Originally posted by Brendan Shine:
<strong>I see Martin Ferguson's mucky fingerprints all over this debacle.
The football world is broke, we ar flush and the PLC insists on paying over the odds for shite.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Was he involved in the Forlan deal!?as we got a 1/2 mil player for 7.5mil..
<img src="graemlins/houllier.gif" border="0" alt="[Houllier]" /> <img src="graemlins/houllier.gif" border="0" alt="[Houllier]" />
Originally posted by ALGred:
<strong>
Was he involved in the Forlan deal!?as we got a 1/2 mil player for 7.5mil..
<img src="graemlins/houllier.gif" border="0" alt="[Houllier]" /> <img src="graemlins/houllier.gif" border="0" alt="[Houllier]" />
Ricardo purportedly costs 1.5 million pounds - hardly a comparison with Forlan's transfer fee
Originally posted by classyred:
<strong>
aaah now I see he was on about the other Ricardo who plays for Boavista who is cup tied..
This Ricardo plays for Valladolid...Sussed It!
Hehe my mistake. A 3rd choice for Spain should be ok for us but I still prefer Carini.
He's in the bag according to Sky:
<a href="http://msn.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,1860-1062708,00.html" target="_blank">Ricardo having medical</a>
I dont think it'll spark a huge street party but it's cover that was badly needed.
<a href="http://msn.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,1860-1062708,00.html" target="_blank">Ricardo having medical</a>
I dont think it'll spark a huge street party but it's cover that was badly needed.
That's great! But I expect to see another striker before tommorrows deadline, unless we are willing to call Webber back and put him as fourth choice!
I think we all pretty much realise there won't be another signing unless the club kept something really under wraps. And we haven't done that in a few years.
So, it's Ricardo only.
So, it's Ricardo only.
I honestly dont think we 'need' anyone else. We've got the worst injury list for years and we're not exactly stretched (he says not wanting to tempt fate )
A striker would be a real bonus but we're strong enough to take the Prem back and have a good crack at Europe. Forlan will start scoring soon, Rio will organise the defence, Veron will start opening teams up. No worries
)A striker would be a real bonus but we're strong enough to take the Prem back and have a good crack at Europe. Forlan will start scoring soon, Rio will organise the defence, Veron will start opening teams up. No worries
I still think a left back and a striker would have been vital.
'vital'
I can ony frown at that. 'Nice' surely, but we're equiped to cope without either.
I can ony frown at that. 'Nice' surely, but we're equiped to cope without either.
<a href="http://www.manutd.com/news/fullstory.sps?inewsid=21232" target="_blank">manutd.com - united seal ricardo deal</a>
Hooray! Chris Turner the second, with the added bonus of communication problems...
Suddenly I'm a Barthez fan!
Suddenly I'm a Barthez fan!
Here's how they measure up:
Barthez
birth date: 6/28/1971
birth place: Lavelanet
birth Nation: France
height: 183
weight: 78
nationality: France
position: goalkeeper
Lopez Felipe Ricardo
birth date: 12/30/1971
birth place: Madrid
birth Nation: Spain
height: 187
weight: 88
nationality: Spain
position: goalkeeper
Barthez
birth date: 6/28/1971
birth place: Lavelanet
birth Nation: France
height: 183
weight: 78
nationality: France
position: goalkeeper
Lopez Felipe Ricardo
birth date: 12/30/1971
birth place: Madrid
birth Nation: Spain
height: 187
weight: 88
nationality: Spain
position: goalkeeper
"At the present moment in time Fabien has an injury," said United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
"Concern meant we had to move for a third goalkeeper.
"The important thing is that Ricardo is available for European football. He has the experience and he is the second goalkeeper in Spain behind (Iker) Casillas.
"A lot of people believe if he was with a bigger team he would be in the international side, so with his level of ability he was an easy choice.
"Challenge is always there no matter what position it is. A new player can command his place by his performance on the field."
Hmm... why do I get the feeling Fergie has never seen him? His level of ability? Inconsistent mediocrity is the best way to describe that... As for Spain he was third choice behind Canizares and Cassillas... who can't even get in Madrid's team... and Spain aren't exactly strong between the sticks these days
MANCHESTER United have completed the signing of Real Valladolid goalkeeper Ricardo Lopez for £1.5 million.
The 30-year-old signed a three-year deal earlier today (friday) and will be eligible for tomorrow's Premiership match at Sunderland.
The Madrid-born 'keeper, who was Spain's number two at the World Cup, will also be registered in the Champions League squad with UEFA before tomorrow's deadline.
The player remained in Spain yesterday training with Valladolid while his agent came to England to thrash out the deal.
Lopez said, "I am happy, like a mad man. It happened so late, I was very nervous waiting for the fax last night and thinking that I may not be on the plane to Manchester.
"But I cannot complain about anything. The offer from Manchester United is very good. I really did not expect this to happen to me."
Lopez may not be the only newcomer although Reds' chief executive Peter Kenyon told M.E.N. Sport today, "We are running out of time now."
Meanwhile, as United import one new player a former Red finally got fixed up with a club.
Ronny Johnsen, whose Old Trafford contract expired in June, has signed for Aston Villa on a Bosman free transfer. The Norwegian defender will go straight into Graham Taylor's squad for tomorrow's visit to Bolton.
Meanwhile, United are still in ongoing discussions with Lazio over the payment plan for the outstanding money they are still owed for Jaap Stam.
The financially embarrassed Italians have still to pay £12m of the £16m they agreed for the Dutchman who moved to Rome last August. One solution could still be an Old Trafford switch for Lazio striker Claudio Lopez that would wipe out the debt.
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Why do we leave things so late
The 30-year-old signed a three-year deal earlier today (friday) and will be eligible for tomorrow's Premiership match at Sunderland.
The Madrid-born 'keeper, who was Spain's number two at the World Cup, will also be registered in the Champions League squad with UEFA before tomorrow's deadline.
The player remained in Spain yesterday training with Valladolid while his agent came to England to thrash out the deal.
Lopez said, "I am happy, like a mad man. It happened so late, I was very nervous waiting for the fax last night and thinking that I may not be on the plane to Manchester.
"But I cannot complain about anything. The offer from Manchester United is very good. I really did not expect this to happen to me."
Lopez may not be the only newcomer although Reds' chief executive Peter Kenyon told M.E.N. Sport today, "We are running out of time now."
Meanwhile, as United import one new player a former Red finally got fixed up with a club.
Ronny Johnsen, whose Old Trafford contract expired in June, has signed for Aston Villa on a Bosman free transfer. The Norwegian defender will go straight into Graham Taylor's squad for tomorrow's visit to Bolton.
Meanwhile, United are still in ongoing discussions with Lazio over the payment plan for the outstanding money they are still owed for Jaap Stam.
The financially embarrassed Italians have still to pay £12m of the £16m they agreed for the Dutchman who moved to Rome last August. One solution could still be an Old Trafford switch for Lazio striker Claudio Lopez that would wipe out the debt.
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Why do we leave things so late
I don't think 32 is old for a keeper do you? Kahn is only a year younger, and you wouldn't say no to him being between our posts would you?
Would you also rate Cesar over Casillas? I wouldn't, they are miles apart IMO. It seems that Casillas and the man of the forest just don't get on!
Would you also rate Cesar over Casillas? I wouldn't, they are miles apart IMO. It seems that Casillas and the man of the forest just don't get on!
While I don't contend with 32 being acceptable for a keeper I do contend with you labelling it "young" under any circumstances!
Re Ceasar over Casillas, no I don't go along with that, but you can see why it happens... Casillas gives up so many rebounds, and while he does seem to block them all he doesn't fill you with confidence... sooner or later that luck will run out/his reflexes will start to resemble a humans and the goals will fly in. I'd be a lot happier if he either held the ball, or put it around a post in the traditional way.
Re Ceasar over Casillas, no I don't go along with that, but you can see why it happens... Casillas gives up so many rebounds, and while he does seem to block them all he doesn't fill you with confidence... sooner or later that luck will run out/his reflexes will start to resemble a humans and the goals will fly in. I'd be a lot happier if he either held the ball, or put it around a post in the traditional way.
Ok, maybe "young" was not quite the appropriate word for Canizares, but Casillas is "young" and has much to learn, and he will IMO - he could be the best in the world.
I agree that he needs to improve on his catching and holding tecnique (a very British quality), but there is no better "shot stopper" in the business IMO. I've seen him win Real and Spain so many games with his amazing ability to stop virtual certainties going in. At times he is incredible at that.
I agree that he needs to improve on his catching and holding tecnique (a very British quality), but there is no better "shot stopper" in the business IMO. I've seen him win Real and Spain so many games with his amazing ability to stop virtual certainties going in. At times he is incredible at that.
I heartily concur with the Cassilas comments... just a shame our new boy isn't fit to lace his boots.
True, but £1.5m isn't a bad price for someone who after all is only going to become our second or third choice keeper. The Casillas price would be far too high for us at the moment after shedding out all of that cash on Ferdinand. We do need to start looking at a Barthez replacement soon though, as his form and his fitness are starting to waver. How do you replace the Great Dane though?
How to replace the great Dane? Simple, give someone the shirt and a bit of protection and let them get on with it... not keep bringing in more players and destroying confidence. Carroll has the ability to be our keeper for the next decade... what will this do to his confidence? What message does it send to the youngsters deemed unfit to be third choice?
Regarding Carroll and the youngsters, it's all about confidence in their ability and ego IMO. I think this will do Carroll a world of good, as I think that he has the right temperament and belief in his own ability to fight for his place - it will only make him a better player.
The trouble with many of the youngsters is that they were greedy for more first team football after their loan spells and didn't have enough confidence in their own ability to believe that one day they could climb the ladder and get the first team shirt for themseleves.
They should have taken a bloody good look at Solskjaer and Butt to see how they can shine without getting a first team place every game. It's a fact of life with modern football and playing for a club as big as United that you are not guaranteed a first team place. You just need to be able to handle that fact and get on with it!
The trouble with many of the youngsters is that they were greedy for more first team football after their loan spells and didn't have enough confidence in their own ability to believe that one day they could climb the ladder and get the first team shirt for themseleves.
They should have taken a bloody good look at Solskjaer and Butt to see how they can shine without getting a first team place every game. It's a fact of life with modern football and playing for a club as big as United that you are not guaranteed a first team place. You just need to be able to handle that fact and get on with it!
At the end of the day Barthez is too injury prone for us not to bring in another keeper. Carroll will remain ahead of Ricardo in my pinion and I think you'll find that will actually do his confidence no end of good. I also think being third choice to Cassillas and Canizares is not something to be scotched at the way you have mate. Good addition to the squad bearing in mind what I've read here - especially from Weaste who is in the best position to comment on this chap seeing as he's out there.
Rubbish. There are three goalkeepers in each World Cup squad. That doesn't necessarily mean the third in each squad is there because there's no-one better. Granted, with England this is the case but it isn't necessarily so with other countries. Anyway, would I be right in thinking you've never even seen him play?
That's a good news we've got Ricardo. I never watch him play but if he's Spain's international he won't be bad. Carroll is inexperienced and he just cannot provide the kind of confidence and scurity to the defence yet. I believe Ricardo will be far better than Carroll at this moment. If he can settle down and perform stably, I even hope he can put pressure on Barthez.
Never seen Ricardo play but as was said he is in the Spain squad so you would expect him to be decent and he is coming off the best season of his career apparently, and 30 is prime time for a goalie.
A big scandanavian stopper would have been fine with me, there must be some good ones out there for a reasonable price. They always seem to fit in well in England.
A big scandanavian stopper would have been fine with me, there must be some good ones out there for a reasonable price. They always seem to fit in well in England.
just hope he doesn't turn out to be another Taibi.
Rem Massimo was also brought in as a short term solution for Mark Bosnich?
Rem Massimo was also brought in as a short term solution for Mark Bosnich?
Casillas is one of the world's best, no argument. And if you consider his age, he's heir to Kahn's throne as the world's best. But Ricardo is basically a nobody, who's normally been a second choice keeper, he's used to not playing games, its only last season that he impressed and got to the world cup squad as third choice. He's experienced, but can't be particularly talented. He's also cheap, for a reason. So he won't be challenging first team spot, and he actually cost about the same as Carroll.
I think he would cover for Barthez in Champions League matches, while Roy would continue to deputise for many of the PL games except perhaps the big ones. Considering we've been linked to the likes of Carini and Recber, we've clearly not managed to get a top keeper this time, and so we'll have another season of Barthez, with the ability to drop him if he performs poorly - hopefully this will keep him on his game. If he doesn't have a great season, then we can pick up Recber on a bosman next summer.
I think he would cover for Barthez in Champions League matches, while Roy would continue to deputise for many of the PL games except perhaps the big ones. Considering we've been linked to the likes of Carini and Recber, we've clearly not managed to get a top keeper this time, and so we'll have another season of Barthez, with the ability to drop him if he performs poorly - hopefully this will keep him on his game. If he doesn't have a great season, then we can pick up Recber on a bosman next summer.
van der gouw joined us in his early 30s back in 96 for peanuts.... lets hope this ricardo lopez can do simular to ray.