The Ramos story has come from nowhere. He wasn't a target until his agent started angling for a new deal. All of a sudden United are offering £35million as their opening bid. We'll end up being used to get him his new deal at Real or signing him for £40million (or De Gea plus £20million).
Is it? Mangala - £42million Luiz - £50million Two recent fees for defenders. £30-40milllion for one of the worlds best defenders in todays age seems reasonable. If nothing else hes played over 40games a season for Madrid. Nobody in our defence comes close, lucky if they manage 40 minutes at times.
Its frustrating, especially when others start signing players too and we seem to be getting left behind. Theres a strong sense of signing proven quality now as we've got a good young squad but lack leaders. We should see movement soon though. When do we go to the US to defend the worlds greatest trophy?
Do you think either Mangala or Luiz were good bits of business for the buying club? I suspect they're both younger than Ramos. £35million+ for a 29 year old who has never played in the PL is an almighty gamble. It's all a bit reminiscent of last summer's Fantasy Football approach to signing big name players. I know you'll never agree as your faith is blind.
I very much doubt we scouted Ramos or planned to sign him. Hes one of those players that of he becomes availble, you go for ot. Otherwise you never expect them to leave. I think the De Gea swap is off the cards and this will be a straight transfer should it happen. On De Gea, apparently he refuses to ask for the transfer so based on that unsubstantiated rumour, hes staying.
This. Why have we been listening to tales of Hummels, Gundogan et al all season without a sniff of Ramos. Now those names have disappeared and Ramos seems to be another after thought.
Mangala had no PL experience nor did he have much actual experience. He was dreadful and turned out to be.... Dreadful. I expected nothing else and certainly didnt think he was worth 42million. Luiz is nowhere near Ramos. Different world's in terms of quality. They do share some personality traits though. Both are hot heads. Is Ramos worth £40million? No idea. Madrid have him on a £130m buy out so they clearly value him to some extent. Ive said before that there's no great defenders out there. This possible signing wont change my view. Ramos is one of the best but hes no a great like Rio, Maldini or Nesta. He is however the best of the modern defender, at least of those at top clubs. Hes brilliant on the ball and a goal threat. He great with his head and is tactically aware. 40million and 4 years out of him. Probably end up captain during that time too. Not the worst deal ever.
Players like Ramos dont often come onto the market and clubs certainly dont enquire without some sort of signal. Thats why it came from nowhere. Dortmund are a selling club by nature, Madrid are not.
This summer more than any other I expected most (if not all) our signings to come from a host of irons we had stoking in the fire. Ramos should have been a bonus to that, not a substitute for it.
Maybe we are doing the club a disservice here. Opta show Ramos as having made the most passes under Ancelotti. Significantly more than Isco, Modrics and the rest. Van gaals mentioned many times that he wants centrebacks who are good on the ball, can bring it out of defence and can pass with the very best. Ramos ticks every box for a van Gaal defender.
I tend to agree with UIR here, he might not have been a target originally but if it's been made known he's now available when previously he wasn't then you go for him. He'd be a great asset. Overpriced of course but a great asset all the same. Maybe we enquired about Varane and were told try Ramos instead? Similarly, I heard today Pedro might be available as he can't get in Barca's side ahead of Messi, Suarez and Neymar. If true then we should go in for him, no brainer. He won't have been a target but why the hell not?
Go ahead and name as many defenders who are better than Ramos. Not just the ones who are better at certain aspects but as a whole. You've basically got Hummels, Benetia, Silva and Terry to choose from. Its not a great list as theres no truly great defenders. Ramos is as good as any and more experienced than most.
It's not the opportunist signings I'm concerned about (although I have reservations about them). It's the apparent lack of any planned signings I have a problem with.
Mate you and I are not scouts. There are ppl at the club who are getting paid good money to find them. What have they been doing for the last 8 months when everyone and hos wife were speculating about who we had to sign?
Depay was planned. Its safe to say schweinsteiger is planned. Van gaal name dropped di maria quite a while before we signed him and I suspect Blind was planned from the second van gaal was hired. I dont know for certain though. They all could have been spur of the moment signings. I dount it though. I doubt they happen often because when they do, the worlds very best players move.
Scouting players. Just an educated guess. Say we scouted our target. Make contact with the players (as it tends to be). Get encouragement and approach the club. Clubs says not for sale... Have the scouts wasted their time?
