As Bondanki points out you have no rivals for the title and you're not even in the CL and they wonder why we call them deluded ?
The problem with Rooney is his well publicised issues with fitness/form etc. If he was 23/24 at the moment with 2 years left on his contract I think they would have no choice but to sell as the risk of letting a Wayne Rooney in the peak of his career go to Chelsea on a 5 year deal for free in 2 years would be too much for any club, even man utd, to bare. As it is, however, Rooney will be nearly 30 when his contract runs out. Looking at it from their point of view, worst case scenario is they dig their heels in, he digs his heels in, and he plays a bit part role for the next 2 years. I'm no expert, but if I had the choice between letting a 30 year old, out of form and fitness Wayne Rooney go for free in 2 years/on the cheap next year, or selling Chelsea a key ingredient in their already strong title push for 30 million, Id probably keep him - its hardly like they are desperate for the money. By the sounds of it, either Rooney will have to get over it and continue to play for them, or they will sell him abroad. I'd put my life on him not going to you.
S'funny, I thought that subtle shift happened in 2004 when you beat us to Robben, Essien and Mikel. Or 2007 when Liverpool tried to get Heinze off us and he tried to force a move. Or was is 2009 when we lost Ronaldo and Tevez to other clubs? As with all the previous shifts in dynamic, I'll believe it when I see it. Tho' I do, of course, look forward to lots of 'evidence' on how this shift is different from all the other ones that have happened over the past decade. S'even funnier, I could have sworn they were worth twice as much as they were four years ago, with the majority of that due to the increase in the brand value of Utd: http://www.forbes.com/profile/malcolm-glazer/ Ultimately the value of Utd as a brand, and a club that doesn't lose its star players to rivals, is worth much more to the Glazers than a few million quid from Rooney. They pocketed £100m from selling around 10% of the club on the market, why would they care about less than half that from getting rid of Rooney if it risks damaging the club's value? And when he reaches 30 we wouldn't offer him more than a one year contract anyway, so it's not like we would lose anything from refusing the transfer. His book value to us is zero, so it will have no impact on us, just the same as if Chelsea had never bid for him.
I was almost certain we'd get Rooney. All these 'injuries' just told me that he doesn't want to play for Man United. He wasn't injured and we know it's a load of bollocks. BUT United haven't got to where they are by being mugs. They don't want to sell a top player to their title rivals and in the end, I think that's how it's gunna end. It's a shame cause Rooney is a top player and I think he's the top striker that we need... and that is exactly why United won't sell him to us.
Swarbs. I never noticed a shift until now. The fact that it is so subtle just tells you tere is a lot more to it than just hanging on to Rooney. Ultimately if united thought they were capable of winning without him he would have gone, a la Tevez and Ronaldo. Clearly they don't feel that they have enough in the tank to secure a major trophy this season hence the reluctance to sell a player clearly out of favour with the club. Fergie made it quite clear how much he valued him during last season. Whether or not that was Fergies way of punishing Rooney because he held the club to ransom with his new deal or not is neither here nor there. It is plain to see he is not believed to be a key player at the club anymore. There was a time when those believed to be untouchable (Beckham) were given the boot at the slightest whim and no club would ever have thought of making an approach. Now Rooney is far beyond how others have behaved and been rewarded with a lucrative new deal. I didn't say it was a revolutionary change, just a subtle one.
Fact of the matter is, SAF is 50% of the reason why Man Utd have been successful these past 20 years (Making astute signings and not taking any ****) The other 50% being plc, marketing and Asia. With him gone, thats half the reason for Utds success out the window. Maybe Moyes will create a new era and be just as successful, but there is just as much chance that he wont. Then if he fails, you sack him, and the managerial instability that has plagued us for the best part of a decade becomes Utds problem. If he fails and they keep him, you have a manager who is failing.....win/win for us. So you best hope he does well.
Think you will find that United might be worth more but that's just as good as you are a cash cow for the debts from poor mall returns and lousy American sports investments but Lehman Brothers done the damage. If Rooney forces a move you will be powerless to stop it as A) it would cause ill feeling throughout the club. B) decrease his ultimate sale price as he would soon become a free agent. Arrogance is a business ball buster my friend sometimes you have to roll with the punches.
Not really sure what that has to do with anything, especially on this thread. So one big ego clashed with another, what of it? I'm fairly sure I could find a thousand comments about other players that love him. Keep it on topic.
