Keane replacement a priority

[Teso Dos Bichos]

Instead of Rooney, who was not needed. We need a top class replacement for Keane. Like it or not, he is past his best and needs to be replaced. We do not have adequate cover for his absence. Djemba-Djemba is like Butt. Great at breaking up the oppositon attack, but not a lot else. Kleberson is too attacking. Miller is far too light-weight and injury prone. In short, we need a Keane replacement immediately.

[Acronym]

I agree with Miller lite; what a waste of space. Hardly played at Celtic, hardly plays at Manyoo, just hands in sick notes.

[Acronym]

Rooney is on another level speaking to my Nephew, plays for England.

[Panzo]

Would it be possible to try Smith out in that DM role since that could alleviate some of the potential grumblings over striker rotation and also possibly groom him to be the inspirational midfield replacement for Keane. He has enough determination and versatility that it might work (or am I way off on this one?).

[Przybylinski]

If you guys plan to win some games you need to send Keane home. You have so many forwards someones going to need to take on a new position. Ruud and Saha can't do it so it's going to have to be Smith or Rooney.

[johno]

SAF did the right thing in not trying to get another dmid... he should have gotten a winger, but for now the DMID is fine...

There is no replacement for Keane... repeat this 5 times... We need to get on with things... If we bought another Dmid, he would just take another season to season and get used to the team and that would be a waste of time and assets... for now, we need to try what we have... Djemba Djemba has looked alot more solid this season than he did last year. With the way Rooney and Smith play striker, Scholes won't need to be so much of a link man any more and he can play deeper and help with distribution... Djemba Djemba has potential and he can hone his skills so that he can become what we need for the future.

Edit: also, if we start to dominate teams and if the partnership of Rio and Heinze works well we wont need so much ball winning from the DM so we could experiment with playing Fletcher or even Kleberson there, who knows it might work, but the thing is you cannot improve a team in every way at once, you have to gradually make things better...

Last season it was the midfield with signings of Kleberson and DjDj this season it was both defence and attack, (defence is less complicated so that can be done simultaneously unless you are changing the system) and we have added Smith and Rooney.

[bigtoga]

Would it be possible to try Smith out in that DM role since that could alleviate some of the potential grumblings over striker rotation and also possibly groom him to be the inspirational midfield replacement for Keane. He has enough determination and versatility that it might work (or am I way off on this one?).I think you're way off... Seriously - you propose taking the player who was the most dangerous striker in Euro 2004 (the 3rd most challenging competition in all of soccer) and putting him in a predominantly defensive role? SAF loves to mix and match players and positions but I'll eat my hat if Rooney is a D-mid in five years.

If you guys plan to win some games you need to send Keane home. You have so many forwards someones going to need to take on a new position. Ruud and Saha can't do it so it's going to have to be Smith or Rooney.I'm just wondering if these are trolls or they are actually posting legitimate thoughts... I can't work it out. I know he supports the Arse so it could be both lol.

[Clan]

I foresee a massive bidding war in the next close season for young Gerrard.
He's not going to stay at 'pool, his mates have all done a runner and the traditional English/homegrown scouse management structure is going the way of too many ofd the prems top clubs - foreign.
They won't achieve anything this season, it'll all be put down to "rebuilding", he'll take the opportunity to get out having stated that he wants to win things and gave it a fair crack by staying this season (when he wnated to leave), but he sees leaving as a better opportunity as he has only so many years at the top of his game and can't afford to wait.
You'll be against us no doubt.
We didn't bid for Rooney.
We will bid for Gerrard :D

imho.

[johno]

I foresee a massive bidding war in the next close season for young Gerrard.
He's not going to stay at 'pool, his mates have all done a runner and the traditional English/homegrown scouse management structure is going the way of too many ofd the prems top clubs - foreign.
They won't achieve anything this season, it'll all be put down to "rebuilding", he'll take the opportunity to get out having stated that he wants to win things and gave it a fair crack by staying this season (when he wnated to leave), but he sees leaving as a better opportunity as he has only so many years at the top of his game and can't afford to wait.
You'll be against us no doubt.
We didn't bid for Rooney.
We will bid for Gerrard :D

imho.

Don't be suprised if we go for Gerrard though... remember, OT is about to be/has been expanded... there is going to be extra revenue there, and of course, after we win the CL this year we will have tons of cash to spend :D

but seriously, the board found the money for Rooney, they better find it for Gerrard. It wont be much more than 25 million I hope and of course we will probably sell a defender sometime in the future... right now we have 8 players who have played/will play in the first team regularly. That's not much, but whether we go in for Gerrard will depend alot on how Keane/Djemba Djemba do this season and of course how well we do in the Prem, FA Cup and CL... if we get some serious prize money we might be able to afford it, but the board might then say, you were good enough to win then, you are good enough to win now...

Good shout though Clan... of course, we could all hope that Stevie stays w/ the scousers for another year... :)

[Clan]

Oh i think he'll see the season out alright - that would add even more weight and a seeming legitimacy to his talk in the summer about wanting to do it with Liverpool.
I'm glad Owen left them, not because of anything he may ort may not have done on the pitch (fine player and all that he is) but, he has set a precedent at that club that will allow Gerrard to move on.
Yes, moving to Real Madrid is not the same as moving to Stamford Bridge, but thats not the point.

Said point being that he didn't stay.

Will be awfully hard for United to compete with Abramovich and his bank roll - especially in light of the money shelled out for Roonaldo, so i guess it'll all come down to where Gerrard thinks he'll play more and do better.
Given that Uniteds representation in the National team is considerably reduced from previous years, which is in direct contrast to the situation at Chelsea re the national team, i think (and hope) that the Chelsea lads will still be putting words in his ear during the course of this years internationals.

Of course, winning things on the domestic and European fields of play will also add weight to either clubs plug - that is if your lot go after him, which i think they may do.

[Motterman]

Given that Uniteds representation in the National team is considerably reduced from previous years, which is in direct contrast to the situation at Chelsea re the national team....Rooney, Smith, Rio, G. Neville

Lampard, Terry, Cole, Bridge

But in England's current Best XI - Rooney, Rio and Neville for United start and only Lampard for Chelsea are the only locks in the first team. Rio takes back his spot from Terry to partner Sol in the middle when both are healthy.

Good try with your effort though. :cool:

[Clan]

Rooney, Smith, Rio, G. Neville

Lampard, Terry, Cole, Bridge

But in England's current Best XI - Rooney, Rio and Neville for United start and only Lampard for Chelsea are the only locks in the first team. Rio takes back his spot from Terry to partner Sol in the middle when both are healthy.

Good try with your effort though.

E for effort eh?:D

I was thinking that Neville may/will be replaced by Glen Johnson and Smith is a rather questionable pick in the long term eh?

Johnson - Terry - Bridge - Lampard - J Cole - Gerrard

Rooney - Rio

Ah, yes - that looks much better Motter ;)

[Motterman]

E for effort eh?:D

I was thinking that Neville may/will be replaced by Glen Johnson and Smith is a rather questionable pick in the long term eh?

Johnson - Terry - Bridge - Lampard - J Cole - Gerrard

Rooney - Rio

Ah, yes - that looks much better Motter ;)If you are adding Cole, then we can add Smith. Sven has a habit of trying to preserve club strike partnerships - ie. Owen, Heskey

Smith-Rooney-Rio-Gerrard
Johnson-Bridge-Lampard

:D

[Clan]

Well, we shall leave that particular debate for another thread.

On the subject of replacing Keane - other than Gerrard, and apart from the foreign lot, who else is there really?

Would Gerrard be comfortable going to United with Keane still there, or, what i think would be more likely, coming to Chelsea where he'd be under less of a shadow so to speak.

[johno]

Yes, of course, Johnson who is currently behind olypic swim... err... Right back from Portugal will earn a spot over the 2nd best crosser on the team after beckham? ... funny guy isn't he Motter?

Bridge should start over Cole, but does not and wont... Joe Cole is more of a stretch than Alan Smith... 1. Smith's form... 2... he will form a partnership with Rooney at United and that's something that Sven does not ignore... ie, heskey actually playing..

Also, Scholes retired, but he was a lock until he quit...

SWP or Dyer will take away Cole's spot I think... although maybe Bridge will get time at LB and Ashley Cole at LW???

Not dissing Chelsea's players here, but the statement about any trend of our players not playing for England is untrue.. hell, Saha transfered to us and got to play for France, who has better strikers than England...

[johno]

Well, we shall leave that particular debate for another thread.

On the subject of replacing Keane - other than Gerrard, and apart from the foreign lot, who else is there really?

Would Gerrard be comfortable going to United with Keane still there, or, what i think would be more likely, coming to Chelsea where he'd be under less of a shadow so to speak.


Ok, point taken Clan... u know me and u are cool anyway... I was thinking about that, but I think before a move for Gerrard was made SAF would discuss it with Keane... he take's players' opinions very seriously so I think he would consult Keane... then providing the answer is favorable, he could tell Steven that he has Keane's blessing... also, Keane might just retire after this season especially if we could get a couple trophies and land Gerrard.

[Clan]

Ok, point taken Clan... u know me and u are cool anyway... I was thinking about that, but I think before a move for Gerrard was made SAF would discuss it with Keane... he take's players' opinions very seriously so I think he would consult Keane... then providing the answer is favorable, he could tell Steven that he has Keane's blessing... also, Keane might just retire after this season especially if we could get a couple trophies and land Gerrard.

I can't see Keane retiring for another 3 years to be honest, after all, didn't he just make himself available for international selection again?

I don't believe money for the transfer fee will be the issue - because if that was the only issue, then it wouldn't be an issue and he'd be in Blue next season.

Player choice will be the deciding factor, and thats going to be a tough nut to crack for United.
Yes, United are a huge club and going after and capturing players is well within their grasp, but, what shouldn't be lost is how hard it might be to get somebody to come to Old Trafford to replace a player thats still there.
Yes, i know, Keane can be moved about, but, thats just sidestepping the point, not addressing it ;)

[Motterman]

I can't see Keane retiring for another 3 years to be honest, after all, didn't he just make himself available for international selection again?
The thing is, we all know how ruthless Sir Alex can be. Although selling Keane would have to be as close to hacking off his own right arm as he could get... not to mention the affect on the club as a whole - supporters, players, board, etc.

[Clan]

The thing is, we all know how ruthless Sir Alex can be. Although selling Keane would have to be as close to hacking off his own right arm as he could get... not to mention the affect on the club as a whole - supporters, players, board, etc.

Has Keane gone in for any coaching certs?
I just can't see him doing a Dennis Irwin to be honest - i believe that when he's done playing at United - he's done period.

[mad theory]

Has Keane gone in for any coaching certs?
I just can't see him doing a Dennis Irwin to be honest - i believe that when he's done playing at United - he's done period.

Yeah Irwin mentioned that on last weeks Soccer Saturday show.