Summer Transfer Window

First topic message reminder :

Sunderland are apparently on for will Buckley again this weekend. Another one from Brighton.

Also after Nacer Chadli from spurs and Jonas from Valencia - along with still trying to persuade fabio borini.

Fernando wrote:Sky Sports News: Mario Balotelli was offered to both Arsenal and Chelsea earlier this window. Both declined.

Not surprising really. Chelsea had Costa in the bag & Jose has already cut ties with Mario before. Arsene doesn't buy players in positions that he has issues. Nothing we didn't know already really.  

SMOKING AND ARGUING (April 2013): After being caught smoking a cigarette on a train carrying Milan's squad to a game versus Fiorentina, Balotelli is hit with a three-game suspension for arguing with match officials following a 2-2 draw. Italy coach Cesare Prandelli says the striker must "learn to shut up."

SENT OFF FOR ITALY (June 2013): Two yellow cards in three minutes see Balotelli sent off in a World Cup qualifier versus the Czech Republic.

MISSED PENALTY AND ANOTHER RED (September 2013): After missing the first penalty of his career, Balotelli is sent off at the end of Milan's defeat versus Napoli for arguing with the referee.

CRYING ON THE BENCH (February 2014): With his side trailing at Napoli, Balotelli responds to his 73rd-minute substitution by appearing to break down in tears on the bench.

CLASHES WITH TV PUNDITS (April 2014): After he was substituted during a defeat versus Roma, Balotelli told critical analysts "you don't understand anything about football. Trust me, you really don't."

POSES WITH GUN (July 2014): Balotelli posts (and subsequently deletes) a picture on social media showing him pointing a gun at the camera with the accompanying message "a big kiss to all the haters."

From ESPN

It wasn't a gun, it was a decorative bong!

DAVE667 wrote:It wasn't a gun, it was a decorative bong!

oh that's quite alright then!

Crying on the bench is an incident? I mean, odd, yes, but an incident? A missed penalty? How dare he!

I would have rather had Remy, can play across all front three positions and much closer to what the team needed I feel. Balotelli is a panic buy, think Rodgers wanted to make a big-name signing so as to appease some nervous fans. For £16 million it's not bad, but the £8 million deal for Remy was definitely better. 

I don't rate Balotelli that highly and don't understand where he fits into the team without pushing Sturridge out or wide or playing a diamond again which while effective when the team were on a high last year, I'm not sure gets the best out of all the players. Don't want him getting priority over Sturridge, I think Sturridge is a better forward and is deserves to be given the chance as the number one forward. Think Balotelli is a good finisher and that's it, lacks the movement, pace or versatility to be effective for me.

Think he'll be gone by 2016.

compelling and rich wrote:

hornbloweroafc wrote:

Nakatomi Plaza wrote:

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Little worried that Arsenal are gonna nab Winston Reid if they can't get their next defensive target. Been noise surrounding it all summer.

There's been a lot of talk about Micah Richards going to West Ham. I think Richards will definitely leave City this window. Can only see Reid going to Arsenal if the Manolas deal falls through though.

As an Oldham fan, please let this Richards deal happen!  We have 20-25% sell on clause, just a shame they didn't sell him a couple of years ago when he had a bigger value     £1million would keeps us running for a couple of years though   

i heard something a while ago when he was being bounded around as the next best thing that oldham sold the sell on clause for richards, is it still in place hornblower?

went past the other day, looks like the stands coming along nicely

I believe it's still in place but being Oldham we will have sold it for next to nothing and not told us fans!
New stand is looking good. Supposed to be ready for January 2015 but looks like it will take longer with weather etc. will only hold 2500 (enough for us even if we got promoted) but will be open 24/7 (gym, shop, conference rooms etc) to bring much needed income.

I've seen reports that Eto'o is signing as well, not overly sure about that deal but he's a good back up striker.

hampo171 wrote:I've seen reports that Eto'o is signing as well, not overly sure about that deal but he's a good back up striker.

That'd be fairly awful Lambert is better

Olly wrote:

hampo171 wrote:I've seen reports that Eto'o is signing as well, not overly sure about that deal but he's a good back up striker.

That'd be fairly awful Lambert is better

Depends on the deal I guess. If it's pay as you play then it's a good deal. However what if a striker gets injured? We only have three at the moment, Balotelli to come in and Borini looks to be on his way out, so Eto'o would make four. Very good to have in case of emergencies.

Would rather have Borini than Eto'o, at least he can play anywhere across a front three and is younger and will be on lower wages.

Eto'o is gone nowadays, apart from a lucky hattrick against a woeful United, he didn't do much for Chelsea. He's living off name & just preying on desperate managers/clubs to give him another stupid one year deal. Lambert/Balotelli/Sturridge/Markovic/Lallana/Sterling/Coutinho - plenty of options attacking wise, especially only playing one up front.

Imagine Rickie Lambert being better than Eto'o. You'd have been lynched if you'd said that about 7 years ago.

The Nodge are gonna replace one midfielder who failed a medical at Everton with another as we've had a bid accepted for this bloke

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vadis_Odjidja-Ofoe

Sammy E went when he chased the money and decided spending two years in a crusty league at a rickety stadium was worth it. Always was gonna be difficult at his age to come back from that and play half decent

Balague just stated Di Maria to Utd is nearly done and he'll wear the number 7 shirt.

Definite mixed emotions when it comes to Di Maria, a brilliant player but not sure he's the player we desperately need, if it does come off it will be a statement signing more than anything and could lead to more deals.

The signing of Angel Di Maria is a statement of intent by Manchester Utd. It may well help entice Arturo Vidal to finally join as well. But another CB is also vital.

Looking at the Vidal deal all wrong Gerry, the problem isn't making him want to join, the problem is convincing Van Gaal that his troublesome knee is worth the risk, holding out for Strootman in January I think.

Hammersmith harrier wrote:Looking at the Vidal deal all wrong Gerry, the problem isn't making him want to join, the problem is convincing Van Gaal that his troublesome knee is worth the risk, holding out for Strootman in January I think.

I have the same fears over Kevin Strootman's knee as well though. 

ACL injury takes time to heal and Roma will surely want £45-£55m for him. 

I think Alex Song or Sami Khedira would be better value signings

Strootman has three things going in his favour; 1) he's LVG's go to man and most trusted player, 2) he's a few years younger than Vidal so a knee injury is less likely to be a long term problem and 3) LVG will know the minutest detail when it comes to Strootmans injury.

Woulda thought yesterday's abject performance, combined with Tuesday manic performance would have Highlighted enough just how different we are sans Angel. He isn't a necessary acquisition, but he is versatile, and wreaks havoc with ball. Creates lots of "broken play" which good strikers will take advantage of. Two things though
1- is Utd's attack good enough?
2- will he be motivated enough?

Hammersmith harrier wrote:Strootman has three things going in his favour; 1) he's LVG's go to man and most trusted player, 2) he's a few years younger than Vidal so a knee injury is less likely to be a long term problem and 3) LVG will know the minutest detail when it comes to Strootmans injury.

Agreed. 

But if LvG does want to wait got Strootman. I'd hope he signs Song on loan, as Barcelona aren't asking for load fee.

kingraf wrote:Woulda thought yesterday's abject performance, combined with Tuesday manic performance would have Highlighted enough just how different we are sans Angel. He isn't a necessary acquisition, but he is versatile, and wreaks havoc with ball. Creates lots of "broken play" which good strikers will take advantage of. Two things though
1- is Utd's attack good enough?
2- will he be motivated enough?

I wouldn't say MUFCs attack isn't too shabby. 

RVP is better than Benzema, by along way. 
Rooney and Mata are also high class. Not Cristiano or James, but top draw nonetheless.  
And Di Maria is a better all rounder then Bale.

kingraf wrote:Woulda thought yesterday's abject performance, combined with Tuesday manic performance would have Highlighted enough just how different we are sans Angel. He isn't a necessary acquisition, but he is versatile, and wreaks havoc with ball. Creates lots of "broken play" which good strikers will take advantage of. Two things though
1- is Utd's attack good enough?
2- will he be motivated enough?

One problem we don't have is our attack which is definitely good enough; any four of Van Persie, Mata, Rooney, Januzaj and Di Maria will cause problems, a commanding centre back like Benatia and a spiteful midfielder then we'll be back in business.

Oh good, another attacking player. And here was me thinking the defence was troublesome. (Ballague's FOS anyway, I don't believe it).

Realistically, you're not going for the title this season, Juan. I think you can outscore your way back to the top four.

Id presume it would be the end of Januzaj at United for the most part except bench appearances he won't fit in a 3-5-2 either let's face it Di Maria ain't playing CM your just asking to be out run in midfield he's not exactly great for backtracking.

----Herrera ---Vidal/Strootman
Di Maria ---Rooney -- Mata?
-----------RVP

Di Maria --Herrera -- DM --- Shaw
---------------Mata
----------RVP ----Rooney

kingraf wrote:Realistically, you're not going for the title this season, Juan. I think you can outscore your way back to the top four.

I dunno, if it works it will be brilliant and the team won Fergie's last PL playing that sort of football but I've always been one for a solid defence.

I don't think we'll playing 3-5-2 if this comes off Nando, Van Gaal said as much himself, he'd rather play 4-3-3 but didn't have the wide players to do it.

Herrera-Fletcher/New Midfielder

Di Maria-Rooney-Mata

Van Persie

Januzaj can slot in anywhere in that three behind the main striker.

He's going to cost £50m surely. New record transfer I presume.

It's great that another expensive foreigner is keeping out english players....

I'm not convinced on this deal. I know he's signing, just not overly agreeing with United's strategy here.

Josiah Maiestas wrote:He's going to cost £50m surely. New record transfer I presume.

It's great that another expensive foreigner is keeping out english players....

Who? Welbeck? Cleverley?

If the English players were good enough they wouldn't have to be replaced.

There's also nothing stopping English players moving abroad for playing time, just like every other nation's players do.

What English players would they be then, if he does sign and it's a big if when it comes to Balague then he'll be replacing a foreign player anyway.

John wrote:I'm not convinced on this deal. I know he's signing, just not overly agreeing with United's strategy here.

True.

Do they really think Di Maria can cut it against teams like Sunderland?   

Crimey wrote:

Josiah Maiestas wrote:He's going to cost £50m surely. New record transfer I presume.

It's great that another expensive foreigner is keeping out english players....

Who? Welbeck? Cleverley?

If the English players were good enough they wouldn't have to be replaced.

There's also nothing stopping English players moving abroad for playing time, just like every other nation's players do.

I know, i've read so much about foreign players taking up places and I laugh. They should go abroad like everybody else.

Id reckon you could kick Di Maria out of a game. Lets face it he rolls about like fat people in custard

I think his motivation is definitely worth questioning. No Champs League, wonder how motivated he will be for those cold Wednesday nights in Stoke.

kingraf wrote:I think his motivation is definitely worth questioning.  No Champs League, wonder how motivated he will be for those cold Wednesday nights in Stoke.  

James, Falcao and Moutinho signed for AS Monaco without CL. It didn't hurt their motivation.

Gerry SA wrote:

kingraf wrote:I think his motivation is definitely worth questioning.  No Champs League, wonder how motivated he will be for those cold Wednesday nights in Stoke.  

James, Falcao and Moutinho signed for AS Monaco without CL. It didn't hurt their motivation.

It didn't hurt there wallets either. What is Falcao is on 200/250k?

Di Maria = 50m & 200k a week  

It's not really the same thing Gerry

Fernando wrote:Id reckon you could kick Di Maria out of a game. Lets face it he rolls about like fat people in custard

#Sanchez

The Special Juan wrote:

Fernando wrote:Id reckon you could kick Di Maria out of a game. Lets face it he rolls about like fat people in custard

#Sanchez

#ShawIsATeletubby  
#AberystwythTownWereInEuropeUnlikeUnited  

Tbf Di Maria flattered to deceive before last season. Could he play CM in the PL?

Di Maria is a quality player, but I see it like the Sanchez one for Arsenal. It doesn't fix the problem

I can't see him playing centrally, not in the EPL midfield battlegrounds. He'll have less time, less room & less protection, I'd imagine him returning back to the inconsistent days, like prior to last season.

I honestly don't get this signing, if I'm honest. 4-3-3 play him out-wide but then where does RVP/Rooney fit & then what happens to Mata/Januzaj.

Reports on United close on Blind and another midfielder too.

Where you read that Dolph?

Hammersmith harrier wrote:Where you read that Dolph?

Espn are reporting that.

Blind is a strange one, now Rojo has signed. Another left footed player to challenge Shaw. Still no commanding central defender. Who is the 'other midfielder'?