Ultimate Football (Soccer) Thread (2011-2012)

[Nazis in Space]

Looking at today's starting lineup...

David e Gea Spanish; Bought from Athletico for 20 mio €
Chris Smalling Bought from the FC Fulham
{b]Rio Ferdinand[/b] Bought from Leeds United
Jonny Evans Hooray, a Manchester Youth!
Patrice Evra French; Bought from AS Monaco
Nani Portuguese; Bought from Soporting CP for 25.5 mio
Darren Fletcher Manchester Youth #2!
Anderson Bought from Porto for 30 mio €
Ashley Young Bought from Astron Villa
Wayne Rooney Bought from Everton for ~ 30- 35 mio € (Bloody conversion)
Danny Welbeck Manchester Youth #3

Rose-tinted glasses, it seems.

That's just the supremest shite, for many reasons. A glance at the squads reveals that whereas United either have youth players or relatively inexpensive and young acquisitions, notwithstanding Berbatov, City have an entire squad of prime age players bought for significant money, and this excludes those bought and moved on rapidly (Adebayor, Bellamy, Santa Cruz, Bridge etc.). Or Robinho, bought for £30mil. and happily discarded.

Nobody would dispute that United will spend big on players; but it tends to be targeted investment to meet a specific demand (Smalling, Rio, Vidic, Carrick), or to acquire a specific and extraordinary talent (Rooney, Ronaldo, Pogba). It's also been money raised organically throught the club's commercial operations. Not City's approach, which has amounted to saturation spending of petro-millions in every conceivable position.

So do fuck off. I don't dispute that City have some extraordinarily good players, particularly Balotelli and Silva, but to equate the club's transfer policies and find similarities is just retarded.

Summary: THEY SPEND MORE THAN WE DO, THEREFORE IT'S BAD! THE EXACT LIMIT OF FAIR SPENDING POLICIES JUST SO HAPPENS TO BE EXACTLY WHAT WE DO.

[The Deleted Chris]

That's just the supremest shite, for many reasons. A glance at the squads reveals that whereas United either have youth players or relatively inexpensive and young acquisitions, notwithstanding Berbatov, City have an entire squad of prime age players bought for significant money, and this excludes those bought and moved on rapidly (Adebayor, Bellamy, Santa Cruz, Bridge etc.). Or Robinho, bought for £30mil. and happily discarded.

Nobody would dispute that United will spend big on players; but it tends to be targeted investment to meet a specific demand (Smalling, Rio, Vidic, Carrick), or to acquire a specific and extraordinary talent (Rooney, Ronaldo, Pogba). It's also been money raised organically throught the club's commercial operations. Not City's approach, which has amounted to saturation spending of petro-millions in every conceivable position.

So do fuck off. I don't dispute that City have some extraordinarily good players, particularly Balotelli and Silva, but to equate the club's transfer policies and find similarities is just retarded.

Summary: THEY SPEND MORE THAN WE DO, THEREFORE IT'S BAD! THE EXACT LIMIT OF FAIR SPENDING POLICIES JUST SO HAPPENS TO BE EXACTLY WHAT WE DO.

Calm down dear. It's a qualitative difference in policy, rather than the exceeding of an arbitrary spending limit.

Also, many of your transfer figures are wrong.

[The Deleted Chris]

That's just the supremest shite, for many reasons. A glance at the squads reveals that whereas United either have youth players or relatively inexpensive and young acquisitions, notwithstanding Berbatov, City have an entire squad of prime age players bought for significant money, and this excludes those bought and moved on rapidly (Adebayor, Bellamy, Santa Cruz, Bridge etc.). Or Robinho, bought for £30mil. and happily discarded.

Nobody would dispute that United will spend big on players; but it tends to be targeted investment to meet a specific demand (Smalling, Rio, Vidic, Carrick), or to acquire a specific and extraordinary talent (Rooney, Ronaldo, Pogba). It's also been money raised organically throught the club's commercial operations. Not City's approach, which has amounted to saturation spending of petro-millions in every conceivable position.

So do fuck off. I don't dispute that City have some extraordinarily good players, particularly Balotelli and Silva, but to equate the club's transfer policies and find similarities is just retarded.

The fuck you been?

Jobhunting. Tis crap.

[Mytannion]

To be quite honest, if United fans take it from the other side and had their club bought by the same people who bought our club. They would not have complained once. It just so happened that Sheikh Mansour and co. invested in their rival club who have been second-best in the city for a long time and finally now have a chance of success because of the money - City fans will never deny that we would have been in this situation with out the money - but we do object to the idea that we now neglect youth and things of that sort, we do develop youth and have done both before and after the money. Yes, the fact we have been invested in means we haven't brought through as many youngsters recently would be the same at any club.

United fans do not like change it seems..

[Keronians]

To be quite honest, if United fans take it from the other side and had their club bought by the same people who bought our club. They would not have complained once. It just so happened that Sheikh Mansour and co. invested in their rival club who have been second-best in the city for a long time and finally now have a chance of success because of the money - City fans will never deny that we would have been in this situation with out the money - but we do object to the idea that we now neglect youth and things of that sort, we do develop youth and have done both before and after the money. Yes, the fact we have been invested in means we haven't brought through as many youngsters recently would be the same at any club.

United fans do not like change it seems..

Well, seeing as how Ferguson's been manager for the past 24 years... I think they don't, tbh.

[Mytannion]

Well, seeing as how Ferguson's been manager for the past 24 years... I think they don't, tbh.

I lol'ed.

Anyway, I saw a typical example of a United fan today in the newspaper. One of them had e-mailed the paper saying that Ferguson was past it and was no good anymore in the modern game, after everything he has done for their club, even if I hate the guy - that is going a bit too far.

[The Deleted Chris]

Well, seeing as how Ferguson's been manager for the past 24 years... I think they don't, tbh.

I lol'ed.

Anyway, I saw a typical example of a United fan today in the newspaper. One of them had e-mailed the paper saying that Ferguson was past it and was no good anymore in the modern game, after everything he has done for their club, even if I hate the guy - that is going a bit too far.

I think it's the coaching staff who are wrong, and have been since Queiroz left in 2008. We miss the tactical and positional organisation he brought.

[Mytannion]

I think it's the coaching staff who are wrong, and have been since Queiroz left in 2008. We miss the tactical and positional organisation he brought.

I can't really give any input into this situation - I don't tend to focus on United really when I'm a City fan but y'know. It seems to be a very valid point though, given some of the performances post-Queiroz - some of which have been pretty amazing, some of which have been very poor (in the Champions League mostly, with a sprinkling of the EPL games going the same way).

[Osarius]

One of them had e-mailed the paper saying that Ferguson was past it and was no good anymore in the modern game, after everything he has done for their club, even if I hate the guy - that is going a bit too far.

Well... I agree its going a bit too far, but I'd be questioning some of his decisions of late, if I were a Man Utd fan.
The lineup against Liverpool for example, Jonny Evans starting against City... I figure there must be something going on behind the scenes that we don't get to see.

[Keronians]

One of them had e-mailed the paper saying that Ferguson was past it and was no good anymore in the modern game, after everything he has done for their club, even if I hate the guy - that is going a bit too far.

Well... I agree its going a bit too far, but I'd be questioning some of his decisions of late, if I were a Man Utd fan.
The lineup against Liverpool for example, Jonny Evans starting against City... I figure there must be something going on behind the scenes that we don't get to see.

Not signing on Sneijder when he could have...

[Mytannion]

well, 50 minutes through the game and it is:

Wolves 1-4 Man. City.. so, 1-6 again anyone?

Scapuzzi also has his first goal for the club - so we do have youngsters who can play! And one of the ones I've mentioned has managed to nab a goal - does look quality though from what I've seen of him tonight and in the past.

MCFC, OK.

[The Deleted Chris]

Well... I agree its going a bit too far, but I'd be questioning some of his decisions of late, if I were a Man Utd fan.
The lineup against Liverpool for example, Jonny Evans starting against City... I figure there must be something going on behind the scenes that we don't get to see.

Not signing on Sneijder when he could have...

No point. For the likely fee, c.£40mil, and wages, c.£200l p.w., he was too expensive at 26, and only likely to stifle the development of Pogba, Tunnicliffe and Morrisson. Javi Martinez would make more sense, given his age, positional discipline and style of play, but honestly I'd rather one transitional season a la Barca 2007-2008 and then promote from within.

[The Deleted Chris]

well, 50 minutes through the game and it is:

Wolves 1-4 Man. City.. so, 1-6 again anyone?

Scapuzzi also has his first goal for the club - so we do have youngsters who can play! And one of the ones I've mentioned has managed to nab a goal - does look quality though from what I've seen of him tonight and in the past.

MCFC, OK.

Doing the fucking Poznan? Some clubs don't import traditions from others.

[Fartsniffage]

To be quite honest, if United fans take it from the other side and had their club bought by the same people who bought our club. They would not have complained once. It just so happened that Sheikh Mansour and co. invested in their rival club who have been second-best in the city for a long time and finally now have a chance of success because of the money - City fans will never deny that we would have been in this situation with out the money - but we do object to the idea that we now neglect youth and things of that sort, we do develop youth and have done both before and after the money. Yes, the fact we have been invested in means we haven't brought through as many youngsters recently would be the same at any club.

United fans do not like change it seems..

I may be a bit of a stick in the mud but I'm not a fan of clubs who have success handed to them on a platter by a rich owner.

I have no problem with being second best to Barcelona, they have earned that right. Being second best to Chelsea (who we saw off) or City who have had everything bought for, them sticks in the craw a little. It's just not sport, it's economics.

[Fartsniffage]

I lol'ed.

Anyway, I saw a typical example of a United fan today in the newspaper. One of them had e-mailed the paper saying that Ferguson was past it and was no good anymore in the modern game, after everything he has done for their club, even if I hate the guy - that is going a bit too far.

I think it's the coaching staff who are wrong, and have been since Queiroz left in 2008. We miss the tactical and positional organisation he brought.

Have you been watching the games this season? In the early matches we had switched to the same style as Barcelona, short passing and intense pressing. The problem is that our old guard just can't play that way. Against City Fletcher kept breaking up the rhythm in the first half with his long punts.

[Fartsniffage]

Jobhunting. Tis crap.

You should come and work for my company. They're always up for good graduates and internal promotion is fast.

[Angleter]

To be quite honest, if United fans take it from the other side and had their club bought by the same people who bought our club. They would not have complained once. It just so happened that Sheikh Mansour and co. invested in their rival club who have been second-best in the city for a long time and finally now have a chance of success because of the money - City fans will never deny that we would have been in this situation with out the money - but we do object to the idea that we now neglect youth and things of that sort, we do develop youth and have done both before and after the money. Yes, the fact we have been invested in means we haven't brought through as many youngsters recently would be the same at any club.

United fans do not like change it seems..

I may be a bit of a stick in the mud but I'm not a fan of clubs who have success handed to them on a platter by a rich owner.

I have no problem with being second best to Barcelona, they have earned that right. Being second best to Chelsea (who we saw off) or City who have had everything bought for, them sticks in the craw a little. It's just not sport, it's economics.

Another issue is how, unlike the fairly constant presence of Man U, Arsenal and Liverpool, Man City's arrival on the scene and policy of throwing as much money as it takes (if not more) at anyone good basically over-inflated the entire transfer market to the point that the likes of Aston Villa, with their "prudent" owners, let alone the Boltons of this world, can scarcely buy anyone good without selling. Their best players. To, usually enough, Man City. I thought it'd be a cold day in Hell when I'd actually support Man United in the higher echelons of the league, but there we go.

[The Deleted Chris]

I think it's the coaching staff who are wrong, and have been since Queiroz left in 2008. We miss the tactical and positional organisation he brought.

Have you been watching the games this season? In the early matches we had switched to the same style as Barcelona, short passing and intense pressing. The problem is that our old guard just can't play that way. Against City Fletcher kept breaking up the rhythm in the first half with his long punts.

My problem is that we cannot play with 2 central midfielders against decent teams who play 3. It's fine against teams over whom we have obvious superiority, but none of Fletcher, Anderson or Carrick can anchor and distribute. We consistently get overrun, and then Fletcher's gormless face is seen 30 yards back as somebody scores. Cleverly does look fantastic though; similar passing to Carrick, but quicker, and a more mobile.

Btw, did you watch last night? Morrisson is wonderful. Complete prat, but great talent.

[The Deleted Chris]

I may be a bit of a stick in the mud but I'm not a fan of clubs who have success handed to them on a platter by a rich owner.

I have no problem with being second best to Barcelona, they have earned that right. Being second best to Chelsea (who we saw off) or City who have had everything bought for, them sticks in the craw a little. It's just not sport, it's economics.

Another issue is how, unlike the fairly constant presence of Man U, Arsenal and Liverpool, Man City's arrival on the scene and policy of throwing as much money as it takes (if not more) at anyone good basically over-inflated the entire transfer market to the point that the likes of Aston Villa, with their "prudent" owners, let alone the Boltons of this world, can scarcely buy anyone good without selling. Their best players. To, usually enough, Man City. I thought it'd be a cold day in Hell when I'd actually support Man United in the higher echelons of the league, but there we go.

What's more annoying still is that they compete for players simply to deprive others of them, as with Nasri this summer. They neither need nor want him, and clearly have no use for him.

[The Deleted Chris]

Jobhunting. Tis crap.

You should come and work for my company. They're always up for good graduates and internal promotion is fast.

Who?

[Mytannion]

Doing the fucking Poznan? Some clubs don't import traditions from others.

Which has nothing whatsoever to do with my post so y'know - and doing the Poznan is just the same as United fans copying other teams chants. It isn't like we don't have traditions of our own either. Some of the most loyal fans in the league over the years, seen as we hadn't won anything for so long - which you enjoyed reminding us about.. But still drew in 45,000+ attendances.

[The Deleted Chris]

Doing the fucking Poznan? Some clubs don't import traditions from others.

Which has nothing whatsoever to do with my post so y'know - and doing the Poznan is just the same as United fans copying other teams chants. It isn't like we don't have traditions of our own either. Some of the most loyal fans in the league over the years, seen as we hadn't won anything for so long - which you enjoyed reminding us about.. But still drew in 45,000+ attendances.

Which chants?

[Fartsniffage]

You should come and work for my company. They're always up for good graduates and internal promotion is fast.

Who?

TG'ed

[Mytannion]

Which chants?

I haven't a clue what you call them yourselves, but according to a Crystal Palace fan I know - you've stolen a couple of there's. Same with Leeds as well (although that wouldn't make much sense..), probably many more.

Anyway, that's the same with every club - so your stealing traditions thing makes no sense as every single club steals chants off others and changes them - and you can hardly say it's stealing traditions if you aren't from Manchester - which is probably the situation for a lot of United's 'support'.

[Fartsniffage]

Have you been watching the games this season? In the early matches we had switched to the same style as Barcelona, short passing and intense pressing. The problem is that our old guard just can't play that way. Against City Fletcher kept breaking up the rhythm in the first half with his long punts.

My problem is that we cannot play with 2 central midfielders against decent teams who play 3. It's fine against teams over whom we have obvious superiority, but none of Fletcher, Anderson or Carrick can anchor and distribute. We consistently get overrun, and then Fletcher's gormless face is seen 30 yards back as somebody scores. Cleverly does look fantastic though; similar passing to Carrick, but quicker, and a more mobile.

Btw, did you watch last night? Morrisson is wonderful. Complete prat, but great talent.

Losing Cleverly early in the season was a bit of a bastard. As much as I hate relying on young players so much, he was really making our midfield work. Anderson is still a good player but I agree about Fletcher and Carrick. Still, I would have like Carrick in the second half against City, at least he's good at protecting centre halfs.

I agree about Morrison. That guy can play and will be a big part of the future, just not this season.