Bazdavies79

He's got the best right foot I've ever seen in football, bar nobody.

The only question mark is his on-going back problems, can he still kick the ball the same? Thats what I'd be asking. He has a unique style - which, although devistatingly effective throuought his carer, is probably the major cause of his back problems. For the sort of money Real are alegedly seeking, subject to a medical, I'd get him. I'm not worried about a media circus.

Bazdavies79,

How could I be sure of that? It was a stupid answer to an unanswerarble question. It was of course my opinion. Your opinion is that we will sell twice the number we otherwise would sell worldwide without Beckham in Japan alone. I accept it as your opinion, but I think you don't know what you are talking about. I suspect you haven't done any research regarding this, and I suspect you don't even know the number of shirts that is to be multiplied by two which would then be our new Japanese sales target. And I don't think you know what our profit per shirt is either. So I don't ask if you are sure if we would really reach that target, as I know you don't know the answer.

This is going OT. I don't think Beckham would be so profitable for this club as you suggest, because if he signed for us we wouldn't have the distribution channels open to us to make sure we took advantage of it. But then again, it's only my opinion, which you are free to ask questions about.

Your right I'm guessing but they are educated guesses, based on the fact Man U did and Real still do make a lot of money from Beckham merchandise. The fact we would not have the distribution channels to make the most of Beckham is ridiculous, it's like the Railways companies in the UK who are putting off rail travellers because their trains are over cowded, instead of improving the network to handle them, it's backward thinking - you dont work for them do you, lol??

Besides the most important factor is what he would bring to the team, he is class. IF we could pull of a Beckham transfer I'd be delighted.

Getting back ON TOPIC but sticking with the Real Madrid clearout, how about Ivan Helguera? He'd be a good signing, only 31.

They will buy local copies instead.

You sure?

Yes, they have all told me that.

Hmmm, I wonder how Man U and Real make any money then??

We might as well give up then, not bother selling shirts at all as copies can be obtained anywhere these days!

Anyhow back on topic, I'd love Beckham cos he's a great footballer above all else.

They will buy local copies instead.

You sure?

And I don't want the club to attract Beckham fans. Let's recruit Aston Villa fans instead.

If we sold more shirts in 1 week in Japan or whatever than this club sells in 2 seasons who cares who buys them it's all money and we might get some permanent new supporters too + lets not forget the guy is a fantastic footballer, better than anyone at the club anyway.

yes please, with cherry on top. We all complain about no creativity or no free kick specialist, yet here is a guy that has a demoned right foot cross, argubly still one of the best in the world and also he's a free kick specialist.........some of you need to wake up and smell the coffee.......yes circus around him, yes stupid wages.....but so many here talk about the next level or the big signing, yet you dont want the media attention or pay stupid wages....we need a statement to the premiership of our intent (I dont mean chelsea intent) but for $4m and three year contract of $100k a week, giving a total package of ~$20m or Darren Bent $15m plus $40k per week for three years $21m, I'd take Beckham. Proven record, played at the highest level....or a one season wonder so far.........and then the revenue Beckham would bring in, the status he would rise the club and then other big player see him coming and we have more chance of getting them.....remember Gullit at Chelsea.....so yes to Beckham

What kind of revenue would Beckham bring in?

And your figures don't match up. Beckham £20m for three seasons. Bent £21m for three seasons. However, Bent would still have a value three years from now. Beckham wont.

Are you having a laugh, Real Madrid made their money back on the Beckham transfer before he even kicked a ball for them, in merchandising, he would make us a global brand... we wouldn't need to sell him, he would make profit anyway!!

But Real Madrid is a global brand and has ten times our fanbase. We are not a global brand.

Real Madrid has a good worldwide distribution network of their merchandise. We don't have that.

Beckham does not have the same status now as when he joined Real Madrid.

Beckham does not fit into any organic growth strategy, that's for sure.

Beckham fans will follow him wherever, imagine how many young girls in the far east who will buy Beckham shirts, putting Villa on the map, and all the media attention on him all over the world. Villa wouldn't know what hit it IMO.

He'd make the club a lot more money than he'd cost us + he's still a fantastic footballer despite the fact he cant get up and down the pitch as much as he used to. I'd definitely go for him. I think the MLS has a wage cap does it not? which might put Becks of a move to the US.

Freddie Ljungberg has become available, he'd be a good signing too but his relationship with Olly might be a problem!

Yes, experienced players are what teams on our current form need, not youth, especially at the back. I always believe you build a solid base first and two reliable centre half's would be a good base. Then we need to sort the midfield, we have no RW'er, that must be addressed immediately. Then perhaps cover/competition for RB and DM.

We have 5 strikers and although I'd agree in the long term a top notch striker would be excellent I don't see it as a priority right now. I'm not sure if MON agrees, I think he wants to get a striker, I fear if he does he's falling into a trap so many of his predecessors have. A new striker alone will not make a difference unless MON has plans to revert to a 4-3-3 or play a direct game. We shall see.

Problem with loans is if he does well Man U will take him back at the end of the season and wont sell. With Delaney out we needed someone there though to compete for and provide cover for the RB berth.

What about Leighton Baines at Wigan? I think he is 'buyable', a good young prospect and would enable Barry to play in midfield.

He is their club captain. They know exactly how promising he is. Would cost a fortune. I'd prefer Gareth Bale tbh.

Bale is being chased by the big boys now, probably gone out of our league.

Experienced CB Iván Helguera?

4. Transfer Market. REST ASSURED, everyone is working this hard. When the window opens is not as important as what we look like when it closes. Believe me, we are working hard on this.

Thats what we want to hear! Happy New Year!

Ronaldo, Beckham and Cassano will apparently be available for cut price deals in January as Cappelo begins his re-building at Real Madrid. *tongue slightly in cheek*

I wouldn't mind any from this list

SWP or Milner

Curtis Davis

Gareth Bale

Kieran Richardson

Ashley Young

We have 4 strikers, soon to be 5 again, which we can rotate - I find it deficult to believe a striker will be top of MON's list when we are despreately short in other areas.

Ahh, bless, they miss the old stand. Don't say you like the new one! You'll hurt people's feelings. You OBVIOUSLY dont know what is't like to loose something so close to you!!! Never mind the fact the facilities are better, the design of the stand sympathetic to the old one and the capacity and views are improved, let's just dwell on the fact that old stock brick was not used (at great expense to the club) to exactly re-create exterior of the old one. Doug deservedly get's a bad rap for many things, building an excellent stand on a budget should not be one.

The exterior could be changed at some point, I wonder if Randy will see it as being worth while. Fine I say but I'd rather have a great side than local bricks and Edwardian architecture!

Anyway this thread is going

Thank heavens MON has got Randy cos I feel without him we're going the same way as we were under DOL. The first team is ok, the squad is not, the evidence is now overwhelming and cannot be ignored. As the weeks pass I feel more and more vindicated for what I was saying last season about Ellis and his lack of investement to improve the the squad, but I take no pleasure in it, this is not point scoring.

IF we intend to keep to a 4-4-2,

we need wingers who will put dangerous crosses in and/or run at defenders at pace on a consistent basis. One on either side.

We need a CB with experience and calmness to organise a defence, Ridge can be sold AFAIC. Hughes can stay, for now. And that will be it for January.

Gareth Barry will stay LB, that is where MON will keep him if he can, I'm absolutely convinced of that now. Therefore a LB will not be on MON's shopping list now or in the summer, GB is our LB now and I'm happy. (although Gareth Bale greatly impresses me). Besides a Barry Petrov CM? I dont think that would work.

We DON'T need a new striker just now, but one would be nice in the summer along with a quality DM'er and RB. I feel MON might buy one if he can in January, however this will be a mistake if we have no wingers, unless of course he chooses his man wisely.

This is not a so much prediction of what MON will do, but rather what I think we need to play 4-4-2 based on my analysis of our performances. I'm usually right on these things *finishes blowing own trumpet* :winkold:

We need 11 new players, maybe more. Nearly all need to be better than what we have already. Some of the kids should be learning their trade somewhere else next season. In January we need a premiership quality LWer, RWer and CB - and a few other stop gap cover players to get us back on track. The real building can start in the summer.

Didn't Doug (quite rightly) give the last manager a public dressing down for talking about money this time last year, now he's doing it himself! It dosent help keep prices down when your in the market for new players if you start saying we've got this and that to spend.

He also said he bought the land didn't he? Is that true?

We could certainly do with him, he was my player of the year last season. Not sure who'd get dropped to accommodate him though, Gabby, Angel or Bouma I recon. It would be Bouma for me, play Milner on the left and Barry at LB, maybe. Keep Gabby on the right. It would be an option worth trying. That's what Milner would bring, some more options.

The first two replies made me chuckle, unbelievable.

I hope MON builds a solid side and a difficult side to beat as much as anybody, but my concern is whether MON can build a flair side in the long term. Ok not something I'm giving much thought to ATM as just having a decent side is enough to make me happy right now, but in the long term I will want my jam, and that to me is to have a good footballing side that plays like Man.U, but I suppose you cant have it all can you!

First of all in the much more imediate future this January is about bringing in a couple of cover players and a couple of first team players that will allow us to function properly in a 4-4-2 like say left and right wingers!

How about using these designs as inspiration for a brown and orange 'one off' away kit for next season to mark the beginning of our Historic union with the Browns.

River Plate's away kit (left) AC Roma's 3rd kit (right)

As for a home kit, just keep it simple - a nice deep claret body and blue sleeves, I prefer a non shiny fabric. Man I'm fussy!

It's just my opinion but opinions are what you want I guess.

Okay that's one Yes three No's. I'm not fussed, I think it could be done well if the design and fit was good. I like the tight shirts the Italians tend to wear, like Roma, who I think wear a very nice Brown away shirt if I'm not mistaken?

Whilst I'm on the subject of shirts I'm sure I remember reading somewhere that Villa originally ordered brown shirts but when they arrived the shirts were claret and blue and of course the rest is history. Did I dream this one up or has anybody else read this story?

Okay, here's a suggestion which may produce divided opinions amongst fans but how about for one season only we play in an away kit with Browns colours on it to celebrate this new union with our friends across the pond. Okay brown and orange! sounds bad but I'm sure it could be done tastefully, thoughts?

Huntelaar 23. A natural born finisher, brilliant in the air. Okay I know another impossible target, certainly in January, probably in the summer too if United keep up their interest but hey you never know.

Ok we need 2 world class fullbacks plus a world class a CB, RWer, LWer, DMer, and CF to compete with Chelsea.

This January I think we should be aiming to build to compete with Spurs, therefore I would be happy with Milner + a left winger of similar quality (kieron Richardson?) and a world class signing. Which world class player would ever consider coming here? Well Beckham could be persuaded I'm sure.

Here's one from the left field, Fernando Gargo of Boca Juniors - a cultured defensive midfielder. I've seen him play on channel 5's south American football coverage a couple of times and looks good. Like Mascerano though would need time to settle.