Back in Sir Alex time I remember our scout coming on the media saying that he personally scouted and gave Sir Alex recommendations to sign Massimo Taibi. The fee he suggested was so ridiculous that took Venezia's owner by surprise. In fact he went on the Italian media saying that he would have sold Taibi for half that fee. Anyway during his time as scout of the Serie A, this guy unearthed gems like Mickey Silvestre and Laurent Blanc. Then Sir Alex asked him to focus solely on the South American market were the guy in question had already suggested a certain Celio Silva to be signed. The genius gave the thumbs up to two other gems that would change Manchester United forever aka Kleberson and Forlan
That scout was Martin Ferguson whom I'm pretty sure he was hired because he was great in the job not because he was related to you know who. My point is that if even professionals can mess up (lets face it our scouts had been messing up for at least 6 years) then imagine what posters at redcafe can do. TBF from my experience in hiring people, judging people can be damn tough.People are volatile, moody and might not settle in a job. People whom you're absolutely certain they would mess up might step up and surprise you. Meanwhile those with the talent to make it and a history of having a great attitude elsewhere might suddenly down the tools and act as pricks.
Ultimately no one is an expert in here and people might follow the same player week in week out and come out with the same conclusion. Instead of laughing
@Devil may care for getting it so wrong about Mane and co, we should be asking why our scouts, managers and owner has snubbed those players instead. They are the ones who should get things right not us.
Returning to James I have serious concerns about him making it with United. Having said that from what I've read in here he seem to have three characteristics which we lack (ie pace, decent crossing and workrate). I've seen many wingers in my lifetime who carved a great career for themselves despite not being world beaters.
Taking that in consideration + the fact that he's a young player whose coming on cheap then I am not too bothered of us signing him up.