Man Utd - The Gaalacticos thread

[Ent]

First topic message reminder :

Can see the same thing happening with Kroos, when Bayern stump up the wage & then the pressure will be on Moyes massively, after constantly telling everyone that he's been given the nod by these agents that these players wanted to come to United.

He shouldn't be saying things like that IMO. Just making things harder for himself.

[mystiroakey]

scholes obviously has to work on his delivery but whats come out of his mouth so far has been 100% correct and something that no other pundit would come out with

He sends chills through my bones. I feel like crying over watching football.

Probably my issue- but there you go..

[Hammersmith harrier]

Ent, if Luiz is going for £50mil god knows what Rio would fetch in comparison, the best £30mil we've spent then add in £14mil that Vidic, Evra and VDS cost then you're laughing.

[Ent]

Of course.

That is purely a monetary inflation calculation, not a market consideration.

At the time the market bottomed out, there had been plenty of £30 million transfers around the turn of the millennia then it was quiet for a bit. There was some dissent about how much was paid but at the end of the day we got a proven international, champions league and PL centre half at the age of 23. Was a great move all in all and he has been a great servant to the club, despite some shaky on an off field moments.

[Hammersmith harrier]

He also genuinely cared about the club and wore the shirt with pride which is becoming a rarity.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Rio has been the best English centre back we've produced in a very long time. Even when we got what was a relatively big fee at the time when selling to Leeds, we all knew he was destined to be one of the world's best

[Hammersmith harrier]

Didn't get the respect he deserved because frankly he's a very un-english centre back, could read the game so well that he didn't need to make last ditch challenges like Terry or Carragher. Rio alongside Campbell was a formidable partnership, if King could have stayed fit that was the natural progression.

Vidic got all the plaudits but Rio was the man, his performances in both ties against Barcelona in 2008 were faultless, forget Ronaldo and Rooney he was our most important player in that double season.

[Ent]

Didn't get the respect he deserved because frankly he's a very un-english centre back, could read the game so well that he didn't need to make last ditch challenges like Terry or Carragher. Rio alongside Campbell was a formidable partnership, if King could have stayed fit that was the natural progression.

Vidic got all the plaudits but Rio was the man, his performances in both ties against Barcelona in 2008 were faultless, forget Ronaldo and Rooney he was our most important player in that double season.

Don't think anyone thinks Rooney was the most important player, can't overlook Ronaldo though.

We had an amazing side and were just unlucky to run into one of the all time great club sides. VDS, Rio, Vidic, Evra, Carrick, Hargreaves, Ronaldo, Tevez, Rooney all top performers at good ages. Scholes, Giggs still performing very well.

Makes you laugh when you look at the current side.

[Hammersmith harrier]

Don't forget the one man running machine that is Park Ji Sung along with Fletcher, O'Shea, Heinze and Brown who all played important parts in our success back then.

It's only really Rooney, Fletcher and Carrick left and none of them are at the level they were back then.

[Ent]

7-0 in first pre season game.

Welbeck, Rooney x2, James x2, youngx2.

[Ent]

In his post match interview Van Gaal has said he feels the squad is imbalanced and that we have 4 number 10's.

Bound to be some transfer activity.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Looks like the 16 year old you took on trial from us will be yours if you want him, and he looks an incredibly gifted lad so i'd expect you will. Oscar Borg. Comes to something when you cant compete with the wages clubs are willing to offer 16 year old kids. Arsenal chased another one but we talked him round, but this lad is different.

[Ent]

Been going on for years - at least we will have to compensate you. When you pinch them from Europe the clubs are often left with nothing.

Not ideal but modern football.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Aye, the way of the world, just frustrating as I bet he'll be the one that develops

[Lowlandbrit]

Looks like the 16 year old you took on trial from us will be yours if you want him, and he looks an incredibly gifted lad so i'd expect you will. Oscar Borg. Comes to something when you cant compete with the wages clubs are willing to offer 16 year old kids. Arsenal chased another one but we talked him round, but this lad is different.

Wonder if he'll ever be heard of again. So many talented young players end up killing their careers by chasing the money at big clubs. You'd hope more players would look to copy someone like Christian Eriksen (who chose to go to Ajax instead of Liverpool or Milan to help him develop), but it's hard to blame kids for not planning ahead and getting starry-eyed when big clubs want to give them lots of money.

[Ent]

Ajax are a big club.

[The Special Juan]

Ajax are a big club.

Are they though? When was the last time anyone saw them as a threat to the CL, or even the UEFA cup?

[Ent]

Ajax are a big club.

Are they though?  When was the last time anyone saw them as a threat to the CL, or even the UEFA cup?

You could say the same about Liverpool or Milan.

He joined the biggest club in holland as a youngster, I don't think you can use him as an example of staying at a smaller club to develop.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

No, no, West Ham and Ajax are the same level, I'm fine with that   

[Hammersmith harrier]

The vibe coming from the players is more positive than it was last year, Van Gaal demands from the players like Fergie whereas Moyes seemed to just expect.

[mystiroakey]

Ajax are a big club.

RM have spent more money on 3 players in the transfer market than Ajax have in there whole entire existance.

Ajax were once a big club- they are like Celtic these days. well slightly above but very similar

[Ent]

Ajax are a big club.

RM have spent more money on 3 players in the transfer market than Ajax have in there whole entire existance.

Ajax were once a big club- they are like Celtic these days. well slightly above but very similar

You don't have to be a financial powerhouse to be a big club.

Ajax have won 33 Dutch titles and 4 European cups/champions leagues.

They challenge for the Dutch title most years and are in the cl every year. They are a massive club.

I agree staying with your boyhood club can be better for development at times but eriksen joining Ajax ain't an example of this in my book.

[Ent]

Anyway friendly tonight against Roma.

I note the official website is doing a pre season pass for a fiver to see all the games, but the Madrid game seems to be missing from it - anyone know if this is a sneaky ploy or an oversight?

[Lowlandbrit]

You don't have to be a financial powerhouse to be a big club.

You can argue about the prestige of Ajax, but the Dutch league is unquestionably a lower level than the Premier League or Serie A, which means you have more chances to develop as a young player. That's the point.

[mystiroakey]

Lowland- Ent is a Man U fan - everything is about history- Not the current

[Ent]

You don't have to be a financial powerhouse to be a big club.

You can argue about the prestige of Ajax, but the Dutch league is unquestionably a lower level than the Premier League or Serie A, which means you have more chances to develop as a young player. That's the point.

No it isn't as both west ham and united are in the premierleague.

Eriksen should have stayed in the Danish super league with that attitude.

[Ent]

Lowland- Ent is a Man U fan - everything is about history- Not the current

All joking aside it's about both IMO.

[mystiroakey]

Who says I am joking.
 

Anyway . This James fella looks ok?

thoughts Ent?

Can he break through and has zaha got a game in the pre season yet?

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Ajax are a pretty big club. I can't believe Ajax are not considered a big club by someone. Hell, Eriksen didnt sign to Spurs to fulfil his dreams, he signed as a stepping stone.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Cleverley and Blackett the only 2 who will play 90 mins tonight. Fitness, a thorough examination for Van Gaal or just squad management?

[mystiroakey]

If you think Ajax are big then your interpretation is based on history only- But unlike other teams with huge history(like liverpool) Ajax are just getting worse and worse each and every year.

Its like calling Mongolia a world power  because a thousand years ago Gengis Khan ruled a large chunk of the world.

[Ent]

They've won the last 4 Dutch championships, average 50k attendances, have a squad full of international players and are in the cl every year.

They are a big club, it isn't up for debate. They may not have the financial power of some of the elite clubs but to say they aren't a big club is ridiculous.

[The Special Juan]

Are Celtic a big club?

[Ent]

Yes, why wouldn't they be?

That may change with the dire state of Scottish football lately.

It isn't like we are talking about Linfield or something, these clubs are the biggest club sides in major professional european leagues who play in Europes top competitions every year and have loads of international players.

They may not sit at the top table of elite european clubs but they are big historical clubs with many traditions.

[mystiroakey]

you really are quite funny ent. 

The least you would expect a big club to able to do is to sign at least one half decent player at his peak!

Yes a club with decorated history- they are also huge in Holland. Not anymore in europe,

[Ent]

Financial power isn't everything.

Ajax have never really signed players for big money, they rely on their academy.

I have not seen much of James, to be honest my interest in the academy etc has dwindled along with my spare time - only really watch/pay attention to the first team now.

Don't know if Zaha has played yet, but we made 9 changes at half time last friendly and will probably do the same tonight.

[Ent]

On another note, the new kit was priced incorrectly at £22 on the official website and a few thousand orders were received before it was noted.

The club has honoured the orders which is nice and a good bit of PR.

[mystiroakey]

That's a nice price.

[AberdeenSteve]

Ajax battered Man City, when was the last time United did that?

  

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Are Roma a big club?

[mystiroakey]

2nd favs to win the Italian league- i would say they are. The Italian league is a decent league IMO- a top league that is relatively competitive like the PL but unlike the la liga or the bundes.

Italy have 6 pretty decent outfits. the PL has 7, LA liga has 2 again(as athletico has been decimated) , the bundes has 1, the dutch have 1, the french have 1, the scottish has 1)

PS:

The championship is the 7th richest league in the world in regards to player values and turnovers.

[AberdeenSteve]

2nd favs to win the Italian league- i would say they are. The Italian league is a decent league IMO- a top league that is relatively competitive like the PL but unlike the la liga or the bundes.

Italy have 6 pretty decent outfits. the PL has 7, LA liga has 2 again(as athletico has been decimated) , the bundes has 1, the dutch have 1, the french have 1, the scottish has 1)

PS:

The championship is the 7th richest league in the world in regards to player values and turnovers.

Ban him!

Aberdeen are bigger than any team in the Serie A

[Hero]

Ajax whilst not able to match the elite of Europe on the transfer front, still regularly produce top level talent similar to Porto. They're like Southampton but win things domestically.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

And they do it all the time, not just in a spell. Southampton have had one good batch, Ajax are a constant good batch

[The Special Juan]

2nd favs to win the Italian league- i would say they are. The Italian league is a decent league IMO- a top league that is relatively competitive like the PL but unlike the la liga or the bundes.

Italy have 6 pretty decent outfits. the PL has 7, LA liga has 2 again(as athletico has been decimated) , the bundes has 1, the dutch have 1, the french have 1, the scottish has 1)

PS:

The championship is the 7th richest league in the world in regards to player values and turnovers.

Ban him!

Aberdeen are bigger than any team in the Serie A

Won more Silverware last season than Inter, Milan or Roma too...

[Ent]

3/5/2

Johnstone
Jones Evans Blackett
Valencia Herrera cleverly james
Mata
Rooney welbeck

[Ent]

Cleverly and Blackett to play 90 mins, rest will change at half time.

Rafael injured so he misses out.

[SirJohnnyEnglish]

Cleverly captain for the night

[The Special Juan]

Johnstone?????????????????

[mystiroakey]

Is this game on any TV channels lads?- I can only find the totenham game on later on btsport2

[The Special Juan]

It's probably on MUTV which I don't have.

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