03 Sep 2020 21:19:17
I read a rumour that United are not going to be held to ransom over Sancho, they will wait a year. The worrying part of the rumour was they were willing to bring in someone on loan for a year whilst the situation is resolved, this may be a message to Dortmund of course. The rumour as to who they are looking for the years loan, is Bale, hence why he was even quoted as appealing to be given a chance to leave. Personally I think that chance should have gone but it's a rumour.


1.) 03 Sep 2020
03 Sep 2020 21:42:10
I'm not a fan of Bale, he is clearly a very talented player. Yet his apparent attitude over the past few years has been awful. Refusing to take the medical advice of his club, his childish antics on the sideline, while his refusal to attempt to learn Spanish doesn't sit well. Plus when you factor in his age, his injury record and his wage demands it has Alexis Sanchez written all over it.

Yet, a loan deal might not be the worst idea. With Sancho seemingly unavailable, and with Greenwood pushing to start maybe bringing in a player who isn't a long term option might offer the club some experience in a key position, without blocking Greenwood.

It doesn't have to be Bale, there could be other options. Dembele at Barcelona for example. Both players who considering their cost and their injuries a permanent deal looks like a bad idea. Yet a loan could be worth exploring.


2.) 03 Sep 2020
03 Sep 2020 21:53:47
Theres an update on dortmunds transfer plans on the european pages, situation remains the same as it has been.

No serious buyers for sancho at the moment, united won't pay the huge sums needed to sign him.

Time to move on alternatives i think, but i'm not sure there are any alternatives that really fit the bill as first team starters, might have to resort to cover for greenwood.

I wouldn't go in for bale, madrid created a problem for themselves by giving him a huge contract a few years ago and not letting him go to china last summer. I don't think its in uniteds interest to solve madrid or barcelonas issues.


3.) 03 Sep 2020
03 Sep 2020 22:05:57
Shappy

I suggested Barcelona’s Dembele a few weeks ago. I would be concerned at Douglas Costa. There are rumours that Ole wants this Dayot chap but the transfer committee thinks he is too young. We shall see but deals need to be done.


4.) 04 Sep 2020
03 Sep 2020 22:34:36
I’d love to see Bale for a season. But he isn’t really a suitable Sancho replacement, being LW. So Dembele seems a credible alternative if indeed the club are looking for a credible stopgap. The total Sancho cost at present is pure greed. They’ll be keener to deal as the prospect of him leaving for free draws a season closer. It’s a shame that all of that side has become to frequent these days. Don’t remember much player power in the heyday of Olsen and Strachan tearing down the flanks.

{Ed0666's Note - did strachan ever tear down a flank?


5.) 04 Sep 2020
03 Sep 2020 22:41:46
Im torn on bale. He falls into the category of players i wish had signed for United. But that was some time ago. The ability is there still i don't doubt that but i doubt his drive and commitment to be as good as he can be.
I still think we will sign sancho but i could be wrong. The deal is there to be done and with the sums involved there will be compromises made by all parties imo.


6.) 04 Sep 2020
03 Sep 2020 22:51:31
Dembele or Coman are good options.

Bale on a season loan is not the worst idea I’ve ever heard though until the Sancho desk can be done next year.


7.) 04 Sep 2020
03 Sep 2020 22:52:06
I totally agree with Shappy. Bale seems to be the perfect case now . He allows us to spend more money at other positions and his injury record means that he will rotate with Mason at right wing. And if, and its a big if, he finds his form he will be one of the best in the league. If we can't find a solution with Sancho then Bale on a year loan its a very good option.

{Ed0666's Note - bale is a left winger no?


8.) 04 Sep 2020
04 Sep 2020 00:47:50
I don't think ed666. He is effective at right cutting in and shot. He was a left wing back and left back at Spurs, maybe he can still play there but he isn't left winger. At Real Ronaldo was playing at the left and Bale at the right, although i think he is best suited at a free role behind the striker . I have seen him play there with his national team previous years and he was fantastic, a special player. If he comes i think he will start from right but he will be more centrally most of time.

{Ed0666's Note - okey dokey smoky.


9.) 04 Sep 2020
04 Sep 2020 04:52:09
I wouldn't say Bale is the perfect case, just not an awful option on loan with the caveat that a chunk of his wages are performance related to make sure he is doing his best to be on the pitch.

There are dozens of players I would pick for our RW spot ahead of Bale.

I don't think we need to go for a big name player, I think in an ideal world Sancho would be an excellent signing based on age, ability, skillset with the bonus of being a homegrown player. Yet the reality is there is a huge cost attached to Sancho which might not be able to be surpassed to get the deal over the line. If the club feels that there is a genuine chance of getting the deal done next summer then a short term solution might be the best idea.

Invest in other areas this summer, bring in a loan option for RW. Then go all in for Sancho next summer when hopefully the club doesn't need to bring in quite so many players, and when the Sancho deal might be a little cheaper and more affordable. When all the uncertainty over C.V. has been cleared.

Personally I think depending on how Ole wants to play other RW options should be sought this summer. When I look at our squad, I think a more traditional RW might be a good idea, someone who can hug the touchline and stretch play. AWB is first choice RB, but isn't the most adventurous. I think having a LW like Rashford who will tuck in we could play a LB the bombs forward on the overlap and have a asymmetrical attack with the RB staying deeper and attacking width coming from the RW on the right.

If the club wanted to do that then the ideal candidate would be Adama Traore, although he would cost upward of 70m, maybe a better alternative could be Ismailia Sarr who could be available for half that amount and is maybe a year or so behind in his development compared to Traore, but has just as high a ceiling.

It all depends on what the club is looking for from a RW and whether the club feels that next summer is the best time to get Sancho if he is considered that highly by the club. Ultimately what we really need is a top class Sporting director who can make these calls and create an overarching vision for the club over a medium to long term.


10.) 04 Sep 2020
04 Sep 2020 08:39:15
We need a right winger, why are we even discussing Bale?


11.) 04 Sep 2020
04 Sep 2020 08:39:59
But are the golf courses in Manchester good enough to attract Bale?


12.) 04 Sep 2020
04 Sep 2020 09:35:53
If Sancho is unobtainable my preferance would be going for Ocampos, thought he did a decent job against us.


13.) 04 Sep 2020
04 Sep 2020 09:55:26
Dozens Shappy? :p
Can you list 24 players you would honestly rather have than Bale at RW?


14.) 04 Sep 2020
04 Sep 2020 10:27:59
I don't blame Bale tbh, Zidane hardly been treating him fairly either, I'd sit on £600k a week if being benched or left out all the time too.
Not many can afford him or those that can do they need him, takes both parties to terminate a contract so what's Bale to do, sure he would play if treated fairly in the first place but way past that now.


15.) 04 Sep 2020
04 Sep 2020 10:49:54
Personally I said weeks ago, that if we can’t deal with Dortmund and Sancho, I would look at Ousmane Dembele.


16.) 04 Sep 2020
04 Sep 2020 10:59:26
I do like Dembele but he would seem to be one of the younger players Koeman might want to hang onto. And I think Messi will stay for a year and get his free transfer at the end.


17.) 04 Sep 2020
04 Sep 2020 11:12:54
Did barcelona not say dembele is not for sale?
Only managed 5 league games last season has had a operation on his hamstring, be interesting to see if he can get past his injury issues. Bad injury for such a quick player.

{Ed002's Note - I would ignore such statements.}


18.) 04 Sep 2020
04 Sep 2020 12:06:33
Jred

Barca have spent mountains of cash, such as on Dembele and Coutinho plus been paying Messi a very large salary.

I suspect Dembele may be someone they can realise cash on to help rebuild and I would be surprised if it was anywhere near the mountain of cash Sancho will require. I may be wrong but think Fati is the one they really want to keep.


19.) 04 Sep 2020
04 Sep 2020 12:37:30
Redman
He also cost mega money and managed 5 league games last season .
Seriously torn hamstring for such a quick player, it will be interesting to see how he returns .


20.) 04 Sep 2020
04 Sep 2020 13:10:54
Jred

He did cost mega money, as you put it and if they sell there will be a big loss on him.

Giggs had terrible hamstring issues but we found a way to resolve it, I think with Yoga. That’s why they have medicals.


21.) 04 Sep 2020
04 Sep 2020 13:13:09
Spenno, I really don't want us to sign Bale permanently. I would just about accept a loan deal if half of his wages were as a bonus for making the match day squad. He has a terrible injury record, and has shown very little drive to play football over the past couple of seasons.

For that reason if we were looking to sign a player permanently Bale would be so far down the list there would be dozen's of players I'd choose ahead of him.

Sancho, Buendia, David Neres, Brooks, Tsygankov, Ismailia Sarr, Moussa Diaby, Kulusevski, Leon Bailey, Mahrez, Salah, Bernardo Silva, Ferran Torres, Chiesa, Gnabry, Adama Traore, Mbappe, Bergwijn, Stengs, Tete, Ziyech, Pulisic, Willian, Thorgan Hazard, Bernardeschi, Douglas Costa, Dybala, Lo Celso, Lucas Moura, Justin Klivert, Zaha, Richarlison, Odegaard, Lozano, Raphinha, Under, Zaniolo, Chukwueze, Hudson-Odoi, Dembele, Trincao, Fati, Bryan Mbeumo, Ihatteren and Messi.

All players who can play RW who I'd want more than Bale, a lot of them just won't be available such as Mbappe for example. Some are very young and probably aren't ready for the EPL such as Ihatteren. While others are good solid players without being anything special such as Lucas Moura.

All however I feel would be better signings than Bale.


22.) 04 Sep 2020
04 Sep 2020 13:29:21
Redman
Owen would be a better example similar injury as opposed to giggs persistent injuries .
I like dembele, great to watch but there will be question marks about his latest injuries.


23.) 04 Sep 2020
04 Sep 2020 13:29:21
Redman
Owen would be a better example similar injury as opposed to giggs persistent injuries .
I like dembele, great to watch but there will be question marks about his latest injuries.


24.) 04 Sep 2020
04 Sep 2020 14:16:06
Shappy I was assuming they would all be realistic and obtainable alternatives, think only a handful of those would be. But I get the point re: Bale.


25.) 04 Sep 2020
04 Sep 2020 14:57:22
Bale doesn't even like playing football. He gets £600k a week to play his preferred game of golf in the sun. Why would he leave the golf course and come to rainy Manchester?


26.) 04 Sep 2020
04 Sep 2020 14:57:31
Spenno, conservatively I think around 27 of them could be realistically obtainable.


27.) 04 Sep 2020
04 Sep 2020 15:11:42
Thank god for Google, hey Shappy.
Complete bolloxology again.


28.) 04 Sep 2020
04 Sep 2020 21:43:47
Betty, I don't need Google, I'm a full time student so I have plenty of time on my hands to watch plenty of football.

The thing with Bale is just about any player is better than him as they actually want to play football. His injury record is atrocious, his game relies on explosive speed, which is causing his injuries. He expects to earn 600k per week and only wants to play golf.


29.) 04 Sep 2020
04 Sep 2020 23:17:26
Why do people feel sancho will be cheaper in a years time, it's a genuine question .
I've always rated bale but that ship surely has sailed . I'd have liked him 3 year ago not now . He seems Madrids answer to sanchez, large wages no takers if a fee is involved or he duznt have a rethink on wages but if you were him would you.


30.) 05 Sep 2020
05 Sep 2020 08:15:11
Slate it's not about him being cheaper in a year's time. Although I vaguely remember someone saying something about agent fees might becoming under some kind of legislation for next year which might bring them down. But that's neither here or there in the grand scheme of things.

The issue isn't spending that amount of money, it's spending that amount of money while there is so much uncertainty around football currently due to the events of this year.

No one knows when fans can come back to stadiums, the financial hits of this year haven't been fully felt yet and how that knocks on to next year. What if there is another stoppage in sport? How will what has happened effect sponsorship deals moving forward. While club's are concerned about image, spending 120m on a player while several million people have lost their job and the country has gone in to a deep recession, can reflect negatively on the club. Speaking of recession, the Glazers took over the club in 2005, then the 2008 global recession happened which meant the club had to borrow further, along with the additional interest increased the debt by around 300m and meant that 12 years later the debt still hasn't been paid off. So the club has been stung by global recessions in the past.

Until there is more certainty sanctioning such a large spend in one player isn't something the club can do out of hand. Due diligence needs to be done, along with making sure the deal is as good as possible for the club in terms of bringing the fee down and spreading the the cost.


31.) 05 Sep 2020
05 Sep 2020 10:39:44
Wouldn't touch Dembele personally.


32.) 05 Sep 2020
05 Sep 2020 17:15:23
I'm guessing then shappy that if the 120 million you quote was spent on say 4 other players youd be just as against it what with the financial uncertainty and people losing jobs and other things you mention otherwise your simply saying youd spend it differently .


33.) 05 Sep 2020
05 Sep 2020 18:10:43
Slate, I'm not saying I'm against the club spending 120m or 200m. If the club has it and can afford it then fine.

What I'm saying is there is a concern about spending so much money on one player.

Like I've said, I would be happy if we get Sancho, he looks one hell of a player. Yet I would have a concern if the club were to put all their eggs into one basket. If Sancho was our only summer signing I'd have concerns. However, we have signed DvdB already. If Donny and Sancho were our only two summer signings then fine. However, I'd have concern over our defence, I think we could do with a couple of quality signings in defence.