Demento's worried about Chelsea's buying power

[R A Softlad]

BBC.co.uk

 

Ferguson has three summer targets

 

Sir Alex Ferguson has identified three players he wants to sign for Manchester United before the start of next season. "We've outlined three targets and chief executive David Gill is aware of them," said the United manager.

 

"When there is competition for the best players, it costs, so we will just have to wait and see."

 

The Premiership champions have been linked to Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves, Southampton defender Gareth Bale and Spurs striker Dmitar Berbatov.

 

But Ferguson expressed his concern that United could be outbid by Chelsea if the London club moved for one of the players the Scot wants to sign.

 

"Manchester United has always been an attraction," added Ferguson, who has led United to nine top-flight titles.

 

"We have 76,000 people watching us every week and have a celebrity status, which means we are known throughout the world.

 

"It is not a question of attracting players. The real competition comes when Chelsea pay £27m for someone like Michael Essien. They can outbid us all."

 

Hang on...

 

Rooney - £30m

Ferdinand - £30m

Veron - £28m

Edited May 7, 2007 by R A Softlad

[Rich Gobey]

I absolutely agree with him.

 

Chelsea (and everybody else) should be limited to bid precisely ten million less than Utd for any player.

 

just to make it fair again.

Edited May 7, 2007 by Gobez

[Maldini]

If they only signed Hargreaves, Bale and Berbatov I'd be fairly happy.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

I wouldn't. what more would they need?

[floyd]

I wouldn't. what more would they need?

A fvckin terrible injury to Ronaldo and Rooney just after the transfer window shuts.

[Hassony]

I wouldn't. what more would they need?

Berbatov would improve their strike force, but i am not sure bale would be an improvement on their two left backs and Hargreaves is way overpriced at 20m (although he would be an improvement on fletcher)

[Guest JV]

The cvnts have been doing the same for years the moaning piss head.

[Earl Hafler]

We have 76,000 people watching us every week

 

Craven Cottage having an extension ?

[Gomez]

If they only signed Hargreaves, Bale and Berbatov I'd be fairly happy.

 

If there is one team that can't complain about the chavs buying the league it's that shower of sh*te that've been doing it for years.

 

At the quoted prices:

Hargreaves = £25m

Bale = £9m

Berbatov = £20m

 

= £54m

 

Even though those prices are vastily infalted, I doubt what they end up paying will be far off. Just goes to show,

[Guest Linton]

He can f**k off with that comment. How do he think that every other team felt like when Manure was the team that could outbid the PLs top teams with ten millions. He really is senile.

[Guest Anders Honoré]

Berbatov would improve their strike force, but i am not sure bale would be an improvement on their two left backs and Hargreaves is way overpriced at 20m (although he would be an improvement on fletcher)

 

leftback aside, berbatov and Hargreaves would improve the squad and patch critical holes in a championshipwinning side. If it keeps the wheels ticking for them, I think Ferguson could care less about paying over the odds.

[hideNseek]

If they only signed Hargreaves, Bale and Berbatov I'd be fairly happy.

Why? It's really time we stopped writing them off.

[growler]

well they have earned it. Plus, they spend their wad on one player a season, rather than on 5 or 6. We'll be in that space soon, where we can buy 1 or 2 big money players, rather than a few.

[Scorpion]

Apparently, the first team excluding the subs in the 1-1 draw between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford earlier this season cost £122.92M and £137.85M respectively. I remember posting something similar last season and the season before. The squad which beat Man Utd at Old Trafford 3-1 cost less though it really doesn't matter.

[NWR]

Fergie buys one or two players for x mil, you buy loads of squad players for the same amount of money. Both clubs spend roughly the same amount.

Let me guess? You all conveniently forgot that?

[fyds]

Yes - because you're talking crap again. We spent a total of around £25m in a good year, including sales. Your lot have regularly spent that on one player and then got another for not much less and another at a bit less again.

[NWR]

Yes - because you're talking crap again. We spent a total of around £25m in a good year, including sales. Your lot have regularly spent that on one player and then got another for not much less and another at a bit less again.

 

Sorry old chap but it be you that is talking crap

[fyds]

Sorry old chap but it be you that is talking crap

So your average transfer spend is between £20 and £25m total, with sales is it? No - didn't think so.

[_00_deathscar]

Fergie buys one or two players for x mil, you buy loads of squad players for the same amount of money. Both clubs spend roughly the same amount.

Let me guess? You all conveniently forgot that?

 

http://www.footballtransfers.co.uk/squads/...html#player9307

 

Our "best XI":

 

Reina (6m)

 

Finnan (3.5) Carra (-) Agger (5.5) Riise (4)

 

Gerrard (-) Alonso (10) Mascherano (10) Kewell (5)

 

Kuyt (9) Crouch (7)

 

costs: 60m - and that is taking into account if we paid a fee for Mascherano - if you'd like to do it the other way put Sissoko or Garcia/Pennant in and the fee is reduced by a futher 5m or so

 

Your "best XI":

 

van der Sar (undisclosed)

 

Neville (-) Vidic (8m) Ferdinand (30) Evra (5.5)

 

Ronaldo (12) Carrick (18) Scholes (-) Giggs (-)

 

Rooney (30) Saha (13)

 

Rooney, Ferdinand and (pick A N Other apart from the frees) alone account for more than our first XI.

 

So your average transfer spend is between £20 and £25m total, with sales is it? No - didn't think so.

 

Actually their net spending over the past 2 or 3 years has been very little (by offsetting the likes of Veron, Beckham and van Nistlerooy for decent sums).

Edited May 8, 2007 by _00_deathscar

[Maldini]

I wouldn't. what more would they need?

 

 

Why? It's really time we stopped writing them off.

 

None of the three of them are world class, or even top class really. They could do a lot better, especially given the money they'd have to spend to get the three of them.

 

 

...or to put it another way, I think Mascherano is better than Hargreaves, Kuyt is better than Berbatov and Insua is probably better than Bale.

Edited May 8, 2007 by Maldini

[Lee W]

Fergie buys one or two players for x mil, you buy loads of squad players for the same amount of money. Both clubs spend roughly the same amount.

Let me guess? You all conveniently forgot that?

 

Ferguson has been at Utd. 21 years. Rafa at Liverpool for 3 years.

 

This thing about squad re-building has been pointed out to you in the other Manc thread

 

Sorry old chap but it be you that is talking crap

 

No you are, ya daft sock.

Edited May 8, 2007 by Lee W

[Rimbeux]

I wouldn't be overly scared if they bought them three either. Berbatov is a class player, but he's not going to run hard yards for them, or be a constant reference point in and around the box. He pretty much does his own thing, likes to wander deep at a medium pace, but adding a class touch near everytime the ball goes to him.

 

Depending on how you look at it, he's a stroller or lazy, and will make up his mind very early on whether he's going to make a run to get into the box or chase a ball down, whether he thinks he can get something out of it, he wont run if he cant. That's absolutely fiine if you're playing alongside say Drogba, but Rooney?

[John am Rhein]

Why? It's really time we stopped writing them off.

 

I hereby write them off for next season

[Magic8Ball]

If there is one team that can't complain about the chavs buying the league it's that shower of sh*te that've been doing it for years.

 

At the quoted prices:

Hargreaves = £25m

Bale = £9m

Berbatov = £20m

 

= £54m

 

Even though those prices are vastily infalted, I doubt what they end up paying will be far off. Just goes to show,

Now Fergie goes for the treble: Berbatov, Hargreaves and Bale

[Guest Anders Honoré]

None of the three of them are world class, or even top class really. They could do a lot better, especially given the money they'd have to spend to get the three of them.

...or to put it another way, I think Mascherano is better than Hargreaves, Kuyt is better than Berbatov and Insua is probably better than Bale.

 

Mascherano is better. The two others - hard to say. Could go either way. The important thing for them is just to keep things ticking and maintain the momentum from this season. I think those players will do that if they deliver what is expected. The good thing for them is that they are not bringing in a Veron who is expected to step straight into the side and improve them and they don't need to. They have a settled side and can ease them in without pressure.