CHOULO19

Somehow I think this is more of a publicity stunt to get Arsenal to pay his full buy-out clause. Jose wanting to bring Higuian here makes absolutely no sense. He didn't even pick him at Madrid!

Disappointing because I honestly believe that Josh won't develop elsewhere as much as he would here. The reason for that is that Josh needs great players around him to show his true talent. His best asset is his vision and passing and naturally that requires players around him that actually have proper movement. I think if he stayed, played in the Capital One, early FA games, and got subed into matches we're winning in the PL he would be much better off. I was hoping that would happen but never really thought it would.

This is interesting. Apparently Stoke are offering their fans free travel to all their away PL matches next season: http://m.skysports.com/article/football//8831234 Nice touch.

^^ Just read that. Disappointing but hardly surprising. I wonder where we're sending him out this time..

But the thing is, Mata won't be moved to accommodate someone, but rather the whole team and system. The problem we had with 4-2-3-1 with Mata as the number 10 is that he very rarely dropped deep to receive the ball because he is uncomfortable with his back to goal which meant that we were outnumbered in midfield when we had the ball and we had serious issues with getting the ball from defense to attack. Benitez tried to solve this problem by switching to 4-4-1-1 and having the wingers play further back and used triangles with the fullbacks and pivot to get the ball out of defense. It seems from the first preseason game that Jose, on the other hand, is trying to get that number 10 to drop deep to receive the ball from the pivot and move it to the front three or even be a bit similar to a DPL and play long balls from the midway line. KDB did this A LOT in the game and even Piazon did it in the first 20 mins when he played there.

"Learned" was used in the common dialect in the US in the 18-19th century. I've read it in a lot of books from that era. I reckon it is still sometimes used in some southern states.

Talk circles about it all you want, but bottom line is football players who rupture their cruciate ligament very very rarely get back to what they were before. Let alone someone who's ruptured it twice. I would absolutely love to have the Bison back. It would be awesome to have the best midfielder in the world in our team. But I'm not getting my hopes up.

What does what he gave to the club has to do with anything? He was the best midfielder in the world and was unfortunate to get two long-term injuries that practically ruined his knees. It is very sad, but it is reality. I've watched him with Madrid last season, he is no where near his past self. He could still be a decent squad player as he can cover at several positions across the back and midfield.

Honestly, I think you're missing the whole point: We're not after Rooney because we are desperate for a striker, we are after him because he's Wayne Rooney. Why? - Well first, the obvious reason: He is a top player. With all the criticism aimed from some people at Rooney these days (Lazy, 'has-been', on the decline...etc), you'd think he's worse than Heskey. But it is an undeniable fact that Rooney has continued to perform and deliver (in terms of goals and assists) over the years at all the various positions that Ferguson has throw him in. Claims that Rooney is not a top player are borderline delusional, imho. - Secondly, and why Jose thinks that Rooney could fit in our squad is that Wayne is very versatile. He can play anywhere across midfield and attack (except DM obviously). Anywhere he is played, he always offers exceptional work-rate and unmatched defensive cover among strikers. When played as a second striker, he practically allowed united to play with both two strikers and 5 players in midfield. Rooney basically gives Jose the option he was talking about of playing with two strikers as a "plan B" while also being great first choice striker and providing cover and depth at several positions. Very few footballers can offer what Wayne Rooney does. - Away from footballing reasons, Wayne Rooney is one of the most marketable footballers in the world. He has tons of fans in the UK and outside and will only increase the club's fame and sell A LOT of shirts. - Onto the, imo, more important reason. Signing Rooney would weaken united. He is arguably their best and most important player. Taking him away from united enhances our chances and wins us the first battle in the title race before the season has even started. - Our bid for Rooney has put Moyes, who has not even had time to settle in, in a tight spot. Moyes' start at united will be crucial for their title hopes. Jose knows that; and with this bid, regardless of the outcome, Moyes will fail his first real test and will already have HUGE pressure on him by the fans even before the actual football starts. He's already failed to land all of united's targets in the transfer market, and now he will either lose one of his best players and a club icon or he will have an unhappy 220k/wk striker who he practically called second best and surplus to requirements at united....Advantage Mourinho. So for the reasons above, I won't even discuss Yilmaz, simply because he is not an option. Like Jose said: "Either Rooney, or bust". If we can get him, it would be a great a deal for the club and a huge boost to our title challenge. If not, our squad is more than ready for the new season and Jose has already struck the first psychological blow to united. A minor note about the Rooney to Torres comparison. I find it completely baseless and illogical. Torres built a career as a striker based on his pace and finishing alone. He relied on his speed to beat defenders and finishing to score goals. He brought nothing else to the team. He lost his pace due to the knee injury and as a result lost his confidence and with it his ability to finish and thus had nothing more to offer for his team. Rooney on the other hand is an all-around player. He can obviously score, but he can also assist, link-up, create, press and defend. Rooney has amazing stamina and work-rate, but he also has great technical ability, tactical understanding and discipline and excellent footballing IQ. That does not all go away over night.

United are just trying to drag this on in hopes of getting a higher price or that someone else might show interest. They'll have to face reality eventually.

He was given ONE start.

Of course. One of their best players is unhappy at the club and wants to join their direct rivals. Moyes' first major action at utd is to greatly weaken them and strengthen a title challenger. That's a huge psychological blow for them.

True, but like I said, considering the competition, I think it is highly probable. Which automatically makes him the best choice for the DM position. And it seems that Jose thinks that's good enough with Essien and Ramires filling in when needed. Still on break with the rest. Think they'll join up with the team in the US.

I think this transfer is more about weakening utd than strengthening our side, tbh. And like Alex said, regardless of whether we sign him or not, Jose has already dealt the first psychological blow.

But I think it is highly likely that he does. Mikel's only competition is "no-knees" Essien and to some extent Ramires who would be out of position at DM. Mikel is our only decent defensive midfielder, and the fact that we did not go for another DM and refused to sell him says a lot about what Jose thinks of him, imo.

If Jose is going to play the system we played in the first preseason game, then I predict Mikel will be a starter. Simply because he is by far our best DM.

That is what you WANT to believe. Does not mean that's what's true. PS: I do apologize for the pun in the tittle

Do you mean news like this? (Sorry about the pun in the tittle )

BLUES HOPES OF SIGNING DE ROSSI "WAYNE" Chelsea's odds of signing unsettled Italian midfield maestro, Daniele De Rossi, have taken a huge hit yesterday after Jose Mourinho confirmed that Wayne Rooney is the Blues' only remaining transfer target this window. Rumors of Chelsea interest in the Roma FC "Engine" had peaked after his stellar performances in the Confederation Cups, fed by the fans' demands that the club signs a world-class central midfielder after our frailties in that department last season. But all that came to a sudden halt after Jose informed SkySport that it is "Rooney or bust" in the transfer market. On the Rooney front, there was a huge shock as Chelsea confirmed that the club made a bid for the "Angry and Confused" united striker. In a highly unusual step by our board, Chelsea confirmed that the club made a "monetary only" bid for Manchester's Wayne Rooney putting an end to the rumors that Mata or Luiz might be included in the transfer deal. United have maintained that the 27 year old England international is "Not For Sale", but Rooney is rumored to be pushing for a move away from Old Traford. regardless of whether or not Wayne does end up in blue shirt next season, you can't help but feel that the Special One has already made the first psychological hit and weakened one of our main title rivals for next season. Click here to view the article

He had 6 votes for MOTM...

I just don't think we should hype him up now only to be disappointed later. It's not good for his future here to get hyped up this early. Like I said, I'm not criticizing him for the performance. It was after all his first appearance for us and it is only preseason. I'm criticizing the hype some are trying to create about him based on that performance.

English only, please. This is an English speaking forum.

Sorry, but I didn't even read your point! I saw a lot of long posts and I don't have the time to read them now. I was just sharing a good article I found about Mata in light of the recent rumors of us selling him..

A quick reminder of the effect that Mata has had on our team in the past two seasons: http://squawka.com/news/2013/07/17/no-way-jose-why-chelsea-would-be-mad-to-cash-in-on-mata/2013071714033

I'm guessing that that 'rant' wasn't really aimed at me? On any account, judging players and hyping them is inevitable during preseason. We have nothing else to talk about, what do you expect?!