United in this Summer transfer window

For me the main reason this transfer window has been really disappointing is the very unique circumstances of having a new manager and CEO in place, meaning something of a statement needed to be made to give the club a lift. The whole Rooney saga has also cast a bit of a shadow, the arrival of a top player would take the sting out of that a bit - whether he leaves or spends the next half or whole season sulking and coming off the bench, undermining the harmony of the dressing room. For reasons that arent really specifically about football, we need a marquee signing IMO. I dont think Baines and Fellaini would be that anyway so in some ways I am not particularly bothered that deal fell through, yes they would be useful to have around but I dont think they would have had much of a psychological impact, the way Van Persie did, which is what we really need to ensure the transition into the new manager's era continues to go smoothly.

As far as the football itself goes, I am less worried about transfers this season than I have been in previous windows for at least a few summers. We have a young squad that is improving, not deteriorating, with age. This summer our midfield options are practically the same as they were last summer but now Cleverley is a year older and more experienced, Jones has gained a lot of experience in the position and Powell is closer to being a viable option. OK Scholes has gone but last season we really didnt rely on him that much. In terms of the paucity of our midfield I think we are actually over the worst of it. Which is not to say it isnt the weakest part of our team: it is; or that we dont need to sign someone there: we do. But having got through last season with what we have, I reckon with the same luck (Carrick staying fit) we can do the same again.
 
I'm probably being a bit melodramatic but after a lovely weekend supporting the lads down in Swansea and a good win, this mornings news is a bit of a sucker punch.
 
LR7 said:
I'm probably being a bit melodramatic but after a lovely weekend supporting the lads down in Swansea and a good win, this mornings news is a bit of a sucker punch.
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I agree with you to be honest. I don't get the obsession with Baines when we clearly don't need him and Fellaini is not good enough for United. I don't care what anyone says about his strength or ability in the air, his football ability is clearly a level below where we should be aiming in that area of the team.
 
Yeah it wasn't the most ideal news to hear on monday morning, I always hoped even outside of the ambitous Fabregas bid that there were some other more exciting transfer we were working on, this has all become very predicable now. If we get them it's better than getting no one in although think Baines is completely unneeded and Fellaini isn't ideal but he at least provides an alternative to Carrick which was essential for me. Wonder if there's a way we can send Young to Everton as part of the deal. Can't seem him moving there but we really don't need him anymore, we've got loads of attacking players.
 
The fact we're still after Baines given Evras form is bewildering. Fellaini I can understand even if I hate the tardbiscuits guts, but Baines is just a complete waste of resources. fecking useless.
 
I generally don't understand why it takes so long to come back with a higher bid. Took like 2 weeks for Fabregas, going to assume it'll be a while with Everton, probably deadline day.

They know they have like £30-35m available so why not just go back in with that right now for the pair rather than waiting days to do that inevitable offer. Shouldn't even do that really, it's a £35m that barely improves the team.....
 
SirFergie said:
I agree with you to be honest. I don't get the obsession with Baines when we clearly don't need him and Fellaini is not good enough for United. I don't care what anyone says about his strength or ability in the air, his football ability is clearly a level below where we should be aiming in that area of the team.
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Ash_G said:
Yeah it wasn't the most ideal news to hear on monday morning, I always hoped even outside of the ambitous Fabregas bid that there were some other more exciting transfer we were working on, this has all become very predicable now. If we get them it's better than getting no one in although think Baines is completely unneeded and Fellaini isn't ideal but he at least provides an alternative to Carrick which was essential for me. Wonder if there's a way we can send Young to Everton as part of the deal. Can't seem him moving there but we really don't need him anymore, we've got loads of attacking players.
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The interest in Fabregas and Thiago lead me to think that Moyes knew the exact quality of CM that we needed and to hope that the Fellaini stuff was rubbish made up by the tabloids. Fellaini is far far from that standard. He doesn't suit they way we play in the slightest imo. I don't see him fitting in most CL teams, never mind an elite team, and it's completely unsurprising that despite the fact that his release clause was there all summer, nobody triggered it, even though lots of teams have bought CMs.

Can't see Young going tbh. I don't dislike him but yeah it does seem like too many attacking players for two/three spots if Nani/Rooney stay which is looking likely. Seems near impossible for Januzaj to get game time.
 
RedSky At Night said:
The fact we're still after Baines given Evras form is bewildering. Fellaini I can understand even if I hate the tardbiscuits guts, but Baines is just a complete waste of resources. fecking useless.
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I tend to agree, but on the other hand I seem to remember people thinking we didn't need Evra because Henize was so good. Not saying teh situation is the same, obviously, but everybody has to start somewhere!
 
LR7 said:
The interest in Fabregas and Thiago lead me to think that Moyes knew the exact quality of CM that we needed and to hope that the Fellaini stuff was rubbish made up by the tabloids. Fellaini is far far from that standard. He doesn't suit they way we play in the slightest imo. I don't see him fitting in most CL teams, never mind an elite team, and it's completely unsurprising that despite the fact that his release clause was there all summer, nobody triggered it, even though lots of teams have bought CMs.

Can't see Young going tbh. I don't dislike him but yeah it does seem like too many attacking players for two/three spots if Nani/Rooney stay which is looking likely. Seems near impossible for Januzaj to get game time.
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Yeah I think he'd see Everton as too far of a step down although really his only other options would be Arsenal/Spurs at the level he might want.
 
LR7 said:
I'm probably being a bit melodramatic but after a lovely weekend supporting the lads down in Swansea and a good win, this mornings news is a bit of a sucker punch.
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Defo a bit melodramatic... I actually read that and though something had actually happened, but I presume you're just talking about the latest supposed failed bids for the everton boys? All just gas as far as I'm concerned, much like every other word I've read about them, Fabregas, Ronaldo, Rooney, Suarez...

Wake me up when something actually happens.:boring:
 
Sir A1ex said:
I tend to agree, but on the other hand I seem to remember people thinking we didn't need Evra because Henize was so good. Not saying teh situation is the same, obviously, but everybody has to start somewhere!
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Heinze at that point had suffered a sharp downturn in form, i'd understand the Baines purchase if this was 2011/2012 as Evra had gone through a slump in form. But he's been back to his usual self for over a season now and imo has looked better than ever.
 
At the start of the Summer, I said I'd take Fellaini. My opinion hasn't changed. Hopefully we'll wrap it up soonish.
 
RedSky At Night said:
Heinze at that point had suffered a sharp downturn in form, i'd understand the Baines purchase if this was 2011/2012 as Evra had gone through a slump in form. But he's been back to his usual self for over a season now and imo has looked better than ever.
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He's not better than ever, I still think our left wing is our most vulnerable side of the defence but he's definitely a lot better than he was in earlier seasons.
 
That'sHernandez said:
He's not better than ever, I still think our left wing is our most vulnerable side of the defence but he's definitely a lot better than he was in earlier seasons.
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I've never seen Evra put in crosses like he has been and he's looked much better defensively imo not to mention chipping in with goals. He was unlucky not to score again on Saturday.
 
Everton have described our bid for Fellaini and Baines as 'derisory and insulting'. You have to wonder what the feck we're playing at.
 
Ed Woodward seems a bit crap at this transfer lark, doesn't he?
 
United's negotiating tactics.

12 Million for Baines? Everton not interested.

One Month down the line.

How about less?
 
I actually this Baines and fellaini stuff was nonsense and only whipped up because of Everton being moyes' old club. Anyway now it's confirmed that we want to sign fellaini and Baines.
 
amolbhatia100 said:
I actually this Baines and fellaini stuff was nonsense and only whipped up because of Everton being moyes' old club. Anyway now it's confirmed that we want to sign fellaini and Baines.
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Yeah, I was so happy when Martinez confirmed that Fellaini's clause expired. I thought that surely we're now looking at other targets if that's the case. How wrong I was.
 
If you want an optimistic thought to hold onto, it is possible this is all more smoke and mirrors to avert attention from what is happening behind the scenes, in advance of the arrival of someone really mint. But somehow I dont think that is what is going on here.
 
Meh, the Arsenal catastrophe is really putting our own lack of spending into perspective for me. Imagine if we'd sold Hernandez, Young, Anderson, Buttner, Smalling, Amos, Michael Keane, Fabio and Zaha and still only brought in Varela.

(The list is not exactly analogous. There aren't enough shit players in United's squad to represent the likes of Arshavin, Chamakh, Denilson etc.)
 
Siorac said:
Yeah, I was so happy when Martinez confirmed that Fellaini's clause expired. I thought that surely we're now looking at other targets if that's the case. How wrong I was.
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:lol: The Fellaini clause has expired?

Why did Woodward wait for it to expire to put a bid in, that seems mental
 
Theon said:
:lol: The Fellaini clause has expired?

Why did Woodward wait for it to expire to put a bid in, that seems mental
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Possibly because we have no intention of going near it? Unless it represents value; it means nothing.
 
Theon said:
:lol: The Fellaini clause has expired?

Why did Woodward wait for it to expire to put a bid in, that seems mental
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I think they think they can get him cheaper, at the very least I hope they too don't think he's worth £23m. If not then it is a bit mental.
 
Sultan said:
United's negotiating tactics.

12 Million for Baines? Everton not interested.

One Month down the line.

How about less?
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I don't know if it's actually as stupid as we are implying here.

Baines will probably leave Everton sooner or later, if he leaves next season he will do so with 1 year on his contract.

So far we are the only club to show interest in him and we've made an offer of £12m, 1 month later with less time left in the window we've gone back with the same offer and offered Everton another chance at £12m effectively saying to them that we don't believe they can get much more for him and our original offer is still on the table.

They obviously think they can get more so rejected it, but I don't think it's that ridiculous.
 
Ash_G said:
I think they think they can get him cheaper, at the very least I hope they too don't think he's worth £23m. If not then it is a bit mental.
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We could have gotten him cheaper with the clause though, a week ago we could have still offered £17million.

That clause put a ceiling on the price but now its gone. It doesn't make sense if we really do want him.
 
I'm putting a positive spin on United's pursuit of Baines and Fallaini.

Moyes has now possibly assessed the squad. If he thinks buying the pair will improve the squad then I'm not sure why we need to put a downer on the deal.
 
I think Baines would be a good player for us, but I'm not entirely sure I see the need when Evra is looking quality again. Fabio, Buttner and Evans can all play left back if need be, which is more than sufficient for any team.
 
Theon said:
We could have gotten him cheaper with the clause though, a week ago we could have still offered £17million.
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True but maybe they thought there was more chance of Everton simply ignoring it. Now it's a bit later in the summer and there's no minimum fee that has been set, United can bid what they feel is appropriate and I guess maybe use the fact that no one else is currently bidding higher. It might not affect Everton but it might affect Fellaini and cause some tension. Well that's the only way I can rationalize it beyond just a mistake, or simply they thought they were targeting other players like Fabregas but didn't get it done before the clause expired. Although that just makes the low Fabregas bids even stupider, should have gone in with a realistic price quicker.
 
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