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by **Afro** Wed 8 May - 11:29

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Under Brescia crowned Premier League Champions!! Bubbly

Tactics due by 11.59 on Friday 10th May

PLEASE NOTE - this season you will receive a 1 point deduction if you do not submit tactics (as well as a default loss) and a 1 point deduction if you do not vote. If you know in advance you are unable to do either, then you must state so on the Holidays/Days Off page, to avoid the penalties.

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by Zinedine_Ze_Zebra Thu 9 May - 10:21

The only possible negative is that Moyes likes his CF to work hard and work the channels. He has a history of taking some players who have scored plenty (Beattie, Johnson, Yak, Jelavic) and then them losing their scoring form. His tactics takes them away from where they can score goals.

Jelavic scored plenty when he was in the box and Cahill was doing the work. This season, Fellaini has played up top. He is not one to chase the defence and work the channels, so Jelavic had to do it instead. This is why willing workshorse Anichebe is playing instead.

Might not be great for RVP

F Rooney off. RVP up top in the box with Kagawa playing as the CF can work to how Moyes likes. Kagawa is capabvle of working channels & playing inside with his ability to be able to play in tight spaces thats seems like it can work.

I would love it if Moyes came in & went & got Strootman

by **Afro** Thu 9 May - 10:21

It won't happen.

BK's hold on the club is not like Abramovich's and he can't afford to ignore the fans.

by Guest Thu 9 May - 10:24

I think Benitez has been a failure at Chelsea.

Third in the league with that team, after taking over when they were second and just off top, is a failure. The tin pot Europa League isn't worth anything to them (£2.5m to the winners), and the FA Cup should have been theirs after their displays against United. But he messed up tactically. What is his obsession with Yossi Benayoun?

by GSC Thu 9 May - 10:24

Not to mention, Rafa as a person doesn't fit Everton at all.

by GSC Thu 9 May - 10:25

Rafa took over a team in disarray, had 0 support from crappy fans and steered Chelsea to a respectable season.

by GSC Thu 9 May - 10:28

Rooneys transfer requests are funny.

First the club needed to show more ambition.

Now that ambition has made him redundant at man utd.

by **Afro** Thu 9 May - 10:31

Got a text through saying that the whisper going around the club is that Moyes took training this morning and after talks with Kenwright, has rejected United's approach.

by **Afro** Thu 9 May - 10:32

* that was talked to the players and staff right at the start to let them know what was happening

by GSC Thu 9 May - 10:32

Got a text through that Santa is real

by **Afro** Thu 9 May - 10:35

I personally don't believe it, and it is just conjecture, but it is from within the club

by Zinedine_Ze_Zebra Thu 9 May - 10:36

Rooneys transfer requests are funny.
First the club needed to show more ambition.
Now that ambition has made him redundant at man utd.

It is quite amusing. Id get rid of him!

BigFellasAfro wrote:Got a text through saying that the whisper going around the club is that Moyes took training this morning and after talks with Kenwright, has rejected United's approach.

Really, haha now thats would be funny. Hand picked for probably what is the biggest job in the World (bar being a president of a country or something) only to turn it down.

by GSC Thu 9 May - 10:36

It would make 0 sense to me. His contract is up, and frankly hes never going to get a better job offer.

by GSC Thu 9 May - 10:40

Pete O'Rourke ‏@SkySportsPeteO 17m
Mark Hughes has refused to rule himself out of the running for the Everton job should David Moyes leave. #EFC

*citing that Everton and every rational owner had already ruled Hughes out of every current and potential opening already

by **Afro** Thu 9 May - 10:43

Zinedine_Ze_Zebra wrote:Hand picked for probably what is the biggest job in the World (bar being a president of a country or something) .

What a United fan comment.

But it's okay, I made it up just to see the reaction.

He's never going to turn down the United job, especially when he was already weighing up alternative options before the United job became available.

by GSC Thu 9 May - 10:45

But it's okay, I made it up

by Marky Thu 9 May - 10:46

Hughes to Forest before Christmas then Wink

by GSC Thu 9 May - 10:46

After we sack Crawleys manager Wink

by Marky Thu 9 May - 10:49

If anyone took Richie Barker from Crawley I'd be amazed.

by GSC Thu 9 May - 10:50

Isn't he the man who led you to midtable in league 1 after being a figment of J.K Rowling's imagination just 6 months earlier?

by Marky Thu 9 May - 10:55

He's the man who took us from newly promoted to League 1 to 10th in League 1. A good achievement but hardly spectacular.

by Zinedine_Ze_Zebra Thu 9 May - 11:03

BigFellasAfro wrote:
Zinedine_Ze_Zebra wrote:Hand picked for probably what is the biggest job in the World (bar being a president of a country or something) .

What a United fan comment.

But it's okay, I made it up just to see the reaction.

He's never going to turn down the United job, especially when he was already weighing up alternative options before the United job became available.

Nah come on, lets be serious it is a massive job isnt it.

by sodhat Thu 9 May - 11:08

Within the context of being a football manager, yes. In the wider world, not really.

by Marky Thu 9 May - 11:09

Right then. Best Man U XI from Fergie's time in charge.

Schmeichel

G.Neville - Bruce - Vidic - Irwin

Beckham - Keane - Scholes - Giggs

Ronaldo - Cantona

by GSC Thu 9 May - 11:12

Think Ruud probably has to go up front with Cantona. Swap Beckham with Ronaldo and stick Ruud up top.

I'd tempted to put Rio in ahead of Vidic

by Guest Thu 9 May - 11:16

van der Sar

G.Neville - Ferdinand - Stam - Evra

Beckham - Keane - Scholes - Giggs

Hughes - Cantona

by Trebs Thu 9 May - 11:17

Berbatov for £30m
Ferdinand for £29m
Veron for £28m
Rooney for £27m
RVP (already mentioned)
Anderson for £20m
Van Nistelrooy for £19m
De Gea for £19m
Carrick for £18m
Nani for £17m
Zaha for £15m

What you fail to recognize is most of those players aren't at a big club like a Bayern, Milan, Real, Barca etc. when they sign for United. They come in from a smaller club.
Ferdinand, Rooney, Anderson, De Gea, Nani, Zaha all under 23 when they signed for United. Carrick and Berbatov came from Spurs who were a mid-table Premier League side when they joined, not really superstars just decent players. van Nistelrooy was unproved in any major league, all his goals came from the Dutch league and Veron was a flop who we made the majority of our money back on through the sale to Chelsea.

by Guest Thu 9 May - 11:22

I didn't fail to recognize it, I just failed to point it out. Borussia Dortmund are hardly Bayern / Real / Barca, and it's not inconceivable that they sell half their first team this summer. They have such a great squad that they can replace some of those players internally, and others through transfers (like De Bruyne off of Chelsea)

Berbatov was a star when he signed, he'd scored a ton of goals everywhere he'd played and was on the verge of signing for another club that same day. He was a big player in big demand.

The reason I included all those players is that, while they may not necessarily be 'stars' when they were signed, it proves that United have spent masses of cash on first team players over the years. My suggestion of signing 3 players from Dortmund - all of whom would improve the first team - merely follows this pattern.

I'd be amazed if Moyes didn't sign 3/4 players this summer, get rid of dead wood like Evra, Buttner, Nani, Valencia, Rooney, and buy some of 'his' players, Baines, Fellaini, Reus. He has to buy proven quality else he'll just be winning stuff with Fergie's team, which he doesn't want the reputation for.

by Zinedine_Ze_Zebra Thu 9 May - 11:23

Within the context of being a football manager, yes. In the wider world, not really.

Disagree Soddy. Even within the wider world its still a big job. Man United are an organisation valued at over a billion. To become a manager at a billion + organisation (in my books) is considered a big job.

Best Man U XI from Fergie's time is hard to pick. I think its safe to say Schmeichel, G.Neville & Irwin are pretty much certs for their positions. Wings & strikers are hard to pick & will vary a lot.

Id have to go:

Schmeichel
G.Neville - Stam - Bruce - Irwin
Ronaldo - Keane - Scholes - Giggs
van nistelrooy - Cantona

Subs: Yorke & Cole, they would just miss the starting line up for me. They were amazing as a partnership.

by Trebs Thu 9 May - 11:24

------------------------Schmeichel------------------------
---Neville-------Bruce----------Ferdinand--------Evra---
---------------------Scholes----Keane---------------------
--------Ronaldo-------------------------------Giggs-------
------------------Cantona----------Solskjaer--------------

by sodhat Thu 9 May - 11:25

Zinedine_Ze_Zebra wrote:
Within the context of being a football manager, yes. In the wider world, not really.
Disagree Soddy. Even within the wider world its still a big job. Man United are an organisation valued at over a billion. To become a manager at a billion + organisation (in my books) is considered a big job.

He's not the most important person at the club though, the Chief Exec would be.

It's a big job in football terms but it's not like being the CEO of a multi-national organisation like Apple, Coke, Microsoft etc etc.

by GSC Thu 9 May - 11:26

I kinda agree, but at the same time, those guys don't have nearly the same media pressure

by **Afro** Thu 9 May - 11:26

onlytreblewinners wrote:Berbatov for £30m
Ferdinand for £29m
Veron for £28m
Rooney for £27m
RVP (already mentioned)
Anderson for £20m
Van Nistelrooy for £19m
De Gea for £19m
Carrick for £18m
Nani for £17m
Zaha for £15m

What you fail to recognize is most of those players aren't at a big club like a Bayern, Milan, Real, Barca etc. when they sign for United. They come in from a smaller club.
Ferdinand, Rooney, Anderson, De Gea, Nani, Zaha all under 23 when they signed for United. Carrick and Berbatov came from Spurs who were a mid-table Premier League side when they joined, not really superstars just decent players. van Nistelrooy was unproved in any major league, all his goals came from the Dutch league and Veron was a flop who we made the majority of our money back on through the sale to Chelsea.

With the exception of Zaha, they were all established recognised names playing in the top flight for big clubs.

Whilst United has undoubtedly made them better, they also brought established players who other teams had developed and laid all the foundations.

That list does not help any argument that United do not spend to achieve success. There is nothing wrong with it as it is what all successful clubs throughout the modern era have done.

But it does not show that United are a club keen to develop within, quite the opposite.

The list should have been

Neville
Neville
Scholes
Giggs
Beckham
Butt
Cleverley
Welbeck
etc.

That would show a club who believe in development

by GSC Thu 9 May - 11:27

Man, theres a massive dropoff post Butt

by **Afro** Thu 9 May - 11:28

Zinedine_Ze_Zebra wrote: To become a manager at a billion + organisation (in my books) is considered a big job.

He's not being made chief exec as well is he?

by sodhat Thu 9 May - 11:31

GSC wrote:I kinda agree, but at the same time, those guys don't have nearly the same media pressure

They do if they f*ck up. Look at Tony Hayward.

He probably had little to do with the whole spillage thing, but he takes the bullet and the flak for it because he's the big cheese.

by Zinedine_Ze_Zebra Thu 9 May - 11:40

He's not the most important person at the club though, the Chief Exec would be.

It's a big job in football terms but it's not like being the CEO of a multi-national organisation like Apple, Coke, Microsoft etc etc.

He's not being made chief exec as well is he?

Its still a big job regardless. SAF as manager had a lot of involvement. If Moyes to to take that on also its huge job for him.

People at Apple, Coke etc just sit in boardrooms all day etc. They are not upfront in the public & media attention day in day out being judged weekend after weekend.

by **Afro** Thu 9 May - 11:41

Zinedine_Ze_Zebra wrote:
He's not the most important person at the club though, the Chief Exec would be.

It's a big job in football terms but it's not like being the CEO of a multi-national organisation like Apple, Coke, Microsoft etc etc.

He's not being made chief exec as well is he?
Its still a big job regardless. SAF as manager had a lot of involvement. If Moyes to to take that on also its huge job for him.

People at Apple, Coke etc just sit in boardrooms all day etc. They are not upfront in the public & media attention day in day out being judged weekend after weekend.

It's a big job yes.

I think you said "Biggest job in the World bar being president of a country or something"

by Guest Thu 9 May - 11:41

I'm pretty sure the Chief Execs of large multinationals don't ignore certain media outlets when they feel like it Whistle

by Zinedine_Ze_Zebra Thu 9 May - 11:55

I think you said "Biggest job in the World bar being president of a country or something"

I did yes because its a big job. What do you think that "something" means. Your a clever person Afro so id expect you out of most on here to put that into the context you see fit within reason.
Being a high up senior employee of a multi billion organisation is a big job. With all that comes with being a manager at a billion+ organisation why because Man United are a football club is it looked upon differently? Man United are as much, if not more of a business.

by Marky Thu 9 May - 12:07

Pretty sure Manchester United PLC dropped £90m in value yesterday alone. Won't be a billion pound industry for long, that's if they still are.

by Guest Thu 9 May - 12:13

If Moyes has a bad start, the share price will drop by 3-4%. If he continues to under-perform, that'll rise to 8-10%. Not win a meaningful trophy in the first season and that could rise to a 15-20% drop in share price. While the Board might want to give him time, they can't afford it financially - that's why I think they should have gone with a more experienced winner.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Thu 9 May - 12:33

You're not gonna get a manager more domestically experienced than Moyes.

European he is relatively inexperienced, but he knows all the ins and outs of Premier League football. And really I think winning the league is Utd's priority

by Guest Thu 9 May - 12:37

Indeed, so why not go after Mourinho, the only manager with a better win ratio in the Premier League than Ferguson?

by GSC Thu 9 May - 12:39

Because Mourinho will sod off in 3-4 years having invested heavily on players that will be past their peak and overpaid once he leaves.

by Guest Thu 9 May - 12:41

Small price to pay for 3-4 more championships, 2-3 FA Cups and a Champions League or two. I can't see Moyes being as successful as Sir Alex or Jose.

by GSC Thu 9 May - 12:42

In the short term maybe not, but Moyes will do more in the long term for United than Jose.

by Zinedine_Ze_Zebra Thu 9 May - 12:45

And really I think winning the league is Utd's priority

As a fan I always want the league. I do want the CL but the league is your bread & butter.

Marky, Man United are valued around 1.9bn.

Think shares closed at 1.76% down last night. Not too shabby considering at one point it was 4.7% drop. Share price will fluctuate a lot now. Its not a big concern at this moment in time.

by Guest Thu 9 May - 12:45

But if United lose 20% of their share price over the next 12-18 months, can you see the Glazers sitting on a massively devaluing asset just to give a manager more time? They'd sack him quick as, get someone experienced at that level to win some stuff quickly, then get the share price back to where it was. The pressure on Moyes isn't on the pitch, it's in the Boardroom from the pocket of the Glazers.

by Fernando Thu 9 May - 12:46

Can they afford to keep him long term if he doesn't succeed in 1st few seasons with money being priority for shareholders/glazers

by GSC Thu 9 May - 12:49

United are one of the most marketable brands in the world. I'd say they'll be alright for cash

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