Before I go any further, I started supporting United in 1984 and in my first match, I saw Jesper Olsen score against us for Ajax in a 1-1 pre season friendly. I have loved United ever since and have never ever wavered.
Today's match presents me with a slight conundrum though. When i think about the players we could possibly be after, one just feels like a typical United piece of business. Lets look at United's biggest signings..
Rooney
Rio
RVP
Berbatov
Carrick
Young
Valencia
All bought from the Premier League and if United do buy an 'A' list player this summer then I think it will be from the Premier League also. Of course I am referring to Bale.
More than this, picture SAF stood next to a player who is holding a United shirt. Close your eyes, do you see Falcao or CR7 grinning and holding the shirt? I don't but I can see Bale doing it.
Which brings me onto my point. If we win or draw against Chelsea then it increases the prospect of Spurs overtaking Chelsea in the UCL places. If this should happen and Chelsea eventually end up in 5th place, then it is said in the media that Bale would stay at Spurs.
So what way do we want it? A meaningless United win or a Chelsea win that may open up the possibility of Bale coming to us?
Do you want a United win today?
posted on 5/5/13
Ronaldo would never join the renties. And in any case that's the last position they need adding to.
They need a conventional number 9 BADLY. Can't see them being able to afford both.
posted on 5/5/13
Our record fee spent on a single player is less than 35mil, anyone who thinks we will spend 60mil on bale are deluded
Fergies likes a big singing but he's also same and cares for the clubs finances, 60mil on one player is almost crazy, just look how kaka has flopped at real and Torees at Chelsea. Big price tags almost always result in disappointment, only Ronaldo has bucked the trend and that's because he's one of the all time greats
posted on 5/5/13
Plus Bale has only flourished playing in this second striker role, when played on the wings, he really wasn't half the player he is now
He's won all these awards playing in the middle, who's to say he will welcome playing left wing again
posted on 5/5/13
We will sell more than we buy this year
posted on 5/5/13
Smalling
Who's to say that Bale won't go on to be one of the all time greats? I'm not saying a Ronaldo (but i'd never rule it out) but there's little evidence that Bale would be a flop at United.
His game is very simple. It's based on pace and power and that is pretty much a guarantee of success or as close to it as possible. Kaka suffered from some major injuries before Real and Torres was always a confidence player.
And the most important thing to remember is that nowadays the sponsors have a direct or indirect say in things too. If Nike will part finance a deal for a guy like Bale who is a potentially global football superstar then we can afford it.
Apparently our next deal with Nike could be worth as much as a billion pounds! £60 million for a player who will be at United for a good 6 or 7 seasons is chicken feed compared to that.
posted on 5/5/13
Smalling
Regarding the wing'second striker thingy, I believe he would be given a role like Ronaldo had. He'd start on the left and come inside as the game goes on. Just because Valencia chooses to stay on the touchline doesn't mean all United wingers have to do the same.
And besides, in the past 3 games since Bale has come back from injury he's played on the wing (the right wing at times too!) and scored 3 goals and had an assist.
posted on 5/5/13
Smalling Jones
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I honestly couldn't see Bale flopping. He's just too good for that. Torres wasn't playing half as well before his big move. Bale is in the form of his life. He does the buisness every week. Special player of whih there can be no doubt anymore.
His pace, crosses and shots scare the life out of any team. I don't think a £65m price tag would faze him that much tbh.
I think you're wrong as well about the price. £65m is a hell of a lot of money but all the revenue streams are getting bigger and bigger. The TV money is getting a 30% hike next season alone. And consider the Chevrolet deal, The training ground deal and the new nike deal that isn't far away either. £60m is the new £30m in context. It's just a figure.
If Fergie sees Bale as a long term answer on our wing then £65m woudn't be a waste of money. The team that wins the PL gets something like £25m in prize money alone too.
It's far from a certainity but he'd be a good signing even at £65m for me. He is that good and we need a player like him that badly.
Some Madrid fans said they'd have happily seen their club spend 120m on Ronaldo he is that good. Now Bale isn't as good as Ronnie I agree but he's not too far behind. He's certainly in the bracket below Messi and Ronaldo. And he's better than Kaka.
posted on 5/5/13
There is a rumour going around that Levy will drop the price you have to offer for Bale by 10m (to 65m) if you whip Chelsky today.
What say you ??
posted on 5/5/13
Silliest idea of of losing a game to acquire this good player I ever heard. But tricky thinking!
Don't think Levey will do BIZNIZ with SAF unless there is laughable profit in it for him anyway!!!
posted on 5/5/13
"But tricky thinking!"
Levy thinking.