First of all - I didn't say Coleman was inferior; I said he has yet to prove that he is of a higher calibre than Rafael. People, like you, dismiss our own players far too easily after one poor season. Last year, Rafael was superb; imo, he was at least as good as what I've seen from Coleman this season. I know Coleman is talented, but so is Rafael. Replacing Rafael with Coleman is to me like replacing DDG with Courtois - some may argue that it is a slight upgrade based on this season, but I doubt the quality is much better, at least not to the extent that it is where the money is best spent.
Show me where I mentioned anything bad in regards to Rafael, that's a lack of reading on your part. Also, as for "I didn't say Coleman was inferior", nor did I claim you to, so I'm not sure why your bringing that up, I asked IF you thought he was, not WHY, very different. FWIW, I rate both players quite similarly, both very good young RB's, neither world class level yet consistently, which is fine considering their age, however Rafael does get injured a lot.
I didn't say we shouldn't go for a player from an average team; however, players from average teams rarely improve the top teams instantly. There are many players from average teams who were great in their average teams who failed to deliver for the top teams as it is quite a step up. Coleman is quality, but so is Rafael; it is not the position we need to strengthen at all. We need back up for him, and Coleman is too good to be back up. It would instead be interesting to see if Varela or Janko could step up.
I'm not sure why you are again claiming you didn't do something you did, when you say "I didn't say we shouldn't go for a player from an average team", what is this?
They are an average club - United need more than that.
... I've not claimed you've said anything you haven't, it seems to be me who has been misquoted by you. However, stupidness aside, I'd hate to see us go for Coleman, but not because he's from Everton was my bottom point, which I think is what you meant anyway.
Rossa is making a good point though. The jump from a team like Everton to Man United is huge. Doesnt seem like it now because we are in a poor position but it's a different level in terms of expectation,pressure and demands. Fellaini is a good player but will be a United class sort of player at United? He did really well for Everton but has yet shown the same kind of form here. This is the risk you take when you players from average teams. They will either sink or swim. People see a player do well for a lesser club and assume that same form will translate over to when they arrive to the big club. However, this isn't always the case and it's certainly possible that said player underwhelms.At the top it's more cutthroat. That's why Lukaku is on loan. Because he still needs to learn how to be a striker at a top club. Fans will look at his goal count and say it was ridiculous for Mourinho to let him go on loan. But Lukaku at this moment in time doesnt really get involved in the build-up, is a bit rash in his decision-making, low average of aerial duels won for a player his size and is inconsistent with his hold-up play. These are things which are quickly shown up at a bigger club that is easier to get away with a lesser one. THat's why at West Brom he was simply a battering ram and it worked for him but that wont necessarily work at Chelsea when the demands are higher.
It is a big jump up, yes. However saying
They are an average club - United need more than that
, is quite different from saying that it's a big step, so he doesn't really have a point in that. In respect of your comments on Lukaku, fully understood but it's moot, I don't mean to be rude, but Lukaku before last season hadn't even played in the EPL, and a striker is a completely different position and requirements, COleman has had over 100 first team appearances already, there's a slight bit of difference despite the ages between PL experience. You overall point in that it's a big jump up to the first, I'd have to obviously agree with, but I'm not sure why it's worth mentioning as for every lower club signing (that a larger club makes) that fails, I can easily show you one that works... So I don't buy into personally, if your good enough, you'll catch up. But the point was, being "good enough" isn't defined by the level of club you play for currently.[/quote][/quote]
It just doesnt make sense to me that in the UK fans will talk about the EPL as the most competitive league in the world but then implicitly want their club to weaken the competition by buying up some of the players from lesser clubs. How exactly does that maintain the level of competitiveness which is so often branded about.