He's gone to Glasgow for a day out with Cathy

Hes watching the Swedish Womens Volleyball Team.

He ran out of Wrigleys so decided to call in sick.

he is finalising the lucas deal

Down the pub

In my basement

Probably read THAT letter and has called it a day. Wouldn't blame him.

counting his share of the wonga with the fantastic owners

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11661/7966976/No-Moura-medical-request

The Brazilian Football Federation says no English club has been in contact about trying to sort out a medical for Lucas Moura during the Olympics, while Sao Paulo say they will fight hard to keep him.

The highly-rated 19-year-old has attracted the attention of several clubs in Europe this summer and it is understood that Manchester United are in pole position to secure his signature.

However, Brazil's FA (CBF) has dismissed reports of Moura being given permission to undergo a medical with United.

"We haven't received any request from an English club regarding that," the CBF told Globo Esporte.

"In case we do receive such a request, we won't allow the player to leave Brazil's training to undergo the medical."

Moura's agent, Wagner Ribeiro, has also insisted it is too early to talk about the player completing a transfer anywhere.

He said: "I don't talk about factoids. This news about the selling of Lucas is not true."
Not stupid

Sao Paulo maintain that no talks are currently taking place over a proposed move as they look to hold on to the winger, although they admit it would be wrong to rule out a departure.

Vice-president Joao Paulo de Jesus Lopes told Lancenet: "He will certainly return to Sao Paulo.

"There is no negotiation going on. As we have already said it's very hard for him to leave during the current transfer window.

"We have no interest in selling him but Sao Paulo are not stupid. We know that in certain situations you can't say no.

"But such kind of offer hasn't come yet."

T-4 years. The last time we spent over 20 million on a player. We can get into why and why not but that is not a lie or a damned lie. It's a statistic!

Now, I don't necessarily want us to sign Lucas. I think he looks impressive but the general consensus from Brazilian journalists is that he blows hot and very cold. It's more the fact that we get linked with a big money player every summer, yet never buy them. We hear that it's nearly a done deal but we just don't make it over the line. That is a constant. That the most valuable sports club in the world do not sign players for more than 20 million. Yet we used to, before the cast of Wrong Turn took over our club.

Not lies, not damned lies, just statistics.

I still can't escape the feeling that we are more than happy to be linked with these players, just to show we are financially competitive. However, the chairmen around Europe who nickname us no money fc spent being drawn in and are probably rolling their eyes.

Warming up for the 100 meters final....Fergie time 9.50..

comment by merrysupersteve (U1132)
I still can't escape the feeling that we are more than happy to be linked with these players, just to show we are financially competitive. However, the chairmen around Europe who nickname us no money fc spent being drawn in and are probably rolling their eyes.
============

Can you provide any evidence that 1 chairman has called us no money fc.

Much appreciated

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/9250678/Manchester-United-poised-to-pay-a-20m-price-if-they-finish-without-a-trophy-for-the-first-time-since-2005.html

Apologies, I got it wrong. It was no money.com. I could find a few other links detailing the same thing if you wish. What I won't find is links detailing us competing for AND signing players for more than 20 million

merry

I don't get you. Are you saying that these selling clubs are lying that they have received offers from Man United. Are they all part of the great Glazer conspiracy, too?

merry

and (considering the statement he made the other day) are you calling Fergie a liar?

I am saying that he had no problem spending circa 20 million before our current owners came in. I am also saying that in every statement he makes, he never ever alludes to his spending power. He just says they back him.

And I do believe what he said the other day. I don't believefor one second that he is gaining from the floatation and is selling the club down the river. Sir Alex is the only man who could have us where we are with his means. He's won so much and still what he is doing now, trophies or otherwise, keeping us at the top is his best achievement. And he's been doing it since the Glazers came in. Miracle worker!

I am saying that he had no problem spending circa 20 million before our current owners came in.
***

so your gripe is not how much Fergie spends under the Glazers (the spending under Glazers is in line as that of the PLC) its that he doesn't spend silly money on specific (we know who they are) players anymore? (regardless of their wage demands).

If he had paid £20m plus for Vidic, Evra, Anderson, Nani, Berbatov (oops), Hargreaves Jones, DG, Young etc, would you feel much happier?

You refer to it as silly money. I refer to it as the going rate for good players. It's great when we sign bargains. BUT our entire transfer strategy shouldn't revolve around signing bargains. If you want to be the best and stay there, you need to compete for the best. This is a rule that has only been broken once in any league or time frame i can think of.

Of course, the exception is Sir Alex with us. But so long as this transfer policy remains, we will falter. That's just how things are.

And no, the spending under the Glazers is not in line with the plc. Unless of course you ignore inflation and the time value of money.

money is worth a lot less now than it did 5 years ago.

BUT our entire transfer strategy shouldn't revolve around signing bargains.

***

I think if you ask most United fans, they would say that many of those signings were not 'bargains'.

True. That is why I am almost literally tempted to smack my head against a wall when people say our spending currently is in line with the plc days. It is a straw clutching argument and is an insult to anyone who has even the faintest notion of finance.

We are nowhere near on a par with the plc days right now. It's not about signing players for big money for the sake of it. It's about not even having the option.

so you are saying that £20m+ bids for the likes of Hazzard, RVP and LucasM are bogus bids.

When it comes to straw clutching arguments, this wins the Gold medal.

I am saying that when it comes to failing to sign these players, we win the gold medal. Have you finally accepted that the whole being in line with the plc spending argument is a wee bit silly yet, having inadvertently backed me up on that one?!

in line with the plc spending argument is a wee bit silly

***

no its pretty much in line... plus considering the rise in players wages over the last 6 years (wages is now the biggest factor in football transfers not fees) they probably spend a lot more on 'players' than the PLC did