

At the very least, we need two defenders - settle the defensive side of things first before we can even think about strikers, keepers etc.

 

[edmund]

Originally posted by lchk:
<strong>At the very least, we need two defenders - settle the defensive side of things first before we can even think about strikers, keepers etc.</strong><hr></blockquote>

agreed whole-heartedly

 

[Penny]

Originally posted by mathiaslg:
<strong>Players Who are/should be leaving:

Blanc: Since he says he will retire, and hasn't said anything to prove otherwise.
May: Should move on
Irwin: Fine service, should move on or retire
Fortune: 25, and still in the reserves
Yorke: Get as much cash for him as we can
Fringe Players in General: If Fergie doesn't think Chadwick, Djordjic, etc...will make it, try to get some money for them, we have Timm, Fletcher and co...coming up.

Players who United should go after:
Hugo Viana: Sign him up this summer, and let him stay at Sporting for a couple more years to develop. Pure class DM, and I do mean pure class. Keane has got some good years left in him, but United should attempt to plan a replacement now. Besides, he will be cheaper now than later.
Frechaut: Portuguese RB/DM. I like his style, and with Gary playing well at CB, a quality utility player who could be a major asset. He has excellent technique, and is fast and powerful as well. I think he would fit in well with United's passing style.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Fully agreed there with Mathias on outgoing list ... Any pic. for Frechaut and Hugo ? ..

 

[Penny]

Originally posted by Gazza:
<strong>
Yes, but if you listen to me, add up the sales and you see a much smaller figure - Stam and Cole have both gone, as have Greening and Wilson etc.
BTW, 40 odd million in two seasons is not bad going for a club this size. <img src="graemlins/annoyed.gif" border="0" alt="[Annoyed]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>

That's 16mil + 8mil(?) + 2.5mil(?) rite ?

 

[Gazza]

Originally posted by lchk:
<strong>At the very least, we need two defenders - settle the defensive side of things first before we can even think about strikers, keepers etc.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Of course two defenders would be splendid, but if it meant sacrificing the deal to bring in one more striker, I think one would be satisfactory. Our defence hasn't been that bad - in fact I believe all they need is a bit of confidence and self-belief - and we could live with just one to replace the inevitable departure of Larry through retirement. Use the excess cash to bring in a striker - because as long as our attacking force does the job, we shouldn't have to worry about the back line so much - and getting a back-up/replacement striker for Yorkie's obvious departure is a must.

 

[Penny]

Originally posted by MW16:
<strong>

If you read my post I said one of them players, not all of them, with the likely one being Vieira</strong><hr></blockquote>
Not possible really IMO ... and what I actually mean is - I don't hope to get another big name to cramp up the already very congested midfield ... Unless one of them leaving ( "V" is the ONLY choice for me ... none others )

 

[Gazza]

Originally posted by Penny:
<strong>

That's 16mil + 8mil(?) + 2.5mil(?) rite ?
</strong><hr></blockquote>
<img src="graemlins/annoyed.gif" border="0" alt="[Annoyed]" />
FFS, look at the stats:

Sales
16m + undisclosed (around 11m) + 3m = 30m

Buys
19m + 28m + 2m + 7m = 56m

Total expenditure = 26m, that is less than the figure quoted previously (50m).

For the richest club in the world I really don't believe that is an awful amount of cash to spend in two seasons, do you?

 

[Penny]

Originally posted by Gazza:
<strong>
Cisse or Christie would get my vote. Both are young and definately up to the task. I am starting to side with Crhistie tho, as he has Premiership experiance and can speak the lingo. He is also a boyhood red which can only help. Both have pace and power with an excellent attitude and temperament. Cisse would be a bit more costly, but either would do fine.</strong><hr></blockquote>

No argument there on these 2 kids... in fact by playing style .. I have always said that we need one with leopard-type of acceleration ... so both these will suit .. My only worry is Cisse will cost A LOT more than what we have thought it will ...
Christie started to get more and more portion from me now ... especially you said he's a Red Devil fan since young ... well - GET HIM I would say ...

look there ... John Gregory holding his gun putting up a long face


<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" />

 

[Gazza]

Originally posted by Penny:
<strong>No argument there on these 2 kids... in fact by playing style .. I have always said that we need one with leopard-type of acceleration ... so both these will suit .. My only worry is Cisse will cost A LOT more than what we have thought it will ...
Christie started to get more and more portion from me now ... especially you said he's a Red Devil fan since young ... well - GET HIM I would say ...

look there ... John Gregory holding his gun putting up a long face </strong><hr></blockquote>
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" />
Agreed there. Christie is becoming the more and more obvious choice - and I have watched him for a while, so it is not just because of his game against us. He is quick and decisive with a cool head - and would be 10-15m cheaper than Cisse, plus imo less of a risk.

 

[Penny]

Originally posted by Gazza:
<strong>
<img src="graemlins/annoyed.gif" border="0" alt="[Annoyed]" />
FFS, look at the stats:

Sales
16m + undisclosed (around 11m) + 3m = 30m

Buys
19m + 28m + 2m + 7m = 56m

Total expenditure = 26m, that is less than the figure quoted previously (50m).

For the richest club in the world I really don't believe that is an awful amount of cash to spend in two seasons, do you?
</strong><hr></blockquote>


Exactly .. 26mil is peanut !! and it's for 2 seasons gosh .. .

 

[Penny]

Originally posted by Gazza:
<strong>
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laugh Out Loud]" />
Agreed there. Christie is becoming the more and more obvious choice - and I have watched him for a while, so it is not just because of his game against us. He is quick and decisive with a cool head - and would be 10-15m cheaper than Cisse, plus imo less of a risk.</strong><hr></blockquote>


Spot on ... speak the same language .. already couple of years in EPL .. battling against much more powerful players with so little service but yet always managed to score ...
And he's a bit of an agressive kid isn't he? .. just that combatative nature itself I guess he would get another 2 bonus points from Fergie ...
Another point .. I think we should not forget abt the British passion especially when the game come to any crucial point where you need to get stick in ..... not all the foreigners share the same sentiment always ...

I have made up my mind ... Christie !! .. .

 

[Gazza]

Originally posted by Penny:
<strong>


Exactly .. 26mil is peanut !! and it's for 2 seasons gosh .. . </strong><hr></blockquote>

<img src="graemlins/annoyed.gif" border="0" alt="[Annoyed]" />

For Manchester United PLC it is!
26m is absolute crackers when you consider the bags of cash the likes of Leeds and Liverpool have spent - it is ridiculous that a club the size of United considers 26m in 2 years 'big spending'. I understand they spent a bit of money in the treble season and Sir Alex has handled his transfers extremely well to balance the books but he shouldn't really need to. The board are incredibly stingy at times and I think regardless of whether we win trophies this time around or not, the board should pull the finger out. <img src="graemlins/houllier.gif" border="0" alt="[Houllier]" /> <img src="graemlins/nervous.gif" border="0" alt="[Nervous]" />

Never mind.

 

[Murt]

wtf,

Christie plays a decent game against us and suddenly we should sign him. The mans name was never mentioned before that.
Heskey played a good game against us in January, why dont we go for him <img src="graemlins/houllier.gif" border="0" alt="[Houllier]" />

 

[uranushk1]

Originally posted by Gazza:
<strong>I said two centre-backs because atm Johnsen really does not look like he can fully get over his injuries. Hopefully Ronny will earn himself a new contract, and I sincerly believe he will play a big part at United, but the fact of the matter is United need for strength in the defence. Opinions?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Are u the same person who said it doesn't matter how bad is our defence, if our attack can remain so powerful? I think it is a contradiction to yourself if you now say United "need strength in defence"?

 

[mathiaslg]

Originally posted by Penny:
<strong>

Fully agreed there with Mathias on outgoing list ... Any pic. for Frechaut and Hugo ? .. </strong><hr></blockquote>

Come on, surely you have heard of who they are. Frechaut plays for Boavista and Hugo Viana plays for Sporting.

 

[Neil Thomson]

Yorke will leave to either Villa or Spurs, for about 5m but will lower the wage bill by quite a lot. Fortune has said he wants to leave to get first team action (which is understandable) and considering he was crap when he had a run in the side earlier in the season then I think we should sell him. I think we'll get more than 2m for him though, probably more like 5m. Gazza, Chadwick is injured for the rest of the season.

Blanc has said he will retire, and I think he should, we need to build a defense for the future imo. I'd love it though if we could persuade him to stay as a defensive coach, but I suspect he'll go back to france to get his french coaching license. May will go since he doesn't ever play for our first team, nor the reserves very often. Johnsen is quality, but a bit of a sicknote, and again due to the need to create a stable and long term centre pairing, I think we should let him go. Irwin has already said he is off, and NOTW has him linked with a player coach role elsewhere.

So thats an awful lot of defenders to get in! With SAF staying for another 3 years though, I think he will go in for a major rebuild. I'm presuming he has a substantial transfer kitty already, because this would have been needed to entice a new manager. Probably at least 40m. But more importantly is the wage bill will go down drastically with all these players leaving. I would still expect at least one first teamer to leave though, to be replaced by youth or foreign star. On that hitlist would be Silvestre, Barthez, and the Nevilles - all for their individual errors, and Scholes or Butt because of the amount of money they would fetch and the fact that neither of them is first choice anymore - but I hope we don't lose these Reds.

Conclusion, we'll have a lot of money to spend, and a greatly trimmed wage bill. Who to get in? Most of the names have already been mentioned, so a possible hitlist of: Ayala, Hofland, Mexes, Samuel, Nesta, Lizarazu, Tudor, Bridges, PDC, Rivaldo, Cisse, D'Allesandro, etc. Last summer he had a hitlist of 6, to get 3. He missed most of his targets, which included centre backs and left full back, ended up selling Stam, buying Blanc and Veron which both looked like opportunist buys. In truth you never know who we'll end up with!

I think though he'd want 1 first team CB, one or two young reserve CB's, a full back, new cover for Giggs (probably no one we have heard of), and a new striker. First choice then would be: Ayala, Mexes, Hofland, Samuel, Cisse - but of course, even with all our sales and lower wage bill this would cost too much, and besides you never manage to get all your first choices. We'll probably have to settle for less on some positions, and gain more than we expected in others.

 

[mathiaslg]

Honestly, I do believe the midfield is in good shape. In Butt, Scholes, Beckham, Keane, Giggs and Veron we have a top class midfield grouping. We combine that, and work in some class youngsters (Timm, Richardson, Fletcher) in the less important matches such as the Worthington Cup, and United´s midfield will be fine. Up front, Ruud and Ole are (as I predicted an amazing partnership). Forlan is looking to be a class purchase, and if United get one more young striker, we will be set in that department for a long time to come. Defensively is where the real money has to be spent. Honestly, getting class players who can play at multiple positions would be ideal, such as Tudor and Chivu. I say attempting to get 2 CB´s would be great (since realistically, only 1 may come) as well as a RB, for Gary is capable of playing in the center of defense. We get a consistent midfield and the same old lethal striking duo and a solid defense to back it up, and United will be in better shape than it has in a while.

 

[Penny]

Originally posted by Murt:
<strong>wtf,

Christie plays a decent game against us and suddenly we should sign him. The mans name was never mentioned before that.
Heskey played a good game against us in January, why dont we go for him <img src="graemlins/houllier.gif" border="0" alt="[Houllier]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>

ok ... I have to admit that Christie caught my serious attention late ONLY after Derby slide down the ranking ... I was looking at the last couple of teams and thinking of their players going out for a "clearance sale" once the team is desinated for relegation ... And for Derby - only 2 of their players strike me ( Leicester have got none ) ... Riggort and Christie ... I shouted more on Riggort then due to our poor defence ... but not since when we stable down at the back ... When Coley left and that PDC deal fell-off ... I started to look at a wider scope of possibilities and Christie was back on mind ...

I posted a separate topic on the "quality" of striker we actually looking for and I said there Cisse as my firm fav. due to his fast-acceleration play ... But the Soucers link has since surfaced and a 30mil figures mentioned which I thought is absolute NUTS !! <img src="graemlins/houllier.gif" border="0" alt="[Houllier]" /> ... and I started to think Christie could actually mean an alternative with much better chances of joining and on a much lower $ ... which is of course - very important to the PLC !!

 

[Neil Thomson]

Originally posted by Penny:
<strong>

ok ... I have to admit that Christie caught my serious attention late ONLY after Derby slide down the ranking ... I was looking at the last couple of teams and thinking of their players going out for a "clearance sale" once the team is desinated for relegation ... And for Derby - only 2 of their players strike me ( Leicester have got none ) ... Riggort and Christie ... I shouted more on Riggort then due to our poor defence ... but not since when we stable down at the back ... When Coley left and that PDC deal fell-off ... I started to look at a wider scope of possibilities and Christie was back on mind ...

I posted a separate topic on the "quality" of striker we actually looking for and I said there Cisse as my firm fav. due to his fast-acceleration play ... But the Soucers link has since surfaced and a 30mil figures mentioned which I thought is absolute NUTS !! <img src="graemlins/houllier.gif" border="0" alt="[Houllier]" /> ... and I started to think Christie could actually mean an alternative with much better chances of joining and on a much lower $ ... which is of course - very important to the PLC !! </strong><hr></blockquote>
I understand your reasoning, but Christie is cheap for a reason - he doesn't score many goals. He probably tries harder against us because he'd love to play for us, but it doesn't accurately reflect how good he is. The position of his team in the premiership is a better reflection. Its always worth looking for 'clearance sales' and Sereni is the one that stands out to me, and Jaaskelinen (sp?). But its very hard to improve our team, or find players who'll develop into top class players but don't cost a fortune. Jenas was a great buy by Robson, very young but already good enough. Ashton might be worth a gamble, but I think we actually need another ready-made striker, since we have Forlan as a young and promising striker.

 

[mathiaslg]

Originally posted by Neil Thomson:
<strong>
I understand your reasoning, but Christie is cheap for a reason - he doesn't score many goals. He probably tries harder against us because he'd love to play for us, but it doesn't accurately reflect how good he is. The position of his team in the premiership is a better reflection. Its always worth looking for 'clearance sales' and Sereni is the one that stands out to me, and Jaaskelinen (sp?). But its very hard to improve our team, or find players who'll develop into top class players but don't cost a fortune. Jenas was a great buy by Robson, very young but already good enough. Ashton might be worth a gamble, but I think we actually need another ready-made striker, since we have Forlan as a young and promising striker.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Another ready-made striker is a great idea, but how much are you prepared to pay to get him, and would you be willing to sacrifice getting a top class defender to do so. I don't think it would be a hard decision to come to. The defense will win out easily enough (unless there happens to be one hell of a transfer fund available to Fergie).

 

[Penny]

I understand on the point of "another ready made" striker Neil ... if I have a choice then I will go with the crowd and say 4 strikers = Vieri, Henry, RVN and Crespo .. <img src="graemlins/houllier.gif" border="0" alt="[Houllier]" /> how abt that?

Was thinking the other part of the story actually ... another top striker coming in means Ole back on the bench ? .. I don like to see that ... We need one who's probably same level headed as Ole ... not really SUPERB till he just can't sit on bench for different reasons ...
That's - for no choice really ... I have to look a bit down the list and thought Christie might be the most suitable and most possible as of the current situation developed ( rate Beattie highly too but don think Southampton gonna relegate, and don think Ginger Head would do business with Fergie ) ..

Dont forget European Championship will be round the connner just 2 years' time ... If we have another big name on the bench - he would end up another Coley or Fowler ... can't "afford" to "do that" as they put it ..

 

[uranushk1]

Originally posted by Neil Thomson:
<strong>Yorke will leave to either Villa or Spurs, for about 5m but will lower the wage bill by quite a lot. Fortune has said he wants to leave to get first team action (which is understandable) and considering he was crap when he had a run in the side earlier in the season then I think we should sell him. I think we'll get more than 2m for him though, probably more like 5m. Gazza, Chadwick is injured for the rest of the season.

Blanc has said he will retire, and I think he should, we need to build a defense for the future imo. I'd love it though if we could persuade him to stay as a defensive coach, but I suspect he'll go back to france to get his french coaching license. May will go since he doesn't ever play for our first team, nor the reserves very often. Johnsen is quality, but a bit of a sicknote, and again due to the need to create a stable and long term centre pairing, I think we should let him go. Irwin has already said he is off, and NOTW has him linked with a player coach role elsewhere.

So thats an awful lot of defenders to get in! With SAF staying for another 3 years though, I think he will go in for a major rebuild. I'm presuming he has a substantial transfer kitty already, because this would have been needed to entice a new manager. Probably at least 40m. But more importantly is the wage bill will go down drastically with all these players leaving. I would still expect at least one first teamer to leave though, to be replaced by youth or foreign star. On that hitlist would be Silvestre, Barthez, and the Nevilles - all for their individual errors, and Scholes or Butt because of the amount of money they would fetch and the fact that neither of them is first choice anymore - but I hope we don't lose these Reds.

Conclusion, we'll have a lot of money to spend, and a greatly trimmed wage bill. Who to get in? Most of the names have already been mentioned, so a possible hitlist of: Ayala, Hofland, Mexes, Samuel, Nesta, Lizarazu, Tudor, Bridges, PDC, Rivaldo, Cisse, D'Allesandro, etc. Last summer he had a hitlist of 6, to get 3. He missed most of his targets, which included centre backs and left full back, ended up selling Stam, buying Blanc and Veron which both looked like opportunist buys. In truth you never know who we'll end up with!

I think though he'd want 1 first team CB, one or two young reserve CB's, a full back, new cover for Giggs (probably no one we have heard of), and a new striker. First choice then would be: Ayala, Mexes, Hofland, Samuel, Cisse - but of course, even with all our sales and lower wage bill this would cost too much, and besides you never manage to get all your first choices. We'll probably have to settle for less on some positions, and gain more than we expected in others.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Very good accessment Neil. In the ideal case Blanc, Irwin, May and Wallwork all go, and Johnsen can't get a new contract, then there will be a lot of new defenders come in, which we all have been hoping for. Hopefully we will get Hoffland and one other experienced first class CB (Ayala or Nesta), and then one more striker (but may be not Cisse, since he is too expensive considering his age and experience). I also doubt whether we will get another backup for Giggs, since Fergie like to play Scholes or Veron if Giggs is out, and we also have Chadwick, Djordjic or even Richardson coming from the youth.

Ideally, one Nesta (or the same class) for 25m, one Hoffland for 12m, and then one backup striker for 8-10m. That take the total to around 45m-50m. This is a huge sum but I hope we can somehow manage to get it after selling Yorke, Fortune and Wallwork for a combined of around 10m.

 

[lchk]

I believe Fergie has learnt his lesson well of not strengthening his defence when he should have last summer.

He won't make the same mistake again this year.

I am looking forward to the shake-up we sorely need.

 

[Murt]

Originally posted by lchk:
<strong>I believe Fergie has learnt his lesson well of not strengthening his defence when he should have last summer.
He won't make the same mistake again this year.
I am looking forward to the shake-up we sorely need.</strong><hr></blockquote>

What makes you think that, and he did strengthen the defence with Larry White.
Why do we need a shake up, top of the league and flying in Europe. We could do with defenders and if Yorke goes were one striker short of four.
Its a pity you wernt around in the late 80's when we narrowely escaped relagation, then you might realise when major surgery is required, all the squad need now is a little strengthning. <img src="graemlins/nervous.gif" border="0" alt="[Nervous]" />

 

[Gazza]

Originally posted by lchk:
<strong>I believe Fergie has learnt his lesson well of not strengthening his defence when he should have last summer.

He won't make the same mistake again this year.

I am looking forward to the shake-up we sorely need.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I'm with Murt on this one. <img src="graemlins/nervous.gif" border="0" alt="[Nervous]" /> [ ]
Would a major 'shake-up' crush team morale?
All we need is one or two defenders this summer (plus a striker for depth and to pressure the other three). Besides, I still fail to see what Johnsen has done wrong this season?

 

[Murt]

Originally posted by Gazza:
<strong>

I'm with Murt on this one</strong><hr></blockquote>

One second thoughts i take it all back,

BUY, BUY, BUY, I SAY

 

[lchk]

Originally posted by Murt:
<strong>

What makes you think that, and he did strengthen the defence with Larry White.
Why do we need a shake up, top of the league and flying in Europe. We could do with defenders and if Yorke goes were one striker short of four.
Its a pity you wernt around in the late 80's when we narrowely escaped relagation, then you might realise when major surgery is required, all the squad need now is a little strengthning. <img src="graemlins/nervous.gif" border="0" alt="[Nervous]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>

Blanc was NOT a strengthening step taken by Fergie - he was a stop-gap following the departure of Blanc and nothing more. The real strengthening takes place this summer.

It is very unlikely we will win the CL this season mainly due to the reason that our defence isn't good enough to cope with European class attacks. We are standing still in this aspect.

Hence a shake-up is needed.

FYI, I was around since '83 - what makes you think I wasn't there in the late 80s?

 

[True Treble Reds]

Originally posted by lchk:
<strong>Blanc was NOT a strengthening step taken by Fergie - he was a stop-gap following the departure of Blanc and nothing more. The real strengthening takes place this summer.</strong><hr></blockquote>Blanc was a stop gap following the departure of Blanc

Blanc was initially going to come to play alongside Jaap. He said that when he arrived and was as miffed as the next guy when Jaap was sold. Don't ask me for a quote coz I can't be arsed to find one ... Anyway <a href="http://www.planetfootball.com/Article.asp?ARTICLE=85185&Title=Ferguson+to+bolster+defence" target="_blank">Fergie</a> seems to think Larry is worth keeping around for another year at least!

Could it be that Fergie knows best???