Every summer the British and European press corps go into overdrive.
All the big teams across Europe are linked with players, the bigger the team and the bigger the player involved the bigger the story. As United fans we have to put up with more of this than most, with a host of big name stars linked every single year, usually with one stand out story that is pushed harder and further than the others.
This time last summer we were all eagerly awaiting the arrival of Mesut Ozil. Rumours were circulating Twitter that he had met Fergie at Craven Cottage where his team were playing Fulham. At the meeting he had been presented with his first shirt and we were all to expect the announcement of his signing in days. Sadly we didn’t, we finished the summer with the surprise purchase of Bebe, hardly what any of us expected.
Also last summer we were fleetingly linked with one Wesley Sneijder. Again nothing came of it, and perhaps this wasn’t surprising, he was the central cog of an Inter Milan team, that (albeit still benefitting hugely from the Calciopoli punishments in Italy) had just won the treble.
Fast forward 12 months and all the talk is of Wesley Sneijder again. Ferguson and Gill have pulled off three quick signings in De Gea, Jones and Young. A big outlay, although we are led to believe that the money has simply be sitting in the bank account since CR7 left. Last time there was a spend anything like this was when Anderson, Nani, Hargreaves and Tevez arrived. And now the press would have us believe Sneijder will be this summer’s final signing.
I have to say I am slightly more skeptical, it was only a couple of weeks ago that United were apparently ‘nailed on’ to get Nasri, unremarkably that rumour has died a death. Now after Fergie saying he has no interest and Branca commenting that Wesley is not for sale, surely there is the distinct possibility that the press are again leading fans up the garden path, playing to their hopes to sell copy.
Obviously this deal could still happen, as Ferguson is something of a master at saying one thing and doing another, but perhaps we should prepare ourselves for disappointment, after all isn’t it something of an annual affair?
Agreed, I think a lot of it, is pure paper selling. Ando had a good first game and looks bright, the time has come for him to step up.
I think alot of this speculation is down to ferguson and the board.They rattle off a big name every season,with no intention od signing the player.When the player is not signed then the club the agent or even the players wage demands are blamed.Ronaldinho,ozil,and now sneijder are to name but a few.
In fairness Mark, Ronaldinho was more to do with a cock up by Peter Kenyon, who made one offer which was accepted and then lowered it, and the fact he apparently asked for a helicopter during contract negotiations.
I also think there was a desire to get Ozil but that he was set on RM.
But your point is valid – it is also worth not forgetting that buying ready made stars tends not to be what United do.
SAF and Gill do a very good job of creating a smoke screen. If all the press is about Sniejder then no-one realises we are signing ???
And if all the press is about Sneijder then we rarelly believe it anyway, so even if we are going for him it still creates a smoke screen in the same way anyway.
Alas its looking more like we wont be signing Wesley . If you take Sir Alex at his word , similar to when he has ruled out further signings in past transfer windows ( the Bebe masterstroke aside ), then its QED on yet another big name that wont be coming to Old Trafford .
Why we did’nt insist on him in being included in the CR7 transfer is baffling and maybe a mistake SAF does not want to correct at a cost of £35 million .
But failure to bring in a midfielder of genuine quality will not only leave us off the pace in Europe again but also see us struggle domestically .
We may have won the magical 19th last term but it was as much down to our rivals shortcomings as our own success .
The struggles away from home and deficit of points in those fixtures would normally be instrumental in league failure and will be if its to be repeated .
Agree – although we did alright in both Europe and PL last year and that was with similar midfield – Scholes didn’t do all that much last year. So if Anderson and Fletcher find form (unlike last year) it could be to our benefit. Also Carrick a better player without Scholes in the team. So we could actually be ok
Having said that I would be disappointed if no new CM came in
I admire your optimism, but i just think back to the Euro Cup final @ Wembley last season.
Without bringing in new, established talent in the centre of the pitch, i expect us to struggle against both domestic (City and Chelsea will improve their teams over the summer) and european opposition.
It’s very frustrating, but ultimately In Fergie we trust.
I don;t think sneider is the right player for united anyway, he’s a prima donna who’s great when things are great, i think we need to try to stop being barca and perhaps look for more of a Keane type player and player who chnages games and gets going precisely when the going gets tough, he’d add some mettle away from home for sure. There is also a vacuum in terms of tactical input, the number 2’s (never more apt)Phelan and Rene are not up to it.
Agree with us needing that type of player but who do you suggest – there aren’t many of them around
I agree there aren’t, but it’s pointless just getting someone to say we have someone. I like Thiago Motta or someone like that. I’m sure United scouts cover the ground, I like Sweinsteger who has a bit of nastiness in him, it has to be a world calss player and remember we are Manchester United, so we should eb going for the best of the best. Keane was the best and so was Scholes, Cantona was and so was Schmeichal, we’re not basement bargains inc.
Will we won’t we sign a CM? Fergie says no to Sneijder so we got to take his word for it (mind games apart). What is apparent to all and sundry is that we do need someone of Sneijders ability if we are to compete at the highest level. Don’t want a repeat of the CL Finals against Barca when we were made to look very very ordinary in both matches. I fear this may happen again with the midfield players we have at the club.
If the money is there then i would suggest Sneijder and Defour or another defensive midfielder
If no cm is signed, seriously is not the end of the world, We’ll still move on. The future of manu does not depend on wesley sneijder or nasri or modric, no! Manu is more of a team not individual ever since rolando left. But signing wesley will not be a bad idea anywhere
Some of it is gossip for sure. on the internet a trickle becomes a torrent very quickly.
But Fergie has been very guarded in his comments – he could easily say “We do not want Sneijder and will definitely not buy him this summer”. He said similarly strong words last summer about not adding to the squad, and (a couple of fringe players apart)was true to his word.
What he actually said was “The situation is that there is no real interest in Wesley Sneijder at this moment in time for a lot of reasons” – far more non-committal. The implication is that there are specific factors blocking pursuing a deal, not that they dont want the player.
He also said “There is nothing I can tell you about it. I have not really been involved in it since I came across here.” The implication here is that he was involved when he was back in the UK.
My guess is that the price on a deal is at a premium right now. The internet rumours and Inters strong hand means the selling club is in pole position.
Since no other team is realistically bidding for Sneijder, Fergie may be happy to wait out the summer and see if the price falls – whether by the player asking for a move or because Inter want to sell.
Allowing myself to speculate further, this would be a wise move for us. Inter need to get a new player in to replace Sneijder (Pastore so the internets tell us). Man U know that Inter need time to get the new player in, and if they get one in before they sell Sneijder, his price drops because its obvious he’s going to be sold.
There’s a risk that they’ll run out of time, and there’s a risk another club will want to buy him, causing a bidding war – but given a choice between buying now for (say) £35M and waiting til the end of summer and potentially paying £30M, it seems like Man U are happy to take the risk.
wesley is needed in man united
or even ramsey before that……but the fact remains we need a world class attacking midfielder…..be it sneijder,nasri or modric…..