The English Football Thread

[Urban Hat€monger ?]

Originally Posted by TheCunningStunt

He left Everton, sure... partly for the money.
But also for footballing reasons, what have Everton done in the 6 years since he's left? Nothing.

It could be argued with the loss of Ronaldo, Rooney, Giggs, Scholes, Van Der Sar, Neville and possibly Ferguson and Ferdinand & Hargreaves injury prone coupled with a massive debt that cripples them United are hardly in a position to win much over the next 6 years either.

Wayne however has won 3 league titles and a champions league.
Leaving Manchester United for Manchester City, a team that hasn't won anything in 34 years would be PURELY for the money.

Really?
What about the prestige of being in a team that gives them their first title in over 40 years?
What about when Man Utd went through their title drought between 69 & 92? were their big name signings in those days like Bryan Robson or Gary Birtles only doing it for the money?

And I think there lies the difference.
We'll see his intentions. If he stays in England, at somewhere like City or Chelsea - we know why he left.
If he goes abroad, he's gone for footballing and personal reasons.

Nonsense
Teams like Real Madrid & Barcelona have been buying titles for years just because they've been doing it for longer than Man City means nothing. It's still the same thing.

[right-track]

If he goes to City it's through greed and nothing more.
There is a possibility that he sees City going in the direction that United should be going, but sadly show no inclination, financially, or apparently ambition wise given the lack of money spent on big names.
Could it be that he looks at players like Toure who is earning a reported £200,000 per week and believes (or rather what his agent believes) is the kind of money he should be earning as the best English player in the Premier League?
He could choose to go anywhere he pleases, or better still remain at United, where, with his help he can play at the top of his profession both at home and in Europe.

If Rooney chooses City, everyone will know where his loyalty lies. To his bank balance!

[right-track]

Of course my biased and bemused attitude towards this subject is coloured by my blinkered vision and distorts my current opinion somewhat! :/

[eccles cake]

More than owt else this realy brings it home now the damage the Glazers have done and will continue to do at United. Most clued up Reds have known this type of scenario has been on the cards for a good long while . THE MOST PROFITABLE sports club in the world , pre Glazers , is now in the position of having the financial clout of a mid table club . Ronnie and Tevez sold and not replaced with any real proven quality and now Rooney going and i'd be surprised if Fergie was given a decent slice of his fee to restrengthen the squad sufficiently . Time to step up the anti Glazer campaign .
As for Rooney going to ciddy ? Can only be for the big bucks . Christ , how much does a man need ?

[Urban Hat€monger ?]

Could be argued you've still not replaced Roy Keane yet either.

[Mojo]

They can have Cattermole if they want him? Slightly worn, couple of red marks on him so we'll say what...£15m?

[TheCunningStunt]

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

It could be argued with the loss of Ronaldo, Rooney, Giggs, Scholes, Van Der Sar, Neville and possibly Ferguson and Ferdinand & Hargreaves injury prone coupled with a massive debt that cripples them United are hardly in a position to win much over the next 6 years either.

So Rooney's wanting to move because he can see the future and he can see that the club won the league 2 years ago aren't going to win anything for 6 years? So he's jumping ship before that happens?
His reasons for moving aren't clear, what is clear is he wants 200,000 grand.
But is that the only reason? Or does he want a new life away from England?

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

Really?
What about the prestige of being in a team that gives them their first title in over 40 years?
What about when Man Utd went through their title drought between 69 & 92? were their big name signings in those days like Bryan Robson or Gary Birtles only doing it for the money?

Football has changed since 69, 92 and now. When Bryan Robson signed we didn't have a billionaire owner, we were self funded.
Players were paid well, and didn't move around as much as they do now.
I don't know what the wage bill was like then, I don't know who the top earners were but there was certainly some loyalty in football - now there isn't. Rooney left his boyhood team for money and for some footballing reasons.
If he left for City, what would be the reason for it be?
Greed. And anyone who says different is mad.

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

Nonsense
Teams like Real Madrid & Barcelona have been buying titles for years just because they've been doing it for longer than Man City means nothing. It's still the same thing.

It isn't nonsense though.
If he goes abroad, it will show he's gone to get away from the media, to take on a new challenge and to earn what he wants to earn.
I think all aspects of playing your football abroad would appeal to him.
Going to City - he's gone for the money.
I read on Bluemoon, someone said they don't want him. He'd only go there for the money.

Someone said "yeah you definitely don't want any of them at City."

I think he's going to show his true colours.
If he acts like a professional and shows why he was/is a fan favourite, plays his football, keeps his mouth shut and then goes abroad in January - you can't fault the guy. If he goes to City however... he's gone because he wants 200,000 a week. NOT footballing reasons.

[right-track]

The more I watch the Ferguson announcement video (watched it 3 times now) the more I start to wonder.
Am I watching a great manager genuinely appear crest fallen, or another masterclass of psychological one-upmanship?
Maybe even both?
I wouldn't rule out a u-turn just yet.

[TheCunningStunt]

Originally Posted by right-track

The more I watch the Ferguson announcement video (watched it 3 times now) the more I start to wonder.
Am I watching a great manager genuinely appear crest fallen, or another masterclass of psychological one-upmanship?
Maybe even both?
I wouldn't rule out a u-turn just yet.

To me, Fergie seemed genuinely upset and shell shocked.
How could it be a master-class psychological trick?
I think he was genuinely upset.
There was a Manchester United before Beckham, before Ronaldo, before Ince, before Stam and there was a Manchester United before Rooney.
It'd hurt a lot more if he was firing them in left right and centre but he isn't, so I don't know why people are saying "the decline of Manchester United"
He's done nothing this season, we're missing the Wayne Rooney of last season but he's gone. We need to look for a replacement. In Fergie we trust.

[Urban Hat€monger ?]

Originally Posted by TheCunningStunt

I think he's going to show his true colours.
If he acts like a professional and shows why he was/is a fan favourite, plays his football, keeps his mouth shut and then goes abroad in January - you can't fault the guy. If he goes to City however... he's gone because he wants 200,000 a week. NOT footballing reasons.

Plus there's the added bonus of being in a team that's in a good position to win trophies without even having to move house & being able to stay close to your extended family, plus the bonus of a massive pay packet.

Small clubs lose their best players to big clubs all the time. Even to big clubs that don't win trophies, and I have to say watching fans of the 'biggest club in the world' getting all upset & judgemental because someone is now in a position to do it to them is f*cking hilarious.