Friday's Press Conference

phelans shorts

this is probably a better review

http://www.redcafe.net/f8/ljajic-watch-watch-277718/

Rood

Having £40m to spend on transfers 'means that we're in a pretty bad place' - ridiculous

Makki

It sure means that despite what the Glazer spokesperson said about all money being re-invested, £40m has vanished into thin air and is servicing the debt, and it would also suggest that our other income isn't enough to service it itself, which means we'll have to keep selling at a profit to be able to service it.

Rood

No it doesnt necessarily mean any of that - but the point is that having £40m to spend in the transfer market is hardly the sign of a club in serious financial trouble.

Makki

You can't just pick a part of a sentence which suits you and not bother about the rest. You conveniently just ignored the part where I said "[...] since we just sold a player for £80m."

Lailiani

Cheers. I thought we've already paid for Ljajic when we brought Tosic to United, obviously I was wrong.

Rood

I can actually.

Makki

Obviously, but you'd miss the point and look like an idiot for not managing to have a counter-argument without twisting the words of the person you're debating against.

Rood

What exactly is your point?

Makki

That despite being told that all of the £80m from the Ronaldo salewould be reinvested we possibly have to back out of a £10m transfer to be able to buy in January. That indicates that we may have to keep selling players at a profit to be able to service the debt.

RedPhil1957

I am glad you have the inside information or we wouldn't know anything.

Makki

What inside info is that exactly? I'm just saying we were told we had the £80m to spend. If we don't spend all of that the money will be going elsewhere, presumably servicing the debt. If the Ljajic deal falling through is a result of Fergie wanting to preserve a transfer budget, since the work permit thing seems to be bullshit, his budget logically won't be the £80m + £10m, but rather in the region of £30-£40m which would be the amount we'd have to pay to get an established player in today's market.

This is speculation, yes, but it's going with the major theory that's been posted regarding the real reason why Ljajic wasn't signed.

Rood

Who told you that? Your imaginary friend?
We were told that the money would be made available IF required - it is upto Fergie to decide when the squad needs strengthening and if there is any good value options for doing that.

To me it seems like the decision was taken that spending £10m on this kid would be a risk that wasnt worth taking. Possibly that could relate to other transfer targets, we will find out soon enough.

Our profits (not including any money made on Ronaldo sale) easily cover our annual interest payments - but dont let the facts get in the way of your point.

Makki

You're right, money would be available if required, but the point still stands that we wouldn't need to back out of a £10m deal for a highly promising youngster if he had £80m at his disposal if needed. That is assuming that the motivation for backing off was motivated by financial issues and a limited transfer budget.

Yeah, the profits are enough to cover the debt, that's what I'm hearing and reading as well, but the constant talking of value for money suggests otherwise. We won't buy anyone in this inflated market and refer to value for money, but if we need a player, and are supposed to have the Ronaldo money at our disposal, surely we could bid £35m for Benzema instead of the £30m which we reportedly bid (and then claimed anything above that wouldn't be value for money), not that it would've changed much with Real being his preferred destination, but I hope you get my point.

samabachan

Jesus H hoverboarding fucking christ.

Rood

I would say Obertan is looking like exceptional value for money so far - £3m and already playing for the first team - would Ljajic at 3 times the price go straight into the team? I doubt it.
I follow your point but I dont really agree with it - as you say, the Benzema deal was more about his desires than ours.

You called?

Simon Adebesi

I am not panicking about us not signing Ljajic, in terms of assuming it means money isnt available. Pogue's posts are food for thought but ultimately there are too many variables. If it wasnt for the Ronaldo money I dont think we'd be having this conversation, money has been available under the Glazers. The economy being as it is also makes it a valid question. But I reckon it is more likely that, if it is about money and not permits, it is more likely it is going to be used on someone else in Jan. SAF is always capable of a surprise and there are people who could strengthen us who arent cup tied.

We do have a lot of young prospects already. I havent seen as much of Ljajic as some and I know people really rate him but Im sure if he really was the nuts and SAF was determined to get him, he would get him. If he isnt coming it means SAF thinks he can do without him. Itll take more evidence before Ill change my mind about this.

CR#7

maybe ribery is coming?? haha

RedPhil1957

Why can't the reason he wasn't signed as Phelen said today why does there have to be a huge inside conspiracy. If fergie and the backroom boys realiy believed this boy was going to be the dogs bollux they would have hung on to him however long the permit took ---------- his future value to the club would ensure that; I am surprised all the financial whizz kids on here have not done the sums?

reelworld

Little to do with the thread, but Da Silva twins holds Portugal passports, they don't need work permit to play in England

Clique

If you had seen our discussions from the start you would have noticed that we were talking about kids <18 there. That was the reason why i didn't include Obertan nor Cleverly.

HsJ

The club, with its previous two statments regarding the situation, are treating the fans like shite. We deserve to know the truth as we're the ones who actually go to the games and pay money to see players play for our club.

1 day its because "the player isn't good enough". The next it's because "we couldn't get a work permit".

"the player isn't good enough": well we discussed this to death the other day, summarised quite well with Fergies quote just over a month ago stating that he couldn't wait for Ljajic to join - only to completely contradict himself now...

"no work permit": well Tosic/Anderson etc got a work permit, Anderson got one without having played a single international game. And he's non-EU.
Tosic got one approved within a month. Surely Ljajic lies between these two, and should get one too?

All this sort of stuff leads me to believe there is some other underlying reason here. And the complete fuck up by the club to post the story on their website, and then a contradicting story to be released in the press conference just makes me more confident.

There is something else here. We will just have to wait and see - because seriously...who can trust a word thats coming out of the club at the moment?!?

HsJ

Oh and another thing...if he fails to get a work permit this January...then surely we would just say, we'll sign him later in the summer.

Ljajic said previously on a statment by himself, that he would join us in either Jan/Summer.

The club with this new statement seem to be writing the transfer off totally.

Makki

Because it doesn't make sense and just seems like a cover to get rid of people asking questions. According to Fergie's comments and all reports regarding his kid he was going to be the dog's bollocks and be worth a couple of times the sum we were going to pay for him.

You have to admit that the work permit reason doesn't add up. He said that they couldn't get a work permit for him within two months, and we know for a fact that similar application processes have taken less than a month.