Forum round up - Michael Owen reaction

For what my four-penneth is worth, this signing worries me a little. I believe that it's a massive gamble from Sir Alex but if they pull it off, it could just be perfect. The amount of injuries that have happened at Newcastle to any of their players simply cannot be a coincidence. I've thought for a long time that there must be something amiss with their training facilities and from what Dan said, then I'm right. The conditions at Carrington are perfect so let's hope that this helps. I've seen Michael Owen play a few times in the last couple of seasons and I wouldn't exactly say that he lit up the pitch but then it makes a difference as to who you're playing with. At Newcastle he had no-one offering goals up on a plate. They only really had Duff as a true winger so the lack of balls into the box was very evident. With us, he'll get those opportunities created for him and hopefully start scoring regularly again. Only time will tell. The big bonus for me is that he's English/British and given the right situations he can score. Fingers crossed.
MobileNanny

It's less of a gamble than not signing anyone though

BTW, stop comparing the move to Smith's move...

This is the former European Player of the Year...a player who was looking a certainty to smash Bobby Charltons England scoring record...a player who can actually put the ball in the net...

He has been shit at Newcastle [mostly]... and I've slated him for that...but I guess we could have put Ruud in his pomp in that team and he'd have struggled...he's not going to add much to team play, so without service, he is nothing...we should provide plenty of that, and there's no better poacher in world football barring the aforementioned Ruud...

There is no-one better at eeking out a few more years of players careers at the top level than Sir Alex...Giggs, Neville, Scholes, Keane [with all his injuries], VDS and many others are testiment to that...Sheringham was of a simillar age when he came here and he was our player of the year...the more I think about this the more excited I am...possibly because I'm biased as hell, but also possibly because we all know what a phenomenal talent he was at Liverpool and Madrid...if he can get anywhere near that then it will be a great signing...
Matt 379

Owen's a really experienced striker, with a natural predatory instinct. His injury history is the biggest worry, but there is little use in complaining about a player of this calibre being tied to a deal on a free, and with a pay-as-you-play incentive arrangement. It's not a 'risk' unless he constitute's the club's main replacement of Ronaldo/Tevez (with Giggs/Scholes rounding the corner or retirement). Then, his success or failure will be bound to Fergie like a rash. It's certainly not a move that I would've made, but I applaud that there's an intriguing logic behind it. [I'm much less convinced on Valencia than Owen]

Reductio ad Absurdium

This is a no lose situation for all involved.

We get a proven, World Class goalscorer for a relatively low wage. A player capable of 20/25 goals a season if he can stay fit, and no real drain on our resources if he can't. It's easy to overlook the fact that Owen's goal rate for the Geordies was still not far off one every two games despite all their problems. There will also undoubtedly be hefty appearance/goal/release clauses in Owen's contract in case he continues to struggle with injury.

Owen gets a chance to revive his career at one of the worlds biggest clubs with one of the worlds best managers, a complete turnaround from the fiasco that has been Newcastle United over the last few years. If he doesn't revive his career, then at least he's failed here, and not at Hull or Stoke.

Mr. Brownstone

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Valencia deal a great one for United

What has been lost in the clamor to denounce the signing of Antonio Valencia as proof that United's empire is crumbling is that a certain Portuguese winger signed a few years ago suffered also from complaints about his lack of end product.

We know how that ended, and although Valencia represents something of a gamble, the Real Madrid that are busy hoovering up every spot of talent in Europe were serious contenders for his signature, and that Ferguson was the one to secure it represents something of a coup for the Scot. Real Madrid it seems can't get everyone they want, and some wingers really do prefer Manchester.

No one is seriously suggesting that the Ecuadorian will be a straight replacement for Ronaldo - it's far more likely that his move will see a shift in formation and shape for United. Rooney will probably start in the middle much more often, and as a result, we should see an increase in his tally. That should benifit Berbatov, who you would hope too see a few more goals from this season.

Valencia too, will be expected to improve on his tally of three goals in 31 League appearances, but it will be his assists where he is truly judged. If he can combine goal scoring exploits, with plenty of assists, we could be looking at rather than the heir to Ronaldo, or even Beckhams throne, we will see a Kanchelskis replacement, 14 years after the Russian left the club.

That truly would be a sight worth seeing.

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Forum round up

Bringing you snippets of whats going on on the United Lounge forum, here is the first of our weekly round ups.

The forgotten Man!

Everyone has overlooked this chap. I know he is not proven. I know at Hull he did not get to play enough, but we have not even given him a chance here yet. Yet he is all but forgotten. At least people see a chance for Welbeck and Macheda here, yet some wants us to get a young Benzema or Villa(not sure of age).
If we want a player who can provide cover for Rooney and Berbatov, why not give Manucho at least a chance before splashing money?
He has height, if we are going to result back to 4 4 2, with quality crosses, he can attack the ball and there are evidence of his heading power.
Through out my United following career , we have not been attracting world class players, we buy potential and make them into world class. It is just our history. We rarely buy the Berba's of this world (world class status debatable)
I hope SAF gives him a chance.
Give him a run of 15 games playing up front with Rooney and he'd turn into a 20 million striker.....or ....maybe not

vuudu

Beckham or Ronaldo?

I find the argument about them both freekick interesting elsewhere so i thought i like to know your thoughts on here.

Try to put hatred aside if there's any, who do you prefer and you think the better one between them??

Babysenorita

Trophies or Football?

In discussion of people's hopes for next season a lot of people have mentioned that they would like us to play better football. Admittedly our football was pretty crap at times last season (1-0 just isn't the Manchester United way), however there weren't that many people complaining about it as long as the results went our way.

My question is simple:

Would you rather us win trophies in a boring and dull manner?

or

Would you rather us play exciting, breathtaking football creating envy from the entire league, without actually winning any trophies?

Takhar 7

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New kit unveilled - fans call it rubbish

Someday, someone will explain exactly why Nike are so bad at designing kits. But until that day comes, we'll just have to find ourselves asking the question every year 'why?'

Another season, another rubbish kit. Only this time, it's supposed to be a tribute to the 1909 FA Cup final kit. Nike, in fine tradition, ballsed this right up, and produced something that bears only a vague resemblance to that kit. In that it's got a V on it, and has sleeves and a hole for your neck.

Although the pictures have been doing the rounds for a while, we can now officially deride the kit, which will no doubt go on to sell billions. Why people feel they must own the latest kit even when it looks awful bemuses this writer, but own it they will.

Fortunatly though, this monstrosity appears to be just a one year kit, which ordinarily would be a bad thing, but anything that gets rid of it sooner rather than later is good in my view. Unlike when Umbro did a 1 year kit though, I doubt this will be discounted.

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Abseil down Old Trafford for charity

Ormskirk based charity The Legacy Rainbow House is offering people the chance to abseil down Old Trafford.

If you would like to abseil down the North Stand and are free on Sunday, September 6th, there are 250 places available, which require a £15 entrance fee. Each entrant is expected to raise a minimum of £125 in sponsorship. You must be at least 14 to participate. If you would like to take part, please call The Legacy on 01704 823276, or visit the website for further information.

The charity specialises in providing services for children with neurological problems and conditions such as cerebral palsy, genetic and metabolic conditions, and acquired brain injuries. They are an official partner of the Manchester United Foundation.

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United ready to make history without Ronaldo

Manchester United have been linked to nearly every player on earth and it would be not surprising if some paper had them buying Jesus as well. And probably his dad too, who might just make the bench.

This of course, is due to the 80 million pound move of winger Cristiano Ronaldo from Old Trafford to Real Madrid. The transfer fee blew off all records as ‘twinkle toes’ finally got his dream of playing for the Los Blancos come true.

Another want- away star is Carlos Tevez. The pint-size Argentine was on a loan deal at United but has refused to sign a 5-year contract even though the Red Devils matched his price and salary conditions.

This has left a grand canyonesque gap in the attacking department at United. And the first question on everyone’s mind is: Who are United going to replace them with?

With Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov the only two known strikers, the United faithful will expect dealings in the market. There are though the likes of Kiko Macheda and Danny Welbeck, both of whom will be expected to play a role next season.

But would United want to be spending 40 million pounds plus, on a possible bench warmer? Well they have the money after Ronaldo’s transfer, but that enormous debt and interest is not looking so well for the Glazers.

United though are known to spend and spend well. But whom and for how much remains the question as they continue to keep hush on the matter.

One player that is making the rounds is Lyon’s Karim Benzema. The 21-year-old French striker looks certain to leave the Stade Gerland, and United have joined the lengthening queue for his signature. Antonio Valencia is another name that comes up, but does the Wigan winger have what it takes to play in a red shirt?

For the skeptics, United may not win the title next season, but that would not be due to Ronaldo and Tevez’s absence but four in a row is against all odds.

Some argue that the Portuguese winger is irreplaceable. Maybe so, but United have gone through this before. The point simply is that every player is replaceable. Robson was and so was Cantona and so was Keane.

Come this August, it will surely be a new looking United squad, but Sir Alex Ferguson and his boys will be ready to defend their title once again.

This post was contributed by Super Tramp

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United seal yet another sponsorship deal

Manchester United unveiled a partnership with Chinese electronics firm Aigo, that will see the Manchester United branding appearing on the firms products.

It's not known how much the five year deal is worth, but it's unlikely to be a small amount, what with the Glazers doing everything short of rooting around the sofa for loose change in a bid to meet payments on the rising debt.

Manchester United's commercial director Richard Arnold commented: "China has always been something of a second home for Manchester United. We have been to China on tour five times in the last decade. Now we have found our first Chinese partner to join our family."

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