True. Was a hell of a team that, looking back. Ronaldo, Tevez, Nani, Giggs, Scholes and Rooney all in the same squad...feck me.
Even then people were still crying out for a central midfielder.
Luis Nani | 2011/12 Performances
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Even then people were still crying out for a central midfielder.
On paper, it looks good, but Giggs didn't have a great season, Nani was inconsistent, Rooney had a bad goalscoring season.True. Was a hell of a team that, looking back. Ronaldo, Tevez, Nani, Giggs, Scholes and Rooney all in the same squad...feck me.
Even then people were still crying out for a central midfielder.
Our succeess that year was built by the back five of Brown-Ferdinand-Vidic-Evra and VDS. VDS, Rio, Vidic and Evra all being the best in their position that year and Brown being immense at right back that season.
Aye, I'm just talking in terms of looking at the squad and seeing those players in it, even if some were out of form. If all those players were at their peak and playing in the same team, it'd have been one of the very greatest teams of all time. A team to topple Barca. Still, was quality all the same.
Giggs was really quite poor that year from what I remember, and Scholes wasn't at the standard he was the year before either (everyone I knew thought they were done at that point). I was seriously impressed by the way Nani started that season though. He actually carried us before Ronaldo got back - I vividly remember that goal against Spurs.
Still don't think it can be argued who was better out of Ferdinand and Ronaldo that season. Both immense.
Anyway, this is going somewhat off topic. Back to Nani...hopefully we'll sort out this situation now that the Euros are over (if there even is a situation).
Giggs was really quite poor that year from what I remember, and Scholes wasn't at the standard he was the year before either (everyone I knew thought they were done at that point). I was seriously impressed by the way Nani started that season though. He actually carried us before Ronaldo got back - I vividly remember that goal against Spurs.
Still don't think it can be argued who was better out of Ferdinand and Ronaldo that season. Both immense.
Anyway, this is going somewhat off topic. Back to Nani...hopefully we'll sort out this situation now that the Euros are over (if there even is a situation).
I remember at the start of the 07/08 season I looked at the squad and thought 'this is the best squad in the world' and it proved to be. I remember reading an interview with a Barca fan in the home program for the CL semi final and he described us as the 'benchmark' for European football, how times have changed so quickly!
I've a feeling he'll be off soon. Not sure why, just a gut feeling.
The upside is I can't really see anyone big (real/barca) wanting him, so hopefully he'll stick around.
I hope he steps it up again this year.
The upside is I can't really see anyone big (real/barca) wanting him, so hopefully he'll stick around.
I hope he steps it up again this year.
Mourinho would happily take him to Madrid.
How long does he actually have on his current deal? 2 seasons inc this one?
yeah that's right
it will be a serious mistake to let him go I think
one of the things that set us apart from anyone in England and Europe for that matter are our wingers
is there a club in Europe with better wingers than Nani, Valencia and Young - with Giggs/Park/Kagawa as backup?
I think so. There would be far more panic if it was only a year.
Still not great to let it get down to 2 years remaining, it could quite easily rumble on all season long and before you know it it's next year and the last window to get any 'real' money in for him
Still we'd be insane not to give him what he wants, he's our best player
We'd basically be Arsenal if we didn't.
There are 24 months remaining on his deal. The latest news reports suggest that Nani is desperate to stay here but we aren't willing to go above giving him 130k. Bit of a strange news, but if he's desperate to stay here then I suppose 130k should do the trick.
"The latest news reports" are usually complete nonsense. No one knows what going on behind the scenes.
130k would make him our next highest paid player after Rooney, which is about right. I'm sure he'll take it.
(if that's in any way true)
(if that's in any way true)
while we all know nani is a quality player, the euros was another prove what he is capable of at the highest level. tie him up quickly please.
The Euros were weird watching Nani. His creativity was ridiculous with his through balls and passing, something we don't see enough of, but his finishing was poor and he wasn't really beating his man all that much, where as for us his finishing is brilliant and he's always running past defenders.
If he combined both of those for us he'd be insane.
If he combined both of those for us he'd be insane.
Yeah, fecking hell...
Those Barcelona games were probably a sign of things to come, to be fair. We played them perfectly but we should have no delusions about it...that game was terrifying!
Every time Messi was one on one with Evra I shat myself, and that was back when he could still defend!Yeah, fecking hell...
Those Barcelona games were probably a sign of things to come, to be fair. We played them perfectly but we should have no delusions about it...that game was terrifying!
I just hope it is sorted before the January transfer window, otherwise there will be all sort of clubs sniffing around.
Agreed, does my head in.
In the last few years we've missed someone who can make a instant impact from the bench, Nani is one of those. Granted Hernandez has a habit of scoring after coming on as a sub but if you want to change a game Nani has a lot to offer - i would rather see him start but last season with the number of injuries we had he was the obious player to use in that role.
I think it was after those games whereby I began to agree with certain posters on here that Evra was the greatest player ever.
I remember that bit on the right wing when Messi went past Paul Scholes, though...definitely shat it at that point.
So we should make our best winger a substitute, behind Young, a far inferior winger?
I wonder why more clubs don't take this approach. Start with inferior players and after about 70 minutes surprise them with your best players coming off the bench. I reckon it'd work wonders.
He'll sign a new contract. Nani isn't going anywhere (yet).
Only problem is nani seems a player that needs to warm into a match, he needs 10-15 minutes to really get going.
But yes certainly our squad depth is now going to be stronger than it has been the last 2 years.
I would rather 1 of nani, kagawa, welbeck or valencia coming off the bench than owen and macheda
And back then wasn't as good as he is now.It was an extremely stressful semi final to watch.
I don't remember that someone was crying for a CM that time. we had just bought Hargreaves and Anderson, both of them played very well. After Hargreaves injured and Anderson's form went down and he started being injured everytime then we started to get a new midfielder.True. Was a hell of a team that, looking back. Ronaldo, Tevez, Nani, Giggs, Scholes and Rooney all in the same squad...feck me.
Even then people were still crying out for a central midfielder.
Remember people were going on about a Scholes replacement after that season finished. We've had it every year on here since I joined, to be fair.
Not saying anyone was wrong in saying it, think it just gives an idea of the level of expectation.
In the next season (2009-2010), basically people were asking for a new midfielder because of Hargreaves injury.
In the last two years we were more loud and it is mental how we didn't buy one considering that from that time we have lost Hargreaves and Fletcher, Ando is constantly injured, Scholes and Giggs are not players that they were. The only one midfielder who has arrived at the club (first team squad) is Cleverley who is injured same as Anderson.
So basically the midfielders in 2008 were:
Scholes - world class
Giggs - very good (that time mostly used as winger)
Carrick - very good
Hargreaves - very good
Fletcher - very good
Anderson - very promising
Now the situation is:
Carrick - very good
Scholes - good but old
Giggs - good but old
Fletcher - sick
Anderson - injured
Cleverley - injured
Of course that Cleverley and Anderson hopefully can stay injury free and contibute more than last year. Both of them IMO are very good players who can do a good job here. Still, the difference in class is for everyone to see. And it's funny how some people still disagree that we need another midfielder.
Note: sorry for going out of topic, it's Nani thread so let's get back to him.
Let's turn the Nani thread back into the Nani thread. Hate seeing this bumped over the last few days with no Nani news.
http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896...s-agent-is-negotiating-with-manchester-united
Good lad.
Is the Times of India like the Kenyan Post, for their accuracy on stories involving United?
What on earth. The Times of India got an interview with Nani?
They don't have any stories regarding anything to do with football. They just usually pick up the stories from the Guardian, AP or Reuters. It's a bit of a shock that Nani spoke to TOI
Well he's in holidays in Singapore isn't he? That's close to India, sort of...
It's to do with DHL. They used to have interviews from Liverpool players all the time thanks to Standard Chartered. I highly doubt someone from the Times of India actually spoke to Nani, more likely were given the interview to print alongside DHL's logo.
Will he stay or will he go? Things are not going well. Nani is putting demands on the club which are not being met. Watch this space.
I can't see him going. If he was not a regular I could understand.
Great.. another ITK
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