The Real report is bogus. I can't see them saying Maicon is too expensive but willing to drop another 30m on a forward.
BTW, did Real sign cAshley Cole?
BTW, did Real sign cAshley Cole?
Mario Balotelli
- Thread starter devilish
- Start date
And someone was telling me here he's not ahead of Macheda...
It's when one sub seems to be on a different pattern to the others that questions get raised - but we (fans) don't always know what's going on with our own players, so we can't know the details of someone else's. That's why I hope we (United) have got inside knowledge
He is ahead of him in the Italy U21 team and looks set to make the breakthrough with the big guys. In fact Prandelli sees him an important figure in his national side.
Are you joking? Who was this prejudice fool?
We don't need Owen more often this season...not if SAF thinks Macheda, Harnendez and Diouf have a future at the club. If anything, I'd like to see Owen only used for cup games and maybe as a sub in games we are already winning.
Lets face it, Owen isn't going to get better with age. He's good to have in the squad, but we need to look to the future and Owen doesn't represent that.
Thank God no one was stupid enough to say that about Giggs seven years ago. Oh wait, everyone on here thinks we should get rid of Giggs after every bad game...
My point is, age shouldn't be the defining factor in deciding Owen's immediate future or role. If he can get back to something like his best, which he showed real signs of being able to do so last season, there's no reason why he can't make a real contribution.
Certainly Hernandez, Macheda and Welbeck are still some distance behind him in the pecking order...
My point is, age shouldn't be the defining factor in deciding Owen's immediate future or role. If he can get back to something like his best, which he showed real signs of being able to do so last season, there's no reason why he can't make a real contribution.
Certainly Hernandez, Macheda and Welbeck are still some distance behind him in the pecking order...
Balotelli would be good for Macheda I reckon. Unfortunately it would also be good for the Italian national side as well eventually.
C'mon now, I'm not one of the Owen out lads...but this comparison does not make sense. The way Giggs has retooled his game, is not an option for Owen. So there is no real chance of him improving with age, but this doesn't mean I want rid of him.
I think if he can manage to stay fit, he is a useful player to have around.
Why is it not an option for Owen not to adapt his game?
Because since he was a young 18 year old at the World Cup scoring that goal against Argentina, he has always been an out and out striker. Michael Owen is a finisher, nothing more, nothing less.
He does not have the luxury or dropping into central midfield, to compensate for his lack of pace. He is a striker, that is all he will ever be. He has lost a fair bit of his pace, but he is still quick enough to get in ahead of many defenders, provided he is fit, to still be a factor at this level.
But I cannot foresee Michael Owen wowing anyone at the age of 35-36, other than his kids in the backyard.
He's adapting his game all the time, as all good players do. Despite showing signs of still having pace against Wolfsburg, what he mostly offers United now is his movement and instinct within the box along with, potentially, composure and finishing skills.
I agree with what I think Brophs point was - Rooney would benefit from having a real alternative to him so that he's not run into the ground as he was in danger of last season. Essentially, we were reduced to being totally reliant on Rooney at times last season without Owen - in the absence of a major new signing, we need him ready to contribute.
I agree with what I think Brophs point was - Rooney would benefit from having a real alternative to him so that he's not run into the ground as he was in danger of last season. Essentially, we were reduced to being totally reliant on Rooney at times last season without Owen - in the absence of a major new signing, we need him ready to contribute.
I'd take him and think it would indicate we'll play 4-2-3-1 even more regularly in the coming seasons.
Our main strike force would consist of Rooney, Berbatov (assuming he is not sold), Owen and Balotelli. Balotelli can play on both wings too, Macheda can play on the left and upfront while I expect Welbeck and Diouf to be loaned out.
Come the start of the season 2011/12 there is a good chancen Owen and maybe even Berbatov won't be at the club anymore and there is enough room for Rooney, Hernandez, Macheda, Welbeck and Diouf, maybe one of them might end up as a winger though. There is no guarantee for the young players to even make it, so it can't be bad to have an experienced face like Owen around.
Our main strike force would consist of Rooney, Berbatov (assuming he is not sold), Owen and Balotelli. Balotelli can play on both wings too, Macheda can play on the left and upfront while I expect Welbeck and Diouf to be loaned out.
Come the start of the season 2011/12 there is a good chancen Owen and maybe even Berbatov won't be at the club anymore and there is enough room for Rooney, Hernandez, Macheda, Welbeck and Diouf, maybe one of them might end up as a winger though. There is no guarantee for the young players to even make it, so it can't be bad to have an experienced face like Owen around.
We would have 2 young smoking strikers instead of 1. Actually 3 smoking strikers with Berbatov
My feeling for this coming season is Owen will play a few games, probably get injured and ultimately retire or just not be able to get back into the team.
If we buy Balotelli then I think Berba will be shipped out.
Diouf and Welbeck in all likelihood will be loaned out which leaves Rooney, Hernandez, Balotelli, and Kiko as our first choice.
Would be nice this way, might take alot of the strain off Rooney having so many young and vibrant players vying for "his" spot - and if they excel, he can be rested knowing that we still have the guns in our arsenal to beat lower quality sides.
7 years ago Giggs was still a world class player who could dazzle anyone with trickery and pace. He had also years left on his contract and no one believed that he could leave United to join Liverpool for free in a years time. That would be unthinkable. Can you say the same about Owen?
Owen has lost much of his pace, he is on 1 year contract and if Liverpool steps in then I wont be surprised that he would show the middle finger and leaves. Mind you if Owen does well then well and good, he should keep his place. On the other hand if I had to choose between Hernandez doing well and Owen doing well I would choose the former.
The first part of this post, I feel, is cloud cuckoo land.
The second part, in bold, is also unrealistic as Hernandez and Macheda are not ready yet to be given serious responsibilities in the Premier League.
Personally I think Macheda has all the tools to become a super player, but he needs to be injury-free now. Balotelli definitely looks like the real deal, but 35 Million Euros? We basically have no money to spend (or to be precise: we hardly spend any money, only after raising some by selling players), so how should we finance such a deal?
Yeah, my thoughts as well. It would be nice if he stayed around though, awesome option to have against bottom of the table teams and desperately wants to succeed at Old Trafford. One more year is my guess, but only if Fergie chooses not to buy now.
My point was simply to be weary of writing United players off on the basis of age. If you need me to remind you of how loads of people on here have totally written Giggs, Scholes and Neville off countless times on here recently, I'll send you the links to the threads.
I really doubt Owen is the kind of guy to let his career whimper out. I still think he's got too much talent, and is young enough at 30, to at some point get everything right and have a true Indian summer - my guess is that may well happen this season.
Amazing how short people's memories are - how anyone can argue he's got practically nothing left to offer his beyond me. Before his unlucky injury, he was getting serious props even on Redcafe for his contribution and people were complaining he wasn't used enough.
Why prefer Hernandez to Owen simply because of youth? I love seeing guys like Giggs, Scholes, Larsson, Owen and Blanc turning out for United and giving calm, classy, mature performances. Let's not be another Arsenal - maturity and experience are good qualities too. Owen is younger than Diego Forlan - still has a lot to offer in my opinion.
If SAF is planning to utilise the lone striker role then its far from being unrealistic. Balotelli is still young but he has already over 80 Serie A caps. Hernandez's biggest stumbling block is the fact that he has yet to play in Europe. On the other hand it didn't stopped him to score goals against Netherlands, Argentina and France. While Macheda is still a kid but can easily cover the 4/5th striker role
Really? Did you read the post?
You seriously think it's realistic that Owen will retire this season and we'll sell Berbatov this summer if we buy Balotelli?
I do wish sometimes that SAF could read some of your thoughts - he'd have a good chuckle...
You misunderstood me. I prefer to see Hernandez succeed at OT rather then Owen because chicarito represents the future. With 5 years left on his contract it only makes sense that I would want him to succeed more then a golden oldie. Ill say the same about Obertan (Id wish to see him being able to put Giggs on the bench and the latter is a United legend who wouldn't dream to go to Liverpool if he had the chance), Rafael (Id love to see him do so well to be able to put Wes/Gaz on the bench) and Anderson (Id love to see him do so well to be able to put Scholes on the bench).
I couldn't disagree more.
Lets tackle things one by one.
Considering that Owen was brought as a short term gap + his injury track record is far from positive, is it unrealistic to believe that Owen will pick another long term injury next season? Do you think that United will offer him a new contract if he does that? And it unrealistic that Owen may not be able to find a decent club after another injury set back?
Out of the three the least probable is the third and the reason being that Liverpool (or some small EPL side) may be so cash stripped to give Owen a life line. On the other hand I won't be surprised if Owen picks a long term injury and I wont be surprised if United wont offer him a new contract after that
Now on Berba. If United spends some 30m on Balotelli do you think that United will not listen to offers for Berba? I mean when was the last time when we had around 100m worth of talent upfront (without one being on loan)? I wont be surprised that if United brings in Balotelli (I still think that such transfer is difficult to occur) then United will try to offload another jewel to balance the books and Berba is my opinion the most likely to leave.
Are you Owen's agent by any chance?
Comeon what's wrong in preferring a kid to succeed rather then a striker whose on a 1 yr contract and has an injury record which is far from positive?
This makes sense to me
One things for sure. Hernandez will benefit immensely by training with the likes of Rooney and Owen, as well as the rest of the squad. The fact that he already speaks fluent English is a plus, which is why I don't think it will take long for him to settle in and start contributing results.
erm is there anything wrong with what I said?
Nothing at all Dev. Other than it sounds like a Bablefish windup orchestrated by Plech.
huh ?
Well it doesn't make sense in English but we get the gist.
It was just funny the way it was written that's all. Kinda Babbelfish. But yeah, if he comes in then Berba may be on the way out
Forza Balotelli!!
Or maybe he won't be
I'm not very good at getting involved in this transfer speculation lark. I don't like predicting one thing when the other thing will inevitably happen
You may not have noticed it and lets face it is very difficult to notice but my grammer isn't exactly perfect.
I reckon your grammar is fine devilish
devilfish