Hope Suarezlfc doesn't mind me quoting him, but i thought he was talking a lot of sense, and it seems most threads are turning into a debate over CL football, so i fancied a chat about how important we think CL football is. Modric is the flavour of the day, and he left Zagreb (with Champions League football) for Tottenham in 2008. If it was the be all and end all then the top players wouldn't be so concentrated in the top leagues. If i were to research England as a foreign player (attempting without bias) i would see: Man Utd Top dogs at the moment, with the biggest reputation of the Englihs teams. Main problem is perhaps the huge debt, but most players are not going to worry about that. It is however important in that it may restrict Utd's ability to go after targets they haven't budgeted for. Chelsea No manager, questions over squad unity and lack of younger players. Can offer large wages and transfer fees. Recent success and a short term reputation of winning, but have failed to build replacements for aging players into the squad. Man City Huge amounts of money but no reputation, Tevez only top player and he wants to leave. First time in CL might help attract players but maybe still a few years away from being considered serious players in English football Arsenal Sensible financial model, do not invest in big signings, consistently in CL. Key players unsettled, with some players e.g. Sagna even suggesting teammates should move on. Play attractive football, reputation as bottlers (within England). Tottenham One season in CL, players already considering moving on, no reputation, play attacking football. One key signing up front could make a big difference but are they tightening their belts? Liverpool Second biggest reputation, no CL for 2 years, significant change in ownership, manager, form. Have invested about £70mil since January. Need most significant investment in squad of all teams, but this is expected to happen. Now if i was a foreign player looking at that, my interest would come down to whether Liverpool could sell me their potential. Say we take the much-mentioned Juan Mata as an example. I don't think Arsenal or Spurs will spend that much (£18-20mil to get him). Chelsea don't seem interested but could probably beat us. Utd i think will be spending on centre mid rather than another winger. Man City have big money and CL, could be in for him. Valencia will not want to sell to Madrid (he's already been there anyway) or Barca (signing Sanchez probably), and he's probably not going to want to leave for any other club in Spain. Serie A isn't what it used to be but they could be an option i guess. Basically if Chelsea aren't interested then we're looking at a battle with Man City and maybe the top Italian clubs. The Spanish players tend to be favoring the Premier League at the moment so could realistically be between us and City. We then have to offer CL wages and basically make him choose between our 'project' and history, or City's money and CL football this season. That's potentially how we would end up competing for a player like Mata. This actually happening is a different thing, but i think Mata is a good example as only yesterday a couple of journo's had a dig and said there's no way he would come to us. Is Champions League football in the immediate season that important? Surely even the biggest of WUMs will struggle to deny that all signs point towards us being in the Champions League at some point in the next couple of years as a minimum anyway.
Its important for attracting players for Liverpool.Its nothing to do with finances at the moment as we're safe as houses.However its more important to Chelsea and Man City due to their enormous wage bills.They are paying big club wages when they aren't...big clubs.If they at any stage dropped out of the CL especially when the FFP rules come into effect,then they could be in serious trouble.
Very good article, but every player is different and they all want different things. For example, Jesus Navas will never come here because he gets homesick too easy. Argentine players tend to come here for the money then retire back in Argentina. Spanish players tend to come to England for the league and the money. During the time when many of them will have been growing up (1980s-1990s) England were the dominant country in terms of their clubs, so many players from less successful countries will have watched these leagues and begun supporting the best team at the time. I hope to find a player like Alonso who is class and will buy into our ethos and give as much to the team as Reina, Lucas and Kuyt.
This is the way I see it. Kenny when he was a novice manager in 1985 was taught by Bob Paisley(who was his managerial advisor at the time) to not just to look at talent,but also look for the character of a player before signing them. He signed Andy Carroll who has had a few scrapes,and Kenny will put that down to being a bit immature.Then theres Luis Suarez,and he'll put that down to being over enthusiastic.However its how they perform in a red shirt,their atitude and dedication. Kenny has said that ''Andy Carroll has been no trouble,He's a quiet lad,he trains and he goes home''.On Suarez,He said ''He plays with a smile on his face,he trains the same way he plays''.Kenny would have looked into that and its a well known fact that Luis Suarez doesn't arrive on time for training after international duty..He arrives early.However for these to get even better,they will follow the example set and I agree with Ze Liverbird on this,by Lucas,Dirk Kuyt and Pepe Reina.Now these three are the epitome of profesionalism when it comes to overseas players. The other players and this includes new signings can only learn from those three.
Laid out as they are, I think all of the clubs, including ourselves, are attractive options. However, as you point out Skrtel, Spurs/Arsenal may not be looking to spend big, or at least may not be looking at the likes of Mata and Cazorla (I'll put him in too because his situation is similar). United I think are strong in the wingers department and I imagine if they get Ashley Young, that'll be that for the wide men. So that leaves, as you suggest, ourselves and City. What City have is unlimited (it may as well be) money to bring in top talent to accompany you if you sign for them, so there's no worries about the team diminishing (*cough* Fernando), and also this 'Champions League football' thing that people keep talking about, whatever that is... What we can offer, which I don't think City can guarantee, is the opportunity of an immediate and sustained first team place. We have no real wingers, so any player of that mould signing will get plenty of playing time. City have a very strong squad, and the problem therein is that they can't keep everyone happy. Adebayor went, Santa Cruz went, Bellamy went. You simply can't put 25 men on the pitch. I'm gonna discount our history for this, because I don't think a lot of players genuinely look at that before signing (it tends to be a bit of a throwaway comment in their first interview.) However, rather like City only to a lesser extent, we're suddenly a building and buying team. We've shown we've got the ambition and more importantly the financial backing to get quality players in, and the stadium change, whatever it may be, is on the way. So, just to summarise between ourselves and City: City - Money, strong squad, CL, improving club. LFC - Money, improving squad, first team place. There really isn't that much in it. We know City will be up there for the foreseeable future, but at the same time, do good players want to move to a club just to sit on the bench when somebody shinier and newer arrives? Van der Vaart certainly didn't.
Regarding Liverpool and City. You forgot to mention the managers.Kenny has that charisma that when he speaks players listen.If they aren't mercenaries,all they want to talk about is football.There is very few people that are like that.Kenny will sit down with a player and talk football,thats how he knows that the player is right for the club. I would even credit Alex Ferguson for being another that is exactly the same way.If players start mentioning money,then he'll dismiss them and not sign them,However if they meet him and intend talking football...He knows they are the right players.
Without doubt any player looking to be a successful player over his wage packet would choose United first and foremost. Unfortunately most players these days are only interested in the cash hence why Chelsea & City are so attractive.
Yeah, good point KPR. I did forget about that. Kenny has a 3 year contract, and you can be 99% sure he'll be here for that length of time, and more. Mancini has higher expectations, owing to the money, so his job is more unstable. This time last year though, you'd forgive anyone for turning us down.
Liverpool have prestige which cannot be taken for granted. Its a huge deal to some players, players who are more likely to build a bond at a club anyway. City have nothing to attract footballers who want to win things. NOTHING. Chelsea have money aswell as a standing in football that attracts players. Arsenal have..........................will come back to this.... Tottenham have money and erm.......... oh yeh, Arsenal have a nice stadium and a healthy diet!!!!!! Tempting or what.
Yeah, I'd agree with that. If you were promised a regular starting place, I don't think many players would turn Utd down at this moment in time. Out of interest, when was the last time Utd were trophy-less after a season?
Last time we ended without a trophy? 2005 I think. We lost the FA Cup Final to Arsenal after destroying them for the whole game without scoring lol.
UIR. You have made sensible comments in the past.However you have let yourself down here with that comment.Man United may be champions.However they lets be fair won an extremely poor premiership in 2011.There was no outstanding team in it for a start.Lets be fair,in the next 20 years no team will ever win the league having just won 5 away games. All teams in the premiership have flaws,and players can also see that.They will have read the reports about Man Uniteds financial difficulties too(Believe it or not footballers can read),and question can they compete long term?Wayne Rooney before his £150k payrise questioned that. Then there is the managerial situation.Fergies not getting any younger.What will his successor be like?Will he be a ''yes man'' that bows to player demands,or will he be a stubborn goat that changes a winning formula? I'm 100% convinced that once Fergie goes that Man United will have at least two managers within the space of 5 years.
With all there players leaving, it does sound like there going to go into decline... leave me alone, i'm trying my best
The defining moment in the next chapter of United is going to be the next 5 years when SAF (could be LAF soon ) retires. It could be our decline, it could be a continuous reign at the top, we don't know
Appoint the right manager..Now thats the complete opposite to Fergie.And United should be able to sustain it,but they will have competition.Appoint the wrong manager.Then its curtains.
I think my comment is spot one. Englands biggest club Englands best run ( regardless of our finances we make the most money and we have done for years ) England most successful club of the moment Biggest stadium Best manager ( granted hes getting on a bit but hes still the best ) A history only really bettered by Liverpool. Theres a lot more in favour aswell. If a player wants success and trophies over massive wages then United are the obvious choice. I agree we will no doubt have 2 managers in 5 years. Jose Mourinho for 3 and then someone else.
I seriously think the next long term manager is being groomed right now in the background at United. A little like Liverpool in the 70s and 80s. He wont take over right away, I dont think anyones ready but within the next decade after we have a few more years of SAF and then Jose for a while.
In terms of first class silverware we are as in the League, Primary european cup and primary domestic cup.
