Only one person noticed my subtle wum regarding Sturridge? I'm disappointed. Okay, so Sturridge plays for 'Pool and not United, but I'd still love him in our side. I disagree with the comments that imply Sturridge's talent wasn't clear for all to see until he joined 'Pool. My Chelsea_supporting mate was raving about Sturridge a good three season before Chelsea sold him, and he was dumbfounded when they did. As he is dumbfounded that they've sold Lukaku (another one we've missed).
I could understand Chelsea selling Sturridge, as he didn't suit their system. Allowing him to join Liverpool was pretty stupid, though. Lukaku was sold for a lot of money, but I really don't get why they didn't want to keep him, especially given their options up top. Costa's pretty much made for Mourinho, but Drogba's ancient and Torres is a shadow of his former self. Maybe FFP has something to do with it?
Arsenal have lodged a complaint to UEFA after a water bottle was thrown at Wenger last night. Because you'd never see anyone affiliated with Arsenal hurling water bottles around... [video=youtube_share;p_HitwU_ZFY]http://youtu.be/p_HitwU_ZFY[/video]
Man U right now is a mystery. If their finances are as good as one might guess, they would have given Van Gaal a 100 million transfer budget and already made most of their big signings. Instead they've been throwing nickels around like manhole covers: 8 million for Argentina's dodgiest defender, Herrera... Rumor has it they've been turned down by Mueller and Reus despite big money, which isn't a surprise given they have no CL. But that doesn't by itself completely explain the failure to do what they need to do to get a CL spot this year, which is in all likeliehood make a few major signings. So what is going on? Even if they do make some big signings in the 11 days they have left, it's strange they didn't do more earlier, considering top four looks like a challenge in any case. If they don't, it's even stranger, given how much money they ought to have, and how costly not getting top four two straight years could prove. I don't have the answers, but all the explanations I can think of don't make that much sense.
The problem United have is they need to rebuild 75% of the team in one summer. It ain't happening. Plus LVG wants to give players a chance. I think he is coming to terms with the fact players like Jones, Smalling, Evans, Cleverly, Fletcher, are ****e. Rojo signing for them is something I guess. Hardly a top top signing though.
I personally don't think the formation LVG wants to play at Utd suits a Premier League side. I think it leaves them massively exposed on a counter attack and I think it'll punish them severely. Taking into account they lost 3 world class defenders in the summer (albeit all past their peak) and right now don't have a leader at the back to marshall the other two CB's and the two wing backs, I just think it's somewhat of a kamikaze approach to games. If I'm honest, I wish we were playing Utd this weekend, I honestly believe we'd annihilate them and I don't think I've ever said this in my 24 years.
They have been rejected that's why. Robben, Reus, and now Muller have all come out and said they've had big offers that they turned down. No use being a big club if you can't guarantee CL. I'm sure others have turned them down too
As I, and others have said before, Utd are, like Liverpool, owned by American buisessmen. If any Utd or Pool can believes that their owners give a toss about "soccer", as they call it, they are deluding themselves. For these guys it's all about bucks, profits, the rest is conversation!.
I don't think The glazers can be compared to John Henry just because they both happen to be American. The glazers are bleeding united dry and have leveraged them to the hilt. John Henry has made **** all from us yet and we're relatively debt free and still investing in our squad. Of course money is important, it's a business afterall, but that goes for all owners of footie clubs
United have posted record turnover and nearly £100m profit for the last financial year, even with the s**t season they had last year, suggesting they are in financial difficulty is incorrect. Also, they HAVE been spending. The Glazers are not with holding funds, they spent £30m on an 18 year old ffs. Stupid? Yes, but not the actions of a club short of funds. In the last 18 months they have spent more than any other club in Europe bar PSG. The problem is none of their targets want to go there......Off field they are thriving, but on it they are a complete mess. As already stated, half their squad is total dog s**te, and the rest are mediocre with a few exceptions who are world class but have other problems stopping them from performing... Mata, who is constantly played as a winger instead of the number 10 role he thrived in at Chelsea, so he is wasted. RVP is an excellent striker but a perennial crock. Misses anywhere from a third to half a season every year through injury (except for 2 seasons, in his whole career where he has been relatively injury free). Rooney, who looks like he cannot be bothered and really doesnt want to be there, looks like he tries for half hour of every game, realises his team mates suck ass and then his head drops and he sulks....at this point he is there for the huge paycheque. De Gea is the only World class player he has who consistently performs, and a goalkeeper is not going to turn the tide of a game unfortunately, only so much impact a keeper can have. Robben, Reus, Fabrgeas, Kroos and several others they have been linked with have since turned them down. Most United fans would have you believe they were never linked with these players and it was all paper talk, but if they didnt go for these players and Fellaini, Shaw, Rojo and Herrera were first choice and the level of player they are aspiring to sign? Then good luck ever winning the PL again
"Man U right now is a mystery. If their finances are as good as one might guess, they would have given Van Gaal a 100 million transfer budget and already made most of their big signings. Instead they've been throwing nickels around like manhole covers: 8 million for Argentina's dodgiest defender, Herrera ..." That their transfer business this summer may be laughable is not commentary on the financial strength of the club. Whereas I have contempt for "leverage" deals to take over businesses (private equity firms have destroyed a lot of companies in my industry doing this) , the on-pitch performance of Man Utd has more than been able to generate the revenues to comfortably reduce the debt annually. And without asset-stripping. Contrast this with the copycat attempt of the Poools' previous owners, who took that club to the door of the receivers precisely because they have been sh*te on-pitch.
There are very very few altruistic or philanthropic American business people - I should know, worked for them long enough. He may be approaching the task from a different angle, but make no mistake, John Henry is in this for money!! If any of you believe that he has an abiding love of Liverpool, or soccer in general, you're sadly mistaken!
"There are very very few altruistic or philanthropic American business people" There are quite a few. But hardly any while they are IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING their business empires.
Ok Bill Gates and one or two others. But considering the numbers of American businessmen, the percentage is a tad tiny!...
Balotelli signs for Liverpool. Good striker if all he is doing is being a striker but will he fit, and will he do much for team spirit? Also a bit of kick in the teeth for Lambert. Wondering if Lambert wishes he's stayed at Soton?
Lambert joined us whilst Suarez was still at the club. He was always going to be third choice striker
