LDN Blue

Don't mind going out this way at all. We did our best and couldn't capitalise.. Momentum would never swing our way after the penalty. Onwards and upwards.

I think he's a great player in his position with a lot of potential to be world class! But my evaluation is based on him at the Confederations cup, no in this awful Spurs team. It is unfair to judge him on his Spurs season.

I just don't imagine Daniel Levy being willing to sanction this for less than £35-40m to us.

Well this is awkward..

Delete

With Terry looking like he's going to be playing and Cech back in training it's got me wondering.. Was Mourinho bluffing this whole time about the extent of their injuries to surprise Atletico Madrid?!

Has grown quite tiresome now. Even Arsenal fans will acknowledge he was world-class and the best in the world despite his departure. Sure he never get standing ovations and all, but for a man who proclaims he never cared if he did or not.. He certainly doesn't convince anyone of that. His autobiography didn't help his cause on becoming 'the victim' either lol

Saw this on twitter, if you guys missed it..

Cheers lads!

Anyone know where/if this is being broadcasted?

The main thing is he made himself fully aware to Mourinho that he can be called upon against the best. It's a bit of kick in the teeth for Ake who would have probably been more confident of playing because he was Benitez's choice last season. Every manager has their favourites from the youth crop

Yeah it's quite silly how they make the criteria for YPotY, but at least it shows Hazard's efforts haven't gone unseen

THIS. ^^ Mourinho's signings have been brilliant in the big games! Willian, Schurrle, Salah, Matic, Eto'o & Schwarzer. BIG GAME PLAYERS.

What an awful game.. Loved every minute of it!

Right now (because I've neglected watching world football for a while) I'd say that Vincent Kompany is the type of defender that's 'world class'. Terry & Cahill do the basics right, they do what you expect of a central defender - doing that alone doesn't make them world class. With the way our system is set up everyone defends, in the end Cahill and Terry don't actually have to do a lot. What makes them very good is that their concentration is continuously high. I'd disagree on your criteria too. With the way the game's moved on now defenders should be judged as footballers just like strikers on the opposite end of the scale, that's why I'd edge Cahill over Terry as a footballer but with Terry's age that's not a fair analysis.

You're talking as if they're making their transfer moves now and trying to sign these players now. United aren't stupid (well they are but you know), they'll know exactly who their manager will be in the summer and they'll have direction and structure. Even right now there's a lot of heat on the rumour Van Gaal's already agreed to take over after Holland's WC campaign. Let's assume it's true (it's been denied in the most vague way possible by United to be fair), that already shows their desire to have these plans in place. Seemed like a good topic to talk about at the time haha

It's not something he's done a lot this season, but I've noticed the last 2 months he's attempted to walk it out (not as bad as Luiz) and then lose it. But his recovery is sharp so it largely goes unnoticed. It's something he can work on though, and something he doesn't necessarily have to do either.

I was kidding pal lol

Yea, but there was a time we were signing top players but they didn't make what Terry & Lampard did because those guys were the top dogs at the club. Eventually as renewals came, that's when we had the likes of Drogba in the top wage bracket. It's a benchmark for a demand, but they won't get it from anywhere.. So they'll settle for whoever offers the most anyway which they can still do. Yes those numbers for Shaw are ridiculous. But if my memory serves correctly, we were giving Sturridge £60,000/week when he signed unproven from City and spent 2-3 seasons with the reserves/u21

Nah, like I said I don't think they'll have enough to actually win the title.. But I think for United hierarchy that's not a priority. Rebuilding while in CL place is probably what they wanted from Moyes so I don't think that's going to change. Even if you speak to their fans, (the rare level-headed ones) they'll admit that they don't really mind not getting the PL back for a few seasons while they rebuild as long as they're among the top 4.

The same way Monaco were able to when they didn't have CL football. By selling them a dreaming and keeping their pockets fat

Yeah, but they will be challenging for everything else next season for sure. And an average footballer is stupid. Even if United might not be able to mount a series title challenge next season, they'll certainly be able to sell it. Then they can easily sell Champions League will happen, because of said title challenge. They'll have no issues paying new players, Shrek getting £300,000 won't matter in the short term of signing players - though granted it could be a longer term problem. Well we can't really talk about overpaying on wages exactly, so I don't really see why the Rooney thing will be relevant. They could use Rooney's salary as a benchmark to their demands but then they'll realise not even PSG will pay them that so it's a pretty useless argument.

I hope I'm wrong, (sort of, because a part of me relishes competition with United as a top club) but I think they can get back up challenging as soon as next season.

Yeah of course, it's been an awful season. But unlike us, they'll probably actually wait to sign a manager before signing off on a transfer spree. So from a player point of view the club's already got the ambition to get back in their position of dominance & they'll have the manager. And of course a player can also dictate contract terms such as a "no champions league" clause for the following season (as rumoured Suarez holds.)

I believe you underestimate the brand. Of course, if it was Liverpool of last season where it had been that long without challenging then I'd agree wholeheartedly. But it's one season out. United have money too, there's no doubt about this, they make enough revenue to ignore their debt. They're giving Rooney £300,000/week, they definitely have money.