If you had to sell 2 players from the squad, who would they be? (Blanc doesn't count, as no one would buy him) My picks: Phil Neville (he'll never be worth more than he does right now) Wes Brown (same reason) I hesitate to say Brown cause he's done so well for us since coming back from his latest stay at the Ronny Johnsen suite. But Rio and O'Shea are the future central pair in the middle while both Mickey and Gary Nev can cover in the middle like they've done so well in the past too. We should buy another left back and a striker in January. (the left back to provide cover for Micky if he's injured or covering in the middle for O'Shea or Rio - also O'Shea can play left or right back as well if needed)
Actually, if I had to put together our best lineup, it would be: Barthez O'Shea Rio Brown Silvestre Becks Keano Scholes Giggs Ole RVN Or replace Ole with Scholes in the slot and add Veron into the midfield. It depends on whether Keano and Veron can build that partnership in the middle really, and also who we are playing and where.
who I would sell If I had my way, I would part with Veron. We already have a very very solid and overstaffed midfield. Nicky Butt is a far better player then Veron as it applies to the United squad. Veron is better player then Butt, but when it comes to United, Butt plays more consistantly and doesn't upset the balance of the players with his machesmo and ego. I also think Rio was a bad buy. We spent to much money on a player who hasn't proved himself other then at the world cup. In the games he has played for us he has made many many stupid mistakes that a player of his supposed caliber should never make. I would sell rio as well. My lineup is as follows Barthez O'Shea G. Neville, Brown Silvestre Becks Keano/Butt Scholes Giggs Ole RVN/Forlan As for everyone bashing on Phil Neville, fsck off. Phil has put many years of good service into this team and what has he received in return? I is relegated to a sub position every time we get a new player or someone returns from injury. He is constantly under attack for ***************s like you. Phil is a quality player, not the high quality player that we would pay 30 million pounds for but he has done a very very solid and good job for us when called upon. He is a great little utility player just the kind united are known for thoughout history. so fsck off.
Re: who I would sell I'll try not to take that personally, as I have never bashed Phil Neville. I think he has done outstandingly well for us lately, and has done an above average job for years, however; I think it would be a good move to sell him right now, seeing as his market value is probably at it's peak right now. And as for whether Sir Alex would sell a true Red like Phil, here's what Ryan Giggs said just a couple of days ago:
As Silvestre has said, Alex needs to buy not sell. The squad is a bit thin in several spots. Another striker and a new left sided midfield to cover for Giggs will do to start with. Phil stays for his flexibility and Brown looks far more secure when he doesn't have to cover up for Blanc's lack of pace.
With all due respect to Mickey, but he's just signed a fat new contract and it isn't really his money the board would be spending. I'm not screaming "sell players X and Y!", I'm just thinking of what Sir Alex would do if the board came to him and said, "You can buy 2 new World Class players, but you must also sell two of your fringe first teamers." I really don't see who else I would sell... and it would be hard to sell a player with Brown's future and current form, and Phil's historical contributions to the club as well as his current form, but at the end of the day, football is as much a business as anything else now. I agree that cover for Giggs (Fortune looked on the cusp) and even Beckham (Chadwick looked like he was the heir apparent, but he's still toiling away in the reserves) should be given some consideration. Of course we need another striker as well. I think O'Shea could be our new "Phil Neville". He's played well at centre back, left back, right back, and even central midfield! He looks more than capable with overlapping runs from the back, so he could get a shot at the left and right midfield positions as well. Let's say that we are lining up a transfer for a striker, but if we sold Phil and Wes we could get...let's say... Shevchenko instead of Simon Davies. Would you do it?
no hard feelings I didn't mean to personally attack anyone by saying to quit bashing Phil. Phil just seems to be everyone's whipping boy these days and frankly I am sick of seeing him portrayed as a stupid little no talent player when he clearly is not. I don't think United need to buy more talent other then a forward for right now. We have an excelent youth system that has brought us Becks, scholes, butt, both Nevilles, O'Shea, Brown and others. How about give David May another shot in Defence until a youngster can come up. Granted, United haven't really been a great team to cultivate forwards out of our youth system and we have always had to buy them, but that is why we have a good youth system. Keeps other players cheap so we can buy quality up front. If we just keep spending money like we have been on players we are going to get into big trouble fast.
Motterman - I agree with you about Neville. If we need to sell a player, his value will never be higher, although I doubt you could get that much for him. Not sure about Brown, though. O'Shea is a good, versatile player, and, like you, I would like to see him as the right back, with Brown and Rio in the middle for years to come. At this point, if United need the cash for another striker, I would sell Veron as he has had a good season, but I still think United's best starting lineup does not include him. The question, though, is does United need the cash? They just got a settlement on the money owed by Lazio for Stam. If they could get away with not selling Veron immediately in order to buy a striker when the transfer window opens, that's what I would do. Then, see how Veron fits in with Keane. If he doesn't, sell him.
If we sell Veron now, we'd take a huge loss on him for two reasons: his form last year and the lack of cash available everywhere in Europe for big signings. We're not getting any more money from Lazio for the Stam sale until 2004 wasn't it? Anyways, I think we still agree more than not on Veron. Unless we can trade him and cash for a proven European goal machine...
It's true, the values of players has fallen dramatically since Veron was signed due to clubs' financial difficulties. I agree if United had to take a bath on selling Veron, they shouldn't do it. I still say that United should have taken the reported offer on Crespo to settle up on the money owed for Stam. But I've said that before...
I very much doubt Alex would let Veron go for less than he paid, he'd lose too much face. In the current market and with Veron's stuttering performance he wouldn't come even near 20 million and would mean a huge loss. Alex will shoe-horn Veron into the team if it kills him
Sell Sell Sell.........Buy Buy Buy......Bye Bye! Not sure United can afford to sell anyone. I wouldnt sell Brown though, sorry Mottie, but hes too valuable and too good. You need more than two top centre backs. I would sell Fortune, but I doubt we would get a fortune for him. Chadwick has talked about leaving if he cant get a more regular first team spot. Might as well cash in on him whilst we can, pity he does show promise, but how much promise? Might get £5m-£10m for them both. Not sure what you would get for £5-£10m. You need to make additional cash available. I did think about Phil Neville but he did a great job recently. Veron is starting to show more consistently why he was bought. Lets not forget Europe requirements for the league.