To those United fans who think we should buy big in the January window I would look at the last big January transfers to see how risky it is.
Torres - 50mil
Carroll - 35 mil
Luiz - 25mil
Suarez - 23mil
Of the 4 only Suarez has been anything like a success. Every one of them was over priced firstly. You could argue that Suarez is worth it but it was still a high fee and higher than it should have been due to it being January. Torres and Carroll failed to fit in straight away and the next 6 months were a waste. Luiz also failed to fit into the English style straight away although he did have a good run of about 8 games after signing. Suarez seemed to hit the ground running and settled well yet has failed to kick on this season and seems like his finishing is not up to scratch.
Even at United 2 of our best signings ever Vidic and Evra failed to settle in January. Evra was famously hooked at half time against City on his debut. Shows how hard it is to settle in the PL. Add the price tag that many of our fans want and I doubt any signing will make such a big impact. I do not think Sneijder would settle straight away due to pace, tactics, formation, relocation and price tag in my opinion.
Something to think over before talking about a big money midfield signing.
Remember we have Anderson back, Cleverley to return and hopefully Fletcher as well. We have Carrick in great form, Scholes as a backup and Giggs as well.
I do think we need a midfielder and a shake up of the squad and maybe letting some squad players go but I don't believe January is the right time.
This is why buying big in January is risky
posted on 12/1/12
You realise we have the second best defence in the league and more than half the goals conceded were from just 3 games?
posted on 12/1/12
I'm fairly relaxed about the transfer window.
Here we are in January, City have been annihilating teams all season and are having their best (premiership) season ever, and are many people's champions elect. Lest we forget they also pumped us at OT.
Tottenham are in dreamland - a credible title challenge for the first time in a long long while.
We've been absolutely cack at times, most reds would agree that this is by no means a vintage season and the familiar shout of decline is coming from the press...
Yet we're a 3 measly points off City, level with Tottenham and the injured players are coming back (Vidic excluded).
I agree that there are areas we should be looking to improve (aren't there always), but we'll be in the mixer in May - January's the wrong time to buy, wait till summer.
posted on 12/1/12
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posted on 12/1/12
Very few of us are saying buy big in January but we do need to buy someone. The central midfield is so short on quality that one more injury in that area could be a disaster.
posted on 12/1/12
Think SAF and most fans would feel taking our 20th title from City's grasp would be better than a champions league run
posted on 12/1/12
"but we are out of the champions league!"
That's football, Hippo, you can't get to the final every year. We didn't even get UEFA Cup in 2005, so it's not like it's never happened before. Barca (with Valdez and Xavi) played in the 2004 UEFA cup and I think Bayern have ended up there in recent times.
This isn't a terminal decline buddy!
posted on 12/1/12
and yet you don't want us to sign anyone
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Now please show me where I've said that. Thanks.
posted on 12/1/12
because our defence has been so bad, that evans, who would get no where near the chelsea, liverpool, city, bayern, barcelona, inter, ac, bayern, real madrid sides, is the best defender of the season at the world's biggest club.
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It seems like you expect every player at the club to be world class and if they're not, you want them out of the club.
The truth is that Evans has been a very good defender for us this season. He's a good squad player to have and never complains about being on the bench. He's a player who has come through the youth system, so didn't cost anything. He may not have had a great season last season but this season he has played very well and was excellent alongside Vidic in the 2008/09 season when we went on our record run of clean sheets.
posted on 12/1/12
Evans is a great prospect, he had a wonderful first season and had partnered better with Ferdinand in the central defence. We went on 3 clean sheets with these two paired together. I'm sure we would have beaten Blackburn too if he wasn't injured.
posted on 12/1/12
Yes Hippo our 4th choice CB won't make the Real Madrid team what a freaking disaster! Are you for real? I would not have David Luiz in the United team and he's Chelsea's 1st choice!