A worrying transfer reality for Manchester United?
There is no getting away from the fact that the return of Paul Scholes will be a major talking point for a long time to come. Some people focus on the sentimentality for it, some on the fact that United are apparently in crisis and this is why the player has chosen to return. Others have asked the question of exactly why he has returned, and if the reason behind this is due to the fact United have no money to spend and the Glazers have literally given Fergie nothing when he needs it most.
How far this statement is true remains to be seen – it was the player himself who asked to return several months ago – or so we are told by the club, and Fergie duly agreed. United would paint this as a fantastic thing that gives the squad a boost and provides another option for them not to mention an experienced head during a difficult time.
Yet despite all this, the fact remains, United are lacking in a few areas, with the midfield being the most evident of these. Fans, media and even the creatures who live under a rock have been saying for a while now that United are in need of a defensive midfielder and also an attacking one, therefore whilst there may be disagreements of exactly meets the criteria, there is no argument that they have to buy someone.
After being run rings around in the Champions League final, most people thought Fergie would buy and restructure in the summer, and he did so to an extent, spending a fair bit of money, yet did not buy anyone for the centre of the park who can be generally considered world class.
Cue the start of the season and the rise by City, not to mention a few games where United have looked ordinary, and an early exit from Europe – sorry Europe’s premier competition – to boot.
With the January transfer window now open people thought Fergie would buy, yet all he has added to the squad is Scholes. Yes Fergie is not one for panic buying in January, and it is hard to get clubs to sell their top players, but everyone has a price, and a marquee signing for the centre of the park is exactly what United need, yet are clearly not going to get.
The most obvious explanation for this is the fact that Fergie has been given no money to spend by the Glazers who have caused such passionate opposition since their takeover at the club, or even if he has, the club could simply not afford the subsequent wages that such players would then demand, with current players wanting a raise to be on a par etc, and a vicious circle commences.
More to the point however, exactly where has the £80 million from the sale of Ronaldo gone? Everyone is well aware of the intrest repayments the owners have to pay on the club, and it is more than possible that a portion of the money from the winger’s sale has gone towards helping this.
It would be easy to point the finger at the owners, and with the way fans feel about them, they would always be a scapegoat for problems at the club, and the fact remains United will simply have to buy at least two world class players if they want to compete firstly domestically with City who will just get stronger and stronger, and also on a European level, with the big two in Spain miles ahead of United, not to mention the resurgence of AC Milan and Bayern Munich.
The problem however, is that they do not seem to have the money to do this, and bringing Scholes out of retirement is certainly not going to help – in fact it just throws a harsher light on the problems at the club.
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Blaming Glazers is an easy one, but reality tell that SAF has spent his share. Around 80 mill of the 80 mill we got for Ronaldo was spent on Chicarito, Young, Smalling, De Gea, Jones and Lindegaard. Also under the Glazers we’ve spent aprox 110 mill on Valencia, Berbatov, Diouf, Nani, Anderson, Park and Bebe. Don’t remember how much Da Silvas, Pogba, Macheda, Dong, Josh King, the serbian winger and that African striker cost us, but all was brought under the Glazers. 20-25 mill? Tevez was brought in under them as well. Van der Sar… Looking at all those names and the amount spent doesn’t tell me that there’s to little money, but pops the question how the money has bern spent! There’s spent over 220 mill – but not a cent on that quality player for the position we’ve been needing a world class player in for at least four years! Who’s fault is that? The Glazers? Is it them who decided to use 7,5 mill on Bebe instead of Van der Vaart? Did Malcolm G force Sir Alex to sign strikers and wingers, instead of a central midfielder? I think not…
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“Blaming the Glazers is an easy one”.
Hi Roger care to tell us the cost to United to date since they purchased United on the open stock exchange?.Due to the prior owners of United, bagging £20 Million in doing so.
Also just for perspective what have United spent(net) annually since the Glazer took over United.?
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roger Reply:
January 13th, 2012 at 9:01 am
RedScot, see your point. But neverthless that doesn’t disqualify the right to question the signings we’ve made. My point; we’ve needed one or two central midfielders for since long ago, and that problem hasn’t been adressed by SAF. There’s been money, maybe not enough, but there’s surely been money. If lack of fund is Sir Alex real reason for not diging into the transfermarket, then there really is a reason to be critical to how the money has been spent..? Sir Alex has often stated that he won’t buy unless a player can go direct into the team and make it stronger. For the last two or three seasons he hasn’t lived up to that philosophy and have rather build depth instead of adding a world class player.
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RedScot Reply:
January 13th, 2012 at 6:47 pm
Roger.Nobody had said( well not me) that you cant question the managers signings.Thats what fans do on forums like this.I do believe in general they are generally correct the choices he makes in selecting players.
What I cannot accept his anybody criticising his record and what he has achieved over 25 silver laden years.
If it had not been for Sir Alex, we as a club would have been fighting for survival in the premiership.Never mind just 3 points off the top of the table as it stands mate.
When you discuss this player and that player, that you wish at the Club, you have got to assess would they want to come to United.Are they available.What wage do they demand.Will they integrate into the current dressing room at United.Etc Etc.Its not just as straighforward as you know.
The net spend on players Roger during the Glazer’s tenure a mere £10.1 Million per season.You say he has money to spend.Does he?
The cost of servicing the debt that the Glazer’s have saddled the club with roughly the same as Manchester City have invested in their playing staff since the introduction of the ‘oil money’.1/2 a Billion pounds.
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Roger Reply:
January 14th, 2012 at 9:39 am
Not, and will ever not criticise what Sir Alex has done for our club. For that I’ll be ever grateful. The q I’m rising is about some of the signings that show that there was money at that moment of time. In that context I find it relevant to ask why wasn’t van der Vaart signed instead of Bebe? Same amount of money – we’ve needed a midfielder that could make immediate impact for years. Before this season we signed two goalies for 25 mill total, a winger despite being well covered with wide players and a central defender despite being well covered. But not a cm. If the no one target(s) wasn’t available, what about a stop gap solution? Sir Alex hasn’t been a stranger to bring in players in such aspects earlier, like Sheringham, Larson. In my opinion Scott Parker would have been a perfect alternative to up our cm quality, but that wasn’t to happen.
Pauls return was fantastic.It gives United a boost in the sense, loyalty and gets the United support buzzing.
Like Thierry Henri’s at Arsenal, the fans love a hero and legend.
Pauls return will not effect the development of the ‘younger’ midfielders at United, they will only learn from the Ginger Prince. Players like Tom Cleverley and Anderson will watch in awe.
Paul will not start many games, he will provide cameo roles.Not difficult to see is it.He is assisting our great club.
Crisis you say? Remind us of the premiership table again.?
Who knocked the team out of the FA cup that spent near 1/2 a billion pounds in creating that squad.?
Who has lost 4 of their last 8 games.Yes Manchester City.
Agreed Rebecca United need a defensive midfielder.That is availiable and United class and will improve upon what we have at Manchester United.Not any old name.United class.
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BLUENOSE Reply:
January 13th, 2012 at 11:05 am
Yes you only just knocked City out, and iff this is Citys Blip, we are not doing bad, still 3 points clear at the top with the hardest part of the season behind you.But with the Paul Scholes issue, i personally thought it was a master stroke bringing him back,he will create cover for the last 15-20 minutes of a game when a little experience is needed, its clearly just to see UTD through untill the summer, when Fergie can spend his yearly 30 mil.
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paul Reply:
January 13th, 2012 at 2:12 pm
hardest part of the season over?were do ya get that idea from?I have never seen a team win the league by christmas.
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RedScot Reply:
January 13th, 2012 at 6:51 pm
Thank you for acknowledging my point on Paul Scholes.From a non United supporter.That actually values the like of Paul around the club.Spot on he is not going to play full games.Its to simply help out during the injury crisis we are suffering from.Missing Tom Cleverley and Anderson etc.
Forget about the current owners since 2006/7 season [since Ferguson got into his contract a bonus about keeping the balance sheet tidy]Liverpool and Spurs have outspent us.The 07/08 season fergie made a killing because Utd made no signings.We continue to under spend according to our stature,why Fergies bonus.
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RedScot Reply:
January 12th, 2012 at 10:40 pm
You are being ridiculous mate.”Fergies bonus”. Care to tell what it was.This bonus.?
Stoke have outspent United also.
Next.?
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Ferguson spent lots of money last summer. It was his choice not to spend any of it on a midfielder. We might be now praising his brave decision if Cleverly and Anderson has stayed fit and struck up a great partnership, but that’s not the way things worked out.
I don’t see why the return of Scholes means that we won’t be spending this transfer window (which doesn’t end for a few weeks yet). Though I’m guessing we won’t spemd this January because we rarely do. But I expect us to spend big again in the summer. I don’t think the finances are a problem.
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RedScot Reply:
January 12th, 2012 at 10:55 pm
Exactly mate.The summer is the time to purchase.To integrate the players into the team.As United did with David de Gea Ashley Young and Phil Jones.
Anyone for a Fernando Torres or a Andy Carrol.January window transfers.They worked out well then.Confidence and getting of to a great start.They cost more than £80 Million combined.
Sir Alex generally gets it correct.
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BLUENOSE Reply:
January 13th, 2012 at 11:07 am
You will find that your wrong, all the big money buys of Fergie, he gets wrong, and a lot of them are average.
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RedScot Reply:
January 13th, 2012 at 6:55 pm
“all the big money buys he gets wrong”
Thats a sweeping statement.Ronaldo the most expensive purchase as a youngster at the time of signing for United.Purchased for £11 Million sold for £80 Million netting a profit of £69 million for United.
Roy Keane from Nottingham Forest a British transfer record at the time.Wrong?
Wayne Rooney from Everton £ 28 Million.
The clubs 7th top goal scorer of all time.Wrong.?
Do u really think if fergie had money he wouldn’t buy a central midfielder? Were broke end of!! Rooney will b next to go , wel get 40 million 4 him and buy a 3 million replacement!!!
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RedScot Reply:
January 12th, 2012 at 11:00 pm
I have that feeling also Brendan we are busted.The manager is being diplomatic and biding his time.What a magnifcent job he is doing though, with small funds for inwards players.
If Rooney leaves.I think I will throw in the towel and forget United until the Glazer leave our club.
Why would you sell your 7th top goal scorer at Manchester United, ever?
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Zac Reply:
January 13th, 2012 at 4:21 pm
Why didnt they get rid of Rooney sooner and make more of an effort to keep Ronaldo??
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RedScot Reply:
January 13th, 2012 at 6:57 pm
Stay of the ‘smack’ mate.I wont react to that swipe at Rooney.
Ronaldo wanted to move to Real Madrid. His boyhood favoured club.Easy as.
Red Scott , ur exactly right how much money has fergie made for the glazers, we made 5 million more than barca last year in the champions league ,title after title year in year out , we sell Ronaldo for 80 million and buy Valencia , were crippled with debt , a couple of trophyless year might b the best thing in the long run, cause if there not makin money Thel go ,
Then we can get an owner in with the best interests of mufc.
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RedScot Reply:
January 12th, 2012 at 11:27 pm
Spot on mate.Even as runners up in the Champions league, we earnt more than Barcelona during the whole tournament.
Why because of United’s world wide appeal.Created bye Sir Alex ferguson and the marketing people at Manchester United.Its a buisness to attract viewers and supporters.
I dont want to think of a down ward spiral.I have only known success as a younger United supporter, that have read( book upon book) and understand the trophy less years at United.
It wont happen this season.
We are in there fighting.
The Boss will make sure of this.
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Blame both Glaziers, using UTD as a cash cow and SAF for some poor decisions in the market.
In addition, agree with article UTD falling further behind Spanish Big Two.
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RedScot Reply:
January 12th, 2012 at 11:30 pm
I hate to be pedantic. I will be though.
Glazer.?
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The day fergie leave mu that’s the day were finished, can’t understand these fans questioning the boss, get in who? Wat world class managers goin to come to a club with no money , let’s all pray he does not go anytime soon!!!
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RedScot Reply:
January 12th, 2012 at 11:34 pm
Finished is a bit on the defeatist side Brendan.I am feenito for now.Off to the pub to sink a few.God bless mate.
Chin up and bottoms up. lol
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OK lad , take it easy, mufc 4 ever!!!
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