MERGED: Rooney signs new contract!

[TheMancRedDevil]

But even if we were still a plc we wouldnt be able to compete with City in terms of the wages they can offer. And that has to be a big part of this. It feels like the most plausible explanation anyway.

This is the part which makes me most angry and sick. City have an owner who is a dollar trillionaire. No one in the history of football past or present can compete with them financially. If they set their sights on a player, it is only the players' "morals" or "loyalty" (or whatever you want to call it) that stands in their way.

If it DOES turn out to be City who has turned his head then the rest of football should just go on holiday until the FFP Regs come out and let City play themselves in all competitions every week.

 

[Crerand Legend]

yes and no. I blame the Glazers to some extent. I blame them that we are so overreliant on Rooney. I blame them that we have not seen any of the Ronaldo money spent on reinforcements. If we werent saddled with debt I think we would have a better squad that we do.

But even if we were still a plc we wouldnt be able to compete with City in terms of the wages they can offer. And that has to be a big part of this. It feels like the most plausible explanation anyway.

But I agree with others who have said it feels like there is a big part of this that hasnt come out yet. There is something else going on.

And yes, Cutch, the timing of Rooney's original declaration is all wrong. It doesnt back up what the mail is saying, that is just his pr people trying to paint him in a favourable light.

Believe me I am not defending the Glazer's and it is true the interest payments are more important to them than the quality of playing staff, just don't think that is why he is leaving, he was happy enough in March. He wants to blame the Americans to try and gain sympathy from at least some of the fans, he is sadly mistaken

 

[I'm always right]

I am aware people are saying today they dont think he is WC.

A few weeks ago most people wouldnt have said that. Whether you personally would have, I couldnt begin to guess. But there is a large proportion of people on here trying to rewrite history. I guess they are hedging themselves, emotionally. Fair enough, I guess.

Are you just playing stupid?

I meant read through "past" threads, why the feck would I tell you to read today's threads?

Plenty of posters 2 weeks ago thought that Rooney wasn't WC so you're just talking shite, have a search through the forum if you don't believe me.

 

[Adebesi]

I am not blaming the Glazers for him going, I am blaming the Glazers for the fact that if and when he does go, our squad looks frighteningly weak. I am blaming them for the fact that when we played bayern last season, without a fit Rooney we just couldnt compete. We are overreliant on him.

 

[Bryan_Munich]

Good piece here

BBC - Phil McNulty: Ferguson turns heat on Rooney

 

[MikeUpNorth]

This is the part which makes me most angry and sick. City have an owner who is a dollar trillionaire. No one in the history of football past or present can compete with them financially. If they set their sights on a player, it is only the players' "morals" or "loyalty" (or whatever you want to call it) that stands in their way.

If it DOES turn out to be City who has turned his head then the rest of football should just go on holiday until the FFP Regs come out and let City play themselves in all competitions every week.

Oh come off it, that is complete hypocritical bullshit. Remember when we signed Yorke? Or Saha? We turned a few heads ourselves. Now the boot's on the other foot we can't go moaning about it.

 

[olesmyhero]

Apologies if posted, but this article sums up things nicely imo:



No one man is bigger than the club. feck Rooney, United will never die

The last line of that article, hope it comes true.

 

[Rado_N]

Oh come off it, that is complete hypocritical bullshit. Remember when we signed Yorke? Or Saha? We turned a few heads ourselves. Now the boot's on the other foot we can't go moaning about it.

This is a whole other level though, in fact it's a whole other level above a whole other level. And then some.

And it's made worse by the fact they they didn't earn any of it.

 

[ALX8725]

Great white knight? feck off with your childish fanboi-esque comments and read my posts.

I'm not defending Rooney whatsoever. Y'know why i'm not? Because we don't know the full story! It's a shame that you and the rest of the clowns that did exactly the same after the Beckham red card and the Ronaldo winker incident haven't learned a thing and can't take a similar stance.

How the feck do you know that nothing has been said to SAF/the club other than that he wants to leave? Are you really that naive?

Just look at what happened with his boyhod club Everton, his wife, now SAF and United. Pretty sure I'm not the one that's being naive. You need to calm down

 

[Laphroaig]

And everyone on here will agree he is world class again, as they though a few weeks ago.

Thing is, he is world class when on song, but every season he goes through strangely long periods of not being very good at all. Maybe even two periods some seasons. So I suppose one would be right to say he is world class and right to say that he's not, it all depends on when one says it. His lack of consistency has been annoying for a some years now.

 

[MrMarcello]

It goes beyond just United though as far as I can remember, has there been a worse case of betrayal than if Rooney goes to City? I mean we've all talked about how the likes of Fabregas no longer want to play for their club and will be gone pretty soon because he's a foreign player who has a dream of playing for his hometown club, or Torres who isnt going to stick around when his club arent winning things. But here the lack of professionalism and the cloak and dagger nature of this from Rooney... Its just unbelievable. And yet its true.

What tops this, if he does go to City? What could top this?

SAF going to manage City or Liverpool.

 

[Brocky]

Believe me I am not defending the Glazer's and it is true the interest payments are more important to them than the quality of playing staff, just don't think that is why he is leaving, he was happy enough in March. IF he wants to blame the Americans to try and gain sympathy from at least some of the fans, he is sadly mistaken

Fixed.

 

[Adebesi]

Believe me I am not defending the Glazer's and it is true the interest payments are more important to them than the quality of playing staff, just don't think that is why he is leaving, he was happy enough in March. He wants to blame the Americans to try and gain sympathy from at least some of the fans, he is sadly mistaken

Yeah, I think that is right.

 

[MrMarcello]

I tend to agree with that. I just find it hard to believe it would depress a man of Fergie's standing. I mean can you imagine Mourinho shattered if John Terry left Chelsea? feck that, he'll know he can deal with it easily.

Besides, he's known for awhile right. He's know since Aug 15th from what I read?

Mourinho hadn't nurtured Terry from age 18/19 and he also had a open checkbook on transfers. Had Terry departed, Mourinho would have just bought another 20-30m rate defender.

 

[fredthered]

Believe me I am not defending the Glazer's and it is true the interest payments are more important to them than the quality of playing staff, just don't think that is why he is leaving, he was happy enough in March. He wants to blame the Americans to try and gain sympathy from at least some of the fans, he is sadly mistaken

You know whats really alarming.

I too today have been defending the Glazers saying this one isnt down to them.

feck me.. this forums completely gone to bits when us two are defending the Glazers

 

[Rado_N]

If anyone thinks the Glazers will be glad of the transfer fee you're mental. Rooney is worth more on the pitch and in marketing than any transfer fee we can get for him. If he leaves they'll need a big name bringing in to fill the void.

 

[Adebesi]

Thing is, he is world class when on song, but every season he goes through strangely long periods of not being very good at all. Maybe even two periods some seasons. So I suppose one would be right to say he is world class and right to say that he's not, it all depends on when one says it. His lack of consistency has been annoying for a some years now.

Yeah he does have that consistency issue. This season's dip has been a little different because usually when he goes through periods of not scoring he offers a lot in build up still. It is unusual for him to be as utterly hapless as he has been this season, he just goes through frequent goal droughts.

Id still say he is WC, though in fact I am not a fan of the term itself as it is so subjective, it tends to lead to pointless, circular discussions. I think he is up there with the very best in his position, let me put it that way.

 

[MikeUpNorth]

This is a whole other level though, in fact it's a whole other level above a whole other level. And then some.

And it's made worse by the fact they they didn't earn any of it.

A whole other level? We've been turning the heads of the best players at other clubs for years, it's only a different level because our best players are worth more than Fulham's.

Come on, let's be fair, many would say we're just getting a taste of our own medicine.

 

[TheMancRedDevil]

Oh come off it, that is complete hypocritical bullshit. Remember when we signed Yorke? Or Saha? We turned a few heads ourselves. Now the boot's on the other foot we can't go moaning about it.

I know. I have thought about this today. We had a similar situation with Berbatov a few seasons ago, I suppose.

I just think it is different in this case. Even during our pomp, we had financial competition from elsewhere and had to rely on our name and reputation to win them over.

Whilst there may have been times during the last twenty years when we could outbid most other teams, it was never ridiculously so and we had our limits.

This is like Jack Walker and Roman Abramovich merged together and given drugs to boot.

Having said all this, we don't even know if City are interested atm and I might be getting all worked up over nothing.

If it IS City though then there just appears to be something mocking about their conduct. Disrespectful, in fact.

 

[olesmyhero]

A whole other level? We've been turning the heads of the best players at other clubs for years, it's only a different level because our best players are worth more than Fulham's.

Come on, let's be fair, many would say we're just getting a taste of our own medicine.

No doubt that our ability to offer a good salary and extras has attracted a fair few players. The one thing we could almost guarantee though was trophies. City can't offer that. They can only offer money. It is a bit different.

 

[Crerand Legend]

You know whats really alarming.

I too today have been defending the Glazers saying this one isnt down to them.

feck me.. this forums completely gone to bits when us two are defending the Glazers

True, shows how fair minded we are

 

[Bryan_Munich]

If anyone thinks the Glazers will be glad of the transfer fee you're mental. Rooney is worth more on the pitch and in marketing than any transfer fee we can get for him. If he leaves they'll need a big name bringing in to fill the void.

I'd be willing to bet that Fergie has had a fair bit of dialogue with the Glazers since August 14th before going public with this.

 

[olesmyhero]

You know whats really alarming.

I too today have been defending the Glazers saying this one isnt down to them.

feck me.. this forums completely gone to bits when us two are defending the Glazers

You know, the ground was feeling quite cold this morning. Must be freezing over down there.

 

[Adebesi]

No doubt that our ability to offer a good salary and extras has attracted a fair few players. The one thing we could almost guarantee though was trophies. City can't offer that. They can only offer money. It is a bit different.

I think if Rooney goes to City he will do so in the belief that he will be winning trophies with them. If he does go I will be amazed if he doesnt win trophies with them.

 

[Rado_N]

A whole other level? We've been turning the heads of the best players at other clubs for years, it's only a different level because our best players are worth more than Fulham's.

Come on, let's be fair, many would say we're just getting a taste of our own medicine.

No it's a whole other level when Milner transfers for c£30m! I understand the point you're making but what's going on with City is way beyond that, they have literally no limit to their funds and they're throwing £300k a week in wages at squad players ffs. This is going to sound hysterical but they are killing the game with this method, them and Madrid.

Anyway this is way off topic.

 

[TheMancRedDevil]

No it's a whole other level when Milner transfers for c£30m! I understand the point you're making but what's going on with City is way beyond that, they have literally no limit to their funds and they're throwing £300k a week in wages at squad players ffs. This is going to sound hysterical but they are killing the game with this method, them and Madrid.

Anyway this is way off topic.

If it turns out Rooney goes to City for the money then it is THE topic.

 

[Bryan_Munich]

Can anyone seriously see past City based on what we know so far?

 

[olesmyhero]

Can anyone seriously see past City based on what we know so far?

Isn't all we actually know that he wants out and nothing else? There's a lot of speculation, but only one fact.

 

[Adebesi]

No it's a whole other level when Milner transfers for c£30m! I understand the point you're making but what's going on with City is way beyond that, they have literally no limit to their funds and they're throwing £300k a week in wages at squad players ffs. This is going to sound hysterical but they are killing the game with this method, them and Madrid.

Anyway this is way off topic.

Maybe with the age of austerity kicking in - cuts being announced tomorrow (later today) - we could be getting closer to seeing the football bubble burst.

I agree with what Mike is saying but with you as well. Mike's point is valid that the principle is comparable, it is just a question of where you draw the line: this financial dominance is acceptable, that financial dominance is unacceptable. It is a hard line to draw, and we certainly arent in a position to objectively judge where that line is. We are too involved.

But you are right that, quite apart from the principle of the matter, the City situation is unsustainable. I guess there will be regulations coming in that will have an impact as well but I wonder if at some point we wont get some other kind of backlash. The amount of money sloshing around in football is ludicrous at a time of so much economic hardship.

 

[Crerand Legend]

Can anyone seriously see past City based on what we know so far?

If I am honest no, I actually think the deal could be advanced, just the United bit to sort and they probably think we won't be refusing to sell considering the clubs debt problem, all IMHO

 

[TheMancRedDevil]

Can anyone seriously see past City based on what we know so far?

Here's one thing I read yesterday...

The highest paid player in the world is Ronaldo on £11.3m. Ridiculous money but you can't deny him being the highest paid in the world.

Have a guess at who this article said was the second highest paid?

Yaya Toure (£11.1m).

If this is any guide and they have been having a little word in Rooney's ear, there's no guessing what they might have offered him. It would be just making an arse of everything, though.

 

[Rams]

Calm down calm down. Listen, stop all taking it as some kind of personal insult that a football player wants to leave your beloved club. Boo him at the next game and get on with your lives ffs.

 

[United87]

Everyone has jumped on the slag Rooney off wave of hysteria, even the 40+ 'respected posters', it's pathetic, yesterday everyone was saying give the lad a chance and then one statement from Sir Alex and he's a cnut? Ferguson has bent the truth time and time again in press conferences to all the posters approval but now he comes out with this and it's the god honest truth?

Does nobody wonder how he was the innocent party everytime the vast amount of players left in his wake? All the players he left by the wayside dispite them proving their worth to United time and time again? Is there no question mark over Fergusons involvement in this? Rooney is and was part of United too just like Ferguson, I don't understand how one day Rooney can be a hero and after a few words he is dirt!

Doesn't this forum thrive on not being knee jerk? Doesn't this forum not encourage opinions to be thought through?

 

[KOV]

was annoyed when the winker pissed off to madrid but it was bound to happen one day.. wasnt as gut wrenching as this !

rooney on the other hand only in march this year stated he wanted to be here for life. why the change of heart (most like the $$$$$ from elsewhere )

SAF had some composure the great man ? condudcted him self with total class in that interview/press confernece

gota love how he always put the club and our supporters first !

 

[Brocky]

Just look at what happened with his boyhod club Everton, his wife, now SAF and United. Pretty sure I'm not the one that's being naive. You need to calm down

What about it?

That has nothing to do with my post.

I said that people are naive if they think that the only dialogue between Rooney and SAF has been;

Rooney: I want to leave
SAF: ....

There is most certainly to have been much more discussion. I would even go as far as to speculate that SAF knows why Rooney wants to leave but he's not going to go against the his own and the club's policy that what happens inside the club stays inside the club, is he?

In response to your comment though;

He left Everton for bigger and better things. Understandable.

He shagged a few prostitutes because, presumably, he wanted bigger and better things. Understandable....not to mention that it's his personal life and has feck all to do with his football career except for maybe the fact that it is possibly a factor in what has happened this week. We don't know.

And now SAF and United. We don't know yet why he has decided he wants out. My point is that people should at least wait until the story unfurls before they grind their axes. Understandable?

 

[TheMancRedDevil]

I agree with what Mike is saying but with you as well. Mike's point is valid that the principle is comparable, it is just a question of where you draw the line: this financial dominance is acceptable, that financial dominance is unacceptable. It is a hard line to draw, and we certainly arent in a position to objectively judge where that line is. We are too involved.

But you are right that, quite apart from the principle of the matter, the City situation is unsustainable. I guess there will be regulations coming in that will have an impact as well but I wonder if at some point we wont get some other kind of backlash. The amount of money sloshing around in football is ludicrous at a time of so much economic hardship.

When a club is paying more in wages than it generates in turnover, that is pretty fecked up. I'd say a line has been crossed there.

The FFP Regs seeking to ensure that clubs operate within their means is a good idea.

 

[Adebesi]

Doesn't this forum thrive on not being knee jerk? Doesn't this forum not encourage opinions to be thought through?

Where on earth did you get that idea from?

 

[MrMarcello]

Agreed. Verbal or not. Might not stick in a court of law, but could really damage City's reputation.

Players won't give a shit about City's reputation when they can make a boatload of cash with the club.

 

[Rednails]

Everyone has jumped on the slag Rooney off wave of hysteria, even the 40+ 'respected posters', it's pathetic, yesterday everyone was saying give the lad a chance and then one statement from Sir Alex and he's a cnut? Ferguson has bent the truth time and time again in press conferences to all the posters approval but now he comes out with this and it's the god honest truth?

Does nobody wonder how he was the innocent party everytime the vast amount of players left in his wake? All the players he left by the wayside dispite them proving their worth to United time and time again? Is there no question mark over Fergusons involvement in this? Rooney is and was part of United too just like Ferguson, I don't understand how one day Rooney can be a hero and after a few words he is dirt!

Doesn't this forum thrive on not being knee jerk? Doesn't this forum not encourage opinions to be thought through?

what the he'll are you talking about? name one player who was left by the wayside and didn't deserve to be.

 

[Adebesi]

When a club is paying more in wages than it generates in turnover, that is pretty fecked up. I'd say a line has been crossed there.

The FFP Regs seeking to ensure that clubs operate within their means is a good idea.

Wasnt that the case with Blackburn in the 90s?

But yes, the regs were needed. Things are getting out of hand.