where are we going on tour this summer? portugal?
lets sign ronaldooo
Benched,
while one or 2 are questionable the majority arent.
Bosnich - one of the best keepers in the PL at the time, just a poor attitude stopped him from being one of the very best.
Forlan just didnt make it at Utd, but was a very good player as seen when he left.
Tim Howard - very good keeper, again just didnt make it at utd.
Hernandez - still here and still scoring
Park - had just come off a fantastic season with PSV.
Kagawa - Had just come off of a fantastic couple of seasons at Dortmund.
even Fortune went on to make quite a few appearances for the clubs.
the only ones i''d really question would be Dong and Manucho ( but even he had just had a pretty good ACON)
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
Tim Howard is at his level, we were still searching for a replacement for Schmikes. It is no conincidence we signed him then went on back to back tours of America.
Park may have came off a great season but someone pointed out that we needed an Asian player, he was probably the best option at the time. If we really needed a winger at that stage there were a lot more options.
Hernandez - See comments re: Howard. Love him to bits but again bought with ulterior purposes.
Dong may have been a marketing punt but it was a low-risk one. If he was good, the ROI would be amazing. If not, he cost next to nothing and didn't get into the first team.
As for the other names, bóllocks!
1. The African market isn't worth much at all in commercial revenue, so the Fortune / Manucho signings had nothing to do with this.
2. Park was a very good player available on the cheap and tended to play (and perform well) in all the big games.
3. Bosnich was one of the most highly regarded goalkeepers in the Premiership at the time and fit Fergie's preferred model of recruiting promising players from the same league.
4. Howard was a very good goalkeeper who, like many others before we signed VDS, didn't quite cut it under the pressure of OT. His subsequent career proves he wasn't a dud.
5. Just about every United fan was crying out to sign Kagawa. He was the subtle creator we had been lacking for ages.
6. Hernandez proved himself to be a bargain.
7. Mads Timm fits into a pattern of dozens of European players snapped up to join the youth set-up.
8. Forlan's later career - like Howard's - speaks for itself so the transfer can be explained by talent alone.
9. There are dozens of other players acquired over the same period that don't match that pattern.
10. Shirt selling acquisitions tend to be the big stars. Ronaldo to Real was explicitly discussed in those terms. I don't doubt that the Man Utd suits were happy to sanction Fergie's request to buy RVP for the same reason.
someone pointed out that we needed an Asian player
------------------------------------
Not only is that ludicrously speculative, but fundamentally uninformed. Do you suppose that all Asians identify themselves as having a common identity? There are a great deal of historical rivalries and tensions among East Asian countries, let alone Asia as a whole. If the biggest league in the world was hosted by China, do you think it would reel you in as a fan if Dynamo Guangzhou bought a German player in order to sell shirts to the 'European market'?
We're going to America again this year I believe.
Any Mexicans/Americans worth buying?
Benched.
Very good article. The question however, is do you seem any harm in having such signings? I can even see us signing some Muslim players in future (thats one area where we have never really ventured into).
End of the day, football is business and these signings can boost business.
Dong may have been a marketing punt but it was a low-risk one. If he was good, the ROI would be amazing.
-------------
I dont know what the Republic Of Ireland has to do with anything... he was Chinese wasnt he
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 minute ago
someone pointed out that we needed an Asian player
------------------------------------
Not only is that ludicrously speculative, but fundamentally uninformed. Do you suppose that all Asians identify themselves as having a common identity? There are a great deal of historical rivalries and tensions among East Asian countries, let alone Asia as a whole. If the biggest league in the world was hosted by China, do you think it would reel you in as a fan if Dynamo Guangzhou bought a German player in order to sell shirts to the 'European market'?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well aware of that but note David Beckham playing in the US. LA Galaxy shirts started turning up all over the place and highlights shown throughout Europe.
1999 - Pre-season tour of East Asia and Australia
- We sign Mark Bosnich, Quinton Fortune
Fortune is from South Africa.....
I think this is a big coincidence, considering how many transfers are not included in your list from this time period.
comment by Robert pan Versie #20 (U1145)
posted 34 seconds ago
Dinc <shakeshead>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
what??
LA Galaxy shirts started turning up all over the place and highlights shown throughout Europe.
-------------------------------------
Because he was a major global star, not because he was 'European'. The same would happen if Messi or Ronaldo joined a relatively obscure American team. See my Point 10 above.
comment by Utopian (U18745)
posted 2 minutes ago
Benched.
Very good article. The question however, is do you seem any harm in having such signings? I can even see us signing some Muslim players in future (thats one area where we have never really ventured into).
End of the day, football is business and these signings can boost business.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I do if the players are just not good enough to play for the club. Here is the next gimmick:
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/manchester-united-offer-trial-barefoot-7008088
Given that football has massive growth potential in India and the country along with Brazil is touted as the two economies to watch this century we'll see more clubs attempt to source players for this purpose.
I don't think Benched is saying that the ONLY reason we signed these players was for marketing reasons. He's saying (if I'm not mistaken) that it probably played a part in the decision making process.
Dong is the only one that was a marketing ploy, in my opinion.
Beckham is a global brand, his nationality is completely irrelevant. Buying as 'Asian' is pretty ignorant, I'm half Japanese, I couldn't give 2 sh-ts if United bought an Asian.
I agree completely with RR.
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 minute ago
LA Galaxy shirts started turning up all over the place and highlights shown throughout Europe.
-------------------------------------
Because he was a major global star, not because he was 'European'. The same would happen if Messi or Ronaldo joined a relatively obscure American team. See my Point 10 above.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Beckham was a star here, not in America.
Park was a star in Asia having featured in the World Cup and CL semi-finals. Not a household name here.
comment by Darren The King Fletcher (U10026)
posted 1 minute ago
Dong is the only one that was a marketing ploy, in my opinion.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If they done it once then why not again? Resounding success on two tours of Asia.
Also in order to buy into this theory, you have to buy into the idea that Fergie would have acquiesced to business decisions encroaching on his authority over footballing matters. Does anything we know about Fergie suggest he'd agree to that?
In addition, it would be commercially dangerous for a business relying on success on the pitch as the foremost brand builder to compromise the ability of the football management to choose the best possible players.
Man United were a resounding success on two tours of Asia because David Beckham made us huge in that part of the world not because we signed Park and Dong.
No surprise that Real Madrid became the most popular team in Asia when we sold him to them.
I was in LA when Beckham arrived there to play for Galaxy - there was an awful lot of interest, much more than I anticipated. Also Hernandez generates a lot of interest among the Hispanic community in the US - though that may have waned given that he mostly warms the bench these days.
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 22 seconds ago
Also in order to buy into this theory, you have to buy into the idea that Fergie would have acquiesced to business decisions encroaching on his authority over footballing matters. Does anything we know about Fergie suggest he'd agree to that?
In addition, it would be commercially dangerous for a business relying on success on the pitch as the foremost brand builder to compromise the ability of the football management to choose the best possible players.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
In the same window that Park (£4m) was bought:
Hleb (£6m), Emre (£4m), Luque (£9.5m) and Benayoun (£2.5m) all moved to England. All could be played on the wing and all better players.
Beckham may not have been as big in America as he is here but he was by far the biggest football star on the planet and the perfect person for the MLS to bring over to expand their fan base. His agent is Simon Fueller, one of the best celebrity agents.
Sign in if you want to comment
Marketing Based Transfer Policy
Page 1 of 2
posted on 28/4/14
where are we going on tour this summer? portugal?
lets sign ronaldooo
posted on 28/4/14
Benched,
while one or 2 are questionable the majority arent.
Bosnich - one of the best keepers in the PL at the time, just a poor attitude stopped him from being one of the very best.
Forlan just didnt make it at Utd, but was a very good player as seen when he left.
Tim Howard - very good keeper, again just didnt make it at utd.
Hernandez - still here and still scoring
Park - had just come off a fantastic season with PSV.
Kagawa - Had just come off of a fantastic couple of seasons at Dortmund.
even Fortune went on to make quite a few appearances for the clubs.
the only ones i''d really question would be Dong and Manucho ( but even he had just had a pretty good ACON)
posted on 28/4/14
Comment deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 28/4/14
Tim Howard is at his level, we were still searching for a replacement for Schmikes. It is no conincidence we signed him then went on back to back tours of America.
Park may have came off a great season but someone pointed out that we needed an Asian player, he was probably the best option at the time. If we really needed a winger at that stage there were a lot more options.
Hernandez - See comments re: Howard. Love him to bits but again bought with ulterior purposes.
posted on 28/4/14
Dong may have been a marketing punt but it was a low-risk one. If he was good, the ROI would be amazing. If not, he cost next to nothing and didn't get into the first team.
As for the other names, bóllocks!
1. The African market isn't worth much at all in commercial revenue, so the Fortune / Manucho signings had nothing to do with this.
2. Park was a very good player available on the cheap and tended to play (and perform well) in all the big games.
3. Bosnich was one of the most highly regarded goalkeepers in the Premiership at the time and fit Fergie's preferred model of recruiting promising players from the same league.
4. Howard was a very good goalkeeper who, like many others before we signed VDS, didn't quite cut it under the pressure of OT. His subsequent career proves he wasn't a dud.
5. Just about every United fan was crying out to sign Kagawa. He was the subtle creator we had been lacking for ages.
6. Hernandez proved himself to be a bargain.
7. Mads Timm fits into a pattern of dozens of European players snapped up to join the youth set-up.
8. Forlan's later career - like Howard's - speaks for itself so the transfer can be explained by talent alone.
9. There are dozens of other players acquired over the same period that don't match that pattern.
10. Shirt selling acquisitions tend to be the big stars. Ronaldo to Real was explicitly discussed in those terms. I don't doubt that the Man Utd suits were happy to sanction Fergie's request to buy RVP for the same reason.
posted on 28/4/14
someone pointed out that we needed an Asian player
------------------------------------
Not only is that ludicrously speculative, but fundamentally uninformed. Do you suppose that all Asians identify themselves as having a common identity? There are a great deal of historical rivalries and tensions among East Asian countries, let alone Asia as a whole. If the biggest league in the world was hosted by China, do you think it would reel you in as a fan if Dynamo Guangzhou bought a German player in order to sell shirts to the 'European market'?
posted on 28/4/14
We're going to America again this year I believe.
Any Mexicans/Americans worth buying?
posted on 28/4/14
Benched.
Very good article. The question however, is do you seem any harm in having such signings? I can even see us signing some Muslim players in future (thats one area where we have never really ventured into).
End of the day, football is business and these signings can boost business.
posted on 28/4/14
Dong may have been a marketing punt but it was a low-risk one. If he was good, the ROI would be amazing.
-------------
I dont know what the Republic Of Ireland has to do with anything... he was Chinese wasnt he
posted on 28/4/14
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 minute ago
someone pointed out that we needed an Asian player
------------------------------------
Not only is that ludicrously speculative, but fundamentally uninformed. Do you suppose that all Asians identify themselves as having a common identity? There are a great deal of historical rivalries and tensions among East Asian countries, let alone Asia as a whole. If the biggest league in the world was hosted by China, do you think it would reel you in as a fan if Dynamo Guangzhou bought a German player in order to sell shirts to the 'European market'?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well aware of that but note David Beckham playing in the US. LA Galaxy shirts started turning up all over the place and highlights shown throughout Europe.
posted on 28/4/14
Dinc <shakeshead>
posted on 28/4/14
1999 - Pre-season tour of East Asia and Australia
- We sign Mark Bosnich, Quinton Fortune
Fortune is from South Africa.....
I think this is a big coincidence, considering how many transfers are not included in your list from this time period.
posted on 28/4/14
comment by Robert pan Versie #20 (U1145)
posted 34 seconds ago
Dinc <shakeshead>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
what??
posted on 28/4/14
LA Galaxy shirts started turning up all over the place and highlights shown throughout Europe.
-------------------------------------
Because he was a major global star, not because he was 'European'. The same would happen if Messi or Ronaldo joined a relatively obscure American team. See my Point 10 above.
posted on 28/4/14
comment by Utopian (U18745)
posted 2 minutes ago
Benched.
Very good article. The question however, is do you seem any harm in having such signings? I can even see us signing some Muslim players in future (thats one area where we have never really ventured into).
End of the day, football is business and these signings can boost business.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I do if the players are just not good enough to play for the club. Here is the next gimmick:
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/manchester-united-offer-trial-barefoot-7008088
Given that football has massive growth potential in India and the country along with Brazil is touted as the two economies to watch this century we'll see more clubs attempt to source players for this purpose.
posted on 28/4/14
I don't think Benched is saying that the ONLY reason we signed these players was for marketing reasons. He's saying (if I'm not mistaken) that it probably played a part in the decision making process.
posted on 28/4/14
Dong is the only one that was a marketing ploy, in my opinion.
posted on 28/4/14
Beckham is a global brand, his nationality is completely irrelevant. Buying as 'Asian' is pretty ignorant, I'm half Japanese, I couldn't give 2 sh-ts if United bought an Asian.
I agree completely with RR.
posted on 28/4/14
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 1 minute ago
LA Galaxy shirts started turning up all over the place and highlights shown throughout Europe.
-------------------------------------
Because he was a major global star, not because he was 'European'. The same would happen if Messi or Ronaldo joined a relatively obscure American team. See my Point 10 above.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Beckham was a star here, not in America.
Park was a star in Asia having featured in the World Cup and CL semi-finals. Not a household name here.
posted on 28/4/14
comment by Darren The King Fletcher (U10026)
posted 1 minute ago
Dong is the only one that was a marketing ploy, in my opinion.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If they done it once then why not again? Resounding success on two tours of Asia.
posted on 28/4/14
Also in order to buy into this theory, you have to buy into the idea that Fergie would have acquiesced to business decisions encroaching on his authority over footballing matters. Does anything we know about Fergie suggest he'd agree to that?
In addition, it would be commercially dangerous for a business relying on success on the pitch as the foremost brand builder to compromise the ability of the football management to choose the best possible players.
posted on 28/4/14
Man United were a resounding success on two tours of Asia because David Beckham made us huge in that part of the world not because we signed Park and Dong.
No surprise that Real Madrid became the most popular team in Asia when we sold him to them.
posted on 28/4/14
I was in LA when Beckham arrived there to play for Galaxy - there was an awful lot of interest, much more than I anticipated. Also Hernandez generates a lot of interest among the Hispanic community in the US - though that may have waned given that he mostly warms the bench these days.
posted on 28/4/14
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 22 seconds ago
Also in order to buy into this theory, you have to buy into the idea that Fergie would have acquiesced to business decisions encroaching on his authority over footballing matters. Does anything we know about Fergie suggest he'd agree to that?
In addition, it would be commercially dangerous for a business relying on success on the pitch as the foremost brand builder to compromise the ability of the football management to choose the best possible players.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
In the same window that Park (£4m) was bought:
Hleb (£6m), Emre (£4m), Luque (£9.5m) and Benayoun (£2.5m) all moved to England. All could be played on the wing and all better players.
posted on 28/4/14
Beckham may not have been as big in America as he is here but he was by far the biggest football star on the planet and the perfect person for the MLS to bring over to expand their fan base. His agent is Simon Fueller, one of the best celebrity agents.
Page 1 of 2