Blanc has signed for another year

Originally posted by lchk:
<strong>

It's not so much of one player sorting it out for us, it's also the knock-on physcological effect he would have on the rest of the defence particularly if it's a player like Rio or someone of that ilk</strong><hr></blockquote>

What???

So if you sign Ferdinand its have a big mental affect on the others and make them good?
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Originally posted by Raoul:
<strong>Right Itchy, here's your chance for redemption.

List your inbound transfer requests. Be specific with the names.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Redemption? My, my.... ;)

Rio
Ayala
Rustu
Hassan Sas

That's about it
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Originally posted by lchk:
<strong>

Redemption? My, my.... ;)

Rio
Ayala
Rustu
Hassan Sas

That's about it</strong><hr></blockquote>

Explain each selection and what role they would play at United. Be specific.
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Originally posted by Davo:
<strong>

What???

So if you sign Ferdinand its have a big mental affect on the others and make them good?</strong><hr></blockquote>

As in galvanizing the rest

I'm sure it will do wonders for a defence a little low on confidence
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Originally posted by lchk:
<strong>Raoul,

You didn't answer my question - what makes you so sure that Rio is joining us?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Have I once said that 'I'm sure' that Rio is coming. I've used Ferdinand as a hypothetical all along.
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Originally posted by Davo:
<strong>

I'm not convinced that you have to change the style of your whole team, just create a defensive unit that can learn to play together...

And I think you need one CB who is dominant..good in the air and if he's in any doubt re likely danger will boot the ball to row Z if necessary...not pass it to an opponent in a cultured fashion</strong><hr></blockquote>


maybe... but you'll have noticed that our whole midfield is very attacking.. keane, veron, becks, giggs, scholes.. etc all love to spend most of their time in attacking postions.. even Silvestre and Gaz love to over lap on the wings, which isn't great when our weak point is the defence... Furthermore.. Giggs and Becks rarely track back like they used to... in the early-mid ninities..they would never forget their defensive 'duties'.... However,we are much better to watch now... maybe the addition of one 'old fashioned' CB, as you've stated, might make the difference..but we'll always be vulnerable at the back..especially on counters.. (thats if we continue this style)
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Originally posted by Raoul:
<strong>

Explain each selection and what role they would play at United. Be specific.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Rio and Ayala - would like them to be the new centre-half partnership but since Blanc's signed, it remains a pipe dream. Rio as the intelligent ball-playing defender and Ayala getting in there for the dirty work. Would be a great complement for each other.

Rustu - apart from his obvious talents, he would give Barthez a good challenge for the keeper's spot and keep him on his toes as well (no more of that tomfoolery around the penalty box)

Sas - I believe he's an even better player than Duff, would make a great striker as well as a fill-in for Giggs when he's injured
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Originally posted by Raoul:
<strong>

Have I once said that 'I'm sure' that Rio is coming. I've used Ferdinand as a hypothetical all along.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I see, thanks for the clarification.

Are you confident we'll get him?
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Originally posted by lchk:
<strong>

As in galvanizing the rest

I'm sure it will do wonders for a defence a little low on confidence</strong><hr></blockquote>


Too vague..

How are you sure?
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Originally posted by lchk:
<strong>
Rustu - apart from his obvious talents, he would give Barthez a good challenge for the keeper's spot and keep him on his toes as well (no more of that tomfoolery around the penalty box)

Sas - I believe he's an even better player than Duff, would make a great striker as well as a fill-in for Giggs when he's injured</strong><hr></blockquote>

You can't have Rustu and Barthez together for long. One season at best, and then one of them will go. Then what? Sign Toldo to give the one who stayed better battle.

As for Sas, he's a great player it seems, but he's older than Duff (26), will need a work permit and you never know how players from Turkey will fit in. Some do, some don't. There isn't so much risk with Duff.
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Originally posted by Amir:
<strong>


As for Sas, he's a great player it seems, but he's older than Duff (26), will need a work permit and you never know how players from Turkey will fit in. Some do, some don't. There isn't so much risk with Duff.</strong><hr></blockquote>


thats true..


but Tuguay's done well and i can't see why Sass won't succeed... Turkish players aren't exactly fairies, so, i think, Sass will settle down in the PL.

however, i'd prefer Duff due to is age and the fact that he won't need as much time to settle in...but i bet he'd cost more..
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Originally posted by giggzy:
<strong>


maybe... but you'll have noticed that our whole midfield is very attacking.. keane, veron, becks, giggs, scholes.. etc all love to spend most of their time in attacking postions.. even Silvestre and Gaz love to over lap on the wings, which isn't great when our weak point is the defence... Furthermore.. Giggs and Becks rarely track back like they used to... in the early-mid ninities..they would never forget their defensive 'duties'.... However,we are much better to watch now... maybe the addition of one 'old fashioned' CB, as you've stated, might make the difference..but we'll always be vulnerable at the back..especially on counters.. (thats if we continue this style)</strong><hr></blockquote>

Beckham always seem to carry out the defensive side to his game to me? You need to be more solid, and this should start from defence...you conceded some ridiculous goals last season..this isn't just down to your style..

I'm a big fan of partnerships at CB, and if possible keeping the same back 4 as often as possible so they can adapt to suit each other...but it obviously helps if you've got decent defenders, and I don't really rate any of your CB's at the moment, in fact I thought Johnsen was the best you had and he's gone...
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Originally posted by Davo:
<strong>

Beckham always seem to carry out the defensive side to his game to me? You need to be more solid, and this should start from defence...you conceded some ridiculous goals last season..this isn't just down to your style..

I'm a big fan of partnerships at CB, and if possible keeping the same back 4 as often as possible so they can adapt to suit each other...but it obviously helps if you've got decent defenders, and I don't really rate any of your CB's at the moment, in fact I thought Johnsen was the best you had and he's gone...</strong><hr></blockquote>

we'll see.. i agree that we need a good stable back four... but i don't think we need two CBs.. one world class CB will be good enough to partner Blanc...IMO.
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Originally posted by lchk:
<strong>

I see, thanks for the clarification.

Are you confident we'll get him?</strong><hr></blockquote>

I don't know. It depends on whats going on behind closed doors between Fergie, the board etc. They still have to decide which players they want, and of those who is available.

Typically, the scouts, the manager and coaches, will closely scrutinize each player and position. At the end of that, they'll prioritize which positions need to be addressed. After that, they will make a list of 5 or so players that they would like to buy for that position. If the
#1 central defender on the list (lets say its Rio) is available, then they will evaulate his availability, price, and desire to play for United. If all three criteria are met then the process can move forward. If any one of the three criteria aren't met, then the player is crossed off and the process moves on to the #2 player on the list. Sometimes clubs will look into 2 or 3 players at the same time to save time.

There's alot of planning and preparation that goes into this stuff, so its almost impossible to accurately speculate who is coming for sure. There are alot of intangibles.
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I've just heard Laurent Blanc on a French radio. He's very happy to have signed for another year and hope to offer to us what we missed last year : a trophey. He has said that United won't buy many players, no more than 4. He has said he knows nothing concerning the Thuram rumours.

The players will be back at training on the 10th of July.
 
Originally posted by giggzy:
<strong>
even Silvestre and Gaz love to over lap on the wings, which isn't great when our weak point is the defence... </strong><hr></blockquote>

It's not about 'love', it's about told. Gary Neville is hardly your every day attacking full back. If he was told to stay back and not overlap - he wouldn't.

Silvestre's attacking abilities are more natural, but considering the fact he sees himself as a centerhalf, I'm sure he too would stay back if told so.

Fergie tells them to attack, he can tell them not too. But we're United, not Liverpool... ;)
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Originally posted by Raoul:
<strong>4 players sounds like alot.</strong><hr></blockquote>

He has said "two", may be "three or four". Not necessarily four big signatures BTW, may be one or two big signatures, and two young players.
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I'm not sure about this one. It's nice to have him on board for another year (just as insurance in case we can't get who we want if nothing else), but I hope it'll be as backup with a new centreback coming in to be a long-term partner for Brown/O'Shea. We might even get to keep the same centreback partnership for more than one season in a row, that way.
 
I think he's been kept on for another year as security too.

He's someone that can get the job done, if the newcomers (if there are any) cannot.
 
Originally posted by Davo:
<strong>


Too vague..

How are you sure?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Just my gut feel - an injection of new blood will be exactly what the defence need and it's not just about replacing departing players
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Originally posted by Raoul:
<strong>Its really a no brainer between Duff and Sas. Duff would be a much better fit.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I just feel that Sas has that little bit of extra skill over Duff that would help us a lot in unlocking tight European defences

I know where you are coming from - Duff is already playing in the PL, however Sas with his european experience would provide a good counter-argument
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Originally posted by Elfie:
<strong>I've just heard Laurent Blanc on a French radio. He's very happy to have signed for another year and hope to offer to us what we missed last year : a trophey. He has said that United won't buy many players, no more than 4. He has said he knows nothing concerning the Thuram rumours.

The players will be back at training on the 10th of July.</strong><hr></blockquote>

4 is not many? :eek:
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Originally posted by lchk:
<strong>

I just feel that Sas has that little bit of extra skill over Duff that would help us a lot in unlocking tight European defences

I know where you are coming from - Duff is already playing in the PL, however Sas with his european experience would provide a good counter-argument</strong><hr></blockquote>


Duff is 3 years younger, Premiership tested, speaks English, and is a United fan. All common sense would point to Duff.
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Originally posted by Raoul:
<strong>


Duff is 3 years younger, Premiership tested, speaks English, and is a United fan. All common sense would point to Duff.</strong><hr></blockquote>

How about in terms of ability?
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Originally posted by lchk:
<strong>

How about in terms of ability?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Duff would still be a better choice because his ability is tied in to the other factors (Prem tested, speaks english, Utd fan etc). Veron, although widely regarded as world class prior to coming to OT, has struggled because he needed time to adjust. Its the risk you take with foreigners. Always go British/Irish first when you can, and then go abroad.
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Good gOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!!!!

We need a new defender!

Forget Duff!

1. WC CB Defender
2. Flexible LB/RB defensive player
3. 30+ year old class striker like Sheringham (If we can't get you know who, who we should break the bank for IMO)
4. Wing player that can give Giggs a kick up the arse.
5. Give Chadwick some more food.

;)
 
Defenders:
Rio
Riggott
Terry
Finnan

Midfielders:
Duff

Strikers:
Gudjhohnsen
Zamora
Ashton

;)
 
Originally posted by Raoul:
<strong>

1. Blanc is already playing at a very high level. He makes up for his age and lack of pace with experience and positioning.

2. On the contrary, it allows Rio and Wes to develop a partnership in the games where Wes plays. Allowing them to gradually work together will be more beneficial in the long run.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Assuming Rio comes onboard, I think Gary Neville would have a stronger case of partnering him instead of wesley
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1. Ferdinand
2. God knows
3. PDC (Ronaldo please)
4. Duff
5. 2lb prime steak twice a day! ;)
 
Originally posted by Raoul:
<strong>

Duff would still be a better choice because his ability is tied in to the other factors (Prem tested, speaks english, Utd fan etc). Veron, although widely regarded as world class prior to coming to OT, has struggled because he needed time to adjust. Its the risk you take with foreigners. Always go British/Irish first when you can, and then go abroad.</strong><hr></blockquote>

It's also about availability - somehow I don't see Souness being willing to part with his most prized asset, after all Blackburn aren't too hard up for cash. The same goes for Finnan at Fulham as well.

Another question for you - do you think we need a versatile fullback (ala irwin) and if you do, any specific recommendations?
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Originally posted by lchk:
<strong>

It's also about availability - somehow I don't see Souness being willing to part with his most prized asset, after all Blackburn aren't too hard up for cash. The same goes for Finnan at Fulham as well.

Another question for you - do you think we need a versatile fullback (ala irwin) and if you do, any specific recommendations?</strong><hr></blockquote>


Well one thing is certain. Money talks, bullshit walks. If we really wanted Duff, then we would land him (probably with Yorke and cash money going the other way).

I don't see a need to spend alot money on a new fullback since Silvestre has the job in hand. We should use Irwin's departure to look at giving one of the reserve players a chance.
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I think that Raoul and Ichk are secretly in love.

Opposites attract you know! ;)
 
Originally posted by WeasteDevil:
<strong>I think that Raoul and Ichk are secretly in love.

Opposites attract you know! ;) </strong><hr></blockquote>

What about you. The distant admirer. ;)
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Originally posted by Raoul:
<strong>


Well one thing is certain. Money talks, bullshit walks. If we really wanted Duff, then we would land him (probably with Yorke and cash money going the other way).

I don't see a need to spend alot money on a new fullback since Silvestre has the job in hand. We should use Irwin's departure to look at giving one of the reserve players a chance.</strong><hr></blockquote>

We are rather thin in our fullback cover

Are any of our youngsters up to the mark for it?
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