We are tight lipped because we haven't agreed a deal yet. We do things quietly now. After the Ramsey affair(agreed a deal, but he chose Arsenal), I doubt we would ever do something like that again. We would only announce once things are almost certain(we know the player wants to move, and we already agree the fee with his club).

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11667_6515350,00.html
He(Lindergaard) told Ekstra Bladet: "It looks like the clubs are negotiating but it will surely not happen before Monday."

Their chairman and Sporting Director went to Manchester to negotiate..
http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnew...ontent=Netvibes

So it's true. Just a matter of when, unless Aselund ask for too much.

That's why we haven't announce anything yet. Until a deal is agreed with between the clubs, and we know for certain Lindergaard won't reject us.

Since the Glazers took over..
Park, VDS, Evra, Vida, Carrick, Hargreaves, Nani, Anderson, Berbatov, Valencia, Smalling, Hernandez, Bebe, Obertan

We do have money. Just because we are in debt, it doesn't mean we can't spend at all. It might be a bit tight, but so far there's no indication that they restrict SAF. It's more of a case in those other positions(CM), we already have options baking in the oven(Ando and what have you), and we want to see how it goes.

And considering that VDS is about to retire, if not at the end of the season, surely next season there is a big chance of it happening, and we don't see Tom as a future #1 and he wants to leave because of that, we are in the market for at least two GKs. Tom while he has done well in VDS absence, he is nothing more than a good reliable backup. In the limited games, he doesn't really inspire confidence.. just see his kicking. Bosnich was in the same boat and SAF went and bought Barthez in no time(he can't get VDS after the Big Dane left, got stuck with Bosnich instead, but lasted a season at best before Barthez came in).

Lindergaard might be the #2 to take under VDS for this season and maybe next if VDS signs a new deal and we give him a chance to see how he does and then decide. Reports are glowing about him. But then there are rumours around about us buying De Gea as well. Considering De Gea's release clause is only around 17m pounds or so, it's well within our reach and we might just do it considering he's one of the best young GKs around, and he would last for years and it would be a bargain in the long run(IF all turns out well). Even if it doesn't work out, we can still recoup part of it later on.

We wouldn't be scouting around looking at different GKs(top rated ones) if we think Tom is the one to take over from VDS.

Debt is a huge worry of course. We see the big number, and it's not good news. But as long as it's manageable, we should be all right in the long run. Can't do much now unless some really rich maniac decided to buy the club and pay off the debts which won't happen. Might as well get a Bolton or something and build a legacy there. In 3-5 years, should be a powerhouse with the amount of money it would take just to buy us and pay off the debts.

People say they haven't allowed us to spend big especially in the midfield department, but they did. Carrick, Hargreaves, Nani, Anderson, Valencia.. 3 CMs, two wingers. All cost upwards of between 15-20m each in the last 4 years alone.

At the same age VDS was already a regular at Juve.. albeit it was a fail time there. He won the CL aged 24/25, and won the Uefa cup around 22 or something. He was regarded as one of the best GKs around at Kuszczak's age. Kuszczak right now is regarded as a ManUtd backup GK. And in all his career, only one season he was a regular, and that was his time at West Brom. It takes more than just ability to stop shots when you play in goal for us. Good with the ball at his feet, or at least his kicking must be good, good shot stopper, can command the area, and mentally must be tough to forget about the mistakes. A lot have the ability, but most don't have what it takes in their head.

It's still bloody good though. The best in our squad atm. He can really hit them.

We're grinding results and getting the important points. But our form is still not where you expect us to be in. What's important to remember is that we know we can play much2 better than we have so far. SAF knows it. The team knows it. We should too. Giggs and Rooney are back. That should help things.

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Added on November 21, 2010, 1:45 pm

This post has been edited by Wan: Nov 21 2010, 01:45 PM

Sheep, you can have my babies!

"I don't think my son was even born the last time I scored a goal for United," Evra joked.

"It was a good cross from my best friend Ji-sung Park, I think maybe I'll get him a big present for Christmas, maybe a car."

Hernandez, Welbeck, Macheda.

Lalalala.

Is Ando injured?

Fletcher injured, Rio and Vida rested.
Brown-Smalling-Evans-O'Shea
--------Carrick-Scholes-------
Nani----------??-----------Park
-------------Rooney------------

Obertan/Berba/Gibson/Ando/Giggs in there.

Nick Coppack
14:10 I've just had word from Manchester airport that the Reds are taking a 21-man squad to Glasgow. In no particular order (who am I kidding? It's in alphabetical-within-positional order): Amos, van der Sar; Brown, Evans, Evra, Fabio, O'Shea, Rafael, Smalling; Anderson, Bebe, Carrick, Giggs, Nani, Obertan, Park, Scholes; Berbatov, Hernandez, Macheda, Rooney.

This post has been edited by Wan: Nov 24 2010, 07:32 AM

Hernandez(7m, unknown to most before we got him), Smalling(10-12m who has shown a lot of promise for us so far), Evra(5m), Vida(7m), VDS(2m), Carrick(16m, a lot but still wasn't 'top class').
C.Ronaldo 12m, teenager. Went on to be the best player in the world and the most expensive one.
Nani cost a lot but wasn't a sure thing. Now regarded as one of the best of late.

It's how we do things. If we identify that certain players we should spend a lot of money on, we would do so. But most times, we would go with the developing our own stars route.

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Added on November 24, 2010, 1:01 pmAnd it remains to be seen whether Lindergaard is coming as #1, or just a backup to take over Kuszczak. If he is going to be our #1, hope VDS stays on for at least another season. He's still playing at a good level and capable of doing so for another few seasons should he keep himself in shape. And over the coming season should act as a backup and most important of all, a fail safe option.

This post has been edited by Wan: Nov 24 2010, 01:01 PM

The likes of Welbeck and Cleverly hopefully will make it through to balance it out. Our academy is still full of British and Irish players.. foreign teenagers are still a minority.

Josh McEachran, Wilshere, Bannan(Scottish), Ramsey(Welsh), Welbeck.. hopefully more will emerge.

I hope that Lindergaard is a #2 rather than a potential #1 for us. But I don't know how good he is.

At the same time, I hope he is the one as well. Would be good seeing us go the unknown route and unearth a good one again. But it's risky business. But then again even if we buy someone rated as good, doesn't mean it will turn out good with us. Lloris, Neuer, Adler, Akinfeev, De Gea.. all are still unproven at the big stage.

It's different playing for us, and playing for someone else, which is likely at a lower level.

De Gea is only 20 and would likely cost around 20m at least. 19 league games last season.. his first season. Still have a lot to prove. Seems are interested..
Neuer is going to Bayern from rumours. Didn't really fill me with confidence at the WC. But he does look good.
Lloris.. fail at the WC I thought. Look nervous there.

All of them would likely cost far higher, and there's still no guarantee that they would make it.

You could argue that most don't become a Petr Cech. 15-20m for one, and there's one in ten/twenty chance that it would work out. They could look good for their current team, but would be a nervous wreck once he steps up on the pitch for us. If we just judge them on their ability alone, most would tick the box. But we would never know how they would do with us. Howard, Foster.. That's why we don't spend big in that area I guess, apart from Barthez who was a mix bag. Very good for a while, but then downhill. He pick up his form for a season but then became a clown.

VDS, Juve reject, 35 years old, stuck at Fulham.
Evra 5m, Vida(who? at that time) 7m, CR..12m for an unproven kid, 7m for an unknown striker from Mexico.. were those signings ambitious? Was Carrick and Valencia even considered as ambitious signings? Good player yes, but hardly world class.

True, Lindegaard could be the #2, with the rumoured De Gea being our primary target. But I could easily see us going with Lindegaard. With the recent signings, it felt that way that we would develop one rather than going for the more obvious target.

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Added on November 24, 2010, 8:18 pmWith outfield players, it's easier to step up another level. Playing with better players, greater chance of us dominating games, and thus they would have more room to impress etc.
But a GK is still covering that same goal post, same number of people in front of him, and he won't have to do much at most times. But the pressure is 100% times more intense. So when there's a breakaway, he's like, oh shit, the wave is coming.. I got this, I got this... of fish! The ball slipped! It's a lottery in most cases. Just hope we got it right this time.

This post has been edited by Wan: Nov 24 2010, 08:18 PM

@RajKaria
@Ian_Ladyman_DM Ian, has there been any word on the progress of Antonio Valencia?


@Ian_Ladyman_DM
@RajKaria he is doing really well. Double aerobic and gym sessions daily. Ahead of schedule.

I miss his direct runs.

Only last season he was below par. Before that, for 3 seasons, he was very good for us. And this season is hard to judge since every one is off form.