Manchester United’s woeful summer spending continues
Posted by Cathal Breathnach on July 7, 2009 | 11 Comments
First Antonio Valencia, then Michael Owen and now Gabriel Obertan.
Manchester United fans are probably wondering when Sir Alex Ferguson is actually going to start spending some serious cash. In total, the Premier League Champions have only spent around £20 million of the £80 million they recieved from the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid last month.
Big names like Karim Benzema, Franck Ribery and Sergio Aguero have all been linked with moves to Old Trafford, however today’s announcement that the club have signed Bordeaux winger Gabriel Obertan seems to sum up the transfer window for United.
Obertan is a French under-21 international who last season struggled to make it into the Bordeaux first team, forcing former United defender and Bordeuax manager Laurent Blanc to send him on loan to FC Lorient. During his time with Lorient, Obertan scored just once.
At this rate, I find it hard to envisage United winning the Premier League title next season. Let’s be honest, they are signing players who aren’t up to United standards. Even their neighbours Manchester City have done better in the market signing players like Gareth Barry and Roque Santa Cruz. It will be interesting to see who else United can manage to sign between now and the end of August, so stay tuned to Football Corner for all the latest.
What do you think of United’s spending? Comments below please.
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11 Responses to “Manchester United’s woeful summer spending continues”
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July 7th, 2009 @ 3:03 PM
I think we are overblaming fergi. Yeah the summer signing as been frustrating but still the squad is strong. maybe fergi needs to sign a good replacement for heargreaves. but i believe this wont sum up man u transfer. I think we will sign few more players.
July 7th, 2009 @ 3:04 PM
Let’s be honest you would think about writing publicly before you go by the theory of buying so called super heroes!
Idiot!
July 7th, 2009 @ 3:17 PM
Surely you can see the sense in each of these signings?
United are finally building a team again as a team, rather than building it around Ronaldo which is what we’ve had to do the last few years.
Valencia has a huge chance of being a star at united, the same goes for Obertan if he is moulded in the right way. Michael Owen is going to be a fantastic impact player, a la Teddy Sherringham, who will get a bagful of goals this season, working with a superior fitness regime.
With 60million still left, apparently, if the Glazers don’t decided to use it to pay of some more interest on the debt, there should definately be a couple mroe quality players coming in.
We need a centre midfielder next. De Rossi or Hamsik if possible. Fabregas in a dream world.
Hopefully Ferguson will now use Rooney as the point of the team now, which is the sort of player that he is.
July 7th, 2009 @ 3:22 PM
Who would you blame then? You’re telling me that Fergie DOESN’T have the cast iron grip we all though he has on ManU and he doesn’t control the ins and outs. You’ve lost Ron n Tev and left with a striker everyone ManU fan should hate (Owen)and one the jury is still out on (Berb). Your replacement for Hargreaves is already there (Carrick). And you have a player who will get pissed off very quickly should he find he’s carrying the team (Rooney). Face it, the wheels are fast coming off your glory train. You’ll sign players granted but they’ll be rubbish no one is interested in. We all know if they were any good, Real Madrid would have already signed them.
July 7th, 2009 @ 3:42 PM
I’m already tired of idiots saying for the last 3 weeks ‘when will Fergie spend some serious cash’…..
Right then genius, who should he sign??
He’s declared his interest in all the best players-David Villa, Franck Ribery, Karim Benzema-and they wont come to England.
So whats your peoblem???
You seem so sure that the best alternatives for United are expensive ones but what do you know really? The answer is nothing! Fergie knows better than ANTBODY wehat is needed at United. He is also expecting Wellbeck, Anderson, Fletcher, Nani, Valencia, Berbatov and Owen ALL to improve and have better seasons than last year. Seems like sound logic to me and it will go some way to filling the gap by Ronaldo leaving. Screw Tevez, we wont miss him now that Owen has signed. Everyone knows that if some world class talent becomes available and Fergie thinks it is needed then he will try to get them.
You’re the same type of idiot that would be writing about how lots of money was wasted if he’d spent 35mill on someone and it didnt work out. About time you realise what your ‘opinion’ means in this situation – nothing. Have a little paitence and show some faith in the greatest manager ever.
July 7th, 2009 @ 5:44 PM
Obertan looks a great prospect and is surely worth a punt for a mere £3 million or so. How much did we spend on Nani? Valencia looks very good to me, I think he’ll be a regular starter. Steve Bruce was recently comparing him to Kanchelskis – I hope he’s right. And we’ve nothing to lose with Owen.
We’ve got a chance to build the team around Rooney, give Berbatov another season to show what he can do, develop Macheda and Wellbeck some more. And this will be a big season for Anderson. If it doesn’t work out we’ve still got the money in the bank and can spend it next summer.
July 7th, 2009 @ 5:58 PM
Cathal,
Good article, but you’re way off target with this one. As an above commenter stated, United are building a TEAM once again, ala the early 90s.
And, Michael Owen is going to be a great success at Old Trafford and become an England regular again. Fergie’s done it before with older players such as Teddy Sheringham and co.
I’m curious who YOU think Fergie should’ve signed, keeping in mind that players like Ribery and Benzema would only go to Real.
July 7th, 2009 @ 6:18 PM
Well said Andrew. The team is being restructured, now that Ronny is not the focal point. Rooney will shine. Look at his performances for Eng. Have bought Tosic (good little player). Plus the new signings that have come in. Plenty of cover in all postions expect maybe defensive mid. Plans put in place long ago by the greatest manager of all time!!!!
July 8th, 2009 @ 2:14 AM
Owen even though most united fans hate him , i see him as a great acquisition we need an out ‘n’out striker he’ll prove himself at united after his bad spell with newcastle , Valencia we’ve all seen what he’s capable of , yes he doesnt score goals but he knows how to provide them and maybe SAF will work on his finishing touches ,
Obertan is gonna be one of da best players in the world i watched the kid at Bordeaux when he was 17 , the kid has great potential and with da guidance he’s gonna get at united he will be worthy of wearing the No.7 , we bought him for 3m quid , after 4 years he’ll be worth more than 30m quid … and i believe we’re only missing a right back for now cuz i dont believe dat gary has anythin left in him ,brown should stay as a back up for rio n vidic , rafael is still too young to make a serious impact , if we can get our hands on Maicon that wud be amazing !!
July 8th, 2009 @ 7:52 AM
Terrible article. How can you compare United’s signings to Citys?
How can you say Roque Santa Cruz is a better deal than Owen? Your comparing a player that flopped at Bayern and had one good season at Blackburn to a player whos goal record is second to none. Owen was snapped up on a free and Santa Cruz cost almost 18million!
United are a business and always have been. We very rarely splash out on world-renowned players. Veron being the exception. When we paid big money for the likes of Van Nistelrooy and Rooney, they weren’t well known. Fergie knows what he’s doing and i’m sick of people questioning it. Evra cost 4million, Vidic 8million, Park 4million etc etc. We rarely spend massively but we always buy the right players and thats why we have been successful for over 15 years.
July 8th, 2009 @ 2:32 PM
We are Manure and we suck!