“The challenge they now face is to prove they have the global allure and the negotiating savvy to convert ambitious bids into superstar signings. In that regard, they are already entering a pivotal, perhaps even defining, period…. the wider narrative is that this transfer window is turning into a first and symbolic test both of executive team and self-sustaining philosophy.â€

Jeremy Wilson (Daily Telegraph, 25th July 2013)

Can this be true? Is the fourth estate really about to turn on its pet of the print, exposing their king of clubs in all its current nakedness [of talent] by suggesting it has about as much pulling power as a tweeting Rio, once he toddles off and retires to downtown Dohar? Surely it must have slipped Jeremy Wilson’s mind just how much pride Johnny Foreigner feels at hearing the merest whisper of United interest being shown in them, never mind that sense of excitement they get at knowing they might have the chance to play alongside all-time greats, like Giggs and Evra, for a few fleeting minutes in every ninety, in a Premier League that has been ManU’s fiefdom since Day One.

Well, no actually, it isn’t true, because the quote isn’t quite what it seems, having been said of an entirely different set of Reds, namely Arsenal Football Club - I’ve just muddied the waters a little with a misleading and unrelated topic title. Indeed, my reason for doing so was to highlight the fact that those well-chosen Wilson words CAN also be applied to David Moyes at United, thus bracketing him with the much softer target, otherwise known as the newly converted, financially dopey, Arsene Wenger. What’s more to the point, the fans of these respective teams are coming to the same conclusion at a rate of knots… not Thiago Alcantara, who has popped off to Pep pretty pronto, probably at the first mention of Manc interest. Not Gonzalo Higuain either, whose sublime passing appears to have passed the Arse by on his way to pass a medical at Napoli.

Nor, it would seem, Cesc Fabregas, although at the time of writing it is unclear as to whether he’s ever wanted to return to one, or start afresh at another, or have one receive some cash for going to the other, or stay put and snub them both, at least for a little longer, or until he can work out whether or not he’ll get a game under someone called Gerardo Martino, whose nickname of ‘Tata’ hardly bodes well for any player fearing the worst, transfer-wise. Not that this string of negatives should be allowed to influence what is, after all is said and done, a straightforward choice for the Spaniard - between the Northern [soon-to-be-declared dead] Devils and [at last a couple of positives] those Deep Dodos from down South.

Decisions, decisions everywhere, yet none an easy judgement call to make, especially when you consider recent history, which is exactly the hook line Wilson used in his piece referred to above. Laid out under the heading ’Wenger outgunned in the transfer stakes’ was the following list of club record signings in the Premier League and their respective dates of purchase:-

1. CHELSEA Fernando Torres £50m Jan 2011

2. MAN CITY Sergio Aguero £38m July 2011

3. LIVERPOOL Andy Carroll £35m Jan 2011

4. MAN UTD Dimitar Berbatov £30.75m Sept 2008

5. ASTON VILLA Darren Bent £24m Jan 2011

6. TOTTENHAM Paulino £17m July 2013

7. ARSENAL Andrei Arshavin £15m Feb 2009

Designed to name and [bottom-of-table] shame the Gunners, in effect, this list does more to discredit United, for the simple reason that it pinpoints the inordinate passage of time since they’ve been in the market for a top quality player in any position. Nearly five years ago Berba was [allegedly] taxi-driven by none other than Fergie himself into the waiting arms of an adoring Sky Sports News team and presented to the waiting world under a blaze of arc lights and sycophantic hype. Presentation alone marked the signing out as a landmark then and duly consigned Van Persie’s arrival to that of muted panic buy [where was the priority purchase to bolster midfield?] rather than acclamation-worthy.

It is those dates that tell the real story, and it doesn’t make for good reading if you are a United supporter. Put in a pipe and smoked, Arsenal are now at least in there pitching the pennies and not pinching them, as they did in the past. Supposedly in amongst the top echelon of clubs, along with Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona and those Munificent men in their Glazer buying machine, Wenger is free to compete with us and Citeh and our respective bad boy billionaire benefactors. And full marks to them, I say, as it all adds more grist to the rumour mill that grinds Financial Fair Play into the dust pile it is fast becoming, especially in the wake of recent PSG and Monaco splurges.

Money may play its part in the current close season tomfoolery, but the truth of the matter is obvious to anyone who cares to look closely. For the last five years neither United nor the Arse have competed right at the top of the transfer market, the former hamstrung by the Glazers and the latter scared to go cap in hand and get in deep with billionaire Alisher Usmanov, the club’s second largest shareholder. Somewhat ironically, United must now sell before they can buy big, but the ’big’ have not wanted to play ball for a some while. Arsenal, on the other hand, want to play with the big boys, but owners like John W Henry don’t believe they’re anywhere near old enough in the wheeler-dealing financial tooth, let alone old enough to smoke.

In such a topsy-turvy world little wonder Wayne wants to leave a sinking ship, while Cesc can’t cope with coming back on board HMS Premiership. Davey Baby has it about right on another thread (Real Madrid holds the key) but, with Suarez and Bale on their shopping list, they wont accept peanuts for Ronaldo and, sadly for them, the wrong club has made the biggest financial statement of intent to date. And amidst all the mayhem Jose remains ‘calm’, calling time on fresh Rooney bids. Time’s come for David Moyes too - time to manage - let Rooney go and spend within his budget, even if it does mean acquiring B list celebrities.

Roll up! Roll up! See the amazing Toffee double act, Fellaini and Baines, change the colour of their shirts! Yep, we are about to witness all the fun of the [financially] unfair… and I can’t wait.

Edited July 26, 201312 yr by Dorset

Well a year ago they signed the best player in the EPL, and there have been massive rumours lately about the best player in the world (Ronaldo) wanting to go back there.

 

So yes, I think United have as much pulling power as any other club in England.

 

And while United haven't spent as heavily as us or City in the last few years, they've still won 2 of the last 3 league titles so it clearly hasn't been a problem.

Ferguson back in charge by the end of the year - you heard it here first.

Well a year ago they signed the best player in the EPL, and there have been massive rumours lately about the best player in the world (Ronaldo) wanting to go back there.

 

So yes, I think United have as much pulling power as any other club in England.

 

And while United haven't spent as heavily as us or City in the last few years, they've still won 2 of the last 3 league titles so it clearly hasn't been a problem.

 

Hmm yeah but that was before Fergie retired.  And although they've won two of the last three, I've always said they were the best of a poor bunch in both those seasons - I think it may well be different now and they MAY find things rather different.  And maybe potential players can see the same.  Dunno, but it's going to be interesting!

When it comes down to it there isn't a lot of players that will turn down the chance to join United especially if they will be a part of the first team on a regular basis.

 

SAF was all about the team not the individual and so often bought players who were the best fit for his system rather than the best players and to be honest I don't see that changing under Moyes. 

I think United will still have a big pull for some years to come. Its not like Liverpool where they have dropped down so far that they are now nothing more than a midtable team. United will still challenge for things and will still pay big wages so yes i think they could still get world class players if they wanted to.

Yes.

Is this the first time there's ever been qualms or feelings of disagreement about a Dorset post?

Well I for one think he may have a point - maybe it's wishful thinking but I think Fergie leaving is bound to have an effect.

Well I for one think he may have a point - maybe it's wishful thinking but I think Fergie leaving is bound to have an effect.

 

It very well may do, but I don't think in the original post there was any example of this happening yet.

 

Thiago chose to go to Bayern with his old manager, who had just won the Champions League, and if Cesc didn't want to leave i'd chalk it down more to Barca being bigger than any English club right now, and the fact he is Barca born and bred.

 

As for Rooney, he's requesting to leave as he is no longer big enough for the club, not the other way around.

 

I don't think there is any player us or City could attract that United couldn't, at least in terms of their status as a big club.

I'm struggling to think of many occasions in recent history when United signed what was regarded as a "world class player"?

 

RvP has been mentioned, I guess Ferdinand counted but that was 10 years ago.

 

Veron? He was a big name signing (and look how that worked out for them and us). 

 

My point is, "marque" big name signings isn't really their transfer statergy. 

Great post and like the rest I'm not brave enough to rule out united this year or any other

It could also be a case of to much paper talk this time of year. Clubs getting snubbed left right and center when in fact no official contact has ever been made in many of the cases.

We would i'm sure have been interested in Falcao and Cavani. Its been known for a while were interested in a striker so it was an obvious fit to get linked with 2 of the best around. But Napoli's Chairman has admitted that we never entered the race for him, we never put in a bid. Perhaps because of the silly numbers being thrown around at the time, or perhaps because we never had any intention of signing him. Either way we were'nt snubbed.

Without knowing the ins and outs of who's bid for who you'll never know who got snubbed by who its all paper talk. 

 

I would agree with Beerqueen regarding the Fergie factor, which will be apparent in everything this year not just signing players. But would also agree with Jonty, Utd are one of the biggest clubs in the world and still have as much pulling power as any other. 

I'm struggling to think of many occasions in recent history when United signed what was regarded as a "world class player"?

 

RvP has been mentioned, I guess Ferdinand counted but that was 10 years ago.

 

Veron? He was a big name signing (and look how that worked out for them and us). 

 

My point is, "marque" big name signings isn't really their transfer statergy. 

Yeah on reflection you're right - but I'm still hopeful that they may be ready to cede their dominance!

Well a year ago they signed the best player in the EPL, and there have been massive rumours lately about the best player in the world (Ronaldo) wanting to go back there.

 

So yes, I think United have as much pulling power as any other club in England.

 

And while United haven't spent as heavily as us or City in the last few years, they've still won 2 of the last 3 league titles so it clearly hasn't been a problem.

 

Ferguson has this ability to make his team greater than the sum of its parts.  I don't believe Moyes has this ability and with the central midfield he's got to work with currently, he'll find it extremely difficult.  His defence is also looking weak with Vidic and Ferdinand getting old and increasingly injured. 

 

His ability to achieve on a budget is noted but Wenger has achieved far greater feats with less money over the last 5 years and he has much more experience actually competing for titles and in the CL. 

Yes, Man Utd are still in the top 5 biggest clubs in the world, if they go in for a player and can afford to pay big money for them, the player will more than likely be willing to go. You know for a fact that, say, Cavani and Falcao would have much preferred to go to Man Utd but United 1. Couldn't afford it 2. Didn't go in for them. Unfortunately football is becoming a battle of who has the most money, I am aware that as a Chelea fan it's a bit hypocritical to criticise teams with a lot of money but seeing a team like Monaco being able to sign one of the best strikers in the world just after being promoted is sickening really.

Is this the first time there's ever been qualms or feelings of disagreement about a Dorset post?

 

 

No!  Sometimes he writes with forked tongue (if you'll excuse the mixed metaphor).

Of course they do. Ridiculous thread.

United is a brand, they will always attract top players. You can look at Liverpool and say they have mass appeal as well but unlike them, United adapted for the future during the 90's, they were one step ahead.

Edited July 26, 201312 yr by cfc88

Unless its purely for money , i think the big names wanting to come to the premiereship is imploding on itself now..In my opinion that MAY be a good thing as it could kickstart youth policies....also eventually, it will mean only a handfull of clubs world wide will afford the ridiculous fees and wages

I actually think the premiership as a whole has lost its pull and apart from hazard and aguero, all the superstar signings have been made by

Barcelona (fabregas, neymar)

Real Madrid ( modric, isco),

bayern munich ( martinez, gotze),

psg thiago silva, lucas, pastore, zlatan, cavani, marquinos.

and this season monaco (falcao, rodriguez, moutinho.

Going back 5/6 years and id say half of those players would have ended up in the premiership. If the projects at monaco and psg hit turmoil because of ffp, then I think the premiership will again become aa more attractive destination for the worlds best players.

The Premier League makes stars rather than buys them.

A lot of the biggest players of the Premier League were relative nobodies when they first came here.

I actually think the premiership as a whole has lost its pull and apart from hazard and aguero, all the superstar signings have been made by

Barcelona (fabregas, neymar)

Real Madrid ( modric, isco),

bayern munich ( martinez, gotze),

psg thiago silva, lucas, pastore, zlatan, cavani, marquinos.

and this season monaco (falcao, rodriguez, moutinho.

Going back 5/6 years and id say half of those players would have ended up in the premiership. If the projects at monaco and psg hit turmoil because of ffp, then I think the premiership will again become aa more attractive destination for the worlds best players.

 

Hazard, Oscar, Mata, Aguero, Navas, Silva, Van Persie, Yaya Toure, Torres, Tevez, Nasri, Balotelli, Dzeko etc.

 

Still loads of big names/expensive transfers happening in the EPL in the last few years, as many as any other league i'd say.

The Premier League makes stars rather than buys them.

A lot of the biggest players of the Premier League were relative nobodies when they first came here.

thats because we can offer professional contracts at an earlier age. But we also miss out on alot of talent because of work permit regulations.

I just think now we no longer stand alone with financial clout, players are prefering to take the better wages and play for cash rich teams in france and even russia.

There was only 4 players from the premiership in the 25 nominees for world player of the year last season, which I think is telling, even if there were some glaring omissions from our champions league winners.

Ferguson back in charge by the end of the year - you heard it here first.

Think you have hit the nail on the head here.

Him moving upstairs has the look of a regime that has a clear contingency plan.

I couldn't see for example Jose having Sir Alex's shadow surrounding his every move.

No way has Moyes got the same pulling power and there wouldn't be a chance of Jose winding up Sir Alex in the way he has played his successor in the past few weeks.

Players are not stupid, when things are not going well they will look to Alex not Moyes for re-assurance. Dare I say it, could player power rip the heart out of United in the same way it has tarnished the career of many managers that have followed the Special One at Chelsea ?